Hello Italy

Buona Sera Famiglia??
How is everybody?? Everything is great here.. Wow what a week!! There has been so much going on and the work is absolutely spreading like wildfire.. Thanks for all of the motivational e'mails from Lake Powell.. I saw the beach today and it didn't look fun at all!! Kidding, of course.. It's really hot and today was pretty brutal but a blast.. Well three weeks in and I have yet to play a game of soccer(calcio), however, today we took the train down the coast to Battipaglia and played basketball at the coolest park with all of the other Elders.. Pretty fun, I have some cool pictures but forgot my cord to send them home to you.. I haven't stopped playing basketball since getting here!! It's nice tough, my outside j is the perfect ice breaker for a street contact.. We're doing mostra(sign and banner contacting on the street) at a basketball court that it is right in the middle of this huge roundabout that everyone goes to.. It's going to be a blast and hopefully effective.. The work here is crazy, I've never worked so hard in my life! First day my babo asked what I wanted to take from this transfer, I told him I wanted to develop a strong work habit... Ask and ye shall receive, because we never stop!! It's wonderful though.. Teaching a ton, traveling all over the city.. Pretty incredible.. Okay, I have a couple stories.. First off, my first Zone Conference was this last Thursday.. That was pretty amazing.. The incoming missionaries bear their testimonies, as well as the departing.. Allora, me and my companion both got to do so.. The whole day was awesome.. I then had an interview with President Kelly.. That man is called of God, he is absolutely incredible.. I had been feeling overwhelmed; language, culture, etc... He told me exactly what I needed and this week has been wonderful.. Anyway, that day we split from Zone Conference early to make it back to a funeral at our church of a member that passed away.. We (being the missionaries and supposedly that means we can sing) were asked to sing a hymn for everyone.. Well this isn't any funeral, it's an Italian funeral.. Hence there are people EVERYWHERE.. Allora, we make our way through all the chairs and people standing everywhere and a little old Italian man decides that he was called to sing, too. He puffs his chest up, smiles, and follows us up and sings with us.. It was pretty hilarious.. That is straight out of a movie.. Everything here is.. Okay so I can't believe I forgot to write you this story last week.. My second Sunday I was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting at 10:25 the night before.. Leaving me five minutes to prepare and a little bit in the morning.. 12 minute talk in a language that I don't know in front of a congregation that does! Anyway, I prayed, prepared, and felt the promptings as I went up.. The talk went very well and many people came up to me afterward and I think they said I did good, they were smiling so I take that as a plus! Allora, I soon found out one of the mistakes that I made.. This is hilarious.. I was asked to speak on dono dello Spirito Santo, or the gift of the Holy Ghost.. So I began by talking about gifts, or doni, plural for dono.. Talk about my favorite gifts, Christmas, birthday, just whatever.. And then I said but my favorite gift I ever received was when I was eight.. I thought I said I received a gift, but I guess I said woman.. So after this huge set up, hitting all the notes, I get to the transition line and what do I say? "But when I was eight I received the most absolutely wondeful woman... and this is what I want to talk about today." ...Yeah that congregation perked up real fast when I said that.. It was pretty funny.. Mark that up to being a greenie, happens everyday though, I love it! Allora, how is everyone? I can't believe that school has started again.. And Dad, tomorrow is your birthday!! Wow.. I hope you saw the e'mail from the office regarding letters and packages.. It's spot on.. And I can receive e'mails from anyone, I think that's probably best, too.. Sounds like work is going well, I can't believe you're buying a house boat.. Incredible the things that happen when I'm gone!! Oh well, next week we're going up the coast to some castles I think.. Sort of the same?? I wish there were more questions you had.. I love to write home, it's my absolute favorite.. I want to e'mail you all so e'mail me back!! Anyway, I love you, I'll send another e'mail in just a second..

Anziano Gatchell