SURPRISE on a Sidewalk in Rome!

Dearest Family and Friends,

       Well folks, IT HAPPENED! Sorella Mumford encountered her FIRST WILD BOAR!  Good thing Anziano Mumford was right there with me!! It was just as daylight was fading and we had decided to go for a little walk around our area. He(Ron) was showing me a new little area that he had found as he rode his bike around the area on Friday or Saturday. It was a funny thing, well kind of, that he had just found a big stick--actually like a club--that he thought he should carry--maybe use it as a walking stick. And then about 20 yds ahead of us or so--this big Boar came running out from under some trees. He stopped, I really stopped!! And Ron, too--and then the Boar ran off down a hill and came back up--again about 20 yards behind us.

Ron took this picture that I will post below as he was standing behind us. Oh he (or she) was UGLY!! Then Ron told me he had seen 2 more of these ugly animals on his walk just a few days before--but he was in another area. So--I don't think we'll walk again as night is fading--at least not me, alone. So glad Ron was with me, he has a way of helping me stay calm--and it sort of helped me to see that most of these animals are not aggressive--at least if they don't have their little ones with them. I've heard that is another story.

These are the 2 Wild Boars that Ron saw on his walk about a week ago

 This is the Wild Boar that scared Carol "to death" on our walk on Sunday eve!

Well--we move on to better things. . . .           .

     We are poised and ready to begin our first week (tomorrow, Feb 7th) on the new Temple Schedule where the temple will remain OPEN throughout the entire day. So many of our leaders spent today (Our P- Day) working out any "bugs" they could see to this new schedule. They are all so dedicated!! It is really going to be a change for this whole Temple District because the schedule we were on is the way it has been since the Temple opened it's doors for Ordinance work almost 4 years ago. 

       The last part of this email is a contribution from Anziano Mumford.  And it is a wonderful addition to this Mission Email. He always has"eyes to see and ears to hear" as he goes about his work and service here. I am so glad we are "Companions"!!

Feb 6, 2023 - Rome, Italy

First:

Mother (Carol) and I began serving as Temple Workers in early 2012. We served on Saturday from then until our first Senior Couple mission. I retired Dec 31, 2015, and we began our mission to the NY Manhattan Temple in early March 2016, which was extended until Jan 2018. 

We had worked with Pres. Dibb (I knew him a little), and the plan was - he would request us, and we would express our interest to serve in Italy - I’m not sure if he told them we’d be taking pictures of vital records in Verona with two other English speaking couples. We also indicated we’d be fine serving wherever we were called.

The work was being done in a chicken coop we were told - which fit right in for my farm boy experience. Also,I would have been the only one to have served an Italian mission - which family search and Pres Dibb said would help. Eight-five percent likelihood of approval- so we were told. Six weeks passed and we were called to the NY Manhattan Temple. 

This turned out to be the best possible mission and blessing for all us and our family. The Lord knows better than we do, we learned. 

      Knowing that the Rome Italy Temple was to be dedicated in 2019, and wanting again to be considered for Italy, we began preparing our papers after we were released from Our first mission. Again we expressed interest in Italy, but we also wanted to serve where we’re called. Because of our quick preparations, all papers and doctor approvals were ready.  They announced the dedication date and we were probably the first couple to  submit our papers for that new Rome Temple. 

This time we were called to the Headquarters Mission of the Church in SL, and we were later assigned by Pres Fenn, to the Church History Library - which we loved and found it to have been the best possible mission for us again. While in SL, We attended the temple weekly but were told they did not need any temple worker help - as there were so many other willing workers in SL.  

So, last Saturday I led my first endowment session since my NY service in early 2018. I didn’t receive any formal training this time, but had watched as a proxy in several endowment sessions. I also had a veteran brother at my side to help if needed. This time I was really focused on the sequential parts of this ordinance. 

I learned some things I’d not seen before: Our Heavenly Father (and His prophets), from the moment of the fall - was 100% focused on helping learn, grow, improve, that we could become worthy to return to His presence - not as innocent spirits as we were when we left his presence, but as his children - becoming like Him.

Father didn’t spend time scolding or berating us or putting us down. Yes, He taught truth, but like the prodigal son’s father - He “ran” to greet us - when we “came upon ourselves” and in the perspective of eternity, we remember who He is and who we are. 

John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He sent us Jesus who He sent to pay for our sins. He sent us His Spirit, the Scripture, and Joseph Smith; and today He sends Russell M Nelson and those who serve faithfully with him. 

Heavenly Father, here and eternally, is so on our side. 

Second:

      There is a new temple worker here whose name is Sister Choiban. She’s from Romania - the city of Transylvania. 

Yes! Transylvania! I didn’t know that is a real city! 

Well, in Nov (just after we got here), she arranged for housing on our “Temple Square”,  intending to serve as a member in our Temple District, as a worker. 

When our Presidency was making necessary arrangements, they found that she was not eligible because to be a worker you have to live in our Rome Italy temple district. Well, it seems she lives in the part of her country that is not part of the Rome Italy district. It had been a mistake that she had booked a room (which, by the way is at no cost - the Church did not want to get entangled in tax and other laws governing for profit businesses. And besides - this is such a blessing for Italians and to all in our district who have quite limited funds.)

So President Toronto told her she could remain here until Jan 30, 2023, but would need to serve as a proxy - not as a worker. She was a little disappointed, but was, alas, supportive. 

Well, we get to the end of January when she’ll need to leave - and Pres Toronto receives a letter from the temple department telling him that All of Romania is now part of our district. This was like two days before she was to leave. This little lady in her eighties acted in faith. The Lord blessed and now she can serve on, for a few more weeks (maybe months) - as a an Ordinance worker. She’s very pleased. 

Third:

Sister Thorderson (another Temple Missionary) bore her testimony yesterday, in Italian as best she could, fighting away tears, sharing her spirit and testimony of the truthfulness and her love for this work. She is so happy and genuine in her ways. She and her husband, Eric, have served for a total of 28 months. I may have the months slightly off but I think they served a little over a year in the baptistry, when they were sent home because of Covid. Then, they were invited to return and have served for about 16 more months - only to learn they will need to pay their own way home because they haven’t served the needed 18 months continuously. Pres Toronto went to bat for them - pointed out the 28 months they have served but that didn’t change the decision. 

I’m sure this might have influenced some missionaries negatively, but Eric said, “If that is what the Church is asking, then that is what we’ll do.” 

Another example of their service- They invited us to lunch last week. The topic came up about an American worker who hadn’t been given certain assignments by her Italian coordinator which instead were given to another Italian sister. (The world would call this race discrimination I think.)

Some comments began about how hard and unfair this treatment might be - after all the Church is above this. Right?

Instead, Eric ended all of this. He said, "Well if this were him - he was on a mission - he’d just do what was asked of him." Discussion over. I think that’s why this couple is so loved. He’s 6’8”. And every inch of him is devoted to helping and doing whatever he is asked. 

Finally:

      I served in Sealings last week with a missionary couple who have been on their mission for 6 months- all in Milano, Italy, and serving in the YSA program - Elder Daniel (who served a mission to Italy 40 years ago), and Laurie Jo Steflik - I’d say in their early 60’s. 

I asked him his duties. He shyly smiled and said he was the President. I looked surprised and his wife then shared what they’ve been doing in the YSA program. 

I asked what he had done for his employment, and where they were from. 

He gave me his mischievous smile again and said he was a janitor. His wife then, joining in, explained that he owned and brokered an insurance company in Elko, Nevada and his duties sometimes included cleaning up. 

The family cards he had prepared showed they were from Florida. But her cards showed an Elko, Nevada address. 

A little gun shy by now, I asked about their addresses. She then told me their story. 

About a year to 18 months ago,  the two of them decided to sell their insurance business and go on a mission. 

They prepared their applications and went in to get their physicals when they, for the first time, learned that he had prostate cancer and a PSA reading of 45. (A normal psa is 1.0 to 1.5 ) 

After a biopsy he was given a life expectancy of 6 months. 

They got very aggressive treatment for him - surgery, radiation, chemo. We know another couple who were equally valiant, aggressive and faithful. Right?

Anyway, after all of that, the doctors cleared Elder Steflik to go on his mission.  

They applied to serve for 23 months - the longest time possible for continuous mission service (I think it has to do with residency requirements in some states or nations.)

And here they are: Him happy and teasing - I bet the young singles love them. She - supporting, equally happy, joining in, so he can “mischief”and she can explain. John and Clarice Porter, right?

     It was a privilege to witness this. Their focus is eternal. They enjoy the journey - together, in service while they can. And I’m sure together - after that “whether they work together or apart”.

And so we leave that wonderful message with you of this divine work and purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Truly we can say "HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!  HURRAH!"

We send our Love!

Sorella and Anziano Mumford