14/02/2007 (Valentines Day)

Hey everybody. 2 more p-days to go and Im in Italy. Thats crazy. Wellthis weeks been different. The older district left on Tuesdaymorning...at 350am..so as zone leaders me and Tilini were up at 330signing them off and out, checking their rooms. Surprisingly we werenttired yesterday. If were 100% obedient the Lord takes care of you, so Iguess somebody was looking out for us. So they left and then we justchilled in the hallway for a few hours before the day started. Its weirdbeing the oldest district and the zone leaders. We taught the 2nd lessonin Italian which went pretty bad. We didnt prepare for it properlly. Wetried keeping it to basic and it just ended up leaving it open to tomany questions, which would be great if it were in english. We also hada native Italian come in and talk to me and my companionship on Mondayto. For an hour you just speak in Italian with him which was reallycool. He helped us out a lot because you see how crisp they pronounceeverything unlike english.Wow monday seems like a week ago..anyways lastnight we had Elder Hinckley (pres Hinckley's son) talk to us in adevotional. He is really cool, he just relaxed didnt take himself toserious. They had a time for questions at the end and this girl asked'how do you know if youre working to hard?" we were all expecting somespiritual response, but he just answered the best truest way possible"if you fall over and pass out" . I think it was good because a lot ofthe people here take themselves to seriously. So that was really nice tohave him come in. He was talking about Pres Hinckley, apparently hesdoing ok but he was talking about how most likely he wont be thepresident when we get back from out missions, hes 97..so 2 more yearsand hed be 99. His wife spoke to, she was just talking about likeappearance, manners some funny stories. She told us a quote by presidentHinckley, something he told a bunch of the missionaries after someonewas sent home "dont be stupid" which was funny. Well thanks for all theletters. There's been a lot going around here, fortunatly Ive been luckyenough to be the only one in the district not to come down with anythingso far. Weve been prepping for Sunday, Me and Tilini have to teachpriesthood because our branch pres has to go to a meeting, hiscouncilors to. Its really starting to hit us all that this time in 3weeks well be in Italy. I sent off some letters Monday morning to. Not awhole lot has been going on since Saturday when I wrote you all last. Weget a new district which Tilini and I have to give an orientation andtour tonight. So after this well go prepare that. Theyre all Catania. 7elders 2 sisters, which I think I told you on Saturday. So I heard yallfed the missionaries on Tuesday night, thats good. Keep feeding them.Ivemet like 3 or 4 missionaries going to our mission (in Ottawa). But itssuch a big mission, so youll probably meet some greenies that I met inthe MTC. Hahaha Des I had a good laugh when you said Tilini makes melook small. Dude is huge. I always try and take him down but hes like abrick wall, he plaed for the BYU football team, d-line. Yea I want togoto Hawaii when I get back, hes been telling me I have to come,because apparently they never seen a haulee boy (white boy) like me, cuzi hang out with all the togans and samoans, and apparently I actuallyfit in with them hahah. The polynesians remind me of my friends backhome. I printed off some pictures today, so Ill wait probably until a mylast week and send all of them off. British Airways doesnt have abaggage weight restriction anymore effective Monday (last monday) so wedont need to worry about that all that much anymore which is cool,because we have a lot of books. And every book we have is big, andnecesary. Well like I said its been a quiet few days so theres not muchelse to write. I hopeall of you are working hard, and studying. Have funremember me in your prayers, Love Anziano Costa -Alma7:23.