Jan. 7, 2015

Well everyone, it has been I think since I sent out a big email. We are in Montevarchi, me and my companion Sorella Friedbaum. The work is slow right now. We are struggling to keep appointments and to even keep our investigators. I talked about Gabriella before... she started smoking and so now her bap date didn't happen. It was supposed to be last Saturday. She wants to wait for things to calm down before we reset it so that she can reach it. 

Sara also her bap date is canceled, because she is dating a new convert who has a complex marriage situation and it's just all kinds of fun. We haven't seen her for two weeks! She kind of hates us right now. Being two young missionaries who don't speak well, we aren't sure what happened, but have no fear! We have an appointment with her finally tomorrow, and we apologized, so all should be well.

Life in Italia is wonderful. It amazes me every day to walk down these ancient streets and associate with strange people. The other day, all of our appointments canceled. We took a different route in Arezzo and went to find an old Lady named Rina. So, I've mentioned before about how there was an apostasy in Arezzo and the branch closed, then moved to Firenze, and a year and a half ago this branch of Montevarchi opened up. Well when all that happened many members stopped going to church, and now some don't know it's back. Well this lady Rina pulled her records at that point. She is 90 years old. She likes to tell us about her stories... she was an orphan, her dad died in the war. She met President Eisenhower (I don’t know how to spell) when he came to save Italy? She would hide up in the hills and in the Duomo back during the war. Arezzo was a proprio war town. And almost every day I get to walk through the old castle and bricks streets. It's amazing. And these people, they are amazing.

 Some random things real quick: I made a really yummy pineapple chicken for us with rice this week.

This morning we helped a member move into her new apartment in San Giovanni! Very close to our house. That is why we are emailing late- we bumped things around a bit.

I sent some fotos home, more next week.

It is really cold and humid and my skin is so dry! Why? I have never had dry skin before. Non capisco.

Gabriella often gets mad at me because she says my skirts are too light. No worries mom, I am staying warm enough anyways.

Saldi time!!! Twice a year Italia has sales, For a whole month. That time is now! SO we did some Firenze shopping today :)

Bufano was Tuesday*-the holiday where they leave their stockings out at night and then an ugly witch comes and leaves them candy if they are good, coal if bad. And the buses go on festival schedule, we are late to all our appointments, I make my companion walk instead of waiting and she hates me, then we make brownies and all is good.

We are getting bikes! Not sure when but we asked for them and president said yes.

I love you all! The church is so true and so wonderful. Ya'll are so incredibly blessed at home, me including. Love you all. Be happy. Say your prayers. Read the scriptures. Send missionaries letter in the MAIL BOX. It's easy. :)

Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved