We had to take a ferry over from Messina to Sicily and then drive 45 minutes to Catania. Mt. Etna was errupting and so we got to see the bright lava spews going up and then it looked like a river a fire going down the side of the mountain. It was quite cool looking. We arrived about 10:30 at night and took the sisters to stay with the Catania sister missionaries! and we got a cute bed and breakfast near by. In the morning we were at the questura 15 minutes before it opened and we dropped off the sisters to get their permisso. A permisso is like a visa which allows us missionaries to be in Italy legally. The place was only open until 12:30, so we hoped she could pick it up in that time. After two hours, sister Gio called us and said they started with #42 and she was #70. There were 20 people from the day before who had their names recorded and they got #42-61. Unfortunately, after two hours they were only up to #46. It looked like she wouldn't be able to get it before they closed. We had to return home that afternoon, because we were giving another sister a ride from Catania up to Battipaglia and then to Rome on Wednesday! as her missin as over and she was flying home on Thursday. Due to Mt. Etna errupting, the airports in Sicily were closed, and so we had to leave Tuesday afternoon.
I am sure all of us were praying silently that somehow, sister Gio would be able to get her permisso.
The Lord heard and answered our prayers in a mighty way. There was no doubt that a miracle had happened. With less than a half an hour before closing, and the questura was only on #51, a man gave the sisters his number. He said that he knew some missionaries several years ago in Egypt and knew they were good people. He had #52. #52 was the last #called that day! ....and sister Gio was able to get her permisso. We were all so thankful! You can not imagine how miraculous that was! We know this is the Lord's work. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing... Not even the unorganized questura!
We were able to go down to the center of town to see the cool duomo and elephant square.
Last fall on our cruise we visited Catania and it was neat to see it again. We walked through the outdoor fish market that we saw last year. I have no idea why there is a statue of an elephant here but it is quite remarkable and memorable. The cathedral is beautiful that borders one side of the square.
As we parked our car, sister Gio recognized Brother Paola who is LDS. He was selling his vegetables near the outdoor markets. We stopped and talked to him. He has been a member for 42 years and he was so so happy to see us four missionaries. He gave us three bags of fresh fruits and vegetables.
We then met up with sister Fuller, to give her a ride back to Rome. We stoppd at a granita place to get a lemon granita, which is a combination shaved ice/ice cream. We watched sister Fuller share the gospel with the young man who was serving us.
He said he wanted to know about our church and what we believe happens to us after we die.
So she got one last referral before leaving Messina. Our own, sister Mathews,who use to serve in Battipaglia, now serves in Messina, so we called her to give her the referral. It was great to talk to her again.
We made it home safely Tuesday night and then left Wednesday morning to drive sister Fuller to Rome.
We are back home again tonight and we are thankful for safe travel, and for these great young missionaries who are so wonderful. It is a privledge to serve with them here in Italy.
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