Travis & Sarah visit us in Rome Oct 5-12, 2011

Travis & Sarah's first day in Rome.  Trevi fountain where a coin tossed into the fountain insures you will return to Rome

Visiting Spanish steps with hundreds of other tourists on a typical October day.  They visited the Vatican, Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, and many other Rome highlights.

A cold October day at Civita di Bagnoregio.

Overlooking the canyon surrounding Bagnoregio

Travis & Sarah enjoying our "Antipasta" course of Clams.  I must say they were delicious.

At Anzio we dined on a four course authentic Italian meal.   Sister Valentine ready to partake of the main course of fish.  Looks interesting!

Enjoying a beautiful day walking along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.



I hope I don't get my pants wet.

Anzio beach is a famous WWII battleground between Allied forces and the German army.  Travis & Sarah with an Italian veteran of that battle who served with the American forces.

Over 7,000 American troops lost their lives in the Anzio landing.  This American cemetary remembers their sacrifice for our freedom.

The cemetary and memorial is maintained by the American government and is open year round to the public. I am proud to be an American and a verteran.

I am grateful our children and future generations of Valentine's are free to enjoy liberty and freedom because of  the ultimate sacrifice paid by these brave soldiers. 

Taylor is an honored name in our family.  We are grateful Grandpa Taylor returned from his WWII experience in the Pacific to begin our Taylor family line.

From the successful invasion of Italy, the allied forces were able to lauch massive air and ground attacks on the German army thoughout Europe.  Perhaps WWII would have a different story to tell if not for the history of Italy and the allied forces who successfully invaded Italy in 1943.

A few of the wonderful people we Serve with & Love

Lunch for the Rome Zone Conference.  A wonderful group of young men and women.

Elder & Sister Reber serve as a military liason couple in the Napoli Zone

 President & Sister Kelly, Elders Garvin & Banks, at one of the many lunches Sister Kelly serves.

A scale model of the Italy Rome Temple complex.  Temple, chapel, visitor center, hostel for patrons who come from a long distance to attend the temple.  Dedication 2014.  We hope we will be one of the first patrons.

Anziano Garvin and Anziano Banks our wonderful assistants.  Sister Valentine of course helped make their birthday a memorable one.

Our office where we serve .  Anziano Garvin from Elko, Nev.  One of the many outstanding missionaries we work with everyday.  They are a blessing in our lives

Brother Calabrese with his birthday decorations.  He volunteers in the mission office everyday.  We could not do what we do without him.  He serves as the Rome Stake Patriarch.  He is an inspiration to everyone that is lucky enough to know him

Our family wall above Sister Valentines desk.  We love to look at our family and  it helps us remember why we are here serving.  Families Are Forever.

Departing missionaries gather the night before they leave for home and sing the rousing Italy Rome Mission song.  You can't watch this event without a flood of emotion and gratitude.

Overlooking a beautiful Italian countryside during a recent preparation day trip.

Perched on a pinnacle in a grand canyon, is the beautiful Hill top town of Civita da Bagnoregio.  Civita is connected to the world by a long pedestrian bridge. 

Enjoying a tradition Italian lunch at Civita di Bagnoregio with President and Sister Kelly.  Great friends and a spectacular Hilltop town with two thousand years of history.

VILLA d, ESTE, Tivoli

Villa d' Este, a masterpiece of the Italian garden designated by Unesco as a world heritage site, with its terraces and impressive concentration of fountains, water jets, and water powered musical instruments.  Above you have seen pictures of this spectacular garden in Tivoli. President & Sister Kelly serve as the Mission President of the Italy Rome Mission.  A beautiful location with good friends. The pictures tell the story of this bueatiful garden 35km northeast of Rome.

Trip to Malta August 5-7 2011

On Aug 5-7th I was asked to travel to Malta to Audit the Malta Branch financial records. 

Elder & Sister Tilley from England are serving as Senior Missionaries in Malta.  Sister Valentine & Sister Tilley in a narrow Malta street.

Above is a picture of a local cathedral.  Notice the two clocks.  Legend is one clock was set for the correct time and the other was set to the wrong time to confuse Satan.  Good luck with that!

Picture of our church in Malta.  The chapel is upstairs and holds approximately 50 people.  The Tilley couple live in the back of the church.

Malta is an island and former province of Great Britian.  You still see the British influence throughout the island.  They continue to drive on the left side of the road.

Everywhere you look in Europe is several thousand years old.  Malta is no exception.  The ocean views and sights are breathtaking.

Malta is a small island with less than 400,000 residents but they are packed into a few very populated areas.  The Mediterranean Sea is beautiful with amazing clarity.

Elder & Sister Valentine at attention with one of the Malta Guard

Several of the Rome missionaries enjoy a wonderful Sunday meal complements of Sister Valentine.  We love to be with the young enthusiastic missionaries. It makes us fell young.  (most of the time)

Not exactly like Colorado roads but close!

Just before transfers Sorella Urban and Hicks invited us to their apartment for dinner.  Sister Kelly & Elder & Sister Burt also joined us.  Two wonderful young sister missionaries.

Their humble apartment in Rome was large enough for the group if Sister Kelly sat on the bed.  The food and company was very good.

Sister Valentine invited some of the departing missionaries to our apartment for Sunday Dinner.  Sister Jones and Sister Pickett, sitting on the couch live a short distance from our apartment.

One of Sister Valentines wonderful meals cooked the Italian way.  What a treat to rub shoulders with young faithful missionaries everyday and to have them in our Italian home.

 

Our picture with Brother & Sister Calabrese and their grandson.  Brother Calabrese is the Rome Stake Patriarch and volunters eveyday to work in our mission office.  We would not be able to manage 55 apartments all over Italy without his experience and dedication. 

One of the departing missionaries was Elder Rappelle.  He served as an assistant and worked with us in the office.  We hated to see him leave but the new assistants are equally great.  Picture in front of the mission home.