JUNE was FULL but not recorded---UNTIL NOW. . .

Hello to Family and Friends,

     I sent a little update to our Oxford Ward Missionary newsletter the first of July--and two words that described our situation here in Rome, Italy --hot and humid. Well it is now July 12th and the change in that description is--very hot and humid!! Ron says that he never remembers his time in Italy (and he was in and around Rome for the last part of his Mission) to ever be this HOT.  THIS WEEK THE TEMPS WILL FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 99 and 102 F. So yes, we are very happy to be serving IN THE TEMPLE where some days the Women's Inititatory area is actually quite chilly!! Each week or every other week--we have new workers come from out of the Rome area to be Ordinance Workers for a week--sometimes two. That is literally how we man the Temple with workers as we do not have enough serving in this area to meet the demand. So Stakes all over Italy "sign up" for the time slots that have been identified as "critical need for service" and then they come to Rome, stay in Patron Housing and come and serve on at least one shift a day (some are so excited to be here--they have signed up for both shifts with a short lunch break in between). And they are so needed! This week we started out with workers from Palermo.  It is in the "Sud of Italy" (southern) and it is very warm there. One Sister was changing in the locker room when I went down last evening to also dress to go home--and she was shakiing. She said it is too cold for her (I'm thinking she must mean downstairs)--but no, the air conditioning in the Temple is not something she is used to at all--and she was cold all day. I am sure when I see her today--she will be dressed warmly. So--I bet she was happy to get outside last night where temps had cooled to 90 F (at 7:30 pm). 

     The last week of June and the first days and weeks of July have been filled with so much. I want to just review some of those things here. Since March, many people in and around the area of the Roma East Stake have met weekly to practice and pull together a Musical Pageant by well known Latterday Saint musical composer and pianist, Kenneth Cope entitled "My Servant, Joseph Smith". It was presented in our Stake Center on June 28th, in a way as a remembrance of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum. There is a lot of musical talent in our Stake and they love to come together to perform. It was a great production--a little longer than they had planned ( a few technical difficulties and staging) but I think what so impressed me was that, with the exception of 2 Americans on the program--it was all done by Italians, in ITALIAN (no surprises there)  and they owned it!!  And the young Elders and Sister Missionaries taking turns to Translate over headphones for us who still need it!!  It was "Standing Room Only" and with the exception of a few young children wandering in and out--the audience was almost spellbound. The performers had practiced and they were well prepared!!  There are rumblings that a few of the closer Stakes --Milano East and West and Florence are trying to arrange for this Program to come to their areas. Not sure how or if that will happen--but it has surely made them happy to be so complimented.

     Next Activity, tho' it did not take place here in Rome, is something I want to just highlight as it has affected me --well our whole family, in an amazing way. June 30th, 2023 saw a very well organized Golf Tournament Fundraiser take place at the Birch Creek Golf Course in Smithfield, Utah. The name of this Golf Outing--The Bryce Mumford Memorial Golf Tournament.    

JUNE 30th, 2023

What an honor for us, even from here, to support such an amazing event that will help Bryce's wife Lissa and their 4 children --Pierson, Jane, Owen and Iris--see a coming together of so many who loved Bryce and wanted to help his family financially. Bryce loved GOLF!! . There could be no better way to remember him than teams of people playing a game he loved. It was organized by Lissa's cousin from Arizona and there were 15 or 16 teams of 4 golfers (Foursomes in golf lingo) who arrived to play on a beautiful morning the end of June.  Lissa and the kids were there to observe--well Pierce--the oldest-- was invited to be on one of the Mumford Foursomes which were aptly named The Jane Foursome and The Owen Foursome. I am so proud of my family for all the ways they supported--putting Teams together, fixing the lunch that was served, helping to get raffle prizes and sharing thoughts and memories about Bryce. There was even a Kids' Putting Contest for all the Cousins who could come and support (and such fun prizes and participation gifts awarded). We waited anxiously the whole day--for Reports to come in about who was there, how did things turn out and what the general feeling about how this activity turned out. Lissa reported that she didn't get a picture of all the Foursomes--but that there were even people who heard about it and loved the idea so came in support.  Aren't people just so good!!

