Week 7 -- Pozzuoli!

Ciao!!!!

It's been a crazy week, I will tell you that. So we arrived at like 9.30 am on Tuesday and the mission president and his wife (Pres. and Sister Pickerd) and the APs met us at the airport. I slept a lot a lot so that was really good. Then we went back and went out into Rome for the day! We went straight to the temple from the airport, and then I think we went back to the villa (the mission home -- which, cool fact, was built by Mussolini in 1924 -- I think it's a super cool house. Apparently not like any other mission home.) and then our first meal was pasta and potatoes and chicken, I think. Then we got sent out into Rome. I don't know if they posted those pictures but we saw the Coliseum and Pantheon and Trevi Fountain and the capital. Then had my first Italian pizza for dinner. Then early bed and next day was all meetings. 

We were in the chapel all day. Then that night we got our assignments. So I am serving in a city named Pozzuoli which is the closest a sister like me (not Italian) will ever get to serving in Napoli. Napoli is super dangerous so they only have elders there, and in the summer they will put sisters there for a few months but only Italians or those who look Italian and are really good at the language. Anyways, I was super pumped. One of the APs was born in Napoli and he gave me advice (before we knew where we were going) and his advice was to eat - also that same APs name is Anziano Wagstaff and he played basketball at Olympus High School. What a small world  We got our smart phones that night and then bed. The next morning we left the villa at 6.15 am and I hopped on a train to Napoli central. Luckily there were other missionaries on my car including my sister training leader for the Napoli zone who sat by me. Then I got off the train and met my companion!!! Her name is Sorella B and she's from Sandy.  I had a picture of her in my golden envelope but she doesn't look anything like her picture anymore so I got off the train and walked right past her, lol.  I am killing my trainer (interpretation:  Brie will be her trainer's last companion before the end of her mission) but then she is going to work at the Rome temple and extending four weeks, and that's so cool and she said President Pickerd said us new sisters who pick up the language fast can get sent there. That's so exciting! But the problem is I'm not picking up too fast. Pray please so hard that I can learn. 

Anyways we had to wait for another Sorella so we hung out in Napoli for the day. Lugged suitcases to the church and went finding in a trio with my trainer and my sister training leader. Lol. We did video finding and so they gave me a phrase about showing the video and I did in fact say it. Napoli is super cool. I had my first Napolitan pizza which is apparently a super big deal, followed by my followed by my second today. Basically they describe it like soup and that's accurate. It was delicious.  There is so much oil and cheese and sauce in the middle of the pizza on a thin crust that it's like soup on crust.  Good, not what I was expecting, My stomach hurt a lot after that. Then the other sister arrived so we met her and then off to Pozzuoli. 

We had to lug my suitcases on cobblestone roads, lol. But our apartment is apparently the nicest in the mission. It's 2 floors for just me and my companion and we each have our own bathrooms. Also the church building looks out over the ocean where Paul was shipwrecked. Super cool. Beautiful. Our back window overlooks a Greek coliseum so that's pretty cool. Then we went finding, I think.  We go finding a lot. My first 2 finding encounters 1. A lady chewed us (Sorella B) out about religion. I didn't know what was going on but apparently she said don't trust men but believe the 10 commandments which were written by men, and then 2. We asked to show a video and the guy asked if it was pornography and then Sorella B proceeded to teach about the law of chastity. But they were actually really cool, Salvatore and Giusi. And we gave them a Book of Mormon. I talked about Moroni  10 and how we can receive answers for ourselves (there's a lot of good on can I catch my companion up and then I will say a little). Other than finding, we went to a Halloween party on the military base. A family of like 8 went last year and wanted to go again so we figured out how to get them there and introduced them to people in the ward. It was crazy because everyone had to be sponsored by someone who works on base and it was super loud so I couldn't hear anyone let alone understand anything, but it was nice because there were some Americans. I taught my first lesson about the restoration and got my first gelato with one of our friends we teach as seen in picture. It was delicious. We taught maybe 2 more lessons since then.  The ward is about 1:2 American so missionaries translate the whole ward.  A lot of the ward members work on the base so like we have peanut butter and stuff already in the apartment and root beer.  People are nice, I just don't understand them. The base people -- it's nice because I tell them I'm from DC and that my mom is civilian Air Force and then we can talk about that 

People cancel a lot which is a bummer. I had my first Italian pronzo with this cute old lady Maria (I didn't get too stuffed, thank goodness). Pronzo is lunch but it's like their big meal.  We hear horror stories of pronzo appointments where people feed you sooooooo much.  The wind here has been crazy and there are really big waves which isn't a thing here. Today was P-Day so we went to Napoli Underground which is basically a giant set of underground places that is ancient and was aqueducts but then bomb shelters during World War 2. There is so much history here. Like so much. Napoli apparently was built on ancient ruins and then they just build up, they don't build out. 

