May 18, 2023
On May 2, 2023 we traveled to Como to close out a project with an organization, Banco di Solidarietà di Como, who helps feed refugees, particularly Ukrainian refugees. They are an all volunteer organization who work in the evenings to distribute food and personal items to help sustain the refugees. Their logo is "Five Loaves of Bread and Two Fish." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, and to supply hygiene kits, school kits for children, diapers, and toilet paper. The refugees themselves often help to deliver the goods to the 100 Ukrainian families and others in Como receiving help.
Becky & Bryan, with 2 Sister Missionaries and leaders of Banco di Solidarietà di Como, in Como, May 2
Our Mission President and his wife organized a Senior Couples retreat for all of the Senior Couples in the Italy Milan Mission. We met in Padova on May 3rd and did a walking tour of this beautiful city. We have been to Padova 3 or 4 times, but only to go to Zone Conferences, therefore, only seeing where the Church is located. Padova is a beautiful city and a delight to visit. They also have great gelato there. To walk narrow streets and see a beautiful full moon at night was truly an experience we'll remember for a long time. The following day we all drove to Verona where we met near the city center. We did another walking tour there, passing the Coliseum, which was built between 70-80 AD. It is still used today for concerts and plays. We also saw the balcony where Romeo and Juliet last saw each other, a number of bell towers and Cathedrals, and walked to a bridge where the castle could be seen. Verona is a beautiful city, and one we were so happy to be able to visit. Again, we had been to Verona for Zone Conferences, but previously had only seen the church and the roads that lead to the freeway back home.
May 10th we traveled to Torre Pellice, on the west side of northern Italy. There we met with Diaconia Valdese, a great organization who helps refugees. We presented them with 120 backpacks filled with school supplies for refugee children. jYoung single adults had helped assemble the kits of school supplies together, and put them into the backpacks. Torre Pellice holds a special place in Church History, as this is where Lorenzo Snow and 2 other elders first came to preach the gospel in Italy in 1849, and dedicated Italy to the preaching of the gospel. One of our favorite hymns, "For the Strength of the Hills," is a Waldensian hymn that the Italian Saints brought with them as they immigrated to Utah. The hymn and words are actually about the majestic Piedmont mountains in the Torre Pellice area. The organization Diaconia Valdese is an organization we have loved working with. They help refugees in a number of border cities, including Ventimiglia near the French border, Trieste on the Slovenian border, Torre Pelice and Oulx (where we will be next week) on the west, near the beautiful mountains surrounding these cities, as well as other cities throughout Italy.
Left: Becky & Bryan, with leaders of Diaconia Valdese in Torre Pellice. Note backpacks. May 10, 2023
We were on the road again on May 12 to attend a very inspiring Zone Conference in Padova. We helped two other Senior couples prepare lunch for 50 Elders and Sisters. All were well fed, both spiritually and physically. Being with the young missionaries is rejuvenating. Our Mission President and his wife fed us spiritually.
After Zone Conference we stopped at 2 stores to purchase tools and supplies to be used for a flood cleanup in central Italy in a city called Faenza. Faenza had severe flooding on May 2 and 3 where the rain came nonstop for two days. Two people drowned, and one is still missing. Two rivers overflowed and flooded homes, with 6 to 7 feet of water in them. Kayaks were used to travel the roads for a couple of days, checking on missing persons. Cars and bikes were submerged and trashed, and the ground floors of their homes were destroyed. We, 10 young missionaries, and some members of the Florence, Italy Stake drove or took trains to get there, and to help whoever was in need. A homeowner whose house was flooded named Emilia came to the area where the city was assigning volunteers to help. The city leaders told her about our group, and she saw us with all of our own tools, cleaning supplies, and dressed ready to help. She started to cry. She couldn't believe that total strangers would come to help. We were able to clean all the walls, floors, windows and doors in her home, and carry out all of the destroyed furniture, cabinets, and wood to be discarded, We did the same with another home adjacent to hers. The young missionaries were given shovels, hoes, and brooms, and were assigned to a nearby area that had significant mud that needed to be removed and hauled off. Each person worked hard and each one did their part. A great deal of improvement was made, and hard work was accomplished. We will likely need to return again to help others. This same area in central Italy has had constant rain again this week, with more new flooding (see picture below). So, we will go back to help clean-up again with about 90-100 members on May 26-28. We will purchase more tools and cleaning supplies the next 2 days to help with this.
We are so grateful for the opportunities to serve and lift one another's burdens. President Wood, when asked what his favorite name for the Savior is, said, The Healer. The Savior truly is a Healer. He wants to make us well. His promises relate to Eternal life. He loves each one of His children. He does want to heal us from our infirmities and our troubles, if we will but allow Him to and follow Him. We hope that each one of you can turn to the Savior and feel His healing influence in your life. We send our love.
Becky, in Torre Pellice, at the offices of Diaconia Valdese
Bryan and Becky Gerritsen
May 18, 2023
ReplyDeleteBryan and Becky,
The cleanup in Italy and water damage has similarities to the challenges of the Wasatch front. All that clean-up effort with shovels sounds like a job for robust young men. I remember severe flooding in Las Vegas about 15 years ago. One of my CCSD co-workers home was flooded. I was appalled at how quickly possessions can be destroyed and families lives turned upside down. She has since moved to Oklahoma. The infrastructure of the city flood channels has since been greatly improved. Master the Tempest is Raging in Italy and at home. We are presently making landscape improvements with fruit trees and a garden in a community my great-great grandparents settled. David and Maxine visited with us yesterday and brought some family history documents. We had an afternoon of eating and conversation. All over the world missionaries are needed for physical and spiritual healing. We are grateful for our grandson serving in Chile. He loves what he does and does what he loves. So proud of your humanitarian work for a cause greater than ourselves.
Love,
The Humphrey Family