Thanksgiving dinner

Friday morning the food activities started early, picking up two beautiful pumpkin pies from Sorella Balzotti. We put them directly into the trunk of our car. They had stayed up late the night before to finish cooking them and needed to head out for a busy day. I walked to Conad to get some produce for me, plus heavy plastic plates and two big loaves of sourdough bread for the dinner. About 10am we left to pick up the 15-pound turkey (large by Italian standards, small by American, but all we could fit in our oven) at the butcher shop, heading directly down to the Institute from there. The traffic was a bit heavier than we are used to later in the day, but we arrived around 11am. Dee went to work putting the stuffing ingredients together and into the turkey, sewed it up, and had it in the oven by 12:30pm, early enough to finish before 7pm.

In goes the turkey, on time

Stuffing fixings

Then Dee went to work on all the sides. It was amazing to watch her (she didn't want my help), as she soon had four crock pots going at once: two with dark meat from the legs/thighs, one with extra stuffing, and one with mashed sweet potatoes. Somehow in the middle of all that she found time to make Reeses peanut butter bars for my Seminary class. I worked a little bit polishing my lessons, as well as taking photos of items around the Institute for the FM group inventory and service schedule (fire extinguishers, water heater, and HVA units).

 

 

There were eight kids for Seminary class, with nobody showing up early this time (I was starting to worry). We had a new girl, Laura, from Colombia who has only been here a few months but speaks Italian pretty well. She had a good time and will come again. Joshua and David arrived late due to a train delay, so we played some bingo first while waiting for everyone. As usual, I did a short lesson, this time on the plan of salvation, then several different scripture games. They all had a really good time, and the dessert was enjoyed by all. 

 

Ugo informed us that they had found some year-end budget money to buy a second fridge for the campus. Even though we don't know exactly how or where we will fit it in, we decided to go for it while he has the funds. Our fridge was too full this week, as often happens with big meals. A second fridge will allow us to keep cold drinks, ice cream, etc., which we really do not have room for right now, as well as overflow space for food.

Riccardo brought us our own copy (very nicely bound) of his master's thesis. He signed it with a very touching note. We were also included in the printed acknowledgements at the end of the thesis itself, which was unneccessary but appreciated. The thesis is written in English, on relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. I hope to read it in all my spare time.

To Elder and Sister Whiting, who nourished my
mind, heart, and stomach in the final weeks of work

Thanks to Elder and Siter Whiting for having welcomed me with open arms
at the GANS campus during the final weeks of writing

My Institute lesson was on D&C 58-59. We had a number of visitors, including three from the US, plus Ugo (who was not about to miss all that great food!) There are lots of wonderful scriptures  in those sections, including being anxiously engaged in a good cause, the Lord not remembering our sins after we repent, the Sabbath day, fasting, and gratitude. We had good discussions on each topic. Dario and Karina printed up some little sheets of paper and had the kids write down things they were grateful for, and I read them (anonymously) at the end of the lesson. 

Meanwhile, the Thackers and Balzottis had arrived to help serve the meal, as did Jenna Perego. Sorella Thacker brought carrot cake and mashed potatoes. Anziano Balzotti carves a mean turkey. Last year we were overwhelmed by all the things to do (including portion control :), but having five extra adults this time made a big difference. It was the first time back at the campus for the Thackers, and we appreciate very much all they did to start the place off. For the first few months there, they had no kitchen at all, which is hard for us to imagine now. With help from Ugo, we have improved things even more since we got there. 

 

 

 

Everyone ate until they were full: turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes covered with marshmallows, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, bread, pumpkin pie, carrot cake, apple pie (Sheyla), and cinnamon rolls (Noemi). The Thackers and Balzottis worked like crazy, and I was hardly needed with all that personnel, so I hung with the kids most of the time. They cleaned up without my help, a massive effort, but the kitchen was rather crowded. We sent a small amount of food home with a few kids, and the fridge was looking pretty empty by the time it was over.

 

 

The wishbone is an unknown tradition here

 

 

Noemi and her wonderful cinnamon rolls

 

After the other two couples left, we hung around with the kids until about 11pm. Ugo brought the Christmas decorations and took home those from Halloween, with Riccardo and Christian doing the carrying. We arrived home with five big bags of stuff we had brought down for the prep, as well as a few leftovers which might be useful for Saturday's senior couple dinner. The kids were still enjoying playing in the library. It would be well after midnight before we got to bed, which is unusual for us, but it was an awesome day.