Well, you'll be surprised to hear that I've been transferred!!!! I had barely been with Elder Clement in Brentwood for a week when President Nelson arrived in Plainview for interviews. He asked how everything had been faring and I replied that so much progress was happening in Brentwood and in the past 2 weeks we had baptized 7 converts into the church in that area-which comprises of 2 families. I continued to explain to him my love for the area when he sighed and said...."well, I'd better just tell you....you may be transferred within the next few days". I laughed because I initially presumed that he was joking. Nope....he explained that I was going to be 'midnighted' (when a companionship's midnighted....it usually means that one of the companions is being sent away because of issues; anywhere from fighting in the companionship, getting beat up-as Elder Casperson was sent away after he was punched in the face in Brownsville, East New York-etc...). He informed me that he would notify as to whether it would be certain that I would. Well, last Wednesday night, he called and informed me that I would be switched with Elder Lund and be companions with Elder Simkins in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. I was to be picked up by the AP's on Friday. I had, therfore, limited time to bid farewell to the families and to Anthony, Jonathan, and their family. I didn't think that I would but I cried on the way out of Brentwood-Bayshore. The AP's tried to console me.I'm also am going to miss my old companion much.
I don't know where to start. I've been in Brooklyn since Friday. Not just any part of Brooklyn. Dyker Heights comprises of (it would be much more convenient to show you on a map than to describe exclusively by words alone) the area on the opposite side of Manhattan across the East River from 'Red Hook' (across from the southern end of Manhattan and Governor's Is.) to the western half of Coney Island in the South, all along the coast. We've also ridden on the Subway every day except for my first day so far. We walk everywhere and my legs right now could fall off.
Anyhow, we talk more to people because there are so many. On Saturday morning, we set up a stand with some of the other missionaries and with signs announcing 'peliculas gratis' and mensajes de jesucristo! So many people pass by all the time! Hundreds, thousands, on one avenue here in Brooklyn.
There aren't hardly any white people here. Depends which area you're in (and even those are foreign-Eastern Europeans-the majority are Russians, Ukrainians). For example, the area near our apartment is around the corner from a Jewish Synogague and Jewish Girls' School. Everywhere, there are Jews (and posters/signs in Hebrew) with long beards, long sideburns, and dark clothing. Also, in the area of our apartment, there are a lot of Asians.
There are a lot of Chinese Speaking Missionaries here also. Elder Graham (in our stake) is here and we've talked. He was totally surprised to see me arrive all of a sudden (everyone seemed to be-after all, only a week and a half in the transfer). I've talked to Elder Graham at Transfer Meetings in Rego Park but never served in any of the Asian Areas before (there are only two Mandarin Chinese Speaking areas-Dyker Heights, Brooklyn/Flushing, Queens). Well, also....I still only know 'Hi, how are you?' and 'good' in Chinese but I also learned how to say 'goodbye' in Mandarin (I don't know how to spell it) and learned to say 'hi' in Cantonese.
I'm excited. The Spanish Ward is also very strong. It has a lot of potential for growth!
Also, at Zone Meeting, we were planning what our two Zone Activities should be this transfer. One is: Coney Island and the other: Visiting the Statue of Liberty! Also, Brooklyn Bride isn't really that far from us. We can go and visit that (we can visit anywhere in Brooklyn and Staten Island).
Also, some of the streets here are crowded with hundreds and even thousands of Chinese people!
Anyway, I need to give you my new address:
Elder Steven Roberts
4600 9th Avenue Apt. 606
Brooklyn, New York 11220
Also, very funny. My apartment (on the sixth floor) is more spacious than the little Bayshore home that I lived in with four missionaries. There's more space for my companion and I and we're the only inhabitants. Also, Sister McEwen was extremely excited to have me in her district again for the FOURTH transfer in a row (she was transferred out of Brentwood-Bayshore)!!!!!!!!
Also, I'm still completely overwhelmed with jealousy because I really want to visit Cali. It's soooo cold over here!! (Valerie & daughters spent the 23rd through 29th in California for Cheer Nationals with Chalyse and the Copper Hills High Cheerleaders).
