One Degree Hotter

Received an email and this picture from a family vacationing in Venice. 

They said, ""Look who we literally ran into in Venice when we walked out the door of our hotel! They all looked healthy and happy; bright lights in an incredible part of the world. Beautiful examples for our daughter (second from right) who is anxious to get home to open her own mission call delivered while we are traveling. We hugged them for you if that is OK!" 

lost

I was reading Kaitlin's email from last week, and I was literally laughing out loud (in this less-sketchy internet cafe we found).  She has no clue. hahah.  She thinks she is lost...We are so lost ALWAYS, but really, it's fine.  

I just don't even think I can accurately explain everything that has happened this week.  Literally, it's so funny.  

Our first real day as companions we had an appointment set up that Sorella Astel's companion made for us.   We call this lady and as she is telling us where she lives,  we realize she lives like an hour on train and isn't even in our zone.  But she gave us a referral to see her SISTER who lives down the street from us, so were just like "Cool, we'll do that then." 

sorella needs a weave

We call this lady (they are all African so they speak English--thank you), and she wants to meet with us so we walk to her house.   She sits us down on her couch and starts showing Sister Astel different hair pieces and extensions.  

She thought Sister Astel wanted to get her hair done.  We were just in total shock and had literally no idea what to do, hahahah, so Sorella Astel was just like swatting her away because she was trying to do her hair!  

I had to yell at her and say,  "We are not here to get our hair done. We are here to talk to you about Jesus!"  It was.. an experience. hahaha

phone call

Then that night after like two hours of contacting, I got my first Italian phone call without Sister Pearce with me.  It was a fratello in the ward!  He knows I don't speak well, and he was talking very slowly so it was fine. until. he explained to me that they want me to give a TALK. in church. this Sunday. in Italian.  I said "yes" then hung up the phone and cried. ahhhhh.

my mom writes my talks

So that is what I did for Father's Day.  But it's fine, because Sorella Pearce is just like Mom and helped me write it.  Okay, she wrote all of it.  Okay, I'm a bad missionary and I have my mom write my talks.  Whatever, it's fine.  No one else has to know.  

But it went fine.  Everyone thought I wrote it and they were telling me how much my Italian has improved. blah, blah, it's all a lie, I'm a fake and I still don't speak well hahaha.   

Anyway, the ward is literally freaking out that we are together and they call us all day to make sure we're doing okay.  It's a really good learning experience.  

baptism

But it's also extra hard because I am technically transferred to Astel's copia which means I lost all of my old investigators and my baptism on Friday. (That's fine though. I still get to go because I'm giving the prayer)  But it's hard losing the American ward and my investigators.

legendary

We went to a zone conference in Verona on Monday and all the missionaries already knew about our copia--apparently it's the talk of the town.  Someone came up to me and said, "I heard two sorelle on their second transfer are now companions." then laughed.  When he found out it was me, he laughed even harder. I know. 

Sorella Pearce and the new sorella, Sorella Hunter (She is literally so cute! She's from Colorado and Mom would be friends with her mom.)  She actually has an uncle who is a bishop in Ventura.  Don't know his name, sorry.  Anyway, they are doing really well.  Sister Pearce is helping us a lot, but we dont want to be a burden so we try not to bug them too much. 

Also, it's so hot in Pordenone.  Literally I have never felt like this before in my life.  First summer in Italy yaaayyyyyy. 

quote me

I've been saying the most missionary things lately.  I quote Preach My Gospel and everything.  I feel normal, but let's be honest, that's so weird. hahah.

Although Sorella Astel and I have no idea what we are doing, we are just taking it a day at a time trying not to get deported and talking to people about the Book of Mormon.  I haven't had gelato in a week, but that's on purpose. 

one degree hotter
Keep up the good work family.  And whenever you feel sad or overwhelmed, just think, "Sister O'Connor is probably giving a talk in Italian on Sunday.  It could also be one degree hotter." 

(Paige is referencing this talk:  BYU Devotional "What Happens When Life Gets One Degree Colder" by Dallan R. Moody, March 6, 2012 -- Read or Watch it HERE

With love, from a very green sister missionary out alone with another just-as-green sister missionary in a very hot Pordenone, but she wouldn't want to be anywhere else, 

Sorella O'Connor

(Email Sent - June 19, 2013)

On Our Own

I have been transferred!  But I'm staying in the same place.

