Bed Bugs, Moving, Sinus Infection, and Spring Time

Hello!
I am missing everyone so much! I hope all is well and that everyone is enjoying the fact that spring is coming up! Woo Hoo! This last week has had some really nice days and really gross days. I love the nice days, it is so much more enjoyable to be outside walking around.
This week has been a good one! It's been crazy! The talent show went AWESOME! It was so fun and I was so proud of the youth. They did great! The bed bugs have struck again and so that was good times. But here is the news, we're moving! In fact, we've been moving for the last couple of days. They called on Sunday and said, oh, you are moving tomorrow. Um, WHAT? It was stressful but we got them to change it to Thursday. The hard part is, is that we have to wash EVERYTHING! That is what is taking forever. But we are handling it and I will put the new address at the end of this email. The best news, NO MORE BED BUGS! Woo hoo!
I've been sick all week and I think I have a sinus infection which is just dandy. It's rough but I'm surviving. Maybe I can get some meds soon. I am sick of being sick. We saw a headless pigeon on the train track the other day. It was sad, but don't worry, I took a picture!
We went to City Island on Saturday and looked up a less active. She has a daughter that wants to be baptized! Woo hoo! I love to see how the Lord blesses people. Everything happens at the right time! We are also teaching Antonio, who has a baptismal date for the 25th of April and Lux, the daughter of Soledad. She has been forced to grow up very fast but we are hoping everything goes well for her. She is a great girl.
I have been thinking so much about the Pioneers and early saints of the Church. I am SO grateful for their sacrifice for this gospel! What a blessing it is! I know I don't have a lot of spritualness today... but I am loving feeling the the Love of the Lord for me but especially for others! It's truly amazing! I love you all! Thank you so much for your love!
Love, Hermana Passantino

I Love Bed Bug Protection Kits!

Thanks Family for sending me a wonderful bed bug protection kit! I am not totally ready to take on those stupid bed bugs! Haha, I loved my packages from my fam! And I got to see pictures of my new house and my sweet new nephew! WOO HOO! I showed those pictures of Charlie and Matthew off to EVERYONE! I just kept walking around showing members of the ward, they all think they are so cute and they don't understand why I don't look like my family. Ha ha! I showed Santos a picture of Charlie and he said we have the same face... WHAT? Who knew I looked like Charlie?
Well, this week has been another good one! Maribels baptism is on Saturday and I am SO excited! She is awesome! Soledad and her daughter Luz are supposed to be baptized on Sunday but they have run into a couple of road blocks so we'll see what we can do. So here is a crazy story... I believe I have told you about Barsimeo. We started teaching him but he is in the Elders area so we handed him over. But he still called us with questions and would come to the church so we could teach him. So we kinda team taught him with the elders. So last Wednesday he did one of his church visits and I felt prompted to ask him when we was getting baptized. He said, soon I hope. So I gave him a date of THAT Sunday. He accepted! And it went through! We had another baptism! The elders were in shock because they have been trying to get him to accept a date FOREVER! It was awesome! I loved seeing another person accept the gospel! I'll send pics soon!
Transfers are next week so we'll see what happens! We had a sisters lunch up in Scarsdale with Sister Smith yesterday and it was so fun! We really enjoyed ourselves. We have such solid Sister Missionaries here. I would not be sad to be with any of them! They all are so awesome! There are about 18 of us!
Well, I best be off! I love you all! Thanks for the letters and packages :) I LOVE hearing from everyone! I'll let you know if I got transferred next week!!!
One quote I love by Joseph Smith
:Happiness is the object and design of our existence: and will be the end thereof if we pursue the path that leads to it. and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God" SO GOOD! Have a wonderful week!
Love, Hermana Passantino

Bit by the Bronx Bugs Again

Yes, it's true... the Bronx Bug is out to get me. Well, I don't know what kind of bug it is but every morning I wake up with about 10 new bug bites which is always annoying. We believe it might be bed bugs but we never see them. Which brings me to something I don't want to forget... we may be moving to a new place in the Bronx soon. (The senior missionary couple here is NOT happy with the conditions of our apartment, it's pretty ghetto) So, don't send stuff to the apt anymore, just send it to the mission office and I get that mail once a week. So yes, make sure to take that address off the blog and I will update you more on the situtaion when I find out. This week has been really good! Santos was baptized yesterday! Woo hoo!!! Hno. Cerda, a member from Chile, baptized him and when Santos went down in the water Hno. Cerda slipped and almost baptized himself. Ha ha, it was funny, but Santos went all the way under and it worked out well. Santos' friend Luis is next! He just needs to attend institute a couple more times. We have so much success here, it's wonderful. Today for P-day we went back to the museum of Natural History for an elders in my district birthday. I finally got a New York hot dog which was wonderful! Don't worry, I took pictures. We have had A LOT of snow and my boots have been constantly wet which never is a good time but oh well, I shall survive. We still are working like crazy! For some reason I am always getting sick here. I feel like I haven't been super healthy since I got to NY. Monday I came home from mission conference and threw up 3 times. FUN! But I was fine the next day. Speaking of mission conference, it was amazing! I love it and was really inspired. I love President and Sister Smith! I was also able to see Sister Baxter which always makes my day! Well, I love you all! Thanks for all you do for me and the Lord. I know that as we serve Him more our lives will always be filled with joy!
Love Hermana Passantino
PS: Yesterday we did an activity for the youth and it was awesome. I love working with the youth. I realized that no matter where you grow up, whether it's Chico or the Bronx, the tools Heavenly Father has given us work the same (Scriptures, prayer, etc.) We just need to USE them!