Tapestry of Training

Much of the work accomplished in the mission requires training.  Each transfer a "Consiglio" is held with Sister Training Leaders, Zone Leaders, The Assistants to the President and  President and Sister Dibb.  Every quarter a zone conference is held.  Usually every quarter a Specialized Training is conducted.  When new missionaries enter the field, they and their trainers receive training at their arrival and then again one to two weeks later.  District meetings are held weekly.  Zone training is held monthly.

The missionaries meet individually with the President for interviews and in large groups for Zone Conference.  They are trained by President and Sister Dibb, mission leaders, senior missionary couples, companions, trainers, assistants to the president, visiting general authorities of the Church and others.

The missionaries also attend ward or branch council meetings when invited and are trained by Bishops, Branch Presidents, District and Stake Presidents, and/or Ward and Branch mission leaders. 

Trainings vary from being very specific to quite general.  At each training the scriptures and Preach My Gospel are used.  Role playing is a very effective tool in training.  Sharing ideas of what works well is a valuable part of training.  Practicing and evaluating are skills which we use to improve teaching fundamentals.  We discuss and set goals to aid us in our work.

Training meetings are also a good time for missionaries to renew friendships and to share the joys of missionary work.  

Training received and implemented helps us to be more effective servants in the Lord's hands.  

Much preparation is put into each training meeting

New missionary training at Modena Chapel

New missionary training at Lampugnano Ward building

New missionary training in Verona Ward building

Sister Training Leaders after Consiglio

Lunch after Consiglio

Break and sharing during Consiglio

Zone Leader recording statistics with an Assistant to the President 

District Leader Training at the Lampugnano Ward building

District Leaders being trained by the Assistants and the President at the Modena Ward building

President Dibb celebrating his birthday between interviews at the Genova Ward  building

Sorelle in the Padova Zone role playing for a lesson on "The Plan of Salvation"

Anziani in Ravenna Zone doing some role playing

Sorelle in the Forli Branch building role playing a lesson

More practice  at role playing for the Anziani

Using the scriptures in teaching

Reversing roles after evaluation

More practice

Using the training regarding budgeting money wisely on the mission

Calendaring with the Branch President and his wife

Senior couple missionaries who lead the Branch in Forli with President and Sister Dibb

The Mission President and his wife receive training

September Incoming and Outgoing

There has been a whirlwind of activity during the month of September in the Missione Italiano di Milano.  The reception of many new missionaries was the highlight.  Below are pictured some of the missionaries as they came out of the door of the airport terminal.  Twenty-seven Anziani and two Sorelle entered the mission during the month of September.

                                                                 

                   

                                 

Following one of the assistants

Anziani already at work finding at the airport

First sights of Italy in front of the bus on September 4, 2013

Tired, but glad to have arrived

From the front of the bus

From the side of the bus

At the back of the bus

From the airport, we traveled to Cimiano (one of three Milan ward buildings) and divided into four groups.  Two of the groups went immediately to the Milan Duomo to learn how to ride the subway, see the Duomo, get money out of the ATM and do some finding work.  The other two groups were trained on finding techniques and life in the mission.  Then the groups switched places.   President Dibb interviewed each of the new missionaries separately during this time, as well.

The Sorelle on the subway

The group is coming up out of the subway and seeing the Duomo for the first time.

Half of the new missionaries in front of the Duomo

Finding at the Duomo

More finding at the Duomo

Trying to hold their heads up at dinner

Listening to some unique Church experiences

Dusk approaching after dinner

The day after the missionaries arrived, they were taken back to the Cimiano church building where they met their trainers and were off to their beginning areas of service.

Training the trainers

New missionaries filing into the room

Training trainees and trainers together




                                

                              

In receiving their trainers, the trainer is called up and the trainee is announced (bottom above), they hug each other (middle photos above), they walk back to their seats together (top right), sit and give the thumbs up (top left).

Lunch after meeting the trainers

More getting-to-know-you time at lunch

The new missionaries are ready to "take off."  Are they an impressive group or what?

The new missionaries with their trainers about to embark upon a most life-changing experience

The mission also said good-bye to four outstanding missionaries.  We wish them the best in their future endeavors!

What a privilege it is to serve a mission here in Italy with your capable, spiritual, humble, helpful and patient family members and friends.  We pray that each missionary knows of our love for them and that we are all children of our Heavenly Father who loves us.  Each day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth.  As we seek the guidance of our Father in Heaven, and spend our full-time and focus in His service to bring about His work in the Italy Milan Mission, we know (and we hope that your missionaries know) that He wants us to succeed and He will continue to help us in our work and in our lives.  We strive to serve together to become disciples of Jesus Christ, to do our part to assist the Holy Spirit in teaching the Doctrine of Christ and to make available Heavenly Father's eternal ordinances to all of His children and especially to those of His children in our great mission of Milan, Italy.

With admiration and appreciation for you and your missionaries, 

Presidente and Sorella Dibb