A grand adventure!

Buon Giorno!  We are busy, busy, busy trying to learn all our new  responsibilities from the soon to  depart couple.  We  have weathered our first arrival of new missionaries and transfers.  29 new missionaries arrived yesterday so we spent all day preparing and changing plans as their plane was late, some luggage did not arrive, and we had to shorten some of the new orientation info for them. We also called their parents to say they had arrived safely and who their new companions would be and which city they would go to.  The calls were so very touching - some cried and we got teary as well.  They entrust their precious children to the Lord and us and we want to take care of them and love them too.  They are amazing young people - full of the spirit, enthusiastic, tired, and struggling to speak Italian.  We had a lovely dinner with them all last night and they were so cute and funny.  One young elder - having tasted his first gelato (Italian ice cream) said that he knew he would already really miss gelato when he left for home in two years.  He was beaming all during dinner and saying "I am really in Italy".  What a blessing this calling is to work with these rare and awesome missionaries.

We are getting used to Italy as well.  Just figuring out the cost in euros is an event.  Finding things in the supermercati is an adventure.  Nothing is coordinated really in the stores - like products are  not necessarily placed by other similar products so it is kind of like a treasure hunt. Milk is all shelf stable and not refrigerated.  Eggs are sold 4 in a carton or 6 or 8 or 10 but never any more.  Most items are in much smaller packages than at home.  But we have fun finding new things in the stores.  We did just find brown sugar (kid of tan brown and bigger granules).  We even  found some tortillas and tortilla chips.  But the bread is so good here who needs them.  You have to take all your own bags for the groceries.  Italy is very recycle focused and they take it very seriously.  Marv takes a walk  every morning early and stops by the local bakery for fresh goodies.  Today he  picked up focaccia with ham and cheese for our lunch - yum!  One morning we had apricot croissants for breakfast and in the hospital I got chocolate croissants.  Travel is ok as we have access to a car.  Marv has already driven but I have no desire to battle with Italian drivers.  

We had a grand experience when I ended up in the hospital for some kidney problems.  The hospital and emergency room were much better than 40 years ago.  Everyone was very kind and efficient.  The Urology dept. head was my doctor and he studied in St. Louis Missouri and spoke English.  He was really great.  I had a private room but in the emergency room you are treated in a waiting room for patients - not the visitor's room.  NOT PRIVATE.  Thank goodness my time there was brief.  But I have survived the experience and am sure my experience may help when another missionary gets sick.  

It is hot and humid but our office and apt. has air conditioning!  Hurray!!! Italy is lush with greenery everywhere, lots of flowers and lots of crops blooming all around Opera.  Just waking up and looking outside is a treat - we are really here in Italy!  

We are so blessed to be here.   We will get to travel to several cities soon to do apartment checks and to go to Torino, Padova, and Verona to see the places I served in on my first mission.  We can hardly wait!   We are having the time of our lives.  We do miss our loved ones but with Skype we can still "see" them regularly.  Happy Birthday to our Lu - already 6 years old!  Already back in first grade - she goes to a year round school.  

Well time to go for now - work to do.