A VERY HOT. . .BUT AMAZING AUGUST 2023

HELLO TO FAMILY and FRIENDS

The hot summer temps are starting to come down to the 80s and we are loving that. We can actually spend a little bit of time outdoors and not BAKE! I think September and October are going to be quite delightful.

We had a most interesting Sabbath on August 20. We have been studying the early apostles in the New Testament like all of you in our Come Follow Me study.  As we have studied about the Apostle Paul, our Sunday School teacher (She is one of our Temple Worker friends) found information of the church where the Apostle Paul is said to have been held under house arrest in an apartment, beneath this church. Small groups can go there by reservation at certain times. There have been sophisticated methods performed on the property that identify it as an archeological find dating this church and apartment area to the 1st-Century A.D. We also know that Luke and Paul spent time together while Paul was in Rome. There is also speculation that the Apostle Peter may have visited while Paul was there. 

Paul was a Roman citizen, and as such--he could appeal unto Caesar to be put under house arrest and pay for his own guard rather than be put into a prison. So--that's what he did while in Rome for two years and then was "let go". But when he returns to Rome and is again imprisoned — it turns out to be the last two years of his life. This is the time he writes the book of 2 Timothy. 

I was very overcome with emotion during the time we were in this area of the apartment. Our son, Marcus, served his mission in Rome, and I vaguely remember him telling of a visit to a church, and a basement area where Paul was held under guard. Marcus loved the Apostle Paul, everything about him, his teachings, his experiences, and the way he endured his trials. I felt Marcus very near me there, especially as I read scriptures that were printed and hanging on the walls of this apartment

. As I stood reading from 2 Timothy 4:6–8,  tears came to my eyes as that foretold that Paul’s end was near.

 (V. 7–“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"). I have always loved those words and teachings.

Then when I was in the Celestial room of the temple a few days ago, I found the Sacra Bibbia (Italian Bible) and looked up these same scriptures in there.  Oh my—then I really did begin to weep!.Now I do not read Italian very well--but someone wanted me to get the message of these verses!  And I realized that I hadn’t paid as much attention to verse 8:

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”ll them also that love his appearing (such beautiful words). Unto a

 Paul is sharing this good news that we are all promised the same Reward —a crown of righteousness—from our Lord— as the Apostle Paul—IF we can but love and follow Jesus—Enduring to the End as Paul truly did. It was such a special time to be here and to feel Marcus near and know that the Lord is mindful of all of us and the things we need and things we do.

**AS a little side note--it was amazing as I did some extra studying about Paul and his timeline, that I discovered something I had never known about--in the Bible Dictionary called the "Pauline Epistles". Now I'm pretty sure I've never investigated this--except maybe to say to myself "Who is Pauline"--and why have I not heard of her before?? (I am showing my "ignorance " here) But when I went to these pages--oh my--I was so amazed to find study helps about all 14 of the Epistles of Paul (Pauline Espistles😫)  Just a brief visit to this section in the Bible Dictionary can truly enhance this section of our study of the New Testament at this very time.  It is a brief synopsis of these great teachings of Paul to these very different groups of early Christians who are beset by different problems--ALL trying to understand and find their way in a new Gospel setting. 

 .And Rome is full of Churches where the Gospel is taught in paintings, sculptures, gorgeous carved wooden doors and mosaics, to name just .a few. Truly wonderful to be here.

Our Missionary Group in the Anglican Church under the Basilica Santa Maria in Via Lata.(located on Via dell Corso 306) under which is the apartment where Apostle Paul was under house arrest for 2 years (somewhere between A.D 50 to 57)

L to R: Carol and Ron Mumford. Frank and Beth Sano, LeGrande and Jane Curtis, Jim and Laurie Alexander, Alma and Robyn Allred, Darcy and Peggy Guymon, Colleen and Bruce Dibb,, and Tania and Elisie Coleone

                Alma Allred has gathered us in this middle room and is teaching about the Apostle Paul

inside the Church which is located "above" Paul's apartment

   Just off the main room of the apartmen above an altar that dates to the 

Humanitarian Missionaries--Darcie and Peggy Guymon

This map on the wall helps us place where the old part of Rome cwas located

 Wall hanging of Paul's teachings  

the sculpted picture with these words below:

PAOLO--PIETRO--LUCA--

Toro, Simbolo dell'Evangelistadi Cosimo Fancelli (1620-1688)

Frescoes on the walls of this apartment

.

