Funny story:

  So the first day we get Elder Vi, we go to the Jones'. And everything is going fine, until he says a few things that they didn't like. And the mom got mad at him and kicked him out. So for the next few visits, he was with the other guys. As we talked with them and tried to get them to let him back. But she said no. So we didn't know what to do because he's our companion, and we can't just ditch him every time we go over. 

  But a few weeks prior, Knowana was looking for a treadmill. And she asked us for help. But we didn't really look that hard. Now, she needs a treadmill and we need Elder Vi to come back. So we devise a plan that if Vi can find her a treadmill, she will let him back in the house. And she agreed. 

So we searched far and wide and talked to many people. One member said she had one, but was being difficult about giving it away, even if Knowana will pay for it. 

  But through an investigator, we found one. it came with an exercise bike. And the total cost was free!  We just had to pick it up. 

But knowing that our car was tiny and would never fit anything, we called the office elders to ask if we can have them come with the van. They weren't there, so we called the car guy in the office. He said elder Richardson would have to come in and get van certified (learn how to drive the van). So we were about to leave, when he calls back and says no. 

  We now have a solid contact for the equipment, and a buyer, but no way to get it. So we ask Knowana if she would drive there and get it herself. She said she doesn't drive anywhere but Freeport and Roosevelt. This place was in floral park, about a half hour away. We think she doesn't know how to drive, or doesn't have a license, or just plain scurred. 

  Eventually we find someone who has an suv, which is exactly the same kind she drives. Who is a friend. So she comes and Knowana pays her $40 to help. Which is a small amount to pay, because earlier we were told they cost $100. But then through talking to the guy, he told us it's free, because he's moving and selling or renting the place, and is cleaning out the room. 

   So the friend comes, her name is Alma, (the ladies here have ghetto black names, like Diamond was over last night) but alma means soul is spanish. We all go up to the guys house and after a long time of trying to get the treadmill upstairs, because it's so big and bulky, we finally get both things in cars, and head home. 

Here's the overview of this deal:

Vi is not allowed back in. 

We can't keep splitting every time we need to go over. 

Knowana needs a treadmill. 

We need Vi. 

Vi gets her a treadmill and is allowed back in. 

It was a crazy adventure that could have been more crazy had we used the van. But with a little help from friends, everything worked out fine. 

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 It's getting cold here. As we left the Jones' last night, there was frost on the cars. And yesterday morning we went out to run and I could see my breath. We were talking about how it's kinda cheating when it's freezing, but there's no snow. 

With three people, this place is always a mess now. We actually moved the beds into the living room so we can all be in the same room. Because Vi sleeps on the couch. I thought about moving the study tables into the other room because it's not being used. But it's kinda supposed to be the way it was. The living room is supposed to be a living room. 

Well, the mess comes from Elder Vi, because he doesn't have anywhere to put it. And of course, the beds take up a lot of room. But this is a large room. And I should worry too much. I have a month left. Then it won't be my problem. 

   

   Oh, about coming back, I'll check if everything fits in my luggage so I don't have to throw away anything. Or I'll send some things home. Last time I transferred the things that wouldn't fit were my bedding. I could lose the blanket and pillow, the pillow is too flat now. And I guess I could do for a new blanket that's larger. But the one thing I need to keep is the afghan. And that takes up a lot of space. 

  I remember I sent my large scarf home, and now I don't know why, because I don't know if I have any left. I had to get one, but it's kinda small and I lost it already... :(. But the cold here is worse than utah cold. And the wind chill is deadly. 

 I almost just want to re-do my whole clothing. Get new pants and church clothes. I'm comfortable wearing my everyday clothes to church, but I should wear a suit, but I have to get rid of this brown suit. It don't fit no more. 

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To start the transfer, we are going to fast as a district, I think? But we as a companionship will. We were promised by president Calderwood that if we look over our area book, we can find someone to extend a baptismal invite. So we are fasting for that, and all our investigators. And the member we are working with, that he can stop smoking. 

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Oh yes, back to the Jones'. We extended two of them baptismal dates to prepare for. Taya has come church the past two weeks, and the mom keeps saying she will, but doesn't. But she said she will today. But idk if she actually will. But the girls will. Taya, and a few others. Ny'iel came last week. 

 Jones family:

Knowana-mom

DeVaughn-oldest and only son

Lataya-oldest daughter

Elise-2nd

Nia-3rd

Ny'iel-4th

Nylah-5th daughter

And Neil is the dad we don't see much cuz he's always downstairs when he's home. 

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   Saturday I went to the temple with elder Mortensen and his trainee, elder Pávon, and a returning member, Donald. We went to a spanish session. That was cool. We wore headsets. And what I really liked was that the video was the old one. So I could tell if the wolf eats a pine cone or a mouse. It's a pine cone. Also, the rest of the people were from my old ward in Huntington! So I got to see all my old members. Including a few English people. And that's not all who was at the temple. Pretty much all of plainview stake was there. So both plainview and Huntington, as well as the YSA were all there. Not all the members, but a good amount. It was cool. 

There was a member who was getting endowed for his first time, and I think sealed to his wife as well. It was good to see him, too. 