I wish that I could photograph everything; can't, however....because I would appear very strange. :( Subway's sooooo cool....not the one with sandwiches! I also have a Metro Card for unlimited Bus and Subway use. We've been down near Coney Is. in the South too....for a meeting though....but I can't wait to visit on P-day. I don't know if we're doing much today because our money's almost depleted on our cards and we don't receive next month's money until Friday. We are going to go eat some dumplings and Asian food after e-mailing and possibly visit Prospect Park which is super close!
You can see New Jersey and Staten Is. as well as the Statue of Liberty from here.
Bye. Until next Monday!
Elder Roberts
A Picture is worth a thousand words
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
PDay 3-21-2011
Dear Family & Friends,
Everyone transferred from our District of Bayshore-Brentwood actually ended up in the city. Elder Leal, my ex-companion, is now District Leader in Midwood, Brooklyn; Sister McEwen is serving in Dyker Heights (Statue of Liberty is easily visible from here) Brooklyn; Sister Mamon in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; and Sister De la Mare was transferred to Jamaica, Queen's.
My new companion was actually a guess correct! I already was firmly acquainted with Elder Clement because we were in the same Zone-Zone 9 (not in same District though) and his companion, Elder Woodland, was District Leader. As a result while my companion and his companion were meeting with the Zone Leaders in Plainview on Thursdays, he and I talked and passed the time there. He's only ONE transfer ahead of me. We're both non-native Spanish Speakers but we're at the juncture where we can handle everything ourselves. I'm glad that he's my companion. He's extremely funny and freakishly tall. His last area was Huntington Station which is directly North of our District and followed the coast along Long Island Sound. As a result, he's already accustomed to the type of driving and the environment. However, I have to introduce him to the members and investigators here as well as help him learn the roads.
Wow! I can't believe that you cried! It's that bad!! Ha ha ha, only joking. It was very special and it felt marvelous witness it.
I've heard much about Libya and the Tsunami in Japan. If any Earthquake near that magnitude struck Long Island, it would be inundated and completely destroyed. I can't think of any truly 'high' ground except for the squat, wooded hills in the middle of the Island along the Long Island Expressway (or the L.I.E). Literally, there is nothing but FLAT here!
I love Brentwood with all my heart, however, it's only my first area and many of the people here still think of me as 'new' despite the fact that I can understand and speak Spanish reasonably well. I would like to start over in an area and statI would be happy with whatever President Nelson decides because he knows what's best and I've told him that I will serve wherever I'm called.
Yes, crime would be much, much, much less on L.I. It's nothing in comparison to Brooklyn. Still, there are a couple gangs (as in Salt Lake Valley) and Amityville looks much more ghetto than peaceful Bayshore. On Wednesday which is when the day that the Spanish Ward holds Mutual, around 5 policemen arrived and appeared to be searching for a group of teenagers (or gangsters) walking from the Mall (which is only a few streets from the Bayshore Chapel). It gave us a scare. I certainly have seen the police around more in New York.
Yesterday, the Brentwood Sisters had a Baptismal Service. This time, President Nelson arrived for it! Many people attended. It was quite a busy day because Elder Clement and I needed to fill the font and bring baptismal clothes, etc....also, I confirmed Anthony (he and his brother, Jonathan, were baptized by Elder Leal and I eight days ago). Anthony is very excited and was glad that was still around to perform it. His family attends church with him. HIs father wants to be baptized, however, he and Anthony's Mother have to marry prior to any bautismo.
Elder Clement enjoys talking like a pirate (and very good too) and has nicknamed our car the "Red Canary" while he's also dubbed the English Elders' car "The Marooned Schooner", haha. The message accidentally sent before I had finished. Uuummm....well....I don't honestly know....oh yeah! I played the part of Jesus in a short little skit for the Relief Society. It was the parable of the 10 virgens. Elder Clement was the Narrador. My only line was at the conclusion of it, as a result, it happened to be quite easy to memorize....my poor narator companion! My line was in response to the late virgens who had procrastinated and neglected to be ready in time for the arrival of the Groom.
I said: "De cierto, yo no os conozco, velad pues porque no sabeis el dia ni la hora en que el hijo del hombre ha de venir".
How are the little ones and Chalyse? What is the address for Grandma and Grandpa Hunt? I've already written them a letter. I'll write one today because I doubt that we'll be doing much today.
Love,
Elder Roberts.