O'Connor and Astel in the MTC

no joke

Literally that is not a joke.  So everyone in Pordenone is getting a new companion.  Sister Pearce is staying and getting a new new sister straight from the MTC.  She likes to run and dance but we don't know her name yet.  Right about now she should be tracting at the Duomo hahah.  Sister Lofely is getting transfered to Florence (no big deal right?) and... 

o'connor and astel

President Wolfgramm has seen fit that Sister O'Connor and Sister Astel should be companions. in Pordenone. ha. This is serious. So we are going to make it work, hahaha.  Who needs trainers right?  The 12-week training program is now officially non-existent, but it's fine.  WE NEED PRAYERS.  

anziano nelson

But it really IS fine, because on Sunday we had the opportunity to see Anziano Russell M. Nelson speak!  It was so cute; he tried to speak Italian.  I love him.  Anyways, he gave some good advice to the Italians.  

My favorite was, "Memorize the sound of your Father's voice reading the Book of Mormon." cute, huh?! 

Also he said our sweet prophet is having a hard time with his wife passing. sad, huh?

So Anziano Nelson said they're making a huge announcement on the 23rd about missionary work!  We have no idea what it's about, but they are having the MTC sing at it so hopefully kids from our ward will be there.  

He said it's gonna change everything.

random info and inside jokes:

It's been really hot in Pordenone during the day then it pours whenever we need to go anywhere at night. 

I'm so excited for this Bergquist baby girl. seriously. totes called it. 

We have a zone meeting Monday and I can promise that I've been through a transfer without getting one letter.  You all are awful.  But it's fine;  I'm not counting. 

I sent mom a letter today with some flowers in it I picked.  The poppies grow like crazy here. 

Italian men are literally so creepy.  I'll have some good stories to tell you when I get home. hahaha (Don't worry, Mom!)

We got a bike!  It's so cute, but it turns out I'm not very good at riding it. hahahah.  Everyone yells at me in Italian and I just wobble and look crazy with my helmet. 

I just don't know what I'm doing, but apparently the Lord trusts Astel and me because ALL of the other new missionaries still have trainers. gosh. It's gonna be crazy.

Sister Pearce drank some super sketchy water that was coming out of the ground and it even had a sign in Italian and English that it wasn't drinking water (we didn't see that until after) and the thought came into my mind, "I wonder if I will still get a Celine bag if i am honorably discharged as a missionary." hahahah....  (post-mission shopping plans with Mom and Kait)

Literally EVERYDAY I think about how i can injure myself enough to get sent home without messing up my face.  (joke from her farewell talk)  but it's the best. and the worst. but the best.

I'm craving a good green drink.  If youre sending Kaitlin a cute dress, send me one too.  All of my clothes are so hot.

I need another flowy stretchy skirt or dress.  I am riding a bike. Okay, none of my skirts fit.

I'm trying to eat healthy but literally we went to dinner at a member's house with some new converts and old single adults, and they feed you so much.  I can testify that I fit 6,000 calories of food in my body.  

Gelato is so good I want to cry.  

Also we we had to literally run home from that dinner appointment and Sorella Pearce threw up hahahah 

Did I tell you I ran into someone on my bike? 

Also I went to talk to an Italian on the bus and she had no tongue. 

Also there was a flood in Pordenone and we were trapped because our investigator's car couldn't make it.  I'm pretty sure I got bit by something not good, but don't worry about me! 

Also we have an investigator from Honduras.  She's sweet but my Spanish skills extend to, "Can I go to the bathroom?" and "Where are the keys?." soooo her daughter translates. 

And Sigur Ros is coming to Pordenone this month but they aren't playing Wednesday (pday) afternoon, sadly, so I will have to miss it. 

Last week for shopping we only bought veggies, but then we went out for kebabs twice. oops. 

Red Ledges looks so pretty.  Scott is going to have so much fun. I bet he won't be able to catch as many fish as me, but he will still probably get more than Dad.  It's easy to do that. hahaha 

Paige fishing with her dad - Heber 2012

(Email Sent - June 12, 2013)

La Settimana di Crisi

crisis

It's Week Five of my first transfer. That means I'm senior companion for a week, and it's AWFUL! hahaha  

It's so hard being senior companion, and I've cried every day, and it's barely Wednesday.  

