Goodbyes

I accidentally fell asleep in my skirt. THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I hated it & I hate that I didn't realize it until I had woken up. not ok.

The capi have this golden family who was a referral from Salt Lake and they brought their two daughters (6&7) to church on Sunday. They are so cute.  

The littlest one was copying the speakers' hand gestures the whole time and I had to keep from cracking up. (It's cute because Italians use their hands.. always..and alot when they speak.) It was a good day. 

Meet Andrea Torriti.  We get along. 

I started bringing snacks to church and sneaking them to him so he'll be my friend. >=)

Then we had the baptism that night with minor dramas but in the end all was well.  

Arianna

We went over to their house last night and Sorella Cruz was telling me all about how she found you guys on Facebook and how well Mom speaks Spanish.  She was trying to show me but I was trying to keep from getting homesick, hahah. 

It hasn't been too cold this week so I'm happy (=

We had our last district meeting with Sorella Pearce and Anziano Memmott. 

I made them "dying" presents with a picture from Pordenone where we all look awful & and a Tylenol PM for the plane ride home.  Sorella Pearce has no self mastery, so she used hers already. hahah 

Today we are going back to the cemetery to kill Sorella Pearce off properly & get ice cream and walk around the prettiest parts of Genova.  I'm happy about it. 

The only really exciting thing is that it's starting to look like Christmas with lights all over the place and such. 

The really life changing things are happening next week, so I'm just trying to mentally prepare hahah.

We have our Christmas conference on Monday when I finally get my package, then Pearce and Memms head out Wednesday.  

That's gonna suck.  I've literally spent my entire mission so far with them piu meno one transfer.  

Ode to Sorella Pearce:

Sorella Pearce:  Here are a few classic Youtube videos to entertain and inspire now that you don't have me around:

I'm sorry I suck this email.  Nothing out of the usual happened.  Besides I had the WEIRDEST dream with Mom in it, hahahahah, but I don't wanna talk about it. 

sharing recipes

Also talk to Sorella Cruz in Spanish, Mom.. she likes it.  Tell her to give you the recipe for the green banana soup.  sounds bad, but it's not. 

smoke alarm
Also I sent Carla a very vague recipe for Italian hot chocolate.. sorry about that.  Tell her if it starts to smoke.. that means it's working.. don't be afraid.. and keep mixing... I probably forgot to say you have to mix it while its heating up.. I'm really sorry hahah 

But we have this member who keeps teaching us how to make really good hot drinks!  I'm excited to show Marielle when I get home.. she's gonna like them. >=)

xx Sorella Paige O'Connor

(Email Sent - December 11, 2013)

Bonus Letter that came in the mail:

Buon Natale & Merry Christmas!  I received my package and I loved it.  I may or may not have cried (happy tears).  I can tell that Christmas is going to be so fun.  They are putting up Christmas lights outside the apartment right now.  

Also everyone loves Mary and the pass along cards for Christmas have her and Baby Jesus on them. 

Also Mary is apparently the "queen" of Genova haha IDK.  There is a story on it but I can't translate it properly.  Like seriously Genova, you're sooo Italian.  

I hope you like this card!  I know how much you like advent calendars.  Sorella Pearce bought me an advent calendar and it was endearing because she's my "mission mom" but that's something my "birth mom" always did for me!  

She also made me a Christmas study plan to go along with each day because we're sister missionaries. Sorry I'm not including a gospel study plan with this advent letter... it is just alot of Luke and John if you're wondering.

Let's talk about how cute "white Christmases" are on Hallmark but how cold they are in real life?  Come mai?  

Sorella Carlock and I are going to sing Christmas songs on the Metro and when it stops, we are going to drop 1,000,000 Gioisca Il Mondo cards on the ground and walk out.  I'm excited about it.  Kaitlin loves park and bus finding, but it's just not my fav... I prefer people coming to me, ya know?

I'll just close this letter with a solid testimony on my love for you and I would also like to express gratitude for being so good at what you do.  You're better than you think you are!  "You are stronger than you realize." President Uchtdorf

Well Mom, I better get back to my Father's business.  I'll see you soon then. - Paige Ryan