I love my trainer, prayers work!  I don't know what the spiritual highlight was this week.  I just feel so happy here. It's really hard and I'm really tired but I feel so at peace and it's crazy to think I almost gave that up. 

I would love to get letters from everyone for Christmas.  We're close to the military base so we can get a lot of American products.

With my companion and sister training leader on my first day in Pozzuoli...

Finding in Pozzuoli on my first day

My first Napolitano pizza -- look at how soupy it is!

View from our apartment...

Where we go finding...

My first gelato with my companion and one of our friends

At the internet cafe, having chocolate croissants

P-Day today at Napoli Underground

It was a bomb shelter during WW2

We used candles to see in the underground

P-Day Napolitano pizza

All of us today 

A glimpse of Italy -- lots of pizza and a Vespa behind me

Brie goes to Rome!

Brie left the MTC bright and early the morning of Monday, 22 Oct, to begin her travels to Rome.  We were able to talk with her and she was exhausted but excited.  She and her district arrived in Rome at about 9:15 am on Tuesday, 23 Oct. 

We received an e-mail from her mission president with a note from Brie and a couple of pictures after her arrival...

Dear Parents,

We wanted to let you know that your missionary arrived safely at the mission home today.  We love them already and have been praying for them before they came.

We are including a photo and a short message from them.  You may also find some pictures of your missionary on our blog:  pickerdsitalyromemission.blogspot.com.

We look forward to serving with your missionary!

President and Sister Pickerd

Italy Rome Mission

Hi!  I made it safely.  Tired but excited.  Pday is Monday!  Love you!  -Sorella Gisseman

The next day they received their area assignments...We think Brie is serving in Napoli...

Week 6 (I think I messed up the weeks) -- Leaving the MTC on Monday!

So, you may or may not realize that I am writing this email at 4:30 in the morning... That's because for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to beat the rush and do laundry that early, then everything will be done and I can pack in peace today. Already regretting it but you know, that's fine. I say that in saying I probably won't remember what happened this week so stay tuned.

So Monday we found out that instead of leaving next week we are actually leaving on time. On Sunday they told us that we would get the travel plans if we were leaving on Monday but if not it would be a while, but we got the travel plans!!! Leaving the MTC at 3:45 in the morning on Monday!!! Yum!!! anyways, when we heard that I was super stoked but also a little nervous because the week before none of us had done really anything (I mean I was still doing 2 hours of language and personal study) but like really going hard (using every spare minute in breaks and taking flashcards to lunch - which I still don'tdo all the time but there is definitely a difference).  None of us were. Basically I would have been okay with staying another week which is super weird because I hate it here. But at the beginning of the week I had a very soft and loving heart. Flash forward to now and I just want to get the freak out of here. Everything triggers me a little. For example: teaching - why are we even teaching our teachers anymore, we usually teach based off of task practices but we don't have them anymore?? I kind of argued about that yesterday and then instead of teaching a fake investigator Sorella Blandford was like, ok this is me, this is my life, teach to me. I just really struggle to teach with a companion.  

Yesterday I ran into NAT BULGIER on campus... I thought I heard my name, like "Brie" being called out and I looked around and my district was like, yo what are you doing,.. and I was like, I swear I just heard my name - but couldn't figure it out and my name rhymes with a lot of words so I pushed it aside and then like 5 seconds later I see this angel face standing there!!!!! I teared up for sure. And then at night I totally cried. Like for the first time about something dumb like that. I don't get homesick but I think I got a little homesick - not completely sure though I'm not exactly sure what that feels like, lol. I think as long as I've been in Provo I feel connected to my life - BYU, closeness to my family, my friends, MY TEAMMATES (um, why have I not gotten any pics of Bri Bri's wedding???), but I think mostly the known, and I realized that I am not a part of that anymore and that I am going across the world in, um, yeah, 3 days. Which is awesome and I'm super excited but it also hit me in a way it hasn't before. 