The Weather has been warmer recently apart from today because it's very, very rainy.
Everyone transferred from our District of Bayshore-Brentwood actually ended up in the city. Elder Leal, my ex-companion, is now District Leader in Midwood, Brooklyn; Sister McEwen is serving in Dyker Heights (Statue of Liberty is easily visible from here) Brooklyn; Sister Mamon in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; and Sister De la Mare was transferred to Jamaica, Queen's.
My new companion was actually a guess correct! I already was firmly acquainted with Elder Clement because we were in the same Zone-Zone 9 (not in same District though) and his companion, Elder Woodland, was District Leader. As a result while my companion and his companion were meeting with the Zone Leaders in Plainview on Thursdays, he and I talked and passed the time there. He's only ONE transfer ahead of me. We're both non-native Spanish Speakers but we're at the juncture where we can handle everything ourselves. I'm glad that he's my companion. He's extremely funny and freakishly tall. His last area was Huntington Station which is directly North of our District and followed the coast along Long Island Sound. As a result, he's already accustomed to the type of driving and the environment. However, I have to introduce him to the members and investigators here as well as help him learn the roads.
Wow! I can't believe that you cried! It's that bad!! Ha ha ha, only joking. It was very special and it felt marvelous witness it.
I've heard much about Libya and the Tsunami in Japan. If any Earthquake near that magnitude struck Long Island, it would be inundated and completely destroyed. I can't think of any truly 'high' ground except for the squat, wooded hills in the middle of the Island along the Long Island Expressway (or the L.I.E). Literally, there is nothing but FLAT here!
I love Brentwood with all my heart, however, it's only my first area and many of the people here still think of me as 'new' despite the fact that I can understand and speak Spanish reasonably well. I would like to start over in an area and statI would be happy with whatever President Nelson decides because he knows what's best and I've told him that I will serve wherever I'm called.
Yes, crime would be much, much, much less on L.I. It's nothing in comparison to Brooklyn. Still, there are a couple gangs (as in Salt Lake Valley) and Amityville looks much more ghetto than peaceful Bayshore. On Wednesday which is when the day that the Spanish Ward holds Mutual, around 5 policemen arrived and appeared to be searching for a group of teenagers (or gangsters) walking from the Mall (which is only a few streets from the Bayshore Chapel). It gave us a scare. I certainly have seen the police around more in New York.
Yesterday, the Brentwood Sisters had a Baptismal Service. This time, President Nelson arrived for it! Many people attended. It was quite a busy day because Elder Clement and I needed to fill the font and bring baptismal clothes, etc....also, I confirmed Anthony (he and his brother, Jonathan, were baptized by Elder Leal and I eight days ago). Anthony is very excited and was glad that was still around to perform it. His family attends church with him. HIs father wants to be baptized, however, he and Anthony's Mother have to marry prior to any bautismo.
Elder Clement enjoys talking like a pirate (and very good too) and has nicknamed our car the "Red Canary" while he's also dubbed the English Elders' car "The Marooned Schooner", haha. The message accidentally sent before I had finished. Uuummm....well....I don't honestly know....oh yeah! I played the part of Jesus in a short little skit for the Relief Society. It was the parable of the 10 virgens. Elder Clement was the Narrador. My only line was at the conclusion of it, as a result, it happened to be quite easy to memorize....my poor narator companion! My line was in response to the late virgens who had procrastinated and neglected to be ready in time for the arrival of the Groom.
I said: "De cierto, yo no os conozco, velad pues porque no sabeis el dia ni la hora en que el hijo del hombre ha de venir".
How are the little ones and Chalyse? What is the address for Grandma and Grandpa Hunt? I've already written them a letter. I'll write one today because I doubt that we'll be doing much today.
Love,
Elder Roberts.
