Hello to all of our friends and family!         February 19, 2022 

      We have been serving now for three weeks. Two weeks were in the MTC in Provo, UT where we had a wonderful experience and met new people who have become dear friends, and one week here in Italy.  We arrived in Milan, Italy one week ago today and have had many long, wonderful days.  President and Sister Browning and Kraig and Sue Christensen met us at the airport and gave us a great welcome.  On Sunday we attended two wards in Lecco, 45 minutes north of Bergamo where we live.  The first ward is the Italian ward where we met great people.  The Bishop, Vestibo Dal Zatto, and his family invited us to a great dinner.  The second Group was with the Nigerian immigrants and their meeting was in English, which was nice for us. The people in both wards were very welcoming.

    Our leaders from Frankfurt, the Ballif's, arrived Monday.  The Christensen's were kind to show the Ballif's and us Milan, and then introduced us to several of the Partners who work with refugees and the poor that they have worked with.  We were grateful to meet these Partners as we will be working with many of them.  Thursday night the Christensen's had planned an amazing Partner Appreciation Night.  Many of the Partners attended.  They were treated to a great program with music from a few of our Elders and Sisters in the mission.  The talent these young people have is amazing.

     Friday we drove into the Italian Alps to see a project for Nigerian Refugees and is one of our partners.  A young man from Nigeria had arrived 4 days ago, not from Nigeria, but from Germany where he had been in prison for holding the compass when his group of refugees arrived from Nigeria.  Someone had handed him the compass to indicate he was the smuggler, though he was only an immigrant.  He now needs to get the proper papers so that he can go on with his life.

                     Becky, Bryan, Aldulazia from Nigeria, and Jessica, a Nigerian Refugee,
                                            helping other refugees the best she can.

     Today we spent the day in training, reviewing projects and how to perform all of our duties.  It was full of information that we will need the next 18 months.  

     We are grateful to be serving here, where we hope to help the refugees get on their feet.  I know that the Savior knows each one of these people, as he knows each one of us.  The Savior is our focus, our example, our light.  I hope that each of you will look to the Savior for His light in your own lives

                      Bryan and Becky with our MTC Language Teacher meeting in person                                        for the first time.  Sister Dorman started teaching us Italian in October.


 
                         Elder Stanley and Sister Valerie Ballif, our leaders from Frankfurt.                           They did an amazing job helping us to understand our work.

 


Our first day into Milano.  We took the subway into the city and 
saw this breathtaking Cathedral as we exited the subway.




Comments

  1. BirgitFebruary 21, 2022 at 7:47 AM

    Those Germans! :-( Thank you so much for your update Becky and Bryan!! I am glad you arrived safe. Loved this update. What an adventure. You are the best example for so many people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFebruary 21, 2022 at 8:00 AM

    What a wonderful surprise! So happy for you both!

    I am serving at the Lehi family Search Center and loving it
    Stay in touch when you can.
    Love and best wishes,
    Sister Betty Swenson

    ReplyDelete
  3. MumzieFebruary 21, 2022 at 8:27 AM

    So good to hear from you! You are going to have a tremendous experience there! I know you will be guided and protected by the Lord. I will always look forward to hearing from you.
    Our love to you both!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MarnaeFebruary 21, 2022 at 8:31 AM

    Wonderful that you will be helping Africans again. Our hearts and prayers are with you both.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SherFebruary 21, 2022 at 8:36 AM

    We were so glad to hear from you and see the pictures and know you arrived safe and have met many people already no doubt you will be great Missionaries and have many friends. Our prayers are with you. Love Mike and Sherrie

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownFebruary 21, 2022 at 8:40 AM

    You two have that missionary glow! There is so much you can do there with your leadership skills, your compassion, and most of all the spirit your carry! Thanks for the written update and the beautiful pictures. Love, Julie

    ReplyDelete
  7. Elaine BrewsterFebruary 21, 2022 at 9:05 AM

    I love the pictures and captions. It helps to visualize things you are doing and the people you are showing love to.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Janice GerritsenFebruary 21, 2022 at 9:12 AM

    Thank you so much for your blog. It's so good to know that you are safely there and that you received such a grand welcome. It looks like you've dived right into the most needed work there. We love you and pray for you.
    Love, Janice & John

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownFebruary 21, 2022 at 9:45 AM

    Thanks For that information and I'm so glad you arrived safely. Wow looks like you will be very busy.. I didn't realize there would be refugees from Nigeria.
    I'm so proud of you for all the wonderful missionary work you do.. Thank you for representing our family.
    Much love, Nan

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gayle HarrisFebruary 21, 2022 at 11:13 AM

    I've been reading all the comments, and agree with what's been said. I'm so grateful you made it there safely, that you are so welcomed (and needed!), that you've been able to work on learning Italian since October, and that you're sharing pictures. I love seeing the people you're meeting, and some of the beautiful sites you're seeing. You'll be in our prayers! We love you both.

    ReplyDelete
  11. bdomanFebruary 22, 2022 at 7:12 AM

    Wow, you two! So many amazing experiences already! Sending love!

    ReplyDelete
  12. JanetteFebruary 22, 2022 at 8:22 PM

    So good to see you happy and well in Italy. Actually I am really jealous as I would love to go back out on another mission but Jim is not quite on board yet. Enjoy Italy and all that good food and amazing people. Love Janette & Jim

    ReplyDelete
  13. JenFebruary 22, 2022 at 8:32 PM

    Love all the pictures! Thanks for taking time to do this blog!
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  14. Daniel GrossmannSeptember 17, 2022 at 10:50 PM

    miss you both very much!

    ReplyDelete

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