Benvenuta per le ragazze o Benvenuto per i ragazzi!!

That means "Welcome!" for the girls and the boys, and I've been using that word a lot this week, at il tempio. Most of the time, I haven't needed more than that while I was stationed as a Smiler. I might have to rename that position to Squinter, because no one can see my smile behind my mask, so I just have to squinch up my eyes when I smile so people can see something remotely friendly. Perhaps we will all have a new set of Covid wrinkles around our eyes to remind us of all the fun we're having?

This is the front entry, where the Smiler/Squinter stands.

 There is only room for 20 sisters on each shift and they run two shifts per day, one in the morning and then they reopen at about 3 and run one in the evening. In SLC, I had 82 sister ordinance workers and 17 ordinance support sisters, just on Saturday Mid-day shift. It is very different here in lots of ways, and occasionally I can't help comparing, but Almer and I are trying really hard never to say anything out loud about how we used to do things in SL. There are so many cultural things that play into procedures and practices here. Temple workers are constantly coming and going because of the 90 day tourist limit. Some only come for a week or two. I'm trying to learn names, but they just aren't sticking in my head very well. Everyone has been super friendly, and I think they are like me...just thrilled to be able to serve here. I'm not sure the way I am being trained is typical, because they show me a job one day and then the next day I am on my own in that place. I've helped some in English and Italian, which I practice a lot for, the baptistry (Where I learned how to find bras by opening a million little tubs, some of which were labelled in Italian. I finally found some in a tub labelled "tops" in English. I hardly ever wear  my bra as my top. :), Initiatory (where the procedures have nearly changed beyond all recognition, but the ordinances are the same sweet language that makes me cry in gratitude), an Endowment session (only 30 patrons allowed on each session, sitting every other chair. Preparing for all the languages is interesting and fun.) 

We have been working every day, because the temple closes at the end of February, and doesn't reopen until May, and we want to learn as much as possible. They are doing some reconstruction to make more room in places that get more use. The new temple president was announced this week: James and Diane Toronto from Provo. Both President Pacini and President Toronto are distantly related to Giuseppe Taranto, who was the first Italian convert to the church. (He was in Boston when baptized, but was from Sicily and went with Pres. Snow to Italy). I don't suppose that is a coincidence...

I'm trying to listen really hard all the time to all the Italian I can, but I nearly laughed out loud in training meeting, when Sister Pacini said (in Italian), "Just explain to the Sisters that...." I am nowhere near being able to explain anything, so I squinch up my eyes in my friendliest way and find an Italian sister to take over. One problem I have is that people here often speak loudly over each other, at ludicrous speed, and then I am hopelessly lost. Now that is cultural! 

I was able to help solve a mystery in the baptistry. We had a group from Israel who came to do baptisms for the dead and when they were done, one skinny little kid was shivering in only his towel in the dressing room, because he couldn't find his locker key. They checked the laundry and the chute to the basement, but finally the recorder brought a master key and opened the locker. Later, after we had cleaned up, I noticed the key sitting in the water at the bottom of the font, just waiting for someone to pick it up. Mystery solved!

I did not take this picture :)

Just as a side note: All of the floors are marble and it is hard to be quiet and reverent in the wet baptistry when your shoes make loud squeaky noises!

Ciao for now! Ci vediamo!