The Weather has been warmer recently apart from today because it's very, very rainy.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
PDay March 14, 2011
Dear Family & Friends,
News! I'm not getting transferred!! I KNOW!! It's weird!!!!!!!! I have been serving Brentwood-Bayshore for like 5 months! President Nelson really must feel that I should remain. I've written him and updated him concerning the area and our progress....sooo I know that he shouldn't have forgotten me. I suppose that I'm a permanent part of Brentwood-Spanish Ward now. I practically know everybody there! They love me and I can speak Spanish much better then when I first commenced my time here. Also, several major transitions are gonna occur. Firstly, Elder Leal, my second companion (my step-pops) is being transferred as District Leader to Midwood in Brooklyn. I'm going to receive a new companion and I don't know who it'll be yet. Also, the Bayshore-English Elders are remaining but Elder Gootee is going to replace my companion as District Leader here. Something sad also, the Bayshore-English Sisters are permanentely out. They're closing their 'pool'. Apparently, more sister missionaries are leaving the mission then arrivign and they don't have a sufficient number to maintain them. They aren't closing the Brentwood-Spanish Sisters, however, we're losing the English-Bayshore Sisters here despite the fact that they had two baptisms here last transfer for the English Ward. Unfortunately this transfer, they were encountering a lot of obstacles and were teaching practically nobody for a period of time. We're all very sad about that. Sister De la Mare was the most upset. She wanted to end her Mission in Bayshore and has only one transfer remaining before she 'dies'. We don't know until tomorrow where she'll go. Sister Mamon (the Russian) is going to serve her last transfer and 'die' at the same time as Sister De la Mare in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn-where there are many Russians. She's been a good friend of mine. I'm going to miss her!
The Spanish Sisters are losing their Trio. Sister McEwen, who's been in this area since a transfer before I began here was, not surprisingly, transferred. We don't know exactly where she's going until tomorrow at Transfer Meeting in Rego Park. The other two Spanish Sisters, Sister Heiner and Sister Alvarado are remaining here with us.
Yesterday, Elder Leal and I baptized Anthony and Jonathan Velasquez. It was wonderful! They were so excited and the family had us over for food. Next week, I'm going to confirm Anthony as a member in Sacrament Meeting (in Spanish)! We've taken many photos and many people and friends arrived for their baptism. Carmen's Sister wants to receive the missionary lessons! That's not all!!! 6 people were baptized in total in only this area-not even our zone-merely this area in one single day!! That all occurred yesterday. The English Elders baptized into the English Ward 4 boys in a family that they found hardly a month ago!! That's the Charles family for you!!
Anthony was excited to hear that he was my first baptism here in the mission! It seems like it's been a while.
Sad news, my pops, Elder Griener is going home. He's been extremely ill and the iron in his blood won't proccess, last time I saw him, he seemed extremely thin and his skin was the palest ever. He attempted to call me last night. Need to contact him immediately after this. Poor guy. :( He was such a great guy! He had the most kindest, funniest attitude ever. He could talk like Donald Duck, our Landlord-George Waszkewiecz (in the heaviest New York accent ever), and like a Pirate. He was never despondent and ALWAYS seemed to be happy-or with hope. I love that guy so much! He was such a hard worker. He isn't my companion anymore (I'm with the guy you saw on Skype-the Hispanic...Elder Leal) but I believe that Elder Griener really influenced this area and contributed to the baptisms that we're yielding now...months after he left for Flushing, Queen's.
Bishop Romero was also released yesterday as Bishop!! Too many changes for one week! He was the first 'Bishop' of the Brentwood-Spanish Ward. He became the Bishop when this Ward developed from a meager Branch to a Ward!! Now the new Bishop is Brother Duran. Bishop Romero can finally return to his family again, haha.
Love,
Elder Roberts.
News! I'm not getting transferred!! I KNOW!! It's weird!!!!!!!! I have been serving Brentwood-Bayshore for like 5 months! President Nelson really must feel that I should remain. I've written him and updated him concerning the area and our progress....sooo I know that he shouldn't have forgotten me. I suppose that I'm a permanent part of Brentwood-Spanish Ward now. I practically know everybody there! They love me and I can speak Spanish much better then when I first commenced my time here. Also, several major transitions are gonna occur. Firstly, Elder Leal, my second companion (my step-pops) is being transferred as District Leader to Midwood in Brooklyn. I'm going to receive a new companion and I don't know who it'll be yet. Also, the Bayshore-English Elders are remaining but Elder Gootee is going to replace my companion as District Leader here. Something sad also, the Bayshore-English Sisters are permanentely out. They're closing their 'pool'. Apparently, more sister missionaries are leaving the mission then arrivign and they don't have a sufficient number to maintain them. They aren't closing the Brentwood-Spanish Sisters, however, we're losing the English-Bayshore Sisters here despite the fact that they had two baptisms here last transfer for the English Ward. Unfortunately this transfer, they were encountering a lot of obstacles and were teaching practically nobody for a period of time. We're all very sad about that. Sister De la Mare was the most upset. She wanted to end her Mission in Bayshore and has only one transfer remaining before she 'dies'. We don't know until tomorrow where she'll go. Sister Mamon (the Russian) is going to serve her last transfer and 'die' at the same time as Sister De la Mare in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn-where there are many Russians. She's been a good friend of mine. I'm going to miss her!
