Answers to Questions

Hey listen. So we don't have much time today to write because we did a tour of a Cathedral/Castle/Roman Temple, which was all built on top of each other. It was pretty cool. We also went to a Botanical/Cactus Garden! Which was way awesome and reminded me of that one in Monaco we went to! That Monaco one was my favorite museum I have ever been to.

There was grass in the museum we went to!!! I have not seen grass in 3 months!!

So...I got a letter from Mom and Kristen/Hailey with a bunch of questions that I will respond to:

1. The Weather

The Weather here is changing really fast. It is starting to rain almost every other day and the weather is getting cooler. It is still supa hot though. President said that Sicily does not have to wear jackets until next week. So that was a little miracle!

2. The Work Here

It’s…Going pretty well compared to Anziano Stewarts first two transfers here? We find ourselves doing a lot of finding and less active work. Right now we have 3 investigators but we have more and more potentials every day. Our Investigators are named Valentina, Christian (He the African one we saw on the bus), and Pino (He is missing an eye and we just barely got his phone number yesterday! Woot!). We couldn’t get an appointment with any of them last week though which made us a little sad but we have stuff scheduled this week for them!

3. Conference General (I wrote this like I say it in Italian and I am too lazy to go back and fix it)

We did an exchange with Reggio the first day of Conference and we were running around Messina and Reggio trying to hop a boat over to one to switch back again so we missed conference. But the next day, Sunday, we were able to watch the Sunday Morning Session! Which was really good! Then again on Monday we had district meeting and watched Saturday Afternoon and a few other talks. So we saw about 2.5/6? I was a little bummed that we didn’t get to see them but it’ all right. Reggio had a conference marathon on Sunday were the ward was invited. 10 hours of Conference. Nobody came but they made 14 pizzas and ate them all!

I liked the one talk about the Provo Tabernacle and how it got burned and they related it to trails. That one was good for me. I also loved Uchtdorf’s from Priesthood Session. I can’t wait in two months when we can get a copy in English!

4. Bikes

Messina is actually one of like 3 cities in the mission that has bikes! However... We don’t use them because…Well, we have never really had to? Everything is pretty close. Personally I am very happy because the bikes are pretty goofy when everybody drives mopeds or takes the tram. 

5. Gelato

Gelato is sold everywhere. Every 100 yards there is a Gelateria. There is the best one in town about 10 minutes from our house and we ate it about 3 times a week last transfer. They made us a personal punch card! But... I made a goal that I wouldn’t do that and I have not had it in 4 weeks! Stewart eats one about 1 or twice a week. Gelato and Granita. They don’t have granita in America but it is a huge deal here. Everyone gets them. It’s like a slushy ice cream deal that you eat with a piece of sweet bread brioche.

6. Market

There are about 4 fresh markets in Messina. One is 10 minutes from our house. It is huge and sells everything seasonal. The Market is classic. Everybody sets up shop and yells at each other over prices. They sell fruit, cheese, sausage, fish (especially Sword Fish last month), squids, clams, horse, vegetables, and other goodies. So many fruits. So good. So cheap.

7. Italian Meals

Italians actually eat a lot. Or at least Sicilians do. More food during every meal than I can handle. They don’t really do breakfast. Just a few cookies and a cappuccino. (I usually eat an egg and cookies and fruit for breakfast). But lunch is the big deal. They do a plate of pasta. Then a plate of meat. Then the Salad. Then some fruit. And then Gelato. Every lunch. 5 course meal in that order. Every day. For every course it is a new plate. We eat at members’ houses—about 1 every week—and it is soo good. The pasta is very simple with tomato, egg, peas and what not. Lasagna usually has ham in it. But hardly ever is there meat and pasta on the same plate. So yeah… Italian meals. Oh! Salads. The salad is always the same. Lettuce, Olive Oil (tooonnnnnsss), and vinegar. They eat the fruit with a knife in their hand.

Oh! The Siters have somebody getting baptized this week! It is the niece of a member! It’s gonna be awesome and we are inviting everybody!

Transfers are this week. I think I am staying in Messina and Stewart is going. Usually when you are in Sicily you stay on the Island for about a year (I have started calling it the Sicilian Shuffle. Those who serve a year on the island earn the title Sicilianaire)...

This is classic Messina. With the cathedral and the cruise ship.

Thanks for the letters! The ones with Jesus on them got through just fine! I got ones from Mom, Kristen, and Grandma B, and from Ty and Bri.

I have got to go! Ciao!