Hello from the Humidity

Hello to all! It is a nice HUMID day here in the City.... and my hair is NOT enjoying it. Ha ha, we all know how poofy it gets, nothing seems to help, but I am starting to live with it :) You would think after a year I should be used to it right? Ha ha, got to love the weather in NY. It is kind of weird, like it has been chilly but now it is warming up again. I don't get it... it must be global warming or something :) Ha ha, just kidding! Speaking of politics, it is SO weird to not know what in the world is going on in the world! I feel so left out but it's kind of nice at the same time, I have a feeling I would be angry if I did know :)

Things here in Inwood are going well. Sadly, Lewis's baptism isn't going to go through this weekend. For some reason our baptisms just keep falling through, it is frustrating but we are trying to put our trust in the Lord. We will have a couple of REALLY good days and be way pumped and then the end of the week comes and everything seems to fall apart. But that's ok, this is the Lords work and we just keep doing our best and everything will come out the way it needs to!

On Saturday we had a district "hunt". To celebrate the opening of hunting season, Sis. McMillan and I put together a NYC hunting game for the elders and then went on a "people hunt" aka a district blitz to find new investigators. We bought little pop guns and rats and had the elders "hunt" the rats... the winner got a prize :) Then we went tracting and found a couple of potentials. It was fun, sometimes you just gotta make the mundane more fun and then people are happy and when you are happy you find success! Things are always better when you are happy!

We had Stake Conference this last weekend. It was so good! It was all about missionary work which of course I loved. They had a young man that just returned speak and they also had some moms speak. Pres and Sis Smith were there and also spoke. The spirit was so strong and it was so great to be there. I am happy that I have the chance to serve in the NY NY stake, it is great and the Stake Presidency is amazing! I really like it here!

Inwood continues to be an adventure every day! Sis. McMillan and I work so hard. By the end of the day my feet just throb but it's a good thing, because I sleep great and things just are good when you are working the hardest you can! I can see miracles in this area just right on the edge... they are coming as long as we do our part!

I don't have much more to update on. I miss you all a lot but I am happy to be here. I know without a doubt this is where the Lord wants me. Thanks for your prayers and please know I pray for all of you all the time!

The church is true! Never forget it! Remember to live it!

Con amor- Hermana Passantino

PS: Happy Halloween to everyone! We are going to have ward party and I am sure everyone will be happy to know that I will be going as Hermione Granger from Harry Potter... it is the only thing I could come up with that makes me still look like a missionary :) Pictures to come!

I Feel So Ritzy!

Hello to all! I am emailing from the Upper East Side of New York City today, not only that, but I am using our new cell phones to make all my "important" phone calls. You know, the new cell phones that missionaries got here :) They are like really really fancy phones, so I totally fit in in this New York City lifestyle, except for the fact that I am wearing a 5 dollar Old Navy skirt... haha, that doesn't fit in so much. HA HA HA! Ok totally kidding, I don't fit in in this crazy part of the city, but I am here... we found this library after a stroll in central park. And we DID get new cell phones and they are so fancy. I think I have been using the brick we call a cell phone for so long that I forgot what nice cell phones are. It even has a camera... high class, I know. Ha ha, but it was exciting. All the missionaries are enjoying them, it's like Christmas!

This week has been a whole bunch of ups and downs, but it has been wonderful. SIs. McMillan and I were so excited to start a new cycle off. We had all these plans and then woke up Thursday morning sick. Sis. McMillan had an AWFUL cold and I had the flu, we were a pair to be seen let me tell ya, we still worked and I'm pretty sure everyone thinks we are crazy, we were determined to make it a good start of the cycle. Luckily we are feeling much better and things are going great!

Lewis came to church on Sunday and LOVED IT! It was SOOO exciting. We had the Primary Program so I think he was a little confused at first but he felt the spirit so strong and told us that the spirit confirmed to him that this was right and that is where he needed to be! He is so excited to be baptized! I can't wait! This will be the first baptism I've seen from tracting! Crazy!

We have found a couple of really good new investigators that are so prepared! I love it! I feel like things are finally starting to come together in this area. Here is a fun story, the other night we had an open spot in our plans that we decided to do "inspired tracting" We got on our knees and prayed to know where to go. We both got the impression to go to a former investigators house. We went there and they were not home, but we both felt we needed to be there so we just started talking to everyone who walked in. We were still trying to figure out what we were doing there so we decided to pray again. As I started praying some guy started singing from his apartment building and Sis. McMillan said, "That's our answer, let's go to his door!" We knocked on that door and the 3 doors next to it and got return appointments from each one. Then as we were leaving we talked to a family who also gave us a return appointment. I don't know what will come of it but I know we were lead there. We may find someone prepared, or we may just be getting practice on following promptings of the spirit. Either way, we loved it and we were reminded that things like that SHOULD happen all the time as missionaries, we just need to listen. It was a great lesson for us both!

We had a wonderful training from President Smith yesterday. Each month we are receiving trainings for the new curriculum for missionary work. It is once again, amazing to be with so many missionaries (two different zones) and feel of the spirit there. I learn and I am taught so much. I love being a missionary. It is so weird to think that tomorrow is my one year mark. I am not sure where the time has gone! I am determined to work harder and to do my best. I can't think of life without my mission, every day I thank Heavenly Father for the opportunity I have to serve! How lucky I am!

Today we were able to go to the temple. It was wonderful! It was full of missionaries and of course the spirit was so strong. My thoughts were brought to my little brother who is flying to Argentina. I am so proud of him! I miss my family so much. Thinking of the fact that I haven't seen them for a year breaks my heart but I felt so close to each and every one of them today. I love the temple. I feel so close to family and it just feels like home :) I was able to be there with Sis. Child too which is just wonderful! We actually share an area (she covers a singles ward in English for my area) so that is a blast because I get to see her more!

I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for all your love and support. All my emails today made me so happy! I love you all!

Love, Hermana Passantino

The Bronx Got A Litte Taste of Passantino Again...

Hello!
Well, I am here emailing hardly being able to keep my eyes open because I am so tired. I just got back from a split in the Bronx! That's right! I got to go back for 24 hours and it was WONDERFUL! There was a family that Sis. Child and I had taught but then some things happened in their personal lives that they didn't get to see them after I left. Anyway, President knew about them and felt really strongly that Sis. Child and I go and teach them one last time. So, I got to go to the Bronx and teach them with Sis. Child. It went really well and we had a blast! I also got to see the Zamoras AND China and Roman. Perfect timing too because China had her baby! Little Gia was born last Thursday and so I got to see her! It was so cool! It's weird to think that when I first met China she was not even a month prego and now little Gia is here. She is beautiful! The split was wonderful and it made me realize how much I miss the Bronx. At the same time, I know I am supposed to be here with things to do so I feel comfort in that. It was so fun to go back and talk to some of my recent converts and stuff. It was just great! Of course, Sis. Child and I had a BLAST together. I just love her so much! We stayed up too late talking but what's new... we love to talk. I am so glad I can make so many best friends here! Today we went to Target to switch back and we got to see Elder Hellberg and his comp which was just wonderful! I love seeing old friends! The mission is so awesome!
This last week has been good with the highlight being CONFERENCE! Oh man it was awesome! Mildred came to two sessions and loved it! How great it is to hear from servants of the Lord!!! Elder Hollands talk got me right from the start. The spirit was so strong and I couldn't help but feel an immense gratitude for my family, especially my parents! Wow, I am just so blessed. I was crying (along with the rest of my district) I guess that one just hit missionaries ya know! I also loved loved loved Elder Oaks talk on the personal line and the priesthood line. He put it so clearly, as a missionary who has to teach that sort of thing often, it was a great help. And I think my most favorite talk was President Monsons on gratitude. It was so awesome! I loved when he said, something to the effect of, "when we walk with gratitude, we touch heaven" Wow... I just love conference and was so sad when it ended.... I don't want to wait 6 more months! Ha ha!
It has been a rainy week for us and we actually have gotten cold... I guess fall is finally here! I am kind of excited since I was getting a little sick of being a gross ball of sweat everywhere I went... now I just get to look silly in a million different layers! But I love it! Transfers are coming up next week... AHHH! I can't even believe it. Sis. McMillan and I are pretty sure we will be staying. It will be her last cycle! I am so sad and don't want her to leave but she is not trunky at all and is such a hard worker!
We are still working on finding some solid new investigators. We have SO many people so close to baptism I can taste it! Oh man! I love it! I am happy and doing well! Thanks for all that you out there do for me and for the missionaries where you are! There is nothing better than a good friend while you are out in this unknown place serving. I love the members here! And I love you all! Have an amazing week!
Love, Hermana Passantino