    The well inside this apartment (some call it a house--but it is a part of too many things to be a house). The lady who let us in and wanted to be our Guide , tho' we didn't pay for one, told us that Paul probably used the well for baptisms. But we know that Peter and Paul did baptisms in the Tiber River that runs right through Rome (and still does)

Alma Allred--he arranged for us to come and had done some research about the Apostle Paul

Beth Sano and Laurie Alexander as we are waiting outside--to be let inside.

 Another special event in August was a visit from Sara Luciani, her husband Giuseppe Bruno and their 2 children Vittoria and Giianmarco. They arrived on a Saturday afternoon and stayed with us in our apartment, returning home to Firenze (Florence) on Sunday afternoon.   Sara came to Clifton, Idaho as a Foreign Exchange Student. She and Missy became very good friends--they shared the same room and Sara was the same age as Missy--so they had many classes together in school. This " exchange" was for the entire school year 1989-1990, so that would have been 34 years ago. We have kept in touch all these years--Sara and Giuseppe coming to Idaho for a visit and we went to Florence to visit her after their marriage in 2006. We really wanted to be to her wedding in July 2006--but that was when Ron's Mom, Betty Jo.Mumford, was ill with her cancer returning and she died that July of 2006. So we went and saw videos of their beautiful wedding in March of 2007. Unfortunately, Sara's father, Franco Luciani, had passed away from cancer, also, in December 2006. But he was there for Sara's wedding and that was so important to all of them. 

   Sara sent to us just days before they arrived in Rome. They were coming off of their Summer Holiday visiting the Netherlands 

FRONT TO BACK: SARA, VITTORIA,  GUISEPPE and GIANMARCO

   Here--Ron teaching GOLF to Giuseppe (with Gianmarco in the background

Ron Mumford, Gianmarco Bruno, Carol Mumford, Sara Luciani (Bruno), Vittoria and Giuseppe Bruno

on our Balcony at our apartment in Rome, Italy  August 27, 2023 --our 52nd wedding Anniversary!!                                                                               

                                                                                

It was so wonderful to finally "connect" with Sara and actually have our plan to get together come to fruition. Ron had never met her 2 children--but Missy and I went to Florida in 2018            to meet up with Sara and Giuseppe in the Tampa Bay area--and that is where I was able to meet her children. Now they are both teenagers, Vittoria is16 and Gianmarco is 13. It was just so good to see them. Giuseppe was especially happy to see Ron, as Ron and he could communicate quite well and that seemed to make Giuseppe feel important and a real part of the group. We taught them a few games, Ron took them outside to the lawn area around our apartment and showed them some golf swings. All in all, a great time. Now she says it is our turn to "Come to Firenze" and "We will take good care of you." And we are pretty sure they will. 

BLUE MOON And the last thing to mention in this Post is the 'Blue Moon"!!!! I thought we had "missed it"!!! and I was so sad. We saw Posts of others dated Aug 29th, 2023. But then Ron said--"Oh no--we can still see it--(and this was August 31, 2023). So when it got dark--we went out on our Balcony of our apartment ant took a few photos. They may not seem too spectacular to you--but to me--they are amazing.!!  HELLAND I DIDN'T MISS IT!!!!

                   

SO THAT'S A RAP on this Post. There's so much more to tell--but I will save it until next time. 

Happy September!! Thank you for all of your love and support.

Sorella Carol and Anziano Ron Mumford

Hurrah for Israel! Hurrah!!

THE GUIDARA DAY

Dearest Family and Friends,

     I told you that I had much still to share--so this is a special  message about an incredible experience. We have so many really faithful, sacrificing members who come from areas around Rome to serve each week--come rain or shine. Our Thursday AM "Coordinatrice" is Silvia Guidara. She and her husband, Emanuele, live in what I can only describe as  "the Hill Country" around Rome. Their place is aptly named "Castelnuovo di Farfa," Lazio , Italia. (a 10-acre getaway with rolling hills, hundreds of olive, fig and peach trees, not to mention a huge garden that grows at least 4 different kinds of berries--trailing each other in their "maturing season". There were so many types and varieties of "verdura" (the Italian name for vegetables). 

The setting for the pergola where we ate a very relaxing lunch, with wisteria vines flowing over the edges on all sides was reminiscent of an old Italian movie set where perhaps Sophia Loren or Roberto Benigni (or Marcello Mastroianni, tho I do not know him as well) might come strolling through this beautiful yard or come "sit 'a spell' on the patio. It was truly a magical day and we still haven't quite figured out WHY we were invited to enjoy this day along with the Boyntons and the Sanos--2 other Temple Missionary couples.