*i bought some thermal bottoms while at the temple. 

At the same time in Rego, Elder Hallstrom from the 70 was speaking at the office, but temple trips are have priority. 

Then when we got back to the office from Manhattan, there was a wedding that Elder Vi's investigator was getting married so she can get baptized Sunday. So we got food there. It was cool. 

Oh, we had some time before our session, so we went out in the city looking for food. There was a farmers market on the block right in front of the temple, and there was a booth for maple syrup. Everything you can imagine was maple. Even granulated sugar! But I got cotton candy. It was good. And for "food" I got a really good Belgium waffle covered in caramel and Nutella. Hehe :) 

I can't believe it's only the first Sunday, we've done so much stuff this week it feels like the middle of the transfer. But I guess it's good, because that would mean I have less time. 

Elder Vi is only 19, and it shows sometimes. It's weird. Being 4 years older than him, and 3 yrs older than Richardson. 

Oh, but Pávon is 24. So I'm not the oldest anymore. 

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I was thinking to myself that I HAVE to come back here. Probably next fall. I need money for a ticket and transportation- maybe rent a car? Idk. But also for other things, mainly food. There's places here I always wanted to go to, but kinda can't on our budget. And also because one place is a bar. But it's a chocolate lounge!  And one of my siblings wanted to come as well. Even Elise said I should bring Hannah.  I think that family would be the ultimate culture shock for anyone who hasn't been to New York. 

Oh yeah, I forgot another funny thing:

  We were in the subway and the train pulls up, and the car in front of us is completely packed. But we tried to get on, and I got on, and I was in, but then I turn around and my group is standing on the platform. And a member who is friends with Richardson, Patrick, he's like "Elder Peck!" The train starts to move and I just wave and say bye. It was funny. I'm sure it was funny from the other side, too. 

 I thought about staying on till the end. But I decided to get off at the next stop, because the car was still packed. So I got off and waited for the next train and ate my cotton candy. When it came, I looked in and saw elder Pávon and they saw me, and I got on. And elder Richardson was like, I almost lost you. He wished he got a video of me slowly pulling away from the group.   That was fun.  Goodbye. 

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Saturday was eventful. The whole week was. Hopefully the rest of the transfer is, so it goes by smoothly and not drags on. Especially for my last transfer, I want it to go nicely. Make up for all those dumb useless transfers. 

It would make sense at the end of my mission that I'd be worn out and my body is always tired. 

 I don't want to do anything when I get home. Just lay around and get fat. Well, not the last part, but it is Christmas break, I don't have to do anything. 

 But if I want to come back, I have to get a job. 

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While we were walking around the subway, I saw a guy with a real didgeridoo, and he was playing it while banging a drum, and he had other noisemaker things on his ankles and a hi-hat next to him. It was cool. And a little later there was a guy on the next platform over, he was playing a steel drum. That was cool, cuz he let a little kid play the scale of notes. Then he played "Fiur Elise" (?) with a little extra song in the middle.    That was nice to see two really cool exotic instruments. 

We usually sing to an old lady for service, so we were going to go on Friday, but she was taken to the hospital. (She's 91) but we went there and she was scared and freaking out and I think that 7 people was too much for her. As well as her having dementia. So we tried to sing, but she got worse and worse, so we left.   I don't like hospitals. 

  At the Jones' one day, there was a bottle of prune juice that I wanted to try, so Elise pours me a glass and I drink it all, quite fast. and it had pulp, so drinking it mad it feel 10x stronger. And after that we said the prayer and Knowana said it, and it was a really good one. THEN, Kevin, their homeless uncle said he wants to pray, and he never prays so everyone was quiet for him and Knowana was surprised and excited that he wanted to pray. 

So he starts out all nice and he says: " I pray for elder peck to get home safely without having an accident after drinking the prune juice".  Haha and Knowana was like... Well we all liked it but it was funny because it started out nice and normal, but once he said because of the prune juice, it was funny. But it was cool. Thanks Kevin. 

   That juice went through me and destroyed me. I'm cleaned out now. 

   I know this is a really long letter, but like I said, it was a busy week. 

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I think I've lost weight. My pants are falling down. Even with the belt as tight as I can make it. Weird. I need to find a scale. 

Recently the church released "the joseph smith papers" and even the newspaper had an article about it, using it to make our church sound bad (as always). But it says that he had 40+ wives, and that an angel made him do it.  I personally don't care, but it's taken a toll on our investigators. Knowana is freaking out now about him having that many, or just having more than one in the first place. 

 To me, what happens in a prophets personal life doesn't really matter. All that matters to me is what they are relaying to us from Heavenly Father.  She also was saying that it's interesting that we don't know about it. Like we found out about the article from another investigator last week. Other people might be offended or turned off about something that happened 200 years ago, or just other dumb things. But it really doesn't matter how many he had. I think the media is using the truth to make people not like us. Which is interesting as well. We can't deny he had multiple wives. But we can say it doesn't happen anymore. And it comes down to faith. That he was a prophet chosen by God. 

 I guess in can do more research on the topic, to show Knowana that i care, but I really don't. 

I think that'll be it for today. See Ya later. 

-Elder Peck