Ben Pacini

Melissa--
About ten years ago, I was an awkward and obnoxious 13-year-old, with few friends--except, of course, for the wonderful missionaries, who were kind enough to not point out my 'annoying little brother' tendencies. It was those missionaries--the ones who would talk to me, be my friend, etc.--who made Italy such an incredible experience for me.
I can still remember sitting in the kitchen in the villa, (I think Christiana was making some celestial concoction) and talking to you about life. I don't remember what was said. I remember we talked about stress, and how I stressed too much, and about basketball--which I was practicing every day with my new-found friend, Michael Brown.
In any case, I don't remember much, but I remember leaving and feeling like I had a friend, and that everything would work out. As luck would have it, it did.
Thanks for being so kind to a 13-year-old kid.