June 5th, 1965

August 03, 2022

Date: 6-05-65

Well, many things have happened. Perhaps the most noteworthy was the fact that the Italian Zone grew again. This time to everyone's surprise, Florene, Leghorn, Genova (Varese) and Bergamo were opened. This being very necessary because most of the elders in the program at that time had been out twenty months or more. Therefore new blood was badly needed. This new transfer brought this. We got four new brothers with more than 20 months to go!

One week after the transfer we had a baptism in Vicenza. Brother Allen baptizing again. This being perhaps the most beautiful and inspiring baptism of my mission. Why? well the day and the environment. It had been raining the whole preceding week but on Saturday it stopped. The baptism was scheduled for the afternoon at 3. We met to go to a river about 9km out of Vicenza. But we had on delay after another. This wouldn't' have been bad but the weather began to change and the skies darkened and it looked like it would rain at any moment. We arrived at the baptism spot. The wind was blowing across the water producing a little chop. The sky was darkening. But as we gathered the small clearing in the sky remained in which the sun could shine through onto the water. After the opening prayer the wind sopped and the sun was shining brilliantly upon the water. One talk was given then Elder Storrs and Brother Bompani stepped into the water. It was with the warmth that I could remember form wake Island in the South Pacific. white shores blue water, and a light breeze. After the brethren changed clothes we had closing prayer and we commenced to climb into the cars and it began to rain. t that wasn't the hand of the Lord I don't know what was!! Why the sun had shined while all around the sky was dark and ready to rain was a testimony strengthener.

After traveling around on our monthly visits I'm still finding that expenses are quite high. But the Mission Home is beginning to give us some help. I've been wondering about whether my folks can come to Europe. I hope my Dad can come so that we can go to Yugoslavia together so that I can get my genealogy. Anyway, this is very important because if they don't come I will need some money to travel and to avoid being caught out on a limb like dad has don before. Therefore if they don't come I shall have to bein to save my money maybe even get out of Bus and DL position. As things currently are, we are about two weeks on the road each month. This make paying for rent in Milan a misfortunate condition. Paying for something you don't use. To make things worse, we must also sometimes pay for lodging on the road.

Time is going fast. I'm getting older physically fast. I'm going bald but think I'm learning a lot from all the experiences. This morning we went to Lugano and I gave the lesson in the Sunday School class. I enjoy teaching the class. Lugano has a great Branch and a great spirit there.