April 22, 2023

Some of our projects from last year are beginning to close out.  We visited a Job Training for Refugees in Catering project designed to train refugees in the restaurant business, and provide internships  that will lead to job placement.  We had the opportunity to visit one of the interns at a cafe in the Niguarda Ospedale (Hospital).  This intern is a single mother from Morocco, who needed a job that would allow her to get her daughter off to school before coming to work, and finish work by the time her daughter got home from school.  This little cafe was a perfect solution.  She was so grateful for the opportunity to work and provide for herself and her daughter.  What a difference this made in her life.  Thank you to "AVSI", the organization that we partnered with to provide this job training for 15 refugees.

Left: Anika, from the Job Training in Catering for Refugees, serving us at the Niguarda Hospital cafe          

Right: Refugees from many countries, in the program for Job Training in Catering, in Milan       

April 3 found us in northeastern Italy, first in Gorizia on Monday and then Trieste on Tuesday.  Terre des Hommes is helping Ukrainian refugee women and children to cope with their new lives.  Many had hoped to return to Ukraine by now, but no one knows when these good people will be able to return to their former homes and families.  We spent an afternoon talking with about 25 women and children.  They are wonderful people, and were so grateful for the help that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has offered to them.  Mykol, one of the workers for Terre des Hommes, has helped these mothers and children feel valued and important.  Maria and her mother, Titiana, and Dorjeta and her mother, Ashja, were particularly happy to get to know us and spend time with us.  Maria and Dorjeta both speak English and loved getting to visit with us.  A few of our granddaughters may end up texting them and becoming long-distance friends.  

Refugee women & children in Gorizia from Ukraine, on the Italy/Slovenia border, with Becky & Bryan          

          and staff from Terre des Hommes, an organization that helps refugee women & children, 4.3.23

On Tuesday we were in Trieste near the Slovenia border, with Diaconia Valdese where many refugees come from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and other countries.  The stories they share of journeying to Italy is moving.  Being an immigrant is not easy.  The journey to Italy can take anywhere from two to six years on foot.  Crossing through various other countries is dangerous and even life-threatening.  In Italy, they find a chance to get help.  In Trieste, about 70% move on to other countries, but the 30% that remain work on getting their documents and being able to find work and places to stay.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has provided shoes and socks, pants, coats, blankets, sleeping bags, and other items to be given to those in most need.  It is a privilege to help these refugees with some of their needs, and also to hear some of their stories.

Left: Refugees in Trieste, on the Italy/Slovenia border, taking an Italian language class from Diaconia Valdese

Right: Becky, Bryan, & Giulio,  The Church donated shoes & socks, jackets, blankets, sleeping bags, & other

items for the refugees in Trieste on the eastern border of Italy by Slovenia, and in Ventimiglia on the western

border by France, as refugees enter and leave Italy.  About 100 refugees a day are assisted.  

Writing, submitting and follow-up on projects is quite an adventure.  Our travels are only a part of our calling.  Entering and updating projects in the church's online tracking system for Humanitarian projects, along with the fiscal part of projects can take a fair amount of time.  We also help with some things for young missionaries.

This week, along with our Humanitarian work, we did apartment checks for seven sets of missionaries, who live in Brescia, Bergamo, Lecco, Merate, and Muggio.  In Italy, it is not always easy to get things repaired in a timely fashion.  Some of our elders have taken it upon themselves to make some of the repairs, and have done an amazing job.  They are all also learning to keep clean apartments for living in and to reflect the light of the Gospel in their lives. It is great experience to work with these young people and feel of their spirits and their love of the Savior.  What a privilege to work along side these young Elders and Sisters.

                                                                                            Becky & Bryan, in Venice, Left:  On 4.6.23, after our work in Gorizia & Trieste (a bit colder). Right: On 6.15.22

We are grateful for our Savior who is the "light, the life and the hope of the world."  He loves and knows each and every one of His children here on earth.  We are grateful to be serving Him, in His great work. 

May you each have a great month.  We send our love.

Bryan and Becky Gerritsen