Moving to Italy and embracing the gospel of Jesus Christ
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ROME, ITALY
While the Church in Italy is decidedly Italian, immigrants to this southern European nation are contributing to its growth and development.
Indeed, diversity has become commonplace in many LDS Italian congregations. Attend Sabbath meetings here and you may hear folks in the meetinghouse hallway discussing a priesthood quorum service project in Spanish or Tagalog, or, perhaps, a Young Women lesson in English and, of course, Italian.
Meanwhile, missionaries trained to teach the discussions in the local dialects are enjoying opportunities to share the gospel with Peruvians, Romanians, Albanians and immigrants from a host of other foreign nations.
The Church in Italy "has given me so much," said Lourdes Perez Quimi, a native of Ecuador who immigrated to Rome with her family. Despite having to learn a new language and assimilate into a new culture, Sister Perez Quimi said the local Church has given her opportunities to build her testimony and to help others. She serves as second counselor in the Young Women presidency of the Rome 2nd Ward, Rome Italy Stake.
As a Church member, living in Rome "has been a good experience," added Peruvian Antonio Polo, the first counselor in the Rome 2nd Ward's Sunday School presidency.
Italy Milan Mission President David R. Wolfgramm said most immigrants in Italy arrived here in search of work and other economic opportunities. Many have found the gospel. Much of the missionary work happening in the Milan region involves immigrant investigators. Last month, about 60 percent of the converts who were baptized in the Italy Milan Mission were from countries outside Italy.
"We have a ward here that is about 80 percent Latino," said President Wolfgramm. "You can go to any ward here and find members from foreign countries."
While there are no "Spanish-language" missionaries assigned to the Milan mission, several elders and sisters hail from Latin America or grew up in Spanish-speaking homes in the United States. They've been blessed with many opportunities to teach the gospel in their native tongue. President Wolfgramm said he has tried to place Spanish-speaking missionaries in areas with a high concentration of immigrants from Latin America.
Many immigrant members in Italy have also proven to be enthusiastic member missionaries as they share referrals and help the full-time missionaries develop their teaching pool.
Colombian Luis Barragan joined the Church in Bogota and later served a mission in Cali, Columbia. Last year he moved to Italy and now lives with his sister, Mariela, and her husband, Andrea Rondinelli, an Italian and second counselor in the Rome Italy Stake. Brother Barragan's Church experience was put to good use almost immediately in the Rome 2nd Ward, where he serves as an assistant in the high priest group.
Family dinner at the Rondinelli/Barragan household sometimes includes Italian antipasto and pasta served alongside Colombian "empanadas" and cornmeal "arepas."
It's expected that the future Rome Italy Temple will help bring many to the gospel here, including immigrants.
"Having a temple here will help so much," said Brother Barragan.
