Dear Mom,

 

I got transfered to a place called Plainfield. I actually live in Middlesex. That's where our apartment is. The address is: 202 Hallock Ave, Middlesex. I don't know the zip code though. I got here last Tuesday. My new companion isn't actually all that new. He's Elder Carpenter. I was actually companions with him for a month or so in the MTC after my first companion left for knee problems. It's pretty fun! Both of us are still working at Spanish so it's been interesting sometimes. But we're doing good.

 

 

This is actually an interesting area. I'm working in a Branch again. It's the Plainfield Spanish Branch. It's actually pretty small! We had maybe 30 people at Sacrament on Sunday. They're great members though! I had a very nice warm welcome from them. The Chapel is really small and not exactly a Chapel. It has it's own building, but it's not what a normal chapel is like. However, down the road about 15 or 20 minutes is a much larger Chapel which is home to two English Wards that are very good sized. They are the Scotch Plains Wards. So the Spanish Branch has a lot of room to grow.

 

 

I do like this area a lot better. Paterson was very dirty and just uncomfortable. Paterson is part of the city and I just didn't like the area. However, Plainfield is much nicer. There's a lot more green. I'll have to start taking pictures. It's kind of like Dover. I'd say a little more nicer than Dover too. I like it here!

 

 

It's so exciting to hear about Spencer. I'm glad he's doing so well. I hope he's doing alright with the jet lag. I had it just two hours and that about killed me. I hope Tanner is doing well too. Luke's going to be the only one home now. When I was in the MTC, there were quite a few missionaries waiting for their visas to Mexico and a few other South American countries. They might send Luke somewhere state-side if his visa doesn't come. I was thinking how cool it would be if they sent him to New Jersey to wait for his visa if he has too. But I think they would send him closer to Mexico, like California, Arizona, or Texas. We'll see. Hopefully I can stay updated with what's happening with him.

 

 

I did hear something about the shootings. Not much. I can't believe something like that would happen. Did the guy get caught? Or shot? I always wonder what goes through people's heads when they do that. Do they really think that's going to solve the problem? Talking about movies.. Was the Hunger Games any good? I didn't hear much about that. The shooting though sounds really scary. Is Kelsie a little freaked out about that?? I would probably be a little bit more on my toes after that. But Utah isn't that bad I guess.

 

 

One thing that we do hear in Plainfield is every Friday, we go to this place called Casanova's. Casanova's is a pizza restaurant. We go there and help out with a few things like stocking pizza boxes and restocking soda. Afterwards, they give us a pizza. The thing is with the pizza though is that it's supposedly the best pizza in New Jersey. Apparently, people come from all over New Jersey for pizza there. I'd have to say it's probably the best pizza I've ever had. After we're done helping out, they ask us what we want on our pizza. Last Friday, we put pepperoni, sausage, and white onion on it. AMAZING! I really do think it's the best pizza in New Jersey. The guy that started the restaurant is from Italy. The way he makes the dough and the sauce is only known to him! Pretty crazy! The missionaries have been doing this for a while, so the guys that work there know the missionaries pretty well. Too bad none of them are really interested in learning about the Gospel.. But they really like us anyways.

 

 

Nothing else really happened this last week. I'm really liking it here in Plainfield. The members are just as good as my last areas, I have to say. The area is so much nicer. No ghetto! Paterson was very ghetto, but not here. It's good.

 

 

Q of the W:

1. How are you transported to your new transfer? Bus or van? Who drives you?

 

 

Almost every area has a car. Every transfer, we have what's called Transfer Conference. We all meet in Short Hills, which is where the Assitants to the President work, and President Jeppson announces who's going where. Also, the missionaries who finish their mission share their testimony. Then I find my new companion after the meeting is over. I carry my bags from my other car to my new car, and we're off to the new area. However, this last one was a little weird. Due to some weird circumstances, we didn't have a car. So a Senior couple drove us to our area. A few areas are designated as 'walking areas'. For those areas, they'll have an area next to them with a minivan so they can take more people. It's never that hard finding a ride. My situation was probably the worst situation you could be in and it wasn't that  bad.
 

2. Is there a certain city that you hope you will serve on your mission? Such as Newark or Morristown?

 

 

Right now, Morristown Spanish is a Sister's area. It's possible that they could switch that. I would love to work in Morristown! It's probably one of the nicest areas in New Jersey. Newark is just scary. Gunshots are heard almost every night. I don't know about Newark. I don't know where I'd prefer to serve. Just somewhere nice. Like Plainfield or Morristown or even Dover.
 

3. What is your new apartment like? Better or worse? 

 

 

Way better. The Plainfield/Scotch Plains apartment is one of the nicer apartments in the mission. We have a dish washer, washing machine, a big kitchen, two bathrooms. It's a little dirty from past missionaries who don't care as much. But, the missionaries here now care a little more about it, so we're keeping it pretty nice.

 

 

I love you all. Love you mom and dad. This week was pretty good. Exciting. Talk to you next week.

 

-Justin