Made it to Italy!

Just to recap what has happened to us in the last few weeks. We embarked upon a remarkable journey to serve the Lord and be his ambassadors for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. We reviewed our goals on what we should be doing when we retired. Priority one, was serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

2/2018 Opened our mission call to the Rome, Italy mission. Went to the Draper, Ut. Temple, where we met up with Francesco Lapore. He was Warren’s mission companion when he was a younger man serving in the Milano, Italy mission. Francesco was a great support and mentor to Warren, learning Italian. 1st one to hear of our mission call.
Dale and Barbara Larsen Melinda’s parents

We were very fortunate to stay with these lovely people, our parents, Dale and Barbara Larsen. Our plan was to stay with them no longer than 6 months preparing for a mission. Instead we ended up staying 10 months. Wow! We were very appreciative, however staying for a short while turned into almost a year. We were Blessed! They were troopers letting us stay with them so long. What a blessing they were to us!

We gave our talks in Sacrament meeting in the River view 6th Ward 7/29/2018 had a delightful, delectable luncheon with great support from our family and a few friends. Cherry on top of the cake!

That evening we were set apart for our Mission. President Matthew Carr acting as the mouth piece of the Lord set us apart to serve. Our Bishop, Jeff Petersen and his wife Jeane Petersen were there along with our parents.

MTC

Tired and Excited at the same time. We arrived at the MTC, Missionary Training Center for 5 days to learn about our calling as Self Reliance Missionaries.

We met about 131 Senior missionaries in our group headed to all parts of the world,  serving in many different capacities. Great group to be with.

What an amazing group of people! Instructors are totally amazing and very Spiritual.

We separated into districts where is was more one on one with Preach my gospel and learning how to teach people.

Our instructors, Sister Barlow and Sister McCulley were awesome young people full of enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as a exuberance for teaching us how to love and serve others.

We had a great video devotion while in the MTC. Elder Bednar talked about, The Character of Christ. Awesome inspired talk, this pretty much the same talk, “The Character of Christ”, Brigham Young University-Idaho Religion Symposium, Jan 25, 2003, Elder David A. Bednar  Also, a wonderful devotional from Jean A Bingham General RS President and her husband. Her talk was titled “Patterns”.

We marked the spot where we will serve in the Roma, Italiano mission.

We started in the MTC on

Got on a rather lengthy plane ride from Utah to Dallas, Texas to make another connection from Dallas Texas to Rome Italy. A total of 13 hours in all.

Yes, we arrived a little weary from such a long flight, jet lag due to not being able to sleep on the plane. We were picked up at the airport by Anziano Balzotti, who is one of the efficent, amazing office persons at the Rome Mission office, along with his lovely wife, Sorella Balzotti and a few other couples serving in the office as well. BLESSED!!

Had a lovely luncheon with our Mission President and his wife President and Sister Pickerd. THE BEST! they have been serving for a little over 2 years. About 8 months to go. Our brother Cody and Cheryl new them when they lived in Huston Texas. Small world.

President and Sister Pickerd took pictures of us at the temple, where we met a beautiful couple who are serving their 3rd mission. The Simoncini’s, who are serving in the visitors center at the temple. We found out when brother Simoncini was just a new member of 3 years met Warren’s brother in Palermo,Italy where he served part of his mission several years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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