1.  What was the spiritual highlight of your week?

Yesterday in class Fratello Harbin has been promising us to watch some videos for seriously forever about the atonement and we finally watched them. Two of them were videos that I had definitely seen before, like I'm 90% sure that missionaries in Virginia showed them to us all the time, and with those ones it just stuck out to me how hard my heart was. Like I am sure I felt the Spirit at least a bit in my heart, but my mind was just thinking and talking my way through doubting it. And I remember that. 

2.  What was the funniest thing that happened this week?  What was the funnest thing that happened this week?

Volleyball is fun.  I can't think of anything else.

3.  How did you serve someone this week?

4.  How did someone serve you this week?

I don't like these questions because I feel like everything everyone does he is service related but not in big ways. 

5.  Who did your devotional this week and what did they talk about?

I don't remember Sunday and I don't have journals to reference but the Tuesday night devotional was from the Nielsons. They were really good, like really, really good but I literally can't even remember what happened. Maybe I will fill you in later.

6.  What have you learned about yourself this week?

I thought that I didn't have anger issues any more. Psych -- I still do. like I remember being in elementary school and getting so mad at everyone and then I was fine after that for the most part, it wasn't a constant thing or anything. But now, it's like real bad. Let's hope it gets better out of the MTC.

7.  What will you miss about the MTC?

My district and volleyball.

8.  What made you happy this week?

The burner phone!!!! It made me so happy to think that I get to call you guys.

9.  What stood out to you in your studies this week?

I've just been continuing to do the Christ challenge by President Nelson, and at this point I just finished Jacob, but when I had just gotten to it, I looked at how many references I have, and it's incredible. I was on page like 100ish maybe, and also over 300 references to Christ and I don't even mark them all. 

10.  What have you learned about the gospel or the Savior this week that has strengthened you?

One quote from Elder Holland that really sticks out to me, basically all the time, and it said it in the videos we watched yesterday, is that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not cheap. It wasn't easy for the Savior so why would it be easy for me?   It was hard to hear and to deal with but makes a lot of sense

and even so, the most difficulties I will have are still the tiniest particle of what He had to go through

11.  What are you doing for P-Day today?

Laundry, temple, napping, packing, volleyball.

12.  Do you know how much I love you?

Si mama, ti amo.

The skin stuff came, thank you!!! ALSO so GOOD TO hear about the breath test.  I'm so glad you have something to go off of!! Also as for the temple, none of the rest of the names will be getting done because we all have to pack and stuff and I didn't give out names yesterday. Sad about Abby.. poor girl, but I laughed at the egg part. CUTE that you and Daddy are having a date day tomorrow. No ideas for Christmas... I seriously don't need anything...like at alll, I am already have so much, but I might say differently in a few months so stay tuned. 

Sorry I literally forgot every single thing that happened this week, but ya know it's not that significant here. very excited to leave. Grateful for the experience.

I seriously got the cutest package from Gwyneth and Liesel (now Sostar with a slash and zoster?...I think) with scrunchies, a baby cactus, and a face mask.  So cute.  The best!

One night we were just snacking in Sorella Moreley's bed.  She has good snacks.

Just me, a floating head in class.

I don't think I've already sent this.  We eat with Italians and this day the whole table was Italians and then the rest were at the next table.  Seriously -- all 31 of us.

Our district and our tutor, Sorella Rincon, she is so cute and seriously the best.  Incredible.  We said goodbye to her last night.

Week 4 -- General Conference was Awesome!

This week was super fun!! First off, singing in General Conference choir was awesome, and even better I got to do it with my zuster honnie Peterson1!!!  It was such a surreal experience to get to share my testimony through song, in the same meeting God's chosen apostles and prophets were sharing their testimonies. The seats were comfy. I snuck a Chip cookie on the bus (throwback to lacrosse, just like the good old days). I LOVED conference - we didn't get to listen to the first session because we were practicing except for the part about 2 hour church (how cool, seriously - I feel like it places such an emphasis on personal conversion and now you really have to turn your faith into action). Then, we couldn't take notes in the second session, but one really cool thing is that we got to watch the teleprompter so see what they were supposed to say vs. what they did. The only person who really went off script was Elder Uchtdorff. In his invitation to non members - Come see us (not scripted), we need you. We love you. HOW AWESOME! and he repeated that phrase I think a few times, too, and none of the times it was on the prompter. Come see us. The seats were not the most comfy in conference where we watched at the MTC (the gym ) so I did not fall asleep!!! I LOVE President Nelson's invitation in the women's session for us to all read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year!!! It is so powerful to heed to the counsel of a prophet. My study has just shown me how Christ-centered the Book of Mormon is. One day I read two chapters and got over 20 references to Christ! And I only mark the significant ones! WOW.  I also loved Elder Anderson's talk - there is no earthy struggle that heaven cannot overcome (something like that) - it's so true. I'm still trying to compile my conference notes. 

