We Give Thanks for the Missionaries

The day before Thanksgiving, thirteen new missionaries arrived - all from North America and all at one time.  We were very grateful that it was a more "normal" arrival this time (they all arrived on the same flight with all of their luggage).  Twelve Anziani and one Sorella joined the mission and they already doing the Lord's work here in the land of Italy.

Some of the Office Anziani with President Dibb waiting to pick up the new arrivals and their luggage

Here they come!

Still smiling after a long flight

Looking very business-like

He's here

And another one from Hawaii

More "arrivi"

President Dibb and one of the Assistants welcoming two of the new missionaries

Coming out of the Airport 

More exiting the airport

Preparing to load the luggage in the van

All thirteen at the airport before departing to the mission office

All kinds of pizza were awaiting the new missionaries at the mission office

Then it was off to the center of Milan for some proselyting

The lone Sorella at the Duomo

Talking to people on the Metro (subway)

Part of the new group stopping for a photo in the metro station

Thanksgiving Dinner the evening of arrival at the Mission Home

Walking into the room to meet their trainers on  Thursday

The Sorelle immediately knew who their companion was

The Anziani are still wondering who their trainers might be

Receiving more training from the President before they are matched up - trainers on the left, trainees on the right

Standing to recite "Il Mio Scopo"

Sorella Dibb giving some training

All of the new missionaries with President and Sister Dibb

New missionaries with their trainers

Four generations of trainers

As the new arrive, the departing missionaries reflect upon their mission service

We give thanks for those who returned home in November

We are full of gratitude for the dedicated, true and strong servants of the Lord which fill our mission.  We have Senior Couples who work hard each day to fulfill their responsibilities in the mission in many capacities and young missionaries who take seriously their calling to find, teach and baptize those the Lord has prepared.

Below are just a few more photos of companionship introductions.

A candid shot of companions meeting each other for the first time

The announcement of the last two sets of trainers/trainees

Preparing for a picture with Presidente and Sorella Dibb

Mission Tour with President Teixeira

The week of November 4th was an exciting and inspiring time in the Missione Italiana di Milano.  President José A. Teixeira, the president of the Europe Area of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and his wife, Sister Teixeira, conducted a mission tour and taught, trained and uplifted each missionary.  It was such a privilege to be receivers of special counsel for our mission by a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and his wife.  

President Teixeira shook the hand of each missionary

A zone conference gives opportunities for trainers again to see their trainees

Sorelle visiting with President Teixeira at the Zone Conference held in Firenze

A couple of Anziani before lunch at Firenze

One of the Sorelle tables at Firenze

Anziano and Sorella Lee who headed the committee for lunch in Firenze

Sorella Tonon serving up her luscious dessert

Another group of Sorelle at the Firenze Conference

Companions at the Firenze Conference

On to the Zone Conference held in Verona 

A table of Anziani enjoying their lunch in Verona

A table of Sorelle in Verona

More smiles!

Some of the couples partaking of the autumn meal

More caring couples eating after serving the younger missionaries

Back to  Anziani

Anziani at the Verona Ward Building

Anziano and Sorella Arbogast, who chaired the luncheon committee in Verona, having their picture taken with
President and Sister Teixeira

On to Milano!

Sorelle at the Milano conference having lunch

Anziani at the Milano luncheon

Getting started on lunch at Milano

Feeding over 110 missionaries at Milano

Enjoying the lunch line at Milano (Lampugnano)

President and Sister Teixeira with Anziano and Sorella Harmer, chairmen of the Milano luncheon

Anziano and Sorella Burger, great helpers for the Milano lunch

Sorelle in the "light" at Lampugnano (Milano)

After three days of touring the mission, a Mission Leadership Council (Consiglio) was held with President Teixeira.  At the conclusion of the training and before lunch, we stepped outside for a photograph with President and Sister Teixeira, President and Sorella Dibb, the Assistants to the President, twenty Zone Leaders and fourteen Sister Training Leaders.  The leadership council was a wonderful conclusion to an awesome week of learning.

The Assistants to the President, President and Sister Teixeira, President and Sister Dibb

We feel very blessed to have been instructed on how to take our missionary work to the next level.  The missionaries are now putting into practice the skills learned at the conferences.  Both the missionaries and the wonderful souls they meet are already enjoying some of the fruits of the conferences.  May we continue onward and upward in helping others to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We thank you for your encouragement to those of us serving missions here in northern Italy.