August 5 from NY

WOW okay I have like no time and I’m so sorry that this will be short, but I’m doing my best, I swear. Okay real quick, how should I do pics? More memory cards? A flashdrive? Why am I just now thinking of this? I dont know haha. Just let me know what you think? Also, I’m sorry if I sounded short on the phone. I was crammed for time. I hung up and was like "I feel like I didn’t sound friendly and loving enough," but maybe that is because I am in super-friendly mode all the time haha. HAPPY BIRTHDAY dad!!! Sorry you’re just now getting this. If it makes you feel better, I barely remember when my birthday is at the pace my days go lately.

Dr. Holland, Thanks so much for your support!! You are truly the best and many people recognized me as their old TA and rave about your class haha.

The field is awesome!!! Wow, I have no idea where to begin, but here goes. We are flushing an area. I’m with two other sisters: Hovey and Adams. They are great, except Hovey got sick and was in zombie mode for a little bit. That was kinda scary, but she is good now. I’m in North Tonawanda area, which is right next to Niagara Falls. Cool! I’ve had some yummy NY pizza and wings, so that's been cool.

But here is the good stuff. Well, since we were flushing an area, nobody knew anything about anything, so it was a very interesting first few days. We were like private investigators looking through a poorly maintained area-book and trying to make sense of what we had to work with investigator wise. I have lost all fear calling total strangers. Actually, I have lost all fear in regard to strangers at all. You talk to so many people and they all think you're  all little weird, but nice and its fine. I'm so so so busy, but super happy. People are so great, even the not so great ones ahahha. We were walking down the street and this car yelled "SLUTS" at us and seriously it was funny because it didn’t make us upset at all. I just thought, "Oh those silly boys". It's weird, I just feel an even greater capacity to love others and not get frustrated. Of course, I’m still super imperfect, but being a missionary is just loving people is what I have realized. We love and show them that they can change and that they have amazing potential through our Savior Jesus Christ. I love it. 

So we have met quite the characters. New Yorkers are something else, I tell you what. First of all, they NEVER stop talking. I’m serious, it's an effort just to squeeze in a lesson, and I have no idea when they are taking a breath. But they are so loving and kind and enthusiastic and open. I have heard so many amazing life stories and they blow me away. It's like story time all day long as I listen to the lives of incredibly diverse people. One person that I want to highlight on is Gary. He is an inactive member and wants to get back in the church, but he has had a wild ride for a life. He was a drug runner and all that jazz. When he opened the door, he had a big purple shiner under his eye. He is so sincere and humble though. He really wants to change, but doesn’t know where to start. At the end, we had him pray and it was so simple and beautiful. When I told him he did  a great job, he just started crying and couldn’t believe we had gotten him to pray out loud. Sometimes I feel like we are working with children because the testimonies are so innocent, which is really how we should all be. Ahhh okay I have 20 seconds left so I better send this. christ loves us!!

continued later

Okay phew! I was able to get a little but more time so that's nice. I was racing the clock on this computer haha.

Anyway, I guess I can tell you more about my mission. So, we are in an area that is not really ghetto, but the homes that we visit are usually super cluttered and relatively poor, though probably not by Brazilian standards. We have a car, so that's nice. Oh yeah, a guy in my district who went through the Atlanta consulate got his visa, so that's promising. Honestly though, I know I'm here for a reason right now and I want to stay here as long as Heavenly Father needs me in NY. I know everything happens for a reason and that I’m here for a reason. This area needs that womanly  touch that hasn’t been here for many many years apparently. The Elders before were kinda negative about all the people and made it seem like everything was a dead end and like all the people were lazy or kooky. But so far, everyone we have met has been so awesome and great. Sure....there are some characters....okay they are all quite the characters, but it makes it so much more fun to love them. My companions are great and such great examples to me, but I've also enjoyed the fact that we all are starting from square one, because it has forced me to be the leader in many of the situations. I have grown so much faster because of the fact that we are all basically on the same playing field in regards to trying to get things going and find people to teach. 

Okay well I really better run now. I love you and know that God loves us all so much. It's really so simple. We just need to spend more energy loving and serving and we wouldn't have to endure so much of the bitterness that plagues our hearts. I love you all. Thanks for the prayers!!

Sis Huntington