Next fun thing, our district has been eyeing the cereal towers in the cafeteria so we decided for breakfast, on Wednesday I think, that we were going to take one down, completely empty all the Frosted Flakes. My district leader ate 9 bowls. Yikes. Almost puked. I took down 3 cups, about 5 bowls. Things were bad, big mistake on the stomach end but super fun. We started like trying to get other people to help us and recruiting, and we were so close and then a worker came and refilled it. Lame.

Then we got to host some newbies!  Bummer because that means we won't get to do it next week but it was so fun! They are so cute and then I tried to go find my newbies that night - knocked on four doors and couldn't find them!! To host I had four girls, two going to West Virginia, one to Idaho Falls temple and one to Hawaii. Basically we just meet them downstairs, take them to their rooms, and show them where to go for class.  Just like 15 minutes per person and just try to relax them, tell them happy things. One of the girls had Swig cookies -- so cute and the moms are so sweet. 

1.  What was the best thing that happened this week?

Singing in conference with Zuster Peterson - the songs we sang were so powerful!!!!

2.  What was your devotional about this week?

Super good - Sunday we had Noteworthy come ( a little less spiritual break, thank goodness) and then Bonnie Cordon talked on Tuesday about how (1) she got called on a mission at 17?!?!?!? and (2) three things we need to do to have the spirit - study the Holy Ghost, be united with companions, and be obedient.

3.  What was the funnest thing that happened this week?  What was the funniest thing?

We play a game all the time called apimondo with a little stress ball (means like "up world" or something because it's shaped like a world) in breaks in class and I don't know why but I think it's so funny when we are playing and then one of us will call "mine" and go after every ball. So silly but I always laugh.

4.  What's your current favorite Italian word/phrase?

It's hard on the spot - I don't think I've explained this before so I guess something cool is that there are multiple types of love - so "ti voglio bene" is like friend love, I wish you well is the translation, but them "ti amo" is like romantic or familial love, and it's interesting to see what we use with different people, especially with God. Something cool is that we use "you" informal with God in prayers which I think is awesome. 

5.  What stood out to you in your studies this week?

I don't know so I am going to tell a different story - we had our first TRC (teaching) Skype call this week and we were the only ones that actually got someone in Italy. It bombed. His name was Nelson and he was from Honduras (Tegucigalpa??) and I was like no way my sister lived in San Pedro Sula, but I didn't know how to explain to him in the right verb tenses, so we went back and forth for a bit both not understanding each other and then we moved on. SO then we taught about the spirit and gifts of the spirit (why I don't know because my companion wanted to) but our first question was what is the light of Christ, and we had just read a scripture on it and he didn't know?? And they are supposed to be members ?? and then he prayed and didn't close the prayer ?? LOL. We didn't understand anything he was saying!! We asked Fratello Harbin after and he was like - yeah, I couldn't really understand him either. The connection was bad and he was speaking Italian and Spanish at the same time. LOL

6.  Do you have snow in the mountains there?  There is WAY TOO MUCH snow in the mountains here!  I'm not ready for winter!

Yes, there is snow! We look at the same mountains, silly.

7.  How did someone serve you or show you love this week?

I've been sick this week (with a cold) so the sorelle in our room let me (and they also did) sleep in one day and it helped so much.

8.  How did you serve someone else or show love to someone else this week?

I have been trying so hard to be patient with others and I'm doing such a good job!!! I am serving others in the simplest ways that probably don't seem like service to anyone but em but they challenge me and my love has grown so much. 

Side story: My companion and I had a companionship inventory this week and it helped me to understand her and love her even more.

9.  Do you feel like you have lots of extra time on your hands now that you don't have two hour choir practice every morning?  ;-)

Yes, but still not enough time,

10.  What have you learned about yourself this week?

No idea at all. All the things but none of the things.

11.  What have you learned about the gospel or the Savior this week that has strengthened you?  

I think one thing I have been slowly realizing is that there are not coincidences, everything has a purpose.

