We saw the snake eat today. Wow, he eats so fast, and a lot. A lot of mice. I thought that it was cool. Then we went to a baptism meeting in Midwood where we walked around and around trying to work everyone to come to the church but only ended up bashing with a lot of people.
Mission
I served in the New York, New York South Mission. I’ve been transcribing my journals. I’ve tried to be sensitive to some issues and there by omitted some content.
NYNYS Mission October 29-31, 1996
We were walking down the road and [Elder] said stop. Just then like 6 or 7 eggs come flying across the road and splat, splat on some man cleaning off a window.
NYNYS Mission October 15 to 29, 1996
I was serving a mission in Brooklyn and Queens. What else can I say.
NYNYS Mission October 9-14, 1996
Well on the way back we were making a routine transfer on the train when a wailing voice came out of nowhere “There is only one book that is the word of God” and so on… We’re like “Oh brother.” We kept quiet. I was impressed. “The Mormon Church is wrong.” he continued. Oh well. He followed us on the train but beforehand he said. “Some are Muslims, Some Buddhists Some Mormongs.” Then someone added, “Some crazy Christians” I chuckled. Anyhow to make it short, it lasted the whole way home. As we got off, he hung out the door yelling at us. But two missionaries stayed on and one was behind him as we walked by. I looked out the corner of my eye to see this man come flying out of the train with a little help of the “laying on of hands” by [Elder]. It was so funny. I later heard there was a round of applause, high fives, and cheers by those still on the train. And oh, someone said, “They must not be the true church either.” Oh well, it was sure funny anyhow. The doors closed as he went.
NYNYS Mission October 1-6, 1996
This is going to start a very sad time on my mission. It will be a hard month, and I will watch a missionary fall from grace over the next few months. Not my companion, but another missionary living in our pad.
NYNYS Mission – September 19-30, 1996
Wow, the day was interesting. We worked for a while at lunch then worked and visited a member. They fed us about an hour and a half later we had a dinner appointment and ate a lot again. Then taught someone and our last appointment, at Caesars. They fed us again. I couldn’t take it. Every bite was torture to me. I turned to my comp. We need to go. Now! I had to leave, I was going to blow at any moment. When I stood up I knew it was going to happen. I got my bag, but my comp wouldn’t hurry. I stood by the door to the