Our Mission at the One Year Mark

I remember posting a photo of the Colosseum when we first received our mission call.  Then one year later we found a bench on a hill overlooking the Colosseum and we had a nice 'assessment' chat with each other.  What have we accomplished this past year?  What have we learned?  Should we have done anything differently?  What were the highlights and what have been the challenges?  It was a great conversation and most of it can't really be shared, but in a nutshell:  a mission is hard, even for Senior Couples, but there are rewards.  The adjustments are different for each couple but I think everyone would say it's hard if they are honest.  How is it hard?  Well, maybe you'll have to go on a mission as a couple and find out for yourselves.  Dad says that compared to the young missionaries we have it easier, but there are still challenges. Missions are about sacrifice.  All I can say is that we got 'lucky' in many respects but that doesn't mean 'easy street' either.  

 Feb 20, 2018.  One year ago on Feb 20, 2017 we entered the MTC.  This day is also Hanim's 75th birthday (the lady in the red sweater).  We took her to lunch and invited Louiza and Pamela to join us.  We went to a small cafe in the Pamphylli park.

We just found this setting so typical.  Everybody glued to their cell phones.  So here we are on the Spanish steps. "Even when we are with our friends, we seldom give them our undivided attention because we are constantly checking our smartphone, convinced that something far more interesting is probably happening elsewhere.  Modern humanity is sick with FOMO:  fear of missing out.  We have lost the ability to pay attention."  (Yuval Noah Harari in his book Homo Deus)  

MEDU is one of our main partners here in Italy.  They took us to lunch to thank us for LDS Charity support.  They really do a lot of good and we are honored to be associated with them.