12.  Do you want me to send a prepaid phone for you to use at the airport, or do you want to just try the phone card?  (I just want to do whatever will work the best!)

Yes, please - and phone numbers

13. What are you doing for service now that the flowers have all been pulled out?

Cleaned the bathrooms ://

14.  What is your favorite part of every day?

Going to bed. I am a very sleepy girl. Also checking my email before bed (I only check once a day before bed).

15.  How do you feel you're doing with the language?  (I know your expectations for yourself so you probably think you aren't doing well, but I am positive that you are doing just fine!)

My expectations are a lot higher. I understand a lot, we are just expected to produce now and I can't produce with correct grammar or pronunciation now. But I am able to teach with the spirit and I think get my point across.

16.  Do you ever go down to campus, like to the Wilkinson Center?

No

17.  Is there anything you want or need that we can send to you?

No - but I got your package this week and one from Grandma!! Thank you so much!! I tried to wear the headband Grandma sent me and the sweater and the shoes but it didn't all go together - I'll have to space it out.

18.  What are you doing for P-Day today?

The usual - laundry, volleyball, temple, study, and I will accompany my companion to an appointment.

19.  What are you looking forward to most to seeing/doing when you get to Italy?

EATING REAL FOOD

20.  Do you know how much I love you?

Sempre

LAST THING - if you are not reading the Book of Mormon every day then do it!!!! And actually read -- don't just listen!!! I know it brings so much power, and even if you don't feel that you will be blessed for listening to the prophet!!! 

Our district at the temple today

Just a picture with Carli (Zoster Peterson)....

The buses to General Conference...oh, the lacrosse memories....it smelled like the cherry bathroom cleaner that caused so many nausea attacks...

On the bus

I smuggled a Chip cookie onto the bus!

At the conference center...

In the underground tunnel...

Carli and me with Addie the day before she left to go to her mission field...notice the study notecards cards tucked into my waistband...the grind never stops...

In the underground tunnel waiting to go in to Conference... Sorella Ohran in the middle is in our district then a girl from Carli's district that was her companion for the day. This is the tunnel we came through with our backstage access ;)

My Italy, Rome mission shirt

P-day downtime, painting our toenails.  Notice my skin-colored nail polish...creepy...

Week 3 -- Extended...

NOTE:  Brie is in the MTC choir that will be singing for the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference, so watch for our favorite redheaded Italian missionary!!!!!!

I am praying so hard for your health, Mom!!!  And I think D&C 31 promised my folks back home lots of blessings so get ready to receive them.

This week has been another week.  We got literally the worst news ever 2 days ago -- we have to stay here for another week and no one can even tell us why.  I've heard a rumor that it's because the mission presidents have a conference so they won't be there.  But that was rough.  Our district literally cried.  It's okay, though, everything happens for a reason.  I can't remember what happened so I will just answer your questions.  Maybe I'll remember later.  I FOUND MY TOOTHBRUSH in the pocket of one of my jumpers (I have only started repeating pieces).  AND I LOVE THE RAIN -- definitely a gift from God. 

1.  I ordered cookies for you last week from Chip -- did they ever get delivered???  If so, how were they?

YES!!!! I got them yesterday and 3 BOXES???? I shared with my district and another district.  We are only halfway done with them - so we will eat them again tonight and probably share again with more districts!!! I love them and they remind me of literally maybe every Friday night of last semester. THANK YOU also for the cinnamon rolls!!! Everyone got treats this week so we have literally had treats like every day (in the future you don't need to send that much, honestly just for me and maybe my room of 6 girls).  I appreciate you and I love you.

2.  What's the happiest thing that happened this week?

Yesterday just in class we taught through the entire first lesson with another sorella acting as an investigator - so first I was the investigator and we like really had a conversation and I asked a lot of questions, and then I got to teach and the spirit was so strong that I didn't even have to think about what I wanted to say next or how to say it!!! It was seriously awesome. Like I know that my grammar and everything was horrible but I'm not the real teacher, the Holy Ghost is, and that just reminded me of that.

3.  What made you laugh this week?  What was the funniest thing that happened?

The night we found out we have to stay another week I just reached the brink of emotional instability so I think things are funny all the time and Sorella Blandford thinks my laugh is really funny so when she laughs at that it's funny. Also yesterday when we were eating the cookies, the anziani were like "let's sing a Christmas song" so they started singing and everyone joins in and then someone starts beatboxing and one of them starting dancing. super random and dumb but it was fun.

