2014-09-07 First Sunday in Battipaglia

Our first Sunday in Battipaglia branch was Fast and Testimony meeting. We didn't have or want a translator, but we could feel the spirit of the meeting. Brother Mondelli taught priesthood meeting and Paul Scherbel translated a little for me. Paula had a translator for Relief Society. During Sunday school I went with Paul to pick up a member who plays the organ for Sacrament meeting. He had slept in and missed his bus. The organist is from Argentina and recently completed a mission in Italy and decided to stay. There were about 30 people present including 6-8 investigators. Following

2014-09-06 Arrived in Roma

The Scherbels met us at the Rome airport with three of their English class students, Martina, Francesca, and Marianna. They went with us to Europecar to get our rental Nissan Micra which took a couple of hours because of the line. The girls went to the phone store to get one of our phones serviceable for Italy.

We drove from Rome to Battipaglia, a three hour drive, with a little adventure mixed in. We stopped for a bite to eat at a freeway rest stop and Paula left her purse on the seat. The girls called the restaurant and they had found the purse. Paul drove our car back, since I was too tired drive farther. The purse was intact, nothing missing, a miracle, especially in Italy. The Scherbels helped us get settled in our apartment, and showed us how to drive to church. After seeing our confused looks they agreed to come to apartment to pick us up

We're leaving on September 5 for 10 weeks in Italy. We've rented an apartment between Salerno and Battapaglia. Our friends, the Scherbels, will meet us at the Rome airport and guide us to our apartment and have taken care of much of the arrangements.