Luau Today!

Hola! Or should I say, Aloha!
Today we are on our way to Scarsdale to have a big mission Luau. I am so excited. It will be wonderful to be all together with all them missionaries. They sure do spoil us on our missions here! President and Sister Smith are so good and making sure we get to get together every now and then!

It has been a good week! We moved! It is SO nice to be in an apartment with a window! Our living room and stuff has no AC but our bedroom does so we actually sleep at night. It is so wonderful! We moved all day Saturday (with the elders help) and it was hot but we got it done. Our new apartment is very nice and we are loving being in something cool, especially because it has been SO HOT the last couple of days. I mean really, 105? I thought I left that crazy Chico weather back home! To add to it, it is super humid which makes things oh so fun! Oh before I forget, my new address is
1417 Doris St, Apt 3F
Bronx, NY
10462

Our 4th of July was really good. It was so cool to be in testimony meeting for the 4th of July. The missionaries sang, American the Beautiful and afterwards so many ward members bore their testimonies on how grateful they are to live in this country. We really are so blessed to be here. I just loved listening to everyone in spanish and hearing of their gratitude for this country. I love this country and I am so happy I get to serve my mission here, not to mention serve in the State of the restoration! How cool is that?

The night of 4th of July we made some really yummy burgers and then played apples to apples as an apartment. It was so fun! I love being here on the mission and one blessing is all the missionaries I get to meet. They have really become my best friends here! We lighted some sparklers that night and got some cool pictures (of course) that will be coming soon!

We have been having fun exercisingin the mornings because we have been dancing! Yes, I get up at 6:30 and dance around my apartment for 30 minutes. We listen to upbeat EFY songs... ha ha, I love mission life!

I was reading in this months Ensign and there was an article by M. Russell Ballard that I loved. The article was about sharing the gospel and he said,
"Please remember that you do not need to feel that you must justify your beliefs; you simply need to explain them in a spirit of love and kindness. The truth always prevails when true doctrine is taught."

Not much to add to that, I just really liked it and maybe you all will too! The important thing is to be sharing the gospel always!

Well, I love you all! I am so grateful for the letters and emails I recieve, they always boost me up! Have a wonderful week and try to stay cool!

Con Amor- Hermana Passantino

PS: Have I mentioned how grateful I am I only have to spend one summer here? I don't know if I would make it two... haha. Just kidding.... but really.

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!