Letter of April 3, 2013

Dearest Family,

I have been moved to a place called Woodside or Astoria.  I'm told both by a few people. My companion, a Hawaiian guy named Elder Akoi, says Woodside. But the Zone Leaders say Astoria.  Also, my comp is District Leader again, for the third time in a row.

This place is in the city, Queens.  So far we've done a few things: rode the bus, the train, went jogging this morning.  We don't have a car.  My worst nightmare.  But I'm not going to complain, too much.  I want to lose weight.  I want to get a little stronger in my legs and back so it doesn't hurt to walk.  But it's also my feet. Akoi said my feet will be sore and then they'll get used to it.

I packed things up pretty good, so I didn't have much to carry, cuz we rode the bus to my new pad, which is kinda just down the street from the office.  Then last night we took the train so I could get home and unpack or something.  And because I haven't ridden the train.

Also, I can see the Empire State Building every once in a while throughout the day.  Last night it was blue.  I guess every day it's a different color and it means something.  I'm kinda glad we don't have a car cuz we don't have to worry about parking, gas, accidents, all that good responsibility that a car brings.

President said it'll be good for me here.  I'm glad I'm in the city during the summer.  But also not, because we'll be out in the flaming hot sun all day.  And we'll sweat 24/7.  So that doesn't sound fun actually.  But I've been on the Island long enough.  Oh, my comp has been to Bermuda.  He misses it.  Who wouldn't?!

On Monday we were super busy and I only had a few minutes Tuesday morning to write something.  So I'll write a letter the olde-fashioned way.

This will be fun.

I'll try to made it fun and not hard and boring, because if it's fun it'll go by quick.

Oh, and my comp goes running every other day.  So I'm going to be forced to exercise.  But it's good for me.  I weighed myself the other day.  I'm not going to say cuz I don't even like it.  My goal this transfer is to lose at least 5 lbs.  I see why I didn't weigh much before compared to now, cuz I didn't eat as much!  It's not just the junk food, cuz I don't eat that much.  It's everything else.  But I'll try to do good this time around.

Love ya'll
Elder Peck