Letter #5 - Week 7 - Welcome to New York

November 5, 2018

Hola Everyone!

I made it to New York alive and well. It was sad to leave my district behind at the CCM on Sunday, but I ended up seeing 7 of the 10 others in my district in the airport the next morning, haha. Monday was long, it was good to get back to the states.

I'm currently serving in Flushing, which is China Town in Northern Queens. My trainer's name is Hermana Jensen (from California), and we're in a trio with Hermana Tua'one (from Texas). Hermana Tua'one is on her last transfer, and Hermana Jensen has her half way (nine month) mark tomorrow! It's well balanced, haha. Also, fun fact about our companionship is that all of us were called to different missions. New York New York North, South, and City.

I'm serving in a Spanish-English branch, which is a lot different than I expected. Basically everything happens in one language or the other, and then is translated through headsets for sacrament meeting, or just other people for other meetings. For hymns, you just sing in whichever language. Sometimes the verses don't line up, but it's all good fun.

My current district has lots of variety at the moment. There are three Hermanas, four Korean Elders, two Korean sisters, and three "English" Elders. Two of them were pulled out from Turkey some months ago and are waiting for visas to serve in Bulgaria. The other Elder is Korean speaking and was put into a trio with the other two.

Pictures: We were able to get a few last pictures with the district before we left, one was on p-day after nine-sqaure, and the other was our last Saturday with our teachers. This one is with Hermano Rivera.

Hermano Rivera always said that if we practiced saying 'Jarritos' everyday, then we'd be able to roll our 'r's. When we went to the store I saw some and thought about it.

We made tres leches cake for our branch mission leader and his wife's birthday a couple weeks back on Sunday. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, we had to get whip cream in a can, which melts if it's left out for too long. So, with the magic of a purse we put it on right before we went into their house.

There's a city in our area where you can see part of the Manhattan skyline, and it's really pretty at sunset.

Jacob 5:47-51

47 But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?

48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?

49 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have done more for my vineyard?

50 But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little longer.

51 And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.

Love,

Hermana Prue