SICILY

On Wednesday we flew to Sicily to train the Scoville couple who arrived last weekend. The Scovilles are the second humanitarian missionary couple in Italy. Both couples administer aid for the refugee crisis.  Elder Scoville suffered a serious eye injury during their last mission in Ghana and we are all grateful that his eye has healed sufficiently to allow them to serve again.  It is truly humbling to see the sacrifice some of the couples make to leave the comforts and safety of home to serve the Lord.  Although our time with them was almost all spent in their apartment training on clerical type subjects, we did venture out for lunch on Friday and walked to an old fortress in their town.  From there we got a good view of the active volcano just a few miles away.

Russell teaching the Scovilles about finances

It was fun to watch the Scovilles in action.  Elder Scoville is very friendly and speaks Italian. He made friends everywhere he went. We bought some chicken from this family. They wrapped it in foil and cooked it over coals. When I asked if I could take a photo they all jumped in wanting to be photographed.

The flowering trees were abundant and beautiful.

We saw several roadside stands. Each consisted of many fruits and vegetables loaded into the back of a truck. Elder Scoville had a good conversation with this man about being a missionary for our church. I was admiring these red peppers and tried to buy them. This gentleman gave me two as a gift. 

Mount Etna is an active volcano. It erupted earlier this year

Sister Scoville and Eileen-we didn't have a dress code this day but we sort of matched.

Russell and I with Mount Etna in the background.

This old fort has been here for around 2000 years

Elder Scoville and Russell, the streets were empty on Independence Day.

It was Italy's independence day and we couldn't find a restaurant open. However we did find this pastry shop open. Yumm!

These fish at the pastry shop are all made of marzipan which is ground almond paste. It took a great artist to make this.

On our way home Saturday, as we were getting ready to land, the pilot came on to give connecting gate information.  When he got to “London” he said that the flight had been canceled.  In the Frankfurt airport we noticed a very long line – hundreds of people – at the customer service desk.  This would have been before the actual terrorist attack on London Bridge last night.  I (Russell) don’t know if it was just a coincidence or if there was a concern by the British authorities that something was about to happen.  In recent weeks both the UK and France have been on very high alert for terrorist activity.  It was just this morning we learned of the attacks last night in London.

The terrorist activities in Western Europe have caused some political groups in countries of the EU to encourage their citizens and politicians to withdraw from the EU, citing the refugees and immigration as the cause.  Over the past few decades much in the way of economic growth and political stability has occurred for millions of people due to the union.  It is a shame to see this progress impeded by the terrorist activity of a relative few. 

On a more positive note, Eileen harvested her first two tomatoes.  At her request I planted two tomato plants a couple months ago.  The container in which I planted them is too small so we have to water the plants every day.  I have been moving them back and forth from in front of our kitchen window to our small balcony depending on the weather.  We appreciate our fellow missionaries who water them in our absence.  Yes it is far easier and cheaper to just buy tomatoes in the store.  But somehow planting things, like making minor upgrades in the apartment furnishings or wall hangings, makes it seem more like home.

We arrived home to find that we had two ripe tomatoes on our plant. Russell has done a great job of nurturing this plant.