Well. I am now in Far Rockaway. It's this peninsula on the south of Long Island. Our apartment is literally beachfront. The branch is smaller here (we hit 84 last Sunday, and it was a huge milestone), and we meet on the 4th floor of a random building, but it feels more like home than Bushwick did. I've actually found someone who knows his stuff about Chinese Martial arts. He's in the English Branch, but he practices Wing Chung, and actually knows what Ba Gua is. We're going to have to spend a P-day with him or something. The Branch President actually teaches Self-defense classes, too. It's pretty cool. President Lopez also lived in Bushwick a few years ago, and remembers a lot of the less actives I taught. My district has also taken in my martial arts background, and it's been agreed that I can't die.
Something interesting is that the Blood Gang has a cell here. They sell drugs, and are just a nuisance. They don't bother us, though. We only have the zone leaders, and then Elder Glenn and I in our district. We use cars here. Last transfer there were sisters in our district, but they got taken out, and they gave us 107 potential investigators to look up. Also, the mission took our car, so we have to share with the zone leaders. It's a very different area from the city. Lots of projects.
Every Wednesday we do service rebuilding houses that were ruined in hurricane Sandy. Last Wednesday we went to a little place called Breezy Point. It's on the tip of the peninsula, and is... different. There is only one road, and the rest of the streets are sidewalks. We joke that the currency is tokens, because visitors need a token to get into the residential area. Everyone there is just chilling. If you bike too fast, you’re doing something wrong :P Everyone bikes around with lawn chairs on their back, too. It's just super weird in comparison to the rest of New York. I think you'd love it. The houses are pretty small, but they have everything they need. It's right next to the beach. The only problem is that it's a little expensive. As far as the house we worked on, the original contractor half finished it, took a bunch of money, and left everything- tools, nails, everything. They had just finished the walls, when they realized that there was absolutely no insulation in the outside walls. So, I got to use a rotary tool to cut giant holes in the walls through the drywall. It was super fun.
I did get your packages. They were waiting for me at the Mission Office when transfers came to pass. The shirt fits nicely, and the other Elders were celoso. I love the freezer pops. The Hatches sent me
a lovely package as well. The only problem was that the zone leaders left it in the trunk, and the chocolate melted, so I put it in the fridge for the day. I was super tired, so I just put the whole package
in the fridge. Now the tie they sent me is the 'cool tie.' I love it! Thank You Hatches!
I really feel like this area will be 'holy ground' for me. I got into a few bad habits in Bushwick, due in part to a lax trainer and missionary leaders (although I am not blameless). I've been hitting my morning schedule hard, and striving to perfect my language. I've been working out every morning, and practicing my forms again. I'm getting back into shape spiritually and physically.
I've also progressed a ton in my studies, particularly on the gift of discernment. It is interesting to me that everything in the church is focused on individuals, and the benefit of the church and the human
race as a group of individuals.
I'm glad to hear about dad's new calling! He will be an amazing seminary teacher. He just needs to follow the Spirit, and he will change lives. I'm also happy to hear about the cookies that you guys took to the Meridian temple construction workers.
I love you all at home, and wish you with the Lord's keeping.
Love, Elder Hull 헐
Something interesting is that the Blood Gang has a cell here. They sell drugs, and are just a nuisance. They don't bother us, though. We only have the zone leaders, and then Elder Glenn and I in our district. We use cars here. Last transfer there were sisters in our district, but they got taken out, and they gave us 107 potential investigators to look up. Also, the mission took our car, so we have to share with the zone leaders. It's a very different area from the city. Lots of projects.
Every Wednesday we do service rebuilding houses that were ruined in hurricane Sandy. Last Wednesday we went to a little place called Breezy Point. It's on the tip of the peninsula, and is... different. There is only one road, and the rest of the streets are sidewalks. We joke that the currency is tokens, because visitors need a token to get into the residential area. Everyone there is just chilling. If you bike too fast, you’re doing something wrong :P Everyone bikes around with lawn chairs on their back, too. It's just super weird in comparison to the rest of New York. I think you'd love it. The houses are pretty small, but they have everything they need. It's right next to the beach. The only problem is that it's a little expensive. As far as the house we worked on, the original contractor half finished it, took a bunch of money, and left everything- tools, nails, everything. They had just finished the walls, when they realized that there was absolutely no insulation in the outside walls. So, I got to use a rotary tool to cut giant holes in the walls through the drywall. It was super fun.
I did get your packages. They were waiting for me at the Mission Office when transfers came to pass. The shirt fits nicely, and the other Elders were celoso. I love the freezer pops. The Hatches sent me
a lovely package as well. The only problem was that the zone leaders left it in the trunk, and the chocolate melted, so I put it in the fridge for the day. I was super tired, so I just put the whole package
in the fridge. Now the tie they sent me is the 'cool tie.' I love it! Thank You Hatches!
I really feel like this area will be 'holy ground' for me. I got into a few bad habits in Bushwick, due in part to a lax trainer and missionary leaders (although I am not blameless). I've been hitting my morning schedule hard, and striving to perfect my language. I've been working out every morning, and practicing my forms again. I'm getting back into shape spiritually and physically.
I've also progressed a ton in my studies, particularly on the gift of discernment. It is interesting to me that everything in the church is focused on individuals, and the benefit of the church and the human
race as a group of individuals.
I'm glad to hear about dad's new calling! He will be an amazing seminary teacher. He just needs to follow the Spirit, and he will change lives. I'm also happy to hear about the cookies that you guys took to the Meridian temple construction workers.
I love you all at home, and wish you with the Lord's keeping.
Love, Elder Hull 헐