December!

As I have gone through all our photos for the last couple of weeks, I can see that we have had a very festive December! We have made gingerbread houses and attended a Messiah Sing Along at the chapel at Princeton with the young single adults. We also attended a YSA Christmas Dance in Newark where some of our YSA's finally were able to meet.  There was a very special Fireside put on by the missionaries for the community; one fireside for the Spanish speakers and another for the English speakers. It was fun to attend an All Mission Christmas Conference where we were able to catch up with young missionaries that we have worked with in the past.

December always brings parties and activities full of fun. As I write this I realize that there is still another week of December and there are ward dinners to attend and some activities planned with the young adults that will be fun. The fun actually never stops here, especially with our assignment.  During the next couple of weeks we do not hold classes for Institute, but we are instructed to have activities with them.  As of now, after Christmas, we have a pizza and movie night planned, a bowling activity, and an ice skating event planned.

One of our favorite activities recently was with our CES counterparts.  We spent a day together shopping at an Amish market and then stopped by a Fudge Shop. Then we came to the quaint town of  Clinton for lunch.  Clinton is known for the Red Mill that was built in 1812 to mill wool.  There is a museum here, Revolutionary War history, antique shops, and good places to eat.

As we crossed the bridge into town we could watch some fishermen off to the side (below the bridge) as they fished.  It was a cold day, but that didn't seem to bother the fishermen.

We stopped at "Christie's Artisan Bread and Pastry Shop" for a bowl of warm soup and bread.  Then, we loaded up and drove a short distance to Brother Bean's home for the remainder of our activity.  On the way there we saw some deer in a neighbor's yard.

My favorite part of the activity was sitting around the living room and singing Christmas carols.  As we did so, I could see out the front window and see some snow on a neighbor's roof and watch geese fly by.  It made me think that this is what Christmas should feel like:  being surrounded with people you love, singing praises about Christ and His birth, feeling the spirit that comes with the messages from the carols, and enjoying the scenes of winter.

Even though we miss not being with our family and loved ones at home, we are certainly surrounded here with new friends and our great young single adults who feel like family now.

Pictures with some of our groups at various activities:

English and Spanish Institute activity, making gingerbread houses.

After class in Perth Amboy:  Ezequiel, Sheila, Ricardo, Elder H, Benny, Malfer, Sharon, Mikey

Casey Andino was the only one that could come to class one night, so we went out for ice cream.

It is great being one on one with the young single adults.  We really get to know them that way.  

These two sisters (Dalia and Violeta) have birthdays just weeks apart so we went to Eatontown and  took them to lunch at Olive Garden. They are showing off the rings that they chose from our birthday gift basket.

Pictures from the Regional Christmas Dance in Newark:

 Nefi Contreras, orginally from Guatemala, now living in Elizabeth, having a good time at the dance with Jessica Penaloza and Theresa Diez of Newark.

These are our YSA's, some from Perth Amboy and some from Elizabeth.

Left to Right:  Orlando Maria, Yantna Richardson, Sheila Arevalo, Omar Luna (left 3 days later for a mission to Los Angeles), Benny Santos, Loren Romero, and Malfer Santos

Pictures from all Mission Christmas conference:

We have come to love Elder Leon as well as many others.  He is from Virginia.  He is a very dynamic missionary.  

 It was great to see Elders Smith and Martinez, former companions last spring in Tom's River.

MTC Tutoring

I recently completed the six months of tutoring help from the Senior Missionary Training Center.  My Spanish tutor was Benjamin Cuque who is originally from Guatemala.  He has been very patient, helpful, and positive with me.  What a great young man.  He is attending BYU and knows what it is like when an English speaker (professor) gives lots of instructions quickly and it is hard to catch everything.  I feel the same way when Spanish speakers speak too quickly and I have to ask them to slow down.

The tutoring has been a great experience and has helped keep me on track to continue learning.  Now I am to continue being an independent learner.  I can already tell that I have slacked off.  Time to make some goals! 

Benjamin Cuque

Espero que tengan una Feliz Navidad y un Próspero Año Nuevo