Pescara Ward

August 4, 2013


Michael felt very strongly we should go to church in Pescara, so we did.  It's a two hour drive from Rome and is located clear across the country on the east side and just a little north.  The office couple went with us.  (Not only is Elder Steurer in charge of finances for the mission, but he was just called as a counselor in the Mission Presidency to assist Pres. Waddoups.)

Church started at 9:00 am so we left for Pescara early in the morning because we always get lost, but not today.  We drove right to the church.

Pescara has a very active ward and a very nice church.  (The churches are unlike what we have in Utah but by church standards in Italy, it was nice.  Some branches meet in hotels and old homes.  From the front, most of the churches look like warehouses.)

The missionaries are always pleased when we come to their ward.  It's become a tradition that they all stand in front of the church for a picture.  (I think they do it because they know I expect it, but they are always happy to oblige.)

The Bishop of the rione (ward) is 75 years old.  He has been a mission president twice, an area representative, and in the presidency of the Swiss temple for 4 years.  During Sacrament Meeting, he bore a powerful testimony of the importance of ward members being involved in missionary work.  I really liked him.  (Even I bore a simple testimony in Italian.  My testimony is much bigger than my vocabulary.)

The Bishop invited us to lunch after church.  It was delicious.  His son and daughter joined us.  I am totally in love with the Italian people--and their food!