But Sister Pearce is a gem like always and just laughs at me when I "vado in crisi," (which reminds me of home).  But this time I'm on the other side of the bathroom door. karma. hahaha 

hard things

But yesterday when I was stressing out about having to talk on the phone in Italian and figure out bus times and things, she sat me down and had me read a talk her brother gave at some BYU thing and it started with... "I can do hard things."  

Whatever, it was perfect. My companion is just literally perfect.  She reminds me a lot of Mom; is that weird?

Paige and Sorella Pearce

lost

Oh so we got lost in Budioa which is like a 40-minute bus ride out of Pordenone, and it's beautiful.  But it was raining, so that was not beautiful.  And we had to be home in two hours.  And there were no more buses that day.  Perfect right?  

found

Anyways we called a member in the American ward to help us.  She picked us up, drove us home, and on the way took us to Lidl to pick out our favorite 10 things each.  It was such a miracle.  So then I was thinking.. everyone should be like Sister P.  She's literally fantastic.

scambi

We had our first SCAMBI (missionary exchange) this week as well. that. was. a new experience. hahah  No, it was good!  I was with a sister in her last transfer, so I was just trying to soak up as much information as possible.  She's so cute and smart.

I also taught Gospel Principles in the American ward while Sister Pearce taught it in the Italian ward. We're allowed to do that as long as I have a fake companion and she does too.

extra mayo

You will never guess what happened to me.  So we were at my favorite Italian member's house for a ghans (YSA) activity, but it was just our coppia (companionship) and our awesome investigator and their family.   

So it was super low key and we were eating pasta.  Suddenly the dad starts talking to me in Italian, so I'm just smiling and saying, "Si, Si, Si"  like always.  Then he starts putting MAYONNAISE all over my pasta!!  all over my perfectly good pasta! and made me eat it!  

It was really funny apparently to everyone else. ha. Anyways I still love them, but I can never look at mayo in the same way.

venice

We went to Venice for Pday today, and it was perfect!  Couldn't be more cute and charming.  

The shopping is to die for, but I'm a missionary so i just kept walking.  Start saving Dad. 

healthy appetite

Ugh! I don't want to get fat.  It's terrible when they give you 20 euro for the whole week's food and pasta is .35 and apples are 6 euro.  It's even worse because I know how to eat healthy, but I literally can't afford it.  WHAT DO I DO?

I love being a missionary.  I love teaching the people here.

Sorella Paige O'Connor

(Email Sent - June 5, 2013)

Hot Showers and Mistaken Identity

HI! this week was... full of new experiences. hahah

Our hot water heater broke, and it rained\hailed all week! yay. But it's fine. I'm fine.  Don't you worry about me!  

two jobs

My companion has been such a saint through it all though-- always making sure I'm alive.  She says that her only jobs are to make sure I'm alive and that I don't get deported.  

I cannot confirm or deny me crying during my "shower," which consisted of two pots of boiling water and a sponge. hahahah. 

I PROMISE I'M FINE.  They fixed it yesterday, and my sweet compy helped me heat up the water. 

fake it like Aretha

We had a mixed zone conference with the Mestre and Verona zone yesterday, which was so fun.  Believe it or not, our apartment had a special musical number in front of everyone.  It's fine, I just mouthed the words at some parts.  

My lovely companion carried the entire group.  She has a voice comparable to Aretha Franklin (says one of our investigators) haha.  Really though, she's so good.  

MTC Buddies at Zone Conference - O'Connor, Gneiting, Astel

mistaken identity

A lot of missionaries thought I was Kaitlin.  (The fact that I'm in Italy doesn't stop that from happening.)  

But one missionary who mistook me at the first zone conference in Pordenone, came up to me and was like, "Hey Sister O'Connor, I think I saw your sister a few weeks ago at a conference!" 

and I was just like, "Nope, still me."  

He was embarrassed, hahah.  Elders are so funny.  I don't think he will make the mistake again.  

But before the conference, WE GOT LOST!  I'm so not mad about about it (even though I had to run and walk alot of stairs.)  Because when you're in Verona.. life is good.  It's so pretty! 

Lost in Verona

happy missionary

I got the Pureology yesterday!  It was literally sent from heaven.  So last night I took my first hot shower in a week and had good shampoo!  And now I'm a happy missionary.  I even got to have a pistaccio McFlurry (with no blood) for the train ride home! 

I imagine Steve and Karen's apartment is a lot like the one our senior missionaries have.  It seems like it from what you described of their apartment in Mallorca. 

The beach house looks the most beautiful out of all the pictures you sent. 

