Ciao famiglia!
Ok, before I forget, Mom, your email is blank. Either it didn't send, or I'm just learning how you really feel about me. Gosh, I can't believe it... :P Just kidding!
By the way, kinda jealous that you all got to hear from Elder Cook. We had stake conference in our ward this past week, and we only got a bunch of native Italian speakers. I'm sure they were great, I just had a hard time following along if you get what I mean. But that's awesome for all of you!
So you want to know what it's like in Messina? Basically, picture Californiaish weather in the fall, add a little more rain (it rains for like an hour maybe each day), and then throw in a bunch of chaotic and somewhat dirty streets. That's a pretty decent picture, I think. But it's a great place! As chaotic as the streets are (basically, the only traffic law for cars or pedestrians is don't get hit), we get around rather easily. It's a little tiring, because we don't have a car (there was one here, but my companion doesn't have a legal license here, and I sure as heck ain't driving yet), but we just make sure to plan time for walking to and from appointments.
And goodness, do we have appointments! We have 9 investigators that we try to see on a regular basis (I haven't met like 3 of them yet, because scheduling with them is sometimes rough), and we have a bunch of referrals from members that we still have to contact, but it's hard to find time to do that when we have to meet with our investigators AND there's a bunch of new converts that we try to see sometimes, AND some less-active members who we try to see (the ward is going through a bunch of changes right now, so we're helping to pick up some slack until they can get home and visiting teachers out to meet with people). Sometimes, we have our planners filled for like the next 2 days, because we have so many people we're trying to see. It's great, though, the people are amazing!
Well, from what I understand, at least. The language is, well, difficult, yes, but for different reasons than I expected. One, it's nearly impossible to understand what people are saying, and some are harder than others. At least it was. I'm VERY slowly improving. The funny thing is, my companion speaks just about as fast as everyone here (he's been out for about a year and a half and has the language down pat), and I can clearly pick out every word he says, and understand everything unless there's a word I don't know. So I know I could understand people, it's just their accent and how they sometimes slur words together that gets me. Two, there's a lot of words that are used more frequently here than in the MTC that I'm having a harder time remembering. Usually, with food or something. But that will all come with time, focus, and language study time.
And the food is fantastic! Just about everything is different (such as tiny breakfasts, smaller dinners, and a good size lunch). And it all just tastes so good! The snacks are great, and so different. For example, in Sicily, they have these things called Arancini, which are these large rice balls, with some kind of filling like cheese or some kind of sauce, and then fried. Definitely beats a Snickers! And they also have these things that are like pizza, but not quite, with more veggies, but it's SO GOOD! And the cheese here is great (I didn't even know that could happen!), and the breakfast stuff, and the pasta.....GOSH I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE! And we have yet to eat a meal at a member's house, but that's supposed to be even better!
My companion is great. He comes from a military family, and they actually lived in Sicily before, but now his family is in Germany (in Nathan's mission boundaries). He does a lot in the lessons for now, but he's really supportive of me, and helps me to learn a lot. He doesn't quite have the Italian emotions (whereas we're stuck at people's houses for an hour because they're talking a lot, he's more like me), but he relates to them really well, and is just an all-around fantastic missionary.
Some funny stuff that's happened so far, before I forget: When talking about mission stuff, apparently here they refer to it like a life. So I'm born in Messina, and Anziano Stewart was born in Napoli. I'm his son, and I got to talk to my grandpa the night I got into Catania, where the train dropped me off. It was kind of a shock to hear him talk about missionaries who have died, but I'm used to it now. :) Also, coming here, we took a train from Rome to Catania, which involved the train going on a barge. Pretty interesting idea, huh? OH! At the airport in London, after we went through security (again), this one guy stopped the four of us (from the MTC, remember them?), and told us that, although he has a lot of respect for us missionaries, our religion "teaches a lot of funky stuff" that isn't aligned with normal Christianity, and warned us to look into it. Then walked off. We were too tired and worn-out to say anything but "Ok, thanks." Yeah, not the most spiritual story, but we laughed about it once we got some food in us!
Gosh, there's just too much to say! I want to tell you more about the people and some stuff that's we've done here, but there's not enough time, dang it! And I tried to attach some pictures, but this computer wouldn't recognize the memory card. So either, I can try the computer at the church real quick later, or if that doesn't work, I'll mail home the memory card when it's full. Or something of that nature. Sound good? Hope so, 'cause those are my only options. Oh well. I love you all, and can't wait to hear from you! The church is true, I promise! My response to that guy at the airport (if I had been awake enough to say it, but I thought it loudly at him as he walked away) would have been that we don't profess that we are another Christian church, we go out to bring others the true church of God. I like to imagine that would have been a baptism right there, but whatever.
Ci vediamo!
Anziano Walker
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