A Divine Appointment
When we arrived in Rome, the temple Matron, Sister Paccini picked us up at the airport with some friends from Rexburg, Sharlene and Jerry Hansen who were already serving there and had been very helpful to us. She then took us grocery shopping and took us to our apartment and invited us to dinner Sunday evening. The Rome temple grounds, the architecture, the Stake Center and Visitors Center are all stunningly beautiful. But words cannot describe how glorious it is to step inside the actual Rome temple. It is gorgeous beyond description; peaceful and inviting, and most of all, Holy. It just feels so wonderful to be in that Sacred place with such kind, welcoming people doing eternally significant work. Everyone treated us as family members and made us feel very much loved, needed and at home.
It is a little overwhelming to have such kindness showered upon us, but something happened to make us see we could “give back” in unexpected ways. As we were sitting in the temple president’s office on our first evening in Rome discussing details of our assignment, there was a quiet knock on the door. A beautiful younger woman named Jill came in and apologized for interrupting and asked President Paccini if he remembered her father, Tom Bacciocco, who had served as a young missionary in Italy with President Paccini 50 years earlier. The president commented that of course, he did remember her father. Brother Geddes said, “Wait. Was your mother Vicky Bacciocco?” In amazement, she asked how he knew who her mother was. Brother Geddes told her his name, and she exclaimed that she was great friends with the whole Geddes family who lived in Brentwood, California, Brother Geddes’ hometown. Brother Geddes said that her father, Tom had been his mother’s beloved bishop and had actually conducted his mother’s funeral service. Jill was thrilled beyond measure that people who knew her parents were there to hear the story of her pilgrimage to vicariously fulfill her mother’s dream.
She said that her mother loved to travel and so badly wanted to go to wonderful places like Rome, Italy which had always been at the top of her list because of her father’s service there. Unfortunately, Vicky got brain cancer and was unable to go anywhere. Her family and friends decided to join forces and put her picture on the top of a stick (which they called “Vic on a Stick"), and whenever people they knew went to exotic places they would take pictures of themselves with the Vic on a Stick in hand. They would then post it and provide great joy and support to Vicky.
Vickey’s daughter then proceeded to recount the tragic experiences of her life since the death of her mother and how important this trip to Rome was to her. Her friends had gotten together and were able to pay for the cherished trip in honor of Vicky. All of us in that room were very moved and saddened for her yet happy she had made her goal to come to Rome for her mother.
I suddenly felt like I should give her a hug, and though feeling a little awkward, knew it was the right thing to do. We cried and all felt that it was a surrogate hug from her mom saying, “Good job, honey! You did it!”
We then went outside the front doors of the temple to take pictures with the temple President and Matron. Jill repeatedly embraced us and thanked us for sharing such a defining, precious moment for her. We all felt great joy; Jill for having accomplished her journey, and us for being able to participate in her joy, experience this divine appointment, and for the Lord allowing us to be in the “right place at the right time” to make someone happy.
I testify that the veil is very thin in God’s holy temple and it is a place where there are no coincidences.
Us with Jill
With President and Sister Paccini
The temple at sunset
Thorvaldsen's Christus and Twelve Apostles in the Visitors' Center