That reminds me! YOU HAVE TO TELL BISHOP... I found out that Pordenone area touches Austria and that one of our cities is like 80 percent German speaking and we have German grocery stores.  Ask him if he's ever had Master Crumble... It's probably after his time, hahaha, but so yummy.

We still have no bikes.

I'm starting to prefer not having bikes because we just take the bus everywhere and that is nice.  The buses in Pordenone are apparently super high class, hahah.  I don't know how that is.  

awkward

But now I'm starting to know the people who take the buses at certain times. There is this one handicapped man who has no teeth and is in a wheelchair that pulled my compy in for a real nice baci (kiss) and then started to roll over to me.  All I could say was, "Sono timida" while giggling, because I'm a missionary and I giggle in awkward situations. 

families

As for missionary work, we are teaching the coolest people!  This family we met Monday are quality.   The wife is a cute, blonde Italian who looks like Ellie Goulding and is a DJ.  Her husband is tall and African, and they have a two-week-old baby girl.   I love that family.  Our power couple with the two girls are also doing great!  

The work is really moving forward.  Everyone is super solid and I love them all.

small world

I was talking to someone in our military ward on Sunday from Heber, and he was telling me all the cool things about Red Ledges (where our family is building a cabin).   Better start working on it Dad!  Another brother was talking to me all about Moreno Valley because he used to serve at March Air Force base.  Weird right?  Small world.  

Also the families in the military ward are literally angels.  They know we can't make it to dinner appointments in the evening, so this perfect family made us frozen dinners to take home and our favorite snacks... that was a miracle. 

I'm surviving. 

With love, from the smelly internet cafe inside very wet Pordenone, 

Sorella Paige OConnor. 

My Beautiful City - Pordenone

Training and a Pistachio McFlurry

Ciao Babes!

Italy is so cool, huh?  This week was good good!  

romeo and juliet

We had a new missionary training meeting in Verona, so I got to see the missionaries I came in with who are serving in the Verona and the Mestre zones!  Verona cannot be accurately described.  It's where that super cute Romeo and Juliet movie was filmed that has Amanda Seyfried with the lame ending?  You know what I'm talking about!  

So it is always fun hanging out with other missionaries.  You just learn about the gospel and compare embarrassing stories (mine won). 

McBloody Nose

I also got a pistachio McFlurry at the train station.  I only got one bite!  You know how I do that thing where I save my food till we sit down on the plane (or train in this case) so I can enjoy it and also make you (or my companion) jealous for finishing yours already?  

Well there were no seats, so we were walking through the cars trying to find a spot and I got a bloody nose.  Italians apparently dont get those.  Anyways, it was embarrassing and I had to throw away my McFlurry. 

playing favorites
We ate at a member's house with a new convert last night.  I shouldn't have favorites, but they are my favorite family.  They have a daughter serving a mission in England and she got there the same day I got to Italy and she is learning English.  

The family is just super nice!  They have another daughter who is 18 named Miriam and I love her.  I cant talk to her, but we connect.  She also knows a tiny bit of English.  There is also a son, Gabriele, who is 20 and Rachele who is 14.

So we were eating pizza (obvi) and they were talking, and I'm just watching my companion like I always do to figure out if I need to laugh or look sad (since I can't understand).  

But I'm trying to listen and learn and pick out the words I know, and all the sudden I hear "zoom-beyz" and I'm like "ZOMBIES!"   So I ask Gabriele what show they were talking about, and he says, "v-all-kean d-ah-d"  --That's him trying to tell me in English,  "Walking Dead."  I just can't get away.  Italians watch American shows and listen to American music. 

bielieber

Sometimes I offend Sorella Pearce because I forget she hasn't been in the mission for 25 years, hahah.  Yesterday I asked, "Do you know who Justin Bieber is?"  That didn't go over very well hahaha.  

She is great.  Such a trooper!  They gave me a super solid companion.  She makes fun of me because I love European people and their clothes and hair.  Italians are super hip.  They love Rihanna.  

baptism

So we baptized Germey this week!  It was lovely.  He is a timid soul, but he is great.  Baptisms are a lot of work! 

We started teaching the coolest couple!  They have two daughters 14 & 11(score) and one on the way.  The dad is a policeman and the wife is a nurse.  

ageless
It is impossible to guess how old people in Italy are, because they have children later than Americans and the old people dress themselves really well.  Also Italians never die.  The OLDEST ladies ride bikes so fast and so well (and so much better than me) ... cool.  Anyway, the dad is 50, so mom and dad you fit right in here! 