4.  What was the most fun experience you had this week?

One of the anziani was supposed to leave 2 weeks ago but instead he had broken arms so literally just left this morning - so yesterday as a last hurrah (in the drizzle) we played volleyball and it was SO GOOD.  We like actually played, and since the sand was hard and the sun was out it was so much easier SERIOUSLY SO FUN.

5.  What is your favorite Italian word/phrase that you've learned this week?

Offa (yikes) (hopefully that's how you spell it)

6.  What has stuck out to you in your studies this week?

This is something I just keep coming back to -- the mercy of the atonement.

7.  What have you learned about yourself this week?

I have been super doubtful that the atonement works for me. I know it works for other people and I know Christ atoned for me, but I really struggle accepting it for myself, I don't see myself worthy of it. So our devotional was from Elder Koch of the Seventy and he talked about making sure you were clean, and I freaked out (had kinda had that doubt before slightly, but I had prayed to know how God saw me and I felt so good the next day) but then he just kept drilling it and so I freaked so I emailed my branch president and he told me to meet with the district president, and I did and it was so awesome. He was like, you are clean. You need to stop doubting, and you never need to bring any of this up ever again. Stop reminding God. So now my studies will be on trusting in the atonement.

8.  What have you learned about the gospel or the Savior this week that has strengthened you?

I studied the phrase "mercy claims the penitent" this week a little, and the idea of claims just so stuck out to me. It just makes me feel like I walk 2 feet out, and am carried the rest of the way, kinda like swiped by a shepherd's crook. That doesn't make any sense but its what is in my head.

9.  Who did the fireside/devotional this week and what did they talk about?

Sunday was Elder Koch - 3 things basically 1. Be clean 2. Be humble 3. Be diligent, and then the Martinos gave a really cool devotional about Peter, which I have been studying ever since you sent me the thing from Elder Duffy (shout out!), but apparently we were supposed to have an apostle and then at the last minute it was cancelled for some reason (the other MTCs had been planning on it) and it's just amazing how incredible that devotional was even though it was apparently last minute - wouldn't ever know. The Martinos are called of God, let me tell you that.

10.  Have you found the big map yet?

Yes- we took pictures in front of it but I don't like the picture so I will go back and take another one.

11.  How has someone shown love or kindness towards you this week?

Sorella Blandford is maybe the most loving person besides my main peeps that I have ever met. She is incredible. She is constantly just trying to understand how we feel and she literally feels what we feel. Talk about mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort - she is incredible.

12.  How have you served someone this week?

Fratello Harbin challenged us to show love and charity to our companions every day for ever. Like make an effort. Which I do, I try to share and get things for her and help her

13.  What are you doing for P-Day today?

The usual - choir, temple, laundry, email, volleyball, study (my companion has a medical appointment so I am also serving her by spending my precious p-day nap time in an office) and then class.

14.  Have you guys finished pulling out the flowers on the MTC grounds?  If so, what do they have you doing for service now?

Yes, and then we planted, and now we don't know (this week choir was during service so I guess we will know next week).

15.  Have you found ways to blow off steam and get out your frustrations?  Do you have someone in your district that you feel comfortable talking with?

Yes and no - I think the main way is just praying really hard all the time when I get frustrated.

(I asked Daddy to come up with some questions for you and he is not being helpful...LOL)

16.  Have you found any foods there at all that you like to eat, or that aren't gross?

Rice and soy sauce - my body is also getting used to the food so it's not as bad anymore.

17.  Did you find out if the store there has the phones that you can use then throw away for the airport?

No, there are not.

18.  Is there anything you need or want that I can include in the box that I'm going to send with your shoes?

Yes - black rain coat I left at home. 

19.  Are you finding it easier to get sleep at night?  Are you sleeping well?

Yes, because I am exhausted from waking up 30 minutes earlier for choir.

20.  Do you know how much I love you?

YES

It rained so we all ran out and were playing a little ball in the storm -- here is a pic.  

Just the pretty views from our classroom...

With my companion in front of the big map...

In front of the big map...

Me with three boxes of Chip cookies!

Some of our zone who usually play volleyball.  The kid who had to stay is on the top row, 2nd to the left.  The kid below him looking down is named Anziano Eden and is the zone leaders and is from the UK and is the funniest kid I've ever met.

We airdrop each other funny pictures in class and this was the best for this week.