Saturday, 23 July 2016

Today, our P-day, Myrna and I drove about an hour north to a small city called Muggiò, where we found the apartment of Carlo and Rosemary Mongiovi.  He and I were missionary companions together in Bergamo (where we went last week) 50 years ago, and we re-connected a couple of weeks ago when we attended a baptism in Muggiò.  Today, along with the Mongiovis, we drove about 45 minutes further north, toward the Swiss alps, to a little city called Merone, to visit Mario and Rosa Viara.  They were both born in 1923.  My brother, Fred, baptized them in Genova when he was on his mission to Italy over 40 years ago.  I got up at 5:30 this morning and spoke with Fred, who was in Thatcher for the 24th of July holiday, and asked him to send pictures I could print out and take to the Viaras today, which he did.

 
We gave them the pictures when we first got there, and they were delighted to see them, and asked lots of questions about Fred's family, who were, for the most part, all there in Thatcher.

 
Italians are very hospitable.  They gave us gelato, Italian ice cream (several flavors, including lemon and chocolate), and pastries, from a pastry shop. These were as good as they look. Italians eat a lot of them, but they usually look better than they taste. Myrna made them two kinds of American cookies and I made them a CD with the first 64 hymns from the Italian hymnbook, played virtually on the organ in the old duomo of Brescia.


They brought out their picture albums, which included pictures taken at their baptism in Genova over 40 years ago.  Fred and his companion found, taught and baptized them, after patiently working them (including Mother sending them letters) for about 5 months.

President Viara said that just before his baptism he had been diagnosed with a fairly severe case of Krone's disease, and was being treated by a radiologist for it.  Shortly after his baptism he had an appointment with the radiologist, who, after doing the regular tests, said he could find no trace of the disease and declared, including to his colleagues, that Viara had been miraculously cured.  I remarked that the Lord had a great work for him to do after he was baptized.  He became the first stake president in Italy (now there are many), went to general conference 8 times and stayed with apostles, who have also stayed in his home. He then became a mission president in southern Italy, and was Aliesa Jensen Nelson's mission president. (They showed us the announcement they received that Aliesa's daughter sent about her wedding this coming week.)  Rosa told us about hand sewing many pillows for the missionaries while on her mission.  She is also a very accomplished oil painter and has lots of her framed art on her walls.  She said I could take pictures of the pictures, but they all had glass, which was a photographic problem, because of the glare.  Here are a few.

Jesus coming with chariots of fire.

Pleasant typical scenes in Italy.

Country scenes.

Fruits

Berries

Older times scenes

A nativity (sort of a Madonna and child, which Italian artists all paint)

Scenes near their home, and many more.

She didn't paint this one, but it is of a book of Mormon, with plates and paper.

The "girls" were out looking at other things, and I took this pix of President Viara in his living room.

Another room off the living room.

President Viara took us to his library office, where he has several books (in the boxes) written by general authorities and BYU professors, which are currently in the process of being translated into Italian.  He does not do the original translation, but helps with the Italian translation of the doctrinal parts

The outside deck: The home seen beyond belongs to the DalZotto family.  He has recently been released as a stake president, and his children have homes nearby; this is sort of a Mormon neighborhood on a hillside in Italy, and they take care of each other.

The Viara home from the front, showing the main entrance

The steep driveway down to their home.  When Rosa heard us coming she headed to the top of the hill and opened the gate for us, and then didn't want to ride down with us, she walked as fast as we drove.  Pretty good for a 93 year old woman, who is witty and fun to be around.

My former mission companion, Carlo Mongiovi is on the right, his wife, Rosemary was taking the picture.  They live by themselves and there wasn't anyone else around.

Mario and Rosa Viara, both 93, Mormon Pioneers in every sense of the word, taken on the day before Pioneer Day 2016.  It was a wonderful experience. I wish that Fred could have been there and that he and Krisanne are able to come to visit  them soon.

Ciao for now.