I love Italy and the people.  I want to be just like them! 

on our own

Sorella Astel and I had to do an exchange this Sunday, so it was us handling the Italian ward. hahahhahahahah hahah.  Don't even try to picture it. 

I haven't got ANY mail since being here.  and we have conferences all the time with mail call. what the heck family? gimme some lovin!

MOM AND DAD:  Tell me all about how great Italy is.  Mom please tell me you're buying all the cool stuff here and cute stuff for me to wear when I come home.  I can't buy anything here because it's really easy to make other people feel small.  But I'm not distracted from missionary work, don't worry.  I promise.

Mom and Dad in Italy Eating Gelato 

(and not buying Paige cool stuff for when she get's home... oops)

We move into our new apartment soon!  It's a penthouse, which is a really cool thing in America, but in Italy it just means you have to walk a lot of stairs. 

We still have no bikes in case you're wondering. 

I love my Heavenly Father and the Book of Mormon and the Church 
(and Kim Kardashian--I guess--I had a dream about her last night. ha)

Ciao Ciao!  With love from the same sketchy internet cafe in Pordenone, 

Sorella Paige O'Connor 

P. S.

I just read Kaitlin's email and realized she talks about all her spiritual experiences and I just talk about random things.  But I swear I'm growing spiritually too, hahahah, just you wait and seeeee 

(Email Sent - May 22,  2013

Taco Bell Blasty and other Good Things

Ciao Bella/o!

This week was good!  Sorry I cried on Skype, hahah, missions will do that to you.  It's really not that hard, but I'm thankful for your prayers.

So don't tell Kaitlin, but we set another baptismal date!  

don't be scared

This man from Ethiopia was following us and stopped us (I was scared but Sorella Pearce is a champ).  She gave him a card with our number and then he texted us about wanting to read "our book."  

I was afraid of him, so Sorella Pearce said, "If he really wants one, he has to come to church to get it." 

 Long story short, he comes to church after district meeting when the anziani from Udine were there to look scary (haha they are not scary elders), and it was actually really spiritual and he is preparing to be baptised on the 8th of June!  

I feel bad for being scared of him.  

Also, we teach him in English and it's really hard for Sorella Pearce to translate the lessons back into English.  Her First Vision lesson in English was entertaining, hahah.  We are both just having such a good time.

like riding a bike

So we still only have three bikes and four sisters.  I can't accurately describe the things that happen on those bikes.  

Like the day when three sisters rode bikes and we traded off being the one to run along side (with our helmet still on) in the rain. hahah.  I also ran straight into a dumpster.  It was unavoidable.  I don't know how Sorella Pearce got through it without a scratch!  

Also, one of our bikes is a man's style bike which means it is definitely not made for sisters wearing skirts.  Sorella Pearce was a gem and took it home from church but literally could not stop because the bike is 4 inches too tall.  

Watching her jump and start to pedal in a skirt truly is a sight to be seen.  I took a wrong turn that day but it's fine.

(Note: Here is a video from our Mother's Day Skype session that shows Paige telling Kaitlin about riding the bikes.  Sorry the audio is too quiet, but it is still funny to watch Paige tell the story.)  

Here is the basic dialog:

P-"And we're like, okay one sister can ride on the back. And, like, she can just sit there. And so Sister Pearce is ready to go and there is a sister on the back, but it was heavy and going from side-to-side.  So we decide every two bus stops and we'll switch and relay.

And so there are three sisters on bikes and one sister running up the street next to the bikes.  And then every two bus stops we switch.  So there is one sister jumping off the bike and running with the bike and the other sister is getting on.  And it took us so long to get to the church."

K - "Why didn't you just all walk?"

P - "Because we had to be there at a specific time."

K- "Ohhh..."

any volunteers?

Sorella Pearce has volunteered us to sing a song at the baptism on Saturday. in Italian.  I literally have no idea how this is going to turn out. hahaha.  It's payback because I volunteered her for some embarassing things last Saturday.

shopping like an american 

I love our American ward!  A member took us on base today and took us grocery  shopping.  I literally spent every single American dollar I had.  But we now have all our favorite things, food and living wise.  

I have really missed American laundry soap. (Mom, they had Seventh Generation!) and there was no tax!   I bought salt and vinegar chips. oops.  