The Spanish Sisters are losing their Trio. Sister McEwen, who's been in this area since a transfer before I began here was, not surprisingly, transferred. We don't know exactly where she's going until tomorrow at Transfer Meeting in Rego Park. The other two Spanish Sisters, Sister Heiner and Sister Alvarado are remaining here with us.
Yesterday, Elder Leal and I baptized Anthony and Jonathan Velasquez. It was wonderful! They were so excited and the family had us over for food. Next week, I'm going to confirm Anthony as a member in Sacrament Meeting (in Spanish)! We've taken many photos and many people and friends arrived for their baptism. Carmen's Sister wants to receive the missionary lessons! That's not all!!! 6 people were baptized in total in only this area-not even our zone-merely this area in one single day!! That all occurred yesterday. The English Elders baptized into the English Ward 4 boys in a family that they found hardly a month ago!! That's the Charles family for you!!
Anthony was excited to hear that he was my first baptism here in the mission! It seems like it's been a while.
Sad news, my pops, Elder Griener is going home. He's been extremely ill and the iron in his blood won't proccess, last time I saw him, he seemed extremely thin and his skin was the palest ever. He attempted to call me last night. Need to contact him immediately after this. Poor guy. :( He was such a great guy! He had the most kindest, funniest attitude ever. He could talk like Donald Duck, our Landlord-George Waszkewiecz (in the heaviest New York accent ever), and like a Pirate. He was never despondent and ALWAYS seemed to be happy-or with hope. I love that guy so much! He was such a hard worker. He isn't my companion anymore (I'm with the guy you saw on Skype-the Hispanic...Elder Leal) but I believe that Elder Griener really influenced this area and contributed to the baptisms that we're yielding now...months after he left for Flushing, Queen's.
Bishop Romero was also released yesterday as Bishop!! Too many changes for one week! He was the first 'Bishop' of the Brentwood-Spanish Ward. He became the Bishop when this Ward developed from a meager Branch to a Ward!! Now the new Bishop is Brother Duran. Bishop Romero can finally return to his family again, haha.
Love,
Elder Roberts.
Monday, March 7, 2011
PDay 3-7-2011
Transfer calls comes this Saturday...the Zone Leaders will call us and notify us regarding who's staying and who's being transferred between 10:00 and 10:30 at night.
Any guesses?
We're still preparing Raphael for baptism. He's doing great with the exception of some doubts....we suspect people from work have been ridiculing him. Anyhow, his baptism, along with his children Anthony and Jonathan, are scheduled for Sunday. We're going to create the programs this Thursday. We have an appointment with them this Wednesday and this Saturday.
One of the recent converts in the ward has provided us with new investigators. His sister, Synthia, is being taught. We taught her as recently as last night! We asked whether she had been reading the Book of Mormon that we've already given her....she's been doing it! Had excellent questions and we were supported tremendously by Luis, the recent convert. We're affiliating a lot with members. We figure that visiting less active members will also help us reach non-members because many of them are the only members of the church in their entire family.
We will also visit with Jasmin and Herman later this week. Still need to attend church. Still enduring her trials and afflictions with faith.
Neil L. Anderson spoke to us on Saturday in Queen's. He and Bishop Edgely shook everyone's hand! That's more than 170 missionaries! He spoke and I learned a lot. It's fantastic to have an apostle visit. Bishop Edgely had also served in what was then called "The Eastern States" Mission.
It's starting to warm up a little. Still rather chilly and rainy.
Bishop Edgely also spoke at Stake Conference in the spacious Plainview Stake Center. The enormous gym and stage were all occupied by people! President Nelson spoke also. Headphones were provided for the individuals who didn't speak English. We sat near our 'baptism family'.
