July of Record

July departing missionaries returned to their homes in record numbers.  Thirty-six outstanding missionaries in the Italy Milan Mission departed in two groups on July 9th and 10th, 2015.  We received seventeen new missionaries, which is quite a large group, but did not make up the amount of missionaries departing.  Even though our numbers have decreased, we have resolved to teach more people and see more people baptized and confirmed members of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Because of the large amount of departing missionaries, we moved the transfer schedule up one day.  The arriving missionaries came on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, but were late and arrived in two groups.  These are some of the snapshots that we could get as we had time.  We were not able to go to Milano to find and teach on the first day because of the flight schedules.

Arriving missionaries pose after dinner in front of the restaurant - Tuesday, July 7, 2015

On Wednesday, July 8, 2015, we brought the trainers in to the Lampugnano Capella to meet the new missionaries they would be working with for the next twelve weeks.  Below, they are pictured with President and Sister Dibb and their new companions.

Preparations for going to their new cities of service

After the match-up, departing missionaries began arriving in Opera at the mission offices.  Preparations for the flight home, dinner, testimonies and farewell handshakes are the order of the afternoon and evening.  The next morning, the missionaries go to the airport and fly out.  This process was repeated two days in a row for this group of thirty-six.

Sixteen Anziani in front of the Mission Home - July 8, 2015

After the testimony meeting and Mission Hymn, these Anziani began singing "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy "
 a capella

Then we all sang "God Be With You Til We Meet Again"

These two Anziani served as Assistants to the President

Some casual shots of these great Anziani

We are glad you served in the Italy Milan Mission!

The next day twenty more missionaries came to the Mission Offices.

Two Anziani were having birthdays either that day or the next -

and also two Sorelle!

Twenty departing missionaries with Presidente and Sorelle Dibb in front of the Mission Home - July 9, 2015

Conseglio was held July 13, 2015.  Below is pictured the Mission Leadership Council and then the Sister Training Leaders and the Zone Leaders, Assistants to the President and President Dibb.

We also received two coppia of Senior Missionaries.  Elder and Sister Clark will be serving in Treviso and Elder and Sister Olson (pictured at the end of the Blog) will be serving as the Office Couple in Opera (Milano).

Elder and Sister Clark arrived Friday, July 17, 2015

This is a photo of a beautiful married couple in Genova who were baptized.  The man was cheering as he left the font!

A week after the new missionaries arrived, we received word that we would have a Sorella from Firenze (from our mission) start her mission while waiting for her Visa to the United States.  She and her trainer are pictured below at the Mission Offices.

A few weeks after the new missionaries arrive, we bring them together for some more "New Missionary Training."  We had two sessions, one in Milano and one in Bologna.

New Missionary Training in Milano - July 29, 2015

New Missionary Training in Bologna - July 24, 2015

Elder and Sister Olson started August out right by flying in from Canada - August 1, 2015 at Linate Airport.

It was a busy July with missionary comings and goings to say the least.  We thank you as parents, former missionaries and friends for your support.  The missionaries in the Milan Italy Mission are the best in the world!

Italy Milan Mission in the Digital Age

A great deal of organization and effort took place to prepare for the distribution iPads to the missionaries in the Italy Milan Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Careful planning was made to make sure that every missionary was able to prepare for, receive, and start up the iPads.  This was a huge undertaking.  President Dibb and his assistants were very busy discussing ways to wisely use these devices.  Our objective is to use these devices to fulfill our missionary purpose as described in Preach My Gospel.

The Office Anziani and a team of specialists for each zone were the main technical instructors for the "rolling out" of the iPads in the mission.

The "tech team" (one for each zone plus the office Anziani)

A Conseglio was held in which part of the training was designed to help the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders conduct a "distribution event" of the iPads. At the end of the training, the Zone Leaders were given the iPads for their zones and the iPads were distributed a few days later.

Sister Training Leaders - May 16, 2015

Mission Leadership Council - May 16, 2015

Zone Leaders and Assistants - May 16, 2015

We are learning to use the iPads to further the work of the Lord here in Italy Milan Mission.  We know that technology will help us to communicate and teach more efficiently and effectively as we follow the guidelines set forth by the missionary department.  Technology is a blessing in our lives to be used for good.  May mission use of the iPads be an aid in the prudent utilization of technology for the rest of our lives.