And then for lunch... she took us to TACO BELL!  They have one on base and I got a "blasty"

--  talk about miracles.  

(I'm not wearing a name tag on base because it's not allowed! It's weird.)

Yesterday, we went to a member's house in the American ward and she is the coolest.  She has the most beautiful house with the best view of Italy.  I was in love.  I'm taking pictures next time. 

I told you this, but I don't want you to forget that I taught Gospel Doctrine (not Gospel Principles) in the Italian ward on Sunday. In the Italian language. hahahaha

This is our beautiful church.  I love it.

We get our new apartment soon! 

My favorite gelato in Italy is pistachio and sweet cream. mmmm. Get that Mom and Dad!

Also I won't be mad if you buy me something when you are in Italy and just save it for me when I get back.  I'm a 39 in european shoe size.  

love you! 

With love from the sketchiest internet cafe in the world, 

Sorella Paige O'Connor

(Email Sent - May 15, 2013)

In ITALY!! First stop - Pordenone

Hello!! 

I am in Pordenone! 

My trainer is Sorella Pearce from Provo, Utah and she is a gem! 

OK so good news! I love it here! It is so Italian.  It's like the Italian version of Los Altos, just more humid.  It's so green!  More vibrant though.  And I can see the Swiss Alps, which I love. 

So we arrived in Milan and it was wonderful, I ate pizza and gelato and got to go to the Duomo.  

That reminds me, I want you to picture four sisters and 12 bags using the Milan metro.. it was... interesting.

life is good in pordenone

But the best part was finding out that I am LIVING with Sorella Astel!!  We share Pordenone!  Isn't that such a blessing?  We needed each other.  

Astel and her trainer.... one pizza each-- it's fine

Just a little about it here.  Pordenone has a military base! So there is an American ward where they speak English! (and also buy us American food like Oreos and peanut butter.)  

So we split the Italian ward and our companionship gets the American ward.  We are covering two wards, which is interesting.. the hardest part is switching between Italian and English.  We also have a senior missionary couple, which is such a blessing.  They are awesome.  

pinkwash

But the four of us are new to Pordenone and we kicked out the elders.  I think its called a "pinkwash" hahah, but we had to do some major damage control to the apartment.  Elders don't like to throw things away.  

I also broke my closet with all my clothes.  

But we are getting a new apartment soon which is so beautiful!  I have the best view of the city and we will soon have two bathrooms!  The bathroom we have now has its own Italian charm (not complaining).  

I'm in love.  People here are pretty affluent but are still very kind to me when I contact.  The people of Pordenone are lovely.  

Our investigators are so ready!  I set my first baptism yesturday!  Her name is Sara and she's so cute.  She's 19 and has cousins who live in SLC, and she went to visit them and got on the internet and said, "Send the missionaries to me!"  She is super cool.  The 25th is her special day!

Happy birthday Dad!!!!  For your birthday we cleaned the apartment, 

went to a baptism, 

taught a lesson and I got gelato and fruit from the outside market.  

Also they have Coke products here. 

 I love Italy! 

I still don't know Italian, but my trainer is very good.  Sorella Astel and i just laugh at ourselves.  We can't believe we are together.  hahaha it's so, so fun!  Ahh!  We have the most beautiful church!  It's wonderful. There is even carpet, which our trainers were excited about.

So this Pday is for organizing, but we are in the Mestre Zone which means we can go to Venice for Pday (score).  

Like I can't even put into words how much I love being a missionary.  It's so so hard, and I miss you all.  But it's going to be so good. 

Oh, hahah funny story.  So the sorelle with our 12 bags coming to Pordenone was funny, but the anziani going to their zone were helping us unload our bags and the train left without them!  Poor Anziano Pagano left everything he had--all his luggage--on the train.  hahah. Okay, maybe it's not funny but he found his stuff eventually. 

Oh we were sharing bikes and a phone up until yesturday.  We don't have four bikes yet, but we will hahah.  I walk alot.  I'm excited to know my way around and learn Italian.  We get lost, but always a member seems to find us and tell us where we went wrong. hahaha 

I love Italy and the Italians.  Also the people from Ghana are nice because they speak English.

The bishop in our AMERICAN ward has a 6-year-old daughter who speaks better Italian than me. We are not supposed to compare ourselves to other people, but reallllyyy... that's unfair.

Love, Paige

(Email Sent - May 8, 2013)