Short excerpt from 3/11/13

So, it now takes even longer to get your mail because they still haven't switched my new address and it's all getting sent to my old pad so I get it when Hogge remembers to give it to me.

I taught this really cool family this last week. It's the bishop's less active son. His wife is Catholic and they have a son who goes to a catholic school. Not exactly like us, but enough so that it reminded me of us. It was a really good lesson. We had her crying, me crying, them all laughing asking us when we are going to come back. It was just a very heartwarming experience that reminded me of home.




District volleyball! We had a tournament with our ward!
Me being me.

Email excerpt and pictures from 3/4/13

 Something cool happened this weekend. Our mission got asked to march in the Far Rockaway St Patrick's Day parade last Saturday. We went and wore our suits but with our yellow vests over top. It was a really cool experience. As we walked down the street everyone was cheering for us. It was so nice and amazing. But let me tell you, it was cold! Also, there were three girls who were flat out shiz faced drunk and ran though the huge group of missionaries trying to slap as many butts as they could. It was funny to me and really surprised me when I got spanked randomly. Not complaining, just funny. Of course some people were really awkwarded out by it, but me being myself was totally ok with it and kinda whatever haha. I didn't encourage it, but I didn't freak out. I guess I'm just really unorthodox. :P

My pres is a really good guy and I like him, but he definitely gives me anxiety whenever he talks about obedience and stuff like that. My thing is that I am pretty obedient naturally, but when obedience is brought up it gives me anxiety. That's my only. And of course I miss music. I WANT MY P!NK!

 Anyway, this week has been interesting. I am now living in Coney Island. I'm getting used to my new pool and I'm really liking it. Other than that nothing much is new.

[By the way, family, J.D. always asks about you, especially Grams and Grandpa. I just edit out the personal stuff.--Steve]

At a Dinner Invitation

His NYC "Grandparents"

My first time trying mongu (dominican SO GOOD!)

Pictures mailed for "Happy Valentine's/Ash Wednesday"

Spelling out ZONE 1

His "family" in NYC

Pictures from 2/25 email

February 25, 2013

We did a concert for the victims of Sandy last night and it was AWESOME! A whole bunch of select missionaries sang/played to teach the Restoration lesson. It was so cool. I ended the night with Abide with Me Tis Eventide. It was awesome. People pulled out their cameras and started recording after the first 30 seconds. :) It made me happy. What made me more happy though was that I actually was able to just sing without caring what people thought and just let it all go. It was very good therapy. Afterward someone came up to me and said, "was it you who sang? I just remember that the singer had gorgeous eyes and sang really well." Haha so got my eyes complimented too. Good night :D

So transfers! I was left with Hogge in the same area again. Then, two days later I got a call from President. I got moved! I got midnighted as we call it. It's still within my district, but I'm with a different comp and have a new pool. I'm so happy/excited/nervous! I am killing my new comp (Elder King) at the end of this transfer [at first I thought this was a joke; then I realized it is mission slang, meaning the companion will finish his mission and J.D. will send him home] and then taking over the pool, either retraining or training next transfer. I don't want to do either, but I will... I guess haha. It's really cool, I was really good friends with King before, so the I am happy. I haven't ever gotten along so well with a comp before... yes I do realize this is only my 4th comp... Shhhhhh....
In the pics are Elder King and I being us, Sister DeLong, probably my best friend in the mission, and me and some of my english class students.

I'm sorry I don't have much to say this letter. I'm really frazzled from a long list of events that happened this morning so I can't focus well. I love you! I miss you so much! I hope everything is going well!