Ugly Boots and Persepe Viviente

I have found the new love of my life, in the form of completely and utterly ugly boots. Ha ha so as I mentioned last week, we had to stay inside our apartment and clean on new years day. As we were going through the dead sisters closet (all the stuff old missionaries have left for others to use) I found an ugly pair of black boots complete with laces and a bit of sparkly jewel work. I laughed about how ugly they were and tossed them aside. But yesterday as I was thinking about how utterly freezing it is and how cold my feet get I thought back to the boots. Well they are on my feet as I type this letter, and even though they are not the most comfortable or the most attractive boots Ive ever seen, my feet are warm for the first time in a long time!

I was trying to think of what else I could tell you about that would be entertaining and I dont remember if I already told you about the caritas, so if I have, I am sorry. The caritas is basically a soup kitchen and me and my companion do service there every saturday lunch time and the elders do service tuesday lunch time. Pretty much I always feel awkward cause I 1. I dont understand a lot of what people are saying to me, espeacially the homeless people who come to eat and 2. even when I dont understand what they are saying to me I can figure out that a bunch of the gross men are always hitting on us. ha ha either way I guess it is good to serve others so I shouldnt complain.

Oh a few days ago we went and visited a memeber and brought her a little message and before we left she offered us a little snack. Some pandoro, or panettone, I dont remember which is which. But both are cake type things that everyone eats at christmas time in italy. They are kind of shaped like an angel food cake, and they kind of have more of a bread type consistancy. Some are plan or flavored and some have little bits of fruit in them. They are alright, but not my most favorite treat in all the world. Anyway she brought out some huge slices of cake and when we finished she refilled the plate and told us to keep eating and then she had this box of herble teas she had gotten for christmas that she offered us. I actually really dislike anytype of hot drink that is not hot chocolate as I feel the fruity ones taste like poupori (spelling?) and the other ones like dirty water or cleaning products. Anyways I didnt want to be rude so I drank it along with a third slice of pandoro. Needless to say I am glad pandoro and panettone are christmas cakes because I dont want another slice of that cake for a long time!

Yesterday an investigator took us to see a presepe vivente. Here in italy they dont just have nativity sceenes at christmas they have like little miniture villages that include they whole city. buildings, people and animals. they are pretty cool to look at. Anywas a presepe vivente is a living version. So people dress up and they have props authentic to the time. and people are basically acting out the story of Jesus Christs birth. It was so neat! and the town that it was in was about a 30 minute drive away and it was absoluetly beautiful! buildings on the hillsides and open land with grapevines and olive trees. It was so pretty! After the Presepe, Mariam (the investigator) bought us hot chocolate. Hot chocolate in ITaly is not like hot chocolate in the United States. Hot chocolate in italy is more like hot pudding. It is that thick. It was still good, just different.

Hmmm... I feel like I have written you all a novel so I am gonna end this email by saying I love you all and I love hearing from you. I am so grateful for your love an support. I know this gospel is true and I feel so blessed to be here in Pescara telling the italians all about it! Take care and be safe in all that snow! (oh and take pictures of it for me!)

Ciao!