PDay 1//23/12

Dear Friends and Family,
Yeah, our neighborhood is really quiet. 4 of us live in this house. The names are Elders Udall, Howard (from the Terryville English Ward) and the two of us, me and Elder Cortes. There are other missionaries serving nearby, however, they reside in another house. There are two other missionaries who serve in the Patchogue Spanish Branch. They are Elders Hatch and Parker.

In our same church building but serving the South Shore Ward in English are Elders Carter and Lewis (who's being trained-this is his first transfer). Sisters Basset and Smedley are serving in the Terryville Ward, Elders Warren and (I can't remember his companion's name) in the Hampton Bays Branch, and Elders Mesa and Cabeza de Vaca in Riverhead.

That's our zone!

Yesterday, 7 non-members from our area alone attended church yesterday. We're teaching a man named Fernando from Ecuador (I previously thought that he was Columbian-my mistake if I ever stated that he was). He was so enthusiastic to attend church after being taught with President Hurtado (our awesome Branch President). They connected so well!! He called us Sunday morning and said that he was bringing his nephews and nieces. He thought church was a blast and commented that he was returning next Sunday. We have another appointment on Tuesday with him. Also, an non-member's parents attended church yesterday.

I direct all of the music in the church apparently. Everybody in the Branch is a convert (as Ridgewood as well). I doubt whether anybody in the Branch has grown up and served a mission....surely the children will! There is one full-time missionary in the Branch and she is the Branch President's daughter.

The members in this Branch feed a lot! They sign up every day to feed the missionaries (even in Ridgewood and Dyker Heights we weren't fed every day)! Wow!

 You need to cure soon!
Love,

Elder Roberts.

PDay 1/2/2012

Dear Friends & Family,
We didn't do much for New Year's Eve because we needed to report and be inside the apartment at 6:00 because it's dangerous.

Well, I have certainly astonishing news. I received a transfer call. I have no idea again where I'll be going. Transfer Meeting is tomorrow. It's been very difficulted to bid farewell to the members and the people we visit. I need to pack still. We've been very occupied today. I needed to escort some missionaries to my old area of Sunset Park in Brooklyn so that they could buy some scripture cases from a member. We did that this morning. I haven't had much time. I'll pack up after this and later tonight because we need to visit some last people. We'll visit Felipa Martinez and Lucia, Familia Rivera, Familia Soto, and Familia Fuentes. Also, I have to contact some more people. We visited many yesterday. We had our appointment with Pedro and Rosalia yesterday after church, Teresa-a recent convert, hermana Burgas, and Familia Gudiel.

Wow! So many people. Jose Rivera, who's not a member yet remarked that they would miss me immensely. They all are so grieved that I'm leaving. Many have asked my information and they wait until next September for my return.  I woke up intermittently last night dreaming only of these members and these people. I have enjoyed the time that I served them with my heart. It grieves me that now I make another significant landmark prior to my expiration as a missionary.
The anticipation is the worst. I would simply like to be aware of where I'll be spending next months of my mission. I perhaps have two more areas awaiting me prior to the conclusion of my mission.

 Who knows? Perhaps I'll serve somewhere nearby.

Anyhow, I love you and hope that you enjoy your week!

Love,

Elder Steven Roberts.