Tengo una HIJA!

Hello from the new mom of the family!
Ha ha, that could be so awkward, but in mission lingo, whenever you train someone, you are their mom, and I AM TRAINING! Pretty crazy right? I am so excited about it but nervous at the same time, I just hope that I can do well. I met my hija yesterday and she is just so great! Her name is Hna. Anderson and she is from Utah. She went to BYU-Idaho and we already get along so well, I love her! Her Spanish is really good for being just out and she is so willing to do all she can! She is great and I am excited to work with her.
This last week has been so good. It was hard to say goodbye to Sis. McMillan and I miss her SO much. But after I said goodbye to Sis. McMillan I got to go be with Sis. Baxter. It was so much fun. We went to Connecticut for about three days and I FELL IN LOVE with that place. There are not really any Dominicans there so everyone speaks very clearly and I could understand them all. Sadly, they all say I speak like a Dominican, I'm going to have to work on that. But I want to serve there so bad one day! I had everyone I met pray that I can come there after here... that's my goal. Not like I get to choose but it is fun to think about. I would love, love, love to serve there. Plus, it is in Glenn Becks stake which is always a plus :) After we were there for a couple days we came back down into the City and got some work done here. It was just so fun to be with Sis. Baxter. I really feel like it was a tender mercy to be with her for a week.
While Sis. Baxter was here we did a "street meeting" and we sang on the street while we had people signing up for free DVD's. It was pretty fun. I will have to send you some pictures, I was standing on a crate and everything, it was pretty funny! Who knew I would ever stand on a crate and sing in the middle of New York City... I guess I'm becoming even more crazy than I used to be.
So yesterday, we went to our first appointment of the day (Hna. Andersons first appt ever). It was with an investigator named Ramon. He is paralyzed and we are working on getting him progressing so that he can get baptized. He is a great guy but was telling us that his week has been pretty hard because his mom had a stroke. As we were discussing some things, he got a phone call and found out that his mother had died, while we were there with him. It was so hard to be there while he found that out. Hna. Anderson and I searched for some scriptures to share but he didn't really want to talk about it so we bore our testimony and left. I've been thinking about it a lot since then. It made me so grateful for the plan of salvation and for the knowledge that we have. I am so grateful that I know that I get to see everyone I love again. It makes me want to work even harder here on this earth so I am worthy to live with my family again. I love sharing the plan of salvation with others and I hope to help Roman feel the spirit and know that this is the way to be able to see his mother again.
So, P-Day is changed again and we actually don't get to have it on Thanksgiving which is really sad because I was looking forward to going to the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Instead, we are going to a museum to celebrate Elder Maxfields birthday! Tomorrow we have a couple of appointments planned to go visit some people so it should be a good day. We have 2 dinner appointments so that should be interesting! I am so excited to spend the holidays here with the members. Although I miss my family so much, I feel a lot of love from the people here! I am loving my mission more and more every day. I am feeling the stress of training but it is good for me.
Other random transfer news... the rest of my district stayed the same. Sis. Child got moved upstate to be with Sis. Adjei in a Zebra companionship (half Spanish and half English) Sis. Baxter is also training (this is her last cycle) and hmmm... yeah, that's about it. We have A LOT of greenies in our zone so that is exciting!
I hope you all know how grateful I am for this gospel. I am so grateful I have the chance to serve around these amazing people and to share the good word. I know this church is true. I am thankful for parents who have worked to hard to raise me the way Heavenly Father wants them to. They are what got me out here and who continue to support me in every way I can think of. I am thankful for my brothers and sister who are my best friends. I am thankful for all of you that haven't forgotten about me and write me letters, it is always so nice to hear from everyone. I am thankful that I am serving a mission and that Heavenly Father has given me this chance to grow in my testimony. I love this work! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Con Amor- Hermana Passantino

Hurray Lewis's Baptism

My McMillan is leaving me!!!!!

