A pre- mission farwell

I think it was my mom that pointed out that is would be different for Tori leaving from Italy where we do not know very many people and none of our family would be there to give her a good send off.
She is right, so we decided before the Christmas hustle and bustle which will be quickly followed by wedding hustle and bustle we would give her a send off.

We had a lot of fun with lovely friends who came to show their support and love for Tori. It meant a lot to us for her to know that she has such a great support group and so much love backing her!

Tori issued a few challenges to her friends.....

1) Read The Book of Mormon cover to cover in the 18 months she is gone
2) Write your testimony of The Book Of Mormon in the cover and share it with a friend
3) Write a missionary ( maybe her) every month

(She provided The Book of Mormon and the envelopes and a pen as a favor for anyone taking the challenge)

 Then there were gifts! Everything from Umbrellas and ponchos ( El Salvador gets lots of rain) to skirts and traveling items. She received a handful of gift cards to go pick out clothes and shoes, as well as some spending cash.

 Great friends and old YW leaders came to hug her and tell her how great she was going to do!

As always we had lovely decorations and yummy food!

We had all of Tori's favorite:

Mom's crock pot stroganoff
Buscetta
Homemade rolls
and wrecking balls (Cookie dough wrapped in brownies and dipped in chocolate)

We also had some El Salvadorian Pupusas with Rojo salsa and Queso Fresco

We are so excited for her and the work she is going to do and pleased to have been able to have a show of support!