I've been informed that at times, when I speak, a little bit of the open-mouthed New Yorker accent comes. It's not as severe as it could be. I don't teach native New Yorkers. Our Spanish Ward, of which we attend, is in Spanish-bereft of any New York accent....however, in public, and in English Church-it's heard often.
How about the family questions? Does grandma know? How's the family? I really enjoyed the letters and the pictures last week!!! It's always a joy to receive them. How about Dad? Perhaps you both could write together on the same e-mail so that I don't need to open a new e-mail and start over my experiences. Is that possible? If not, it's okay. It might save time and then I can have the opportunity to respond to both of you.
We've made Rootbeer Floats for three families now. They've never before conceived of combining Rootbeer and Vanilla icecream before. Our next activity is S'mores. The Hispanic People here in New York have no idea with this NEW food. They're aways excited to try "AMERICAN" food. It ties the missionaries with the investigators/members together very well. We've made smoothies before with them. It's often very fun. We ALWAYS share a message or lesson with the members. This Mission has been improving and a greater effort at obedience is being enforced. We're always on time to study, teach, take lunch for no more than an hour, make our beds, etc... I thought that we would always be watched after prior to going on a mission. As a matter of fact, we have a lot of flexibility as Missionaries. We determine our own success. So far, we expect more baptisms next transfer (if I'm still here in my first area).
Love you a lot!
I'll write the girls/you guys!
Love,
Elder Steven Roberts.
Any guesses?
We're still preparing Raphael for baptism. He's doing great with the exception of some doubts....we suspect people from work have been ridiculing him. Anyhow, his baptism, along with his children Anthony and Jonathan, are scheduled for Sunday. We're going to create the programs this Thursday. We have an appointment with them this Wednesday and this Saturday.
One of the recent converts in the ward has provided us with new investigators. His sister, Synthia, is being taught. We taught her as recently as last night! We asked whether she had been reading the Book of Mormon that we've already given her....she's been doing it! Had excellent questions and we were supported tremendously by Luis, the recent convert. We're affiliating a lot with members. We figure that visiting less active members will also help us reach non-members because many of them are the only members of the church in their entire family.
We will also visit with Jasmin and Herman later this week. Still need to attend church. Still enduring her trials and afflictions with faith.
Neil L. Anderson spoke to us on Saturday in Queen's. He and Bishop Edgely shook everyone's hand! That's more than 170 missionaries! He spoke and I learned a lot. It's fantastic to have an apostle visit. Bishop Edgely had also served in what was then called "The Eastern States" Mission.
It's starting to warm up a little. Still rather chilly and rainy.
Bishop Edgely also spoke at Stake Conference in the spacious Plainview Stake Center. The enormous gym and stage were all occupied by people! President Nelson spoke also. Headphones were provided for the individuals who didn't speak English. We sat near our 'baptism family'.
I've been informed that at times, when I speak, a little bit of the open-mouthed New Yorker accent comes. It's not as severe as it could be. I don't teach native New Yorkers. Our Spanish Ward, of which we attend, is in Spanish-bereft of any New York accent....however, in public, and in English Church-it's heard often.
How about the family questions? Does grandma know? How's the family? I really enjoyed the letters and the pictures last week!!! It's always a joy to receive them. How about Dad? Perhaps you both could write together on the same e-mail so that I don't need to open a new e-mail and start over my experiences. Is that possible? If not, it's okay. It might save time and then I can have the opportunity to respond to both of you.
We've made Rootbeer Floats for three families now. They've never before conceived of combining Rootbeer and Vanilla icecream before. Our next activity is S'mores. The Hispanic People here in New York have no idea with this NEW food. They're aways excited to try "AMERICAN" food. It ties the missionaries with the investigators/members together very well. We've made smoothies before with them. It's often very fun. We ALWAYS share a message or lesson with the members. This Mission has been improving and a greater effort at obedience is being enforced. We're always on time to study, teach, take lunch for no more than an hour, make our beds, etc... I thought that we would always be watched after prior to going on a mission. As a matter of fact, we have a lot of flexibility as Missionaries. We determine our own success. So far, we expect more baptisms next transfer (if I'm still here in my first area).
Love you a lot!
I'll write the girls/you guys!
Love,
Elder Steven Roberts.
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