Transfers have come. Actually, they haven't due to the snow storm- we're going to have them tomorrow. I am writing this in our apartment today and hopefully we'll get over to Panera Bread or something to send it off. Anyway, we have transfers tomorrow, and with that I'll be going...
Back to the apartment! Looks like I'm going to be putting in a little over eight months here in Newburgh, at the very least. Elder Wagner and I are staying together, which makes him the companion that I have had for the longest time. That will be good though- he is a good missionary so we will continue to do great things. I am excited- I love the branch as much as ever. These people are my family and I look forward to continuing to serve them.
Last Wednesday was good. Nothing too terribly exciting- normal p-day and then a lesson with an investigator, and a dinner with a great member, Norma. She is from El Salvador and lives by herself, so all four of us go over there.
Thursday we had a good day as well. We had normal studies and then started into weekly planning. To take a break from that, we went to a good authentic Mexican restaurant where an investigator, almost-wife-of-active-member, named Maria works. We had good food and then it was on the house. We feel bad about not paying so we try not to go too often. That night we tried to have a skype lesson that didn't work out, then had a dinner appointment at the Paneque's house- they are a great family! Mom is from Ecuador and the dad is not a member and is from Cuba . It is an interesting combination but they are great! Afterwards we had a decent online event in Spanish. At the same time, I chatted with a guy that lives in Indiana that we met at a member's house and had a lesson with him- we are going to try skyping him sometime. The online proselyting opens up some opportunities that we otherwise wouldn't have.
Friday- normal studies and then a district language study (sign language is coming along pretty well). We had a lesson with the Erazo's, the family where we skyped from on Christmas. Hermano Erazo then took us to a less active member, the Sierra's, for a good lesson. Afterwards he took us to Aldi's and got a bucket of ice cream for us. hen we had a sweet lesson with another less active Felipe, his wife Maria and daughter Gabi. President Romero and his family came with us and that was awesome! We have been working with just him since July, and he has never come to church, but with the Romero's there, they a seemed closer than ever to coming. We will see in the future what comes... Afterwards we had a good lesson with another less active family, Raul and Magdalena. It was a good lesson, but they aren't progressing as much as would be preferred. And that was a day.
Saturday- day full of Peruvian food! After going to Joe's baptism ( guy I interviewed) we went to the Ydrogo's, the Peruvian family returning to activity that lives down in Highland Falls. She fed us some good chicken- I got the recipe and will be trying to make it sometime this cycle. We had a good lesson, and then went off and did some online proselyting after getting juked. Then we went with the Elder's Quorum president, Blinio who is also Peruvian, to a Peruvian restaurant in Newburgh. Good stuff. Causa, papa a la huancaina, purple olives, fried yuca, arroz chaufa, etc. Good stuff! I am so grateful to have such a diverse cultural experience here. We had a lesson with him and then left to visit a completely inactive family, the Trejo's. We had a good lesson and then went off to Michael's farewell. We thought it was at the church, which is why we tried stopping by the Trejo's, but it was actually at Michael's house. Good thing we got that mixed up so that we could go to the Trejo's. The farewell was good- good seeing everyone there. Then shock calls came in and shockingly enough, I'm staying. Elder Nelson, who I have lived with for the past almost six months, is going down to Concourse and so Elder Critchfield is getting a new missionary to the mission that served in Pocatello waiting for a visa, then Argentina for a little while before getting sick. He went home and got reassigned to our mission. How lucky for him!
Sunday- church was great! It filled me up. Then afterwards, we went with president Romero to visit an inactive Puerto Rican family, the Tantao's. They are doing alright. Had a good but long lesson, after which we went to the Romero's house to have fhe with the Perez family and the Galo's- good time! Then we went back to the Galo's and did correlation with Michael (he was our mission leader until he left today).
Monday- went to zone meeting in Middletown in the snow. Good meeting- got good training on spiritual gifts- how to get them and use them. Afterwards, we cautiously drove home upon which we were grounded. President Romero picked us up to go shovel the driveways of the people that need help with that. He is a great example of selfless service, going out and helping others even though he might be tired from working all day and stuff. That was draining, so after we went to the Romero's and he made us good piña colada then we went and crashed.
Tuesday- normal studies then Paul's for lunch- had some good burgers and fries. The whole district was there, all ten of us. Going over there is always a hoot! We had our online event over there, and so maybe it was good that not a lot of people participated because we were a little distracted. Afterwards, I gave another baptismal interview to a cadet at West Point in a library at West Point. That was a good spiritual experience. And I still love West Point. Go army- beat Navy! We were told to wash our car, so we did that next, then dropped by to see Mery and Carlos, reactivated members that are on track to go inactive again. We set up an appointment to go back. Then we went to Norma's again- she fed us some good chicken! She is awesome. We when stopped by the Galo's to say goodbye to Michael. Went home and called it a night.
Today we woke up with a ton of snow. No transfer meeting today- it'll be tomorrow. The missionaries coming into the mission and the ones going home are getting to their places, but everyone else is staying put until tomorrow. Interesting day for sure. And it is still snowing at 2:30 (started at about midnight last night). So we're probably just going to go out with president Romero again to shovel driveways. I think snow is getting a little old. Haha, but it is all still good.
Things are good! I guess it was a good opportunity to get a nice email out to you. I am looking forward to another good six weeks here in good ol' Newburgh! Thanks for the love and support!
-Elder Griffiths
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