But FIRST THINGS FIRST:

     SO ON  Sunday, July 9th, 2023--we made our way to the Sabina Branch of the Roma Est Paola,(Rome East Stake) which meets in the Conference Room of the Hampton by Hilton Rome North Hotel in Fara de Sabina. As we entered the Foyer of the Hotel--there were the Missionaries who are assigned to the Sabina-area--2 Anziani and 2 Sorelle, to greet us.  There was a YW meeting going on in the couch/lounge section of said Foyer--and we could hear Prelude music coming from the open room down the hall. As we stood talking to the Missionaries, all these people--whom we know from our service in the Temple, came streaming through the doors! And so many Temple Ordinance Workers!!This is a Branch--that has so much talent and faithfulness oozing from its members--I will not be surprised if it becomes a Ward soon. And I'm sure the reason it is still a Branch is that the numbers are not there to create a Ward--but every one that is assigned to meet in this Branch--is almost a100% attender. (And we learned later from the Guidara's that there were 25 other members who are faithful--missing due to vacations.) So it was a very wonderful Sacrament Meeting time. It seems that the arrangement with the Hotel is that this room (and a few others upstairs) are rented for each Sunday unless otherwise noted and the Stake and The Hotel management are "on-board" with these meetings and people coming and going as they do. Then, the Sisters enjoyed a Relief Society meeting taught by a Sister who "taught from her heart"--while the Brothers left us to go upstairs to Priesthood. Ron reported that he had truly been taught the gospel in that Priesthood Mtg that day. This visit further reinforced that the Church is growing and sustaining itself in Rome and the areas around it. And because we have seen and worked with these Saints in the Temple--we were greeted so warmly--the "Italian Way" (which I love!) a sweet peck on each cheek and warm "Benvenuto". It never gets old!!

      After the meetings--Fratello Guidara joined us in our car and guided us to their home.  It was about 30 minutes from where we had Church meetings--but to go another way--to serve in the Temple--they would go about 30 minutes total. So they don't feel like it's any kind of a sacrifice. The road to reach their home is a typical country-lane--trying-to-be--2 lanes where you go along always watching the curves for a "surprise" vehicle coming from the other direction. But these people , for the most part, are all neighbors and they watch out for each other--so to back up and let another pass by--is no big deal.  We drove up a small hill and to an open gate which we passed through and arrived at the Guidara Home. (I hope I can include enough pictures for you to get a feel for what it was like.) Now the Guidaras are not wealthy--but they have used their hard work and provident living skills to create this beautiful place. Three of their 4 children are now either married or living on their own--so this Couple are putting the finishing touches on turning part of this home into an AirBnB--which just launched this week on the VRBO site. (Although Silvia said she'd rather people just contact her directly when they are ready to Book--she can give them a better deal). It will be more like a "respite from City Life" to Book a room here--but one could not be disappointed with the serene surroundings or the delicious meals (that are available to also Book). 

 
                       Another view of the Pergola                                Ron and Carol Mumford seated for lunch

Figs--from Tree to Table

The beautiful pergola where we ate our meal

Sylvia Guidara and her "Prosciutto and Fig Pizza"

Around the table: Ron, Carol, Beth Sano, the Guidaras and Rod Boynton

A view of the Guidara place (hundreds of Olive trees in the distance)

from just below the Pergola

                                             

Frescoes on the wall inside the Abbey

Entering the Abbey courtyard from parking lot.

L to R: Emil Guidara, Carol and Ron Mumford, Rod nd Vicky Boynton

Carol and Ron in the courtyard of the Abbey

 

                          The Gardner "Emanuele"                                      Sylvia Guidara picking figs

 

                                                                     

Olive trees (we are  invited back in October to help "harvest the olives" for processing into oil

                               Coming upon the Peergola--nestled in this beautiful spot in the yard

L to R: Beth Sano, Silvia and Emanuele Guidara, Ron and Carol Mumford and Rod and Vicki Boynton                            

There is also an ABBEY just down the road that we stopped at for a quick look. The day was so HOT--we had all just about 'melted" by the time we got back in the car to return home.  Emanuele Guidara has a limousine and taxi service--so he also does guided tours--in and around Rome, or all over Italy if one prefers.  He would have loved to keep us longer--but we were "done" due to the 100+ F Temps!!   BUT OH WHAT A LOVELY TIME!!

SO WE ENDED ANOTHER WONDERFUL SABBATH WITH SOME NEW FRIENDS FROM ITALIA. "GRAZIE MILLE to the GUIDARAS"

And we say Thank you to our Family and Friends for all of your L💕VE and support!!

Sorella and Anziano Mumford