Staying in Far Rockaway and Training a Greenie

October 22, 2012

Dear Familia,

So this was a pretty crazy week. This week I worked in a trio most of the time. Monday we visited one of the less actives in the other elders area. On Tuesday not too much was happening until about seven and the elders got a referral from headquarters for someone way down on 136th street (Anything past about 116 is really nice neighborhoods, usually not much missionary success down there). So we decide to go try her. She looks pretty darn golden. She went on to mormon.org and called the number and requested the missionaries. She told us that Mormons have always been at the back of her mind tugging at her since she was a kid watching the Osmonds. She said she feels like the bible has gaps in it and that doctrine isn't very clear. She and her husband are both chiropractors and are very well off (white too, the first white people I have taught on my mission). So that will be really fun for them.

On Wednesday we had five lessons between our two pools, which was really cool. Three in their pool and two in ours. We met with the Moratayas and it was kind of awkward. Nobody was really talking too much. It was weird. So I go ahead and teach the lesson and then ask them if there was anything else we could do for them and the dad says, "pray for me. I am finally putting my faith in God and quitting my job so I can go to church. I don't have anything lined up so I need some prayers." Instantly the mood just changed. That was an awesome experience. Missionaries have been working with him for months trying to get him to leave his job. The branch needs him and his family needs him. Now in a couple months they can finally go to the temple and get sealed. It is going to be awesome. They are one of my favorite families out here.

Also on Wednesday morning I got a call from President Calderwood saying that I have been called as a trainer. I'm having a baby! He is probably on the plane heading over right now. I have no idea who it is. President didn't tell us anything. But I am pretty excited. Elder Wolfe got the call too so we will have two brand new missionaries in the pad. On Thursday morning we went up to the office for the trainers meeting and we had cool workshops. President said that we are expecting 80-100 new missionaries here in the next 6-8 months. That's a lot. I don't know where they are going to put them all. Our mission is already crowded. It will be good though. I'm just glad we have an inspired man to figure out where to put them.

On Friday we went and picked up Elder Denton in the morning. Then after that we went to Plainview like an hour away because Elder Denton had an interview. More on that later. But we got back and went to go look up Vanda and Diamond. We talked to them in the street sweep we did about two and a half months ago and have been trying them a couple times a week ever since. We would usually talk to Diamond and she would try to tell us where Vanda is. They are very nice and seemed very sincere so we kept on trying and trying. And we finally got in on Friday. We taught them and they seem very interested. We have a follow up appointment on Wednesday so that will be one of the first places my kid will go. That will be fun for him.

Their house is one of the sketchiest places I have ever been in. It is in a part of town called The Jungle and, as they say out here, "it be mad ratchet". It was interesting that dad talked about drugs being the thing this week in the ICU, because we think that drugs are probably a big part of these peoples' lives. If we can keep getting over there consistently this could be an amazing experience, especially for the new elder to see. They will have A LOT of changes to make in their lives but the Gospel can do it. We just need to give them the best chance to accept it. We also went over to Sister White's that night to help her prepare for her project. I can't remember if I already told you about this but she is doing a report on Mormonism for her sociology class in college and invited us to come in and talk to the class. That is going to be tomorrow shortly after transfer meeting. So one of the very first things my greenie will do is give a presentation in front of a college class. We are going to bring Elder Wolfe and his kid too so that should take the pressure off them more. It will be a cool experience for all of us.

On Saturday Elder Denton got a call telling him that he was going back to Freeport permanently on Sunday night. He is going to be the district leader there and nothing could make him happier. He loves Freeport with all his heart. And it will be cool because we will still be in the same zone so we will see each other a lot. We also taught Fransisco that night and he said that a friend might have a job lined up for him in Manhattan and is looking for an apartment for him up there. That is good but his commitment to leave seems to be waning. So keep praying for him.

Most of Sunday was just doing goodbyes for Elder Denton. We ate lunch after church and then went and visited Sister Randall. I started getting a headache on the way over and while we were there my headache just started getting really bad and I started getting really nauseous and I was just sweating bullets. All the color was gone from my face and so we decided to go home for a little while. I went and took a nap for like a half hour and then was just fine. It was weird. So then we continued with our member visits and had a good time. And now he is back in Freeport.

Anyway, other news, they are taking away our car this transfer. We don't really need it but it was nice. Our area is small but has very little public transit. We will be putting in a few miles a day walking. That will be good, keep me in shape. Gonna miss that car though.

Think that's about it for this week.

Love you,

Elder Pearce