'MERICA is Gonna Be OK

Well this week was pretty standard as always. We went on exchanges with the zone leaders. Our area which is already comprised of two English areas is basically being doubled as a branch in Midwood Brooklyn is being shut down. So now we can go pretty much anywhere and not get in trouble. But I still can't go pick up my mail from the mission office. Wouldn't want to lose sight of what I'm here to accomplish right? Yep.

We're focused on getting people to come to church and it's not working out too well. That is disappointing. That's what happens when people have to work Sunday's just to make ends meet. And then the rest are just lazy. Frustrating. If I sound grumpy that's just because I must have some sort of stomach virus and it's raining like crazy. Oh random story. We were in park slope and I got interviewed by a black guy named Eminem. He was going around asking people who they wanted to win the presidency. Hillary or Bernie. I said, "well are those my only choices?" Then I got a little shoutout for Cruz in there. Hopefully Eminem pushes that out to his fan base to give Cruz a little boost. Hehe Seriously how about politics these days? You get to pick from a spoiled brat that may or may not like to wear his sheets, someone that killed American operators and should be in jail, or a socialist. Yippee. How's that for the first presidential election I get to vote in. Geez don't make the choice easy there. I actually got to see a clip of Hillary when she gets asked about the Benghazi deal. I'm sorry. Even if you didn't have anything to do with it. You don't sarcastically smile and roll your eyes. Good Americans died. Take this job seriously. (Insert screaming and cussing in violent Dominican slang and Spanglish)

Alright! I feel sufficiently like an old grumpy Dominican man.

Later,

Ry

Ps. 'MERICA is gonna be ok because there are still people like this:

“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, ‘Peace! Peace!’ -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” -Patrick Henry

qsc thm

Already out of subjects so email me your ideas for next weeks email!

Hey!

This week was pretty standard. We taught lessons and I worked on getting over my cold/sore throat/dread plague. We are working with a Dominican family and a Mexican family. They're both really cool, but Doms are my favorite. I'll try to get some pictures with them for next week! They have the cutest daughter. I'm trying to figure out how to adopt her. Hey mom, want a seven year old black Spanish speaking daughter? You thought dealing with Kate's hair was ridiculous... Now you could learn all about fros!

A missionary in our district lost his best friend to cancer so we went over and hung out with him for a while. He's a super cool kid from California. He's the ultimate prankster/fire starter. We love him.

District picture is in the works. Tomorrow I should have it.

Love y'all!

Elder Ry

For the record....

This is where I spent my 20th birthday as soon as I could get out of my sickbed. Anyways. Hopefully a little more celebration next week. My first real birthday in four years and I'm postponing it. Excuse my unshaven state. #rebellion

Looks like the box warehouse of laundromats! Nothing like
real life happening on your birthday...illness and dirty laundry.
Love this guy! Happy #5, Ryan.

This is Tito!

This is Tito! He's awesome. He's our best investigator right now. He loves the stories in the Book of Mormon. Here he's reading out Ammon! Ammon was a boss.

From Brick City

Sending this from my gmail because nothing else is working. Love you all! Happy Valentine's Day!

Hey everyone!

Transfer calls came this morning and I DONT HAVE TO MOVE. YAY! I was prepared for the worst to happen and it didn't. So that's just great.

This last week has been mad brick. This whole city is brick. (A little NYC slang lesson; that means cold. Very cold. When you add the word 'mad' in front of anything it magnifies it.) Windchill Saturday night got down to -25 degrees here. Not lovely out, in other words.

We taught English class. We have a student here that is from Slovakia, but he lived in Spain and taught himself Spanish. So he is learning his third language through his second. Very very smart guy. Very very communist as it turns out, but he's here now so that should change.

We are teaching the Barrionuevo family. They are great. Their kids are insane. Our favorite kid is Tito. He is ten years old and is getting close to baptism! We are all super excited for him and he is more excited than us. I wish his parents had is 1. Intelligence, and 2. His animo(excitedness?).

We've now seen two car accidents! Car came through an intersection hauling cheeks, hit a car, and then got a guy on the sidewalk. A little East New York excitement.

Forgot to mention this earlier and now it's too late but, Go Broncos!! It's about time they got a super bowl. Manning can now rest is peace.

This is Mei Wei! The best and cheapest Chinese takeout in NYC.

Week #59

Wow. Lots going on this week over there!

Not as exciting here. Same old same old. We are beating the zone leaders at their own game (numbers) and the people and members here love us. I went to a lesson with one of the ZLs and he said,"Wow I've never been able to keep their attention that long." Funny how people will pay attention to you if you pay attention to them first. Hooray. Anyways I'm writing some letters tonight and I'll get them mailed tomorrow. If I can find stamps. If not they will all take the trip with dads birthday card. I actually did get that package today. When did you send it? I feel like it took the long way around. Oh well. At least it made it!!!

That is super sad to hear about brother Stewart. He was a very quiet kind man. I don't think very many people realized how sweet he was. He is the definition of pure in heart. He will be saved because of that virtue. 

I love you all! Be on the lookout for letters! I'm finally learning how to pick up a pen. 

I have a song everyone should listen to. Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw. Check it out! Then just live it! Amen!

Cholo means gangster. Thought this was funny. Also check out those forty dollar boots. Bargain deal. 

Pictures in Williamsburg

A little history about Williamsburg and the bridge (courtesy of Wikipedia):

In 1638 the Dutch West India Company first purchased the area's land from the local Native Americans. In 1661, the company chartered the Town of Boswijck, including land that would later become Williamsburg. After the English takeover of New Netherland in 1664, the town's name was anglicized to Bushwick. During colonial times, villagers called the area "Bushwick Shore." This name lasted for about 140 years. Bushwick Shore was cut off from the other villages in Bushwick by Bushwick Creek to the north and by Cripplebush, a region of thick, boggy shrub land. Bushwick residents called Bushwick Shore "the Strand."

Farmers and gardeners from the other Bushwick villages sent their goods to Bushwick Shore to be ferried across the East River to New York City for sale via a market at present day Grand Street. Bushwick Shore's favorable location close to New York City led to the creation of several farming developments. Originally a 13-acre (53,000 m²) development within Bushwick Shore, Williamsburg rapidly expanded during the first half of the nineteenth century and eventually seceded from Bushwick and formed its own independent city.

In 1855, the City of Williamsburg, along with the adjoining Town of Bushwick, were annexed into the City of Brooklyn as the so-called Eastern District. During its period as part of Brooklyn's Eastern District, the area achieved remarkable industrial, cultural, and economic growth, and local businesses thrived. Wealthy New Yorkers such as Cornelius Vanderbilt and railroad magnate Jubilee Jim Fisk built shore-side mansions.

In 1898, Brooklyn became one of five boroughs within the City of Greater New York, and the Williamsburg neighborhood was opened to closer connections with the rest of the new city. Just five years later, the opening of theWilliamsburg Bridge in 1903 further opened up the community to thousands of upwardly mobile immigrants and second-generation Americans fleeing the overcrowded slum tenements of Manhattan's Lower East Side. Williamsburg itself soon became the most densely populated neighborhood in New York City, which in turn was the most densely populated city in the United States.

The Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges are the only suspension bridges in New York City that still carry both automobile and rail traffic

Williamsburg bridge.