Mumford's Roma Temple Mission: Where is Thanksgiving?

Open Air Market--

Fish Section
Hello from Roma Everyone!

I am realizing more and more how much I LOVE Thanksgiving! This month of November is 2/3 gone and not only is the weather here deceptive to it being November 20th (We had our coolest day yet—high of 61). But November 24, 2022 will be just a regular day on the Morning shift at the Temple. There are 0 turkeys in any meat section of any grocery store, no cranberries or even any boxes of Mrs Cubbison’s dressing mix for sale. I did see some fresh pumpkin at the store and the Open Market (more about that later in this Blog)—but nothing canned. I was “on my own” today in the Grocery store—and I did not find 4 or 5 things on my list without going to Google Translate and asking “How do you say _________? " Then I would find a store employee (that looked kind of friendly) and show them my Google Translate screen with what I was seeking. It worked 3 times at least.

And then my friend, Beth Sano came to check on me and we got the rest of it done. There is one thing you will never find in an Italian grocery store —Baking Powder. You had to bring it from home😟. But Beth knew you can’t find it—so she did bring some and is sharing it with me. Here are my “finds” this week:

Baking Powder (that friends are sharing) Best Foods ( a huge surprise) and on the end is Shortening

Open Air Market—my first here in Italy. Wow—talk about “Commerce Overload”!! My pictures do not do it justice— it was so much packed into these Vendor Stalls—unless it’s the Pesce (fish) and that is table upon table full of fish across the back of this market building. I seriously did not know there were that many species of edible fish and seafood (well—Anziano Allred would maybe not agree with the “edible” part). Fratello Allma Allred--one of our favorite Missionaries, said he went there once and just couldn't take all the black beady eyes of the squid "watching him" and looking back at him. (He's not a bargain-hunter at all!).

This market is a huge place where the fresh produce is laid out in elevated blocks with "rival salesmen" trying to get you to buy from them. This is in the middle of the market. The Bakeries and flower shops are along 1 or 2 walls, with the Fish (pesce) taking up most of the back wall and then kind of like "mini flea market" items along a short wall. You cannot even imagine the fish--It's like a whole ocean laid out in heaps across the back of this building. We went earlier than the Sano's usually go--and it was not as noisy as it gets when the market is full of people and the "Vying for Your Business" reaches a fever pitch and the fish mongers are known to break out in song to try and get you to

"Come to them".

Tons of fruits and veggies.

. . .and more fish!!

t's been another interesting week here in the outskirts of Rome. We have not ventured into "The City" yet--trying to get our bearings here where we are living. We have walked in 2 directions and are amazed at what lies "hidden" among the little roads and properties that we come across. One day we ventured so far we clocked 3 miles trying to get back. But if we ever get hungry while we are out--there's no shortages of "pizza this and pizza that' that we run across. One yesterday that we tried was a cross between Italian and Greek. Kind of interesting.

We continue to learn our duties in the Temple--Ron's are pretty straightforward--either he does Sealings or he is the Coordinator of the Sealings. It seems that the Sanos, the couple who drive us around, Fratello Sano thinks there should be a way for a non-busy Sealer to come and help in other areas of the Temple if needed. And Ron agrees--he'd love to do some of the other ordinances when he can. But that remains the call of President Toronto, who manages the Sealers' responsibilities. My duties, on the other hand, are way more varied. We do change shifts and this week we are the AM shift--except for Ron's "double shifts" on Tuesday and Saturday. Another Sealer is scheduled to arrive in December and that will eliminate the need for double shifts, at least for now. There is an Italian Sealer and his wife, who have come down from Verona to stay for 6 months, Fratello and Sorella Savian, and he is a great help as he speaks 4 languages besides Italian--French, Spanish, German and English. I really admire those who can keep that many languages "straight" in their minds and tongues!! What little I can remember of French sneaks into what little Italian I attempt and causes "blank looks" on the faces of those I am trying to communicate with--and then I realize my error!

But I did offer the Prayer in our Prayer Meeting in Italian and I think it went OK. Before I can even attempt any of the ordinances in Italian I have to read or repeat them with a native Italian to make sure the pronunciations are exact. Crisp and clear. I have very little "free time" while at the Temple, (which is the ONLY place I can study) so finding time to study is a challenge. Each day that we go--it's always a "surprise" as to what I will be doing and I like it! I do find that my experience as an Ordinance worker helps immensely as I attend Prayer Meeting and the instruction is in Italian and sometimes it will be translated for us 3 or 4 English-speakers--but if not--I have watched enough "Temple training videos" to know what is expected and I can just try to do things the way this Presidency wants them done. Sometimes the thought comes "I'm too old to be learning this language" but then I sort of remember that there have been occasions where my English was needed too.Like today (Tuesday, November 22, 2022). There were 4 separate times that my English was needed to help out at the Recommend Desk, as I GREETED PEOPLE coming into the Temple and in the Baptistry where a large family from Texas came to do Baptisms. And so it goes.

Some of our "stellar finds" as we venture out to check out our Neighborhood.

Does this look like it could have come from a Sci-Fi movie?

You might think this is a rug--but it is custom tile--almost mosaic-type work

These beautiful flowers are actually on the Temple Grounds. Now remember -- it's mid November

We are having some friends for "Thanksgiving Sunday Dinner'--more about that after it happens. I just could not NOT celebrate this wonderful day in some way.

One of the great rewards of serving here are those Patrons who come from a distance. This past week we had some who came from Romania and some who came from Sicily. The Romanians stayed in the Temple Housing--but I'm not sure about the Sicilians. They brought youth for Baptisms and some of the adults did other work. Where I serve each day--you start to recognize those who have been there each day--sometimes in both the morning and afternoon. They are so thrilled to have this opportunity. They have Family Names cards of surprisingly close relatives that they carry with the utmost respect, some with tears in their eyes as they tell you that they are going to do the work for their "Nonna" (Grandmother) or some even their Madre (Mamma). It is so special to be a part of this work.