L-R: Abbie Coats and her husband, Dylan and Cody Ralphs

The "Jane Foursome" Lincoln, Abram and Mitch Mumford and Dave Pierson

The Organizer of the event, Greg, Greg's Father, J D and Brigham Cook

Wade and Garrett Ward and Luke Smellie and -President Ron Smellie

Best Lil" Putters--Libbie and Iris Mumford

Custom Ball Markers  that were personally designed and included in Everyone's "Thank You" Package. I hear that Libbie and Iris were thrilled to get theirs

The "3 Mumford Musketeers"-- Hattie, Jane and Mia

Some of the Putters. Someone (I think Moff said Hollie) came up with the cutest categories for the Putting Contest The Categories and Winners :

BLINDMAN PUTT (putt with your eyes closed)--OWEN

LONGEST PUTT---GID

FLAMINGO PUTT (standing on one leg)--MIA (She made it in the hole)

1ST PLACE--with a score of 15---JANE

2ND PLACE--with a score of 16--PORTER AND MILLIE --TIED!

WINNERS GOT JUMP ZONE PASSES--ALL KIDS got chocolate milk and donuts

                                                 The Kids' Putting Contest--Mumford Cousins

"Pierce's Foursome"--Duke, McKay and Josh and Pierce Mumford

This Foursome includes Whop and Whop and Ba's friend from Driggs, ID , Neal Lutz and his nephew

Back to Front: J D Cook, Colin Rounds, T J Adams (Cam's bil) Cameron Rounds, and  Pres Ron Smellie

FYI--the Rounds Foursome and The Crumbl Foursome (as in the cookie)sensation) tied for Winners--Better Scores went to the Crumbl Team---11 under par!!

Missy, Duke and Lincoln Mumford (some of my Favorites!!)

Just a few pics of the Teams--Mumfords and friends were able to sponsor 3 Foursomes which was absolutely amazing.  Brad Mumford reported that his Foursome had a great time golfing, laughing and sharing Memories of Bryce. There is hope that this can become an annual event. 🏌⛳

 Another Adventure--July 3rd, 2023 found Anziano and Sorella Mumford in our car heading to Assisi, Italy. Home of the celebrated St Francis of Assisi and the "Festivale Lavanda" (Lavender Festival). We caught the "tail-end" of the Festival--but it was so beautiful we are so glad we went. We headed into the town of Assisi--where the Basilica of St Francis and the Duomo di San Rufino top the list of places to see in this wonderfully preserved medieval town. 

Assisi is a town and a comune in Italy, in the region of Umbria. Assisi on the western side of the mountain called Mount Subasio. It is an important place because of its art, its architecture andts history and it is especially important to the Catholic religion.

The Basilica of St Francis

The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died. It is a Papal minor basilica and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy

The Duomo di San Rufino--or simply the Assisi Cathedral--has a beautiful Romanesque facade featuring "3 Rose Windows"                  

The Rocca Maggiore--seen for miles around because it sits atop the highest hill in Assisi.     

St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, and founding the Franciscan order.(religious order for men) Son of an affluent cloth merchant, St. Francis of Assisi lived in wealth and ease until God used a meeting with a leper to change his heart. He began his life-long service to the poor. 

Francis is often credited with being the first person to create a live nativity scene and the tradition still holds strong today. Each year you’ll see nativity scenes set up in every nook and cranny of the town of Assisi. TodayAssisi is considered a global symbol of peace. 

These 2 pictures --the one on top of this bottome one--are called "THE HALL OF THE POPES"

The Assisi Chapel has some very well preserved Frescoes

Our "venue" for Lunch in Assisi--Lovely

We had to "wait" to see the Lavender farm which hosts the Festivale di Lavanda as it closes during the middle of the day (like most of your shops and restaurants in Italy do). so we drove out to it--and took a few pictures before one of the owners/hosts found us and offered directions to where we could purchase lavender products of all kinds. Ron's phone died and mine doesn't take very good pics--so I missed getting a photo of the hundreds of "lavender offerings" that were displayed and on sale. I think she told us there are 63 varieties of lavender--but they did not plant that many. But it was so lovely!!

Rows and rows of beautiful Lavender is what we found in the lower area of Assisi. Can you imagine what a "calming effect" a field of lavender has on a person? We wanted to walk up and down every row--because it was so lovely--and changed as we got closer to it. But, then we thought better of it-as we realized the "outcome" of hundreds of people traipsing across the fields (not everyone respects beautifully planted straight rows and the need to stay in the furrows--not on top of the planted row). It was HOT so we did not stay but a short time but oh it was so lovely!!

As always--we wish we'd had more time to explore and learn more about this amazig little spot in Umbria.  They say that Christmastime is a fun and memorable time to go there.  

There is so much more that I could tell you--but I'll save it for another time. We are truly beginning to discover there is much more to Historic Rome than it's crowded Central Rome district of historical places. These little towns like Assisi and L'Acquila are just gems to get out and explore.

And so I close this Post and again reiterate how much we love and appreciate your support. We can "feel it"--and we are grateful.

Hurrah for Israel! Hurrah!!

Sorella and Anziano Mumford