Good Morning! I think this is the earliest I've emailed on my mission but we have to get things done because my dear Sis. McMillan is leaving me today to go home! I am so sad slash excited for her. I can't believe the time has already come. That also means that Sis. Walker, my trainer, is leaving as well. It feels so weird to have such important people to me leave but I know that when the mission ends, there are new and exciting things for them. (I know that is easier for me to say as I still have a good chunk left on my mission, ha ha)
Today I will be heading to Connecticut to be companions with Sister Baxter for about a week. I am so excited to go be in a CAR! With trees and stuff! It will be such a change from being in the city! We'll be in her area for about 3 days and then head back to my area for the end of it. Transfers are next Tuesday so we will be getting our companions that day and I'll be off again working in this area. We'll see what the future holds. Next week P-day will be on Thursday so we can go to the Thanksgiving Day Parade! Look for me on TV! Ha ha, it should be pretty cool. All I remember from it when we went a LONG time ago was sitting on my dads shoulders trying to see over the billions of people... I guess this time will be a little different but it should be good! I have no clue what else we'll be doing for thanksgiving but I assume that we'll eat some sort of Dominican meal... let's just say I can't wait for my family cooking next year! Ha ha!
This last week has been great! LEWIS WAS BAPTIZED! It was so awesome! He seemed so happy and I was so happy to see him make that convent with Heavenly Father. The blessings we receive when we make covenants and keep them just amaze me! Our Heavenly Father wants to bless us so bad.. we just have to take that step! Random funny note: A member wanted to sing at the baptism and asked me to sing with her... then she didn't show up... so I made the elders sing with me. Ha ha, as a missionary you really learn to improvise.
We had another mission training on Monday which was of course amazing. I just love those! We talked about extending commitments. I just love Pres. Smith and how he is directed by the spirit. I know without a doubt that he was called to be a mission president here by our Heavenly Father! I love him and the service he gives each of us missionaries. He has so much confidence in us!
I am continuing to love serving as a missionary. Sometimes I forget what life was like before the mission and I can't even imagine my life without this chance I have to serve. It is so wonderful! Thanks for all the prayers for me but remember to help the missionaries that are near you as well, they sure would love it! I love you all! Happy early thanksgiving!
Con Amor- Hermana Passantino
PS: family... have fun in SPAIN!

Hermana Passantino and Hermana McMillian enjoying fall in NYC!

I still Heart New York!

I am not doing well with creative subject lines, sorry about that. I think I am getting "less funny". Everything that I think is funny is missionary related... like quoting the Joseph Smith movie in spanish... wow, my sense of humor will be way out of wack by the time I get home. Ha ha!

Well, it has been a pretty good week here in Inwood. I am working hard at preparing myself to take over the area. It is kind of nice to know that I HAVE to have a new companion for the next cycle because my companion is going home. Next week will be interesting. Sis. McMillan leaves on Wednesday but they are not going to have transfers for another week. Which means I am companion-less for one week. But guess who else is going to be companion-less? Sister Baxter! That's right! I talked to President Smith about it yesterday and Sis. Baxter and I get to be companions! Woo hoo! I am so excited, even if it is just for one week. I think we will be spending half the time in her area in CT and the other half the time here in Inwood. We'll see. But just as a fair warning, it might be a little crazy next P-Day so I don't know if I will get to email or not.

So guess what? Lewis is getting baptized on Saturday! Woo hoo! He already has had his baptismal interview so now we just have to get the program together. I am so excited to have him take that step to baptism! Now let's just pray it goes through... baptisms in this area have been hard for some reason but I'm excited still!

We had a great show up at church this last Sunday. It was the best we've had so far. Lucinda came and LOVED it! She is so cool and I love teaching her. This last lesson she told us she knew Joseph Smith was a prophet and that she knows she needs to follow the Word of Wisdom and Tithing... woo hoo! She is great and I am excited to see what happens with her! It amazes me the blessings that come to those that are willing to keep the commandments of God. If only we could all be like that. Sometimes I think we are too quick to justify or bend the rules. If only we had enough faith to obey with exactness, the blessings would be poured out to us just like it is to our investigators.

So funny story of the week. The other night as I was falling asleep I could have SWORN that I heard a mouse running around our bedroom. I of course freaked out. I was NOT going to have a mouse running around while I was sleeping. So I spent the next hour or so lying in bed with my eyes wide open and every time I heard what I thought was the mouse I would grab the flashlight and try to spot it. I then took the liberty to pick up any sort of food that could even entice the little guy. I seriously think I was going crazy. Sis. McMillan just laughed at me as I turned the flashlight on every 25 seconds to find the mouse. Needless to say, we never found what was making that noise. But so help me if there is a mouse I WILL HUNT IT DOWN! Gross New York City and they mice everywhere... and pigeons. Gross pigeons. Why do people feed them?

Well, I hope everything is going well for everyone else. I am loving life here. We are doing some shopping today for Sis. McMillans last P-day... woo hoo! Shopping in New York :) I love you all!

Con amor- Hermana Passantino

PS: I just realized I say "woo hoo" way too much! Sorry about that!

Random crooked light pole here in NYC!

Hermana McMillan and I with Lizzy from Spain! She was so cool!

Temple Day! Elder Adams decided to jump in the picture.

On my split to the Bronx visiting Ramon, China and baby Gia!

This is me harcore train preaching! Well, no one was on the train..but don't I look fierce?

Sorry for the Late Letter!

Hello!
Well, sorry I am emailing a couple days late. Wednesday there was a big mess up at the Library so we didn't get to email. But don't worry, I have permission to be emailing today so everything is good! P-day was a blast and I'll talk more about it in a little bit!

This week has been a very busy one full of A LOT of things. We got back to teaching Lewis and we gave him another baptismal date of Nov. 13, the weekend before Sis. McMillan goes home. He is a great guy and has a strong testimony so we are praying that things follow through. Sis. McMillan and I have been a bit frustrated just because we have been working so hard but no one seems to want to progress. This area is for sure harder than the Bronx was as far as baptizing goes. We get a lot of lessons each week and we contact ALL the time but for some reason it has been tough. Luckily, we continue to go forward and do the best we can! We realize we are given trials to help us grow. I was reading a talk from Pres. Uchtdorf today and he talked about how it is the way that we react to our trials that define us, not the trials themselves. Boy have I learned that (and continue to learn that) on my mission! But it is so true. We have so many things thrown at us that we can't control. We have to do the best we can on the things we CAN control and leave the rest to the Lord. I am grateful I get to learn this lesson here on my mission because it is one that is applied to life in every aspect!

We had really good district meeting on Monday from Elder Shepherd. He asked us some questions about what are purpose is as a missionary. It was all stuff that we kind of got to ponder for ourselves. We have missionaries in all different stages of the work in our district so it was cool to see the different outlook from everyone and learn from everyone else. It was great!

Halloween was interesting! The night before we had a ward Halloween party that was a sight to be seen. For any of you who have been to a Spanish ward party I am sure you can only imagine! It was fun! We had a couple of investigators go and they enjoyed themselves. Then on Halloween we had to be in at 6. Before we got in the house we were walking around and saw all the kids in Halloween costumes. They all go trick-or-treating really early and they don't go to apartments, they go to the stores and bodegas... interesting. That night, Sis. McMillan and I did a puzzle and ate mango sticky rice! YUM!

This last P-Day was so fun! We had a district outing and went to central park. I just love that place! It is SOO pretty in the fall with all the leaves (of course I got some AWESOME pictures!) We walked around and just enjoyed the brisk fall day! We even found an ice skating rink that you can bet I will be asking for permission to go to! How fun would it be to go ice skating in central park! We ate at this place called "The Shack Shake" Oh yum it was so good and had amazing burgers, my favorite!! It was a great P-day!

The reason I didn't email yesterday was because we had the Sisters Lunch up in Scarsdale with President and Sister Smith. It was a great day! First off, we met the AP's in the Bronx and they drove us up to the mission home. It was such a beautiful drive! I am pretty sure I drove Elder Fox crazy because I wouldn't shut up about how beautiful it was! I hope I can serve upstate at some point in my mission. Being in the city for almost a year makes you miss the trees. I got to see so many sisters that I hadn't seen forever too! Sis. Baxter being one of them. It was so great to be gathered as sisters and be able to spend some time with President and Sister Smith. They talked to us for a bit and then we got to do a question and answer time with President Smith... it was wonderful in every way!

All in all life is good! The work is hard but it is oh so worth it! I love being out here and I am pretty sure time is going WAY too fast! I can't believe my McMillan is leaving me so soon! Ahh! Oh and the little ciesta that Brian gets to have sounds wonderful, there are no ciestas in New York... haha! I love it!

Con amor- Hermana Passantino