A week of miracles

 Rome Temple

We had the blessing of attending the Rome Italy Temple this week with the FSY age youth and the young single adults (YSA) from Romania.  There were about 36 of them (which represents about 80-90% of those of age to go) and another dozen or so leaders and support staff.  The Rome Italy Temple is Europe’s Temple Square.  On these sacred grounds holds the Temple, Visitor/Family Search Center, Stake Center and patron housing.  This is where we spent 5 wonderful days, waking up to walk a short distance to enter the Lord's house was an incredible experience.  Every day, time was spent in the temple and to see the lives transformed through this remarkable service was amazing to witness and to be a small part of. 

Several days when they weren't in the temple, they had the opportunity to attend the Family Search Center, where they were able to research family names and take them to the temple.  Many of them are first generation members and the tree is pretty small but growing.

We had the great opportunity to visit with them, provide a devotional and pulled from the repertoire of games to engage the masses.  They are a ton of fun.

One of the afternoons we had the opportunity to go with everyone into Rome to St. Peter's Basilica.  What an amazing place.  The architecture and history are awesome and it's hard to capture the magnificence in the photos.  Everyone had a great time.

The Pietà, ("Our Lady of Pity"; 1498–1499) is a Carrara marble sculpture of Jesus and Mary at Mount Golgotha representing the "Sixth Sorrow" of the Virgin Mary by Michelangelo Buonarroti, in Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, for which it was made.  It is a key work of Italian Renaissance sculpture and often taken as the start of the High Renaissance.  The sculpture captures the moment when Jesus, taken down from the cross, is given to his mother Mary.  It is the only sculpture Michelangelo signed.

Food, fun and a dance with the Italian youth and YSA were also highlights.  They love being together.  They are from all parts of the country, so for many of them was the first-time meeting.  Some were new members from only 2 months to a year, so making connections with other members their age was a cherished experience.  Saying goodbyes were hard.

This sums up the week.  It's relationships like these that make it all worth it.

Elder and Sister Schneiter, we love you and thanks for a great week.  What a blessing you are.

Words cannot describe the feelings, emotions and gratitude for the week spent at the temple with the amazing youth of Romania.  The temple and its surroundings are really something to behold.  As with all temples around the world, they are the "refuge from the storm".  The Savior is very aware of the service provided as we enter the temple and perform HIS work.  He is ever watching over us, His children.  God be with you all, until we meet again.

"Behold and lo, mine eyes are upon you, and the heavens and the earth are in my hands, and the riches of eternity are mine to give".  (D&C 67:2)

A couple of personal miracles.  We were able to connect with President and Sister Walker who are serving as the Mission Leaders in the Italy Rome Mission.  They are from Eagle Idaho, and we have been friends for many years.  What a fun reunion.

Also, Elder Peterson who is serving in Frankfort Germany as our Young Single Adult liaison to the Europe Central Area came to speak to our youth.  It wasn't until I overheard a conversation he was having with one of our leaders that it clicked.  That's "Elder Peterson"!  We served together in the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission 45 years ago and we haven't seen each other since.  He was my Zone Leader when I arrived, and I was his Zone Leader when he went home.  It's a small world and God is good.