Dear Mom,

I meant to tell you last week that transfers are this week. It didn't really come to my mind because I thought for sure that I would stay in Paterson. Well, last night, I found out that I'm leaving Paterson! Tomorrow (Tuesday) I'll find out where I'm going. So let people know that the Paterson address will not go to me right now. I'll let you know next week what my new address is. It could be anywhere!

Boise sounds very fun! Sounds a little more calm and relaxing than usual. Kellie and I not being there.  Sounds fun! I hope you guys all have fun there. I remember when we all piled into the suburban and couldn't decide where everyone was going to sit. Fun days! Haha.

 

 

I can't believe Spencer is already leaving for Germany. That's crazy! By the way, does Spencer have an email address like mine? I'm so excited for all of them. Have you heard any news on Luke?

 

 

This week has been a successful week. We found six new investigators, which is really good for one week! That's pretty much one new investigator every day. I don't know how many of them will really progress. Some are very stuck in their Catholic beliefs and don't want to change, but we get them to read the Book of Mormon and set a return appointment to follow up. Others have a lot more potential and seem very ready to receive the Restored Gospel. Too bad I'm leaving the area and won't be able to see them progress, but that's the way the mission is and how the Lord wants it. The thing about Paterson is, I'll miss the members and the people we're teaching, but I hate the city. You couldn't pay me to live here. Only God can make me live here, and He has! We do live in a nicer part of Paterson though, so it's not that bad. Hopefully I'll get transfered to a nicer part of NJ. One thing that bugs me though is how much I've gotten to know some members. For example, Isaily De La Rosa. I've become really good friends with him. He's a really good kid and knows absolutely where his priorities are. He just got his endowment last Saturday which is really cool. I hope the best for him! He'll be serving a mission soon.

 

 

Well, not much more this week. Maybe next week will have more to talk about. I'm having fun and my Spanish is definately improving. This transfer conference is going to be huge. There are about 20 missionaries going home. So that means 20 new missionaries are coming in. That means 20 missionaries are going to train. Next transfer towards the end of August, another 20 or so missionaries are going home. That means that 1/3 of the mission will be brand new. 1/3 of the mission will be training new missionaries. Then the last 1/3 of the mission will be serving in leadership positions like District Leader or Zone Leader. So we'll see what happens.

 

 

So bad news. I don't know if you already know, but President Jeppson needs surgery again. His spine is pinching a nerve and is causing a lot of pain. They need to go in there and take it out. He'll be leaving July 29 and returning August 5. Actually, I don't know exactly when he'll be leaving and when he'll be returning. It's something like that. We'll be praying for him a lot. What's amazing, is he doesn't show it at all. He never shows it. He really is an amazing man!

 

 

Thanks for everything! Love you all!

-Justin

Q of the W:

1. You mentioned black people in Paterson? Do they speak spanish? Where are they from?

 

 

There's a difference between Africans and Dominicans. Most Dominicans look African but speak Spanish because they're from the Dominican Republic. A lot of people I see, I think are African. I've heard Paterson is known to have lots of Black people.

2. Have you noticed any slang in NJ in English? 

 

 

I actually haven't heard very much slang. There's a couple slang stuff in Spanish, but not much.

3. Do you notice a difference in the spanish language with generations? Like do the older generation talk differently than the younger generation? 

 

 

I haven't noticed much of a difference. The only thing I've heard is when young adults know both Spanish and English, they speak Spanish more clearly. Some older people who only know Spanish speak it very fast and sloppy. I have also noticed, just a little bit, a difference in the accents from different countries. I still couldn't really tell you where somebody was from just by listening to them speak. But I've heard you can start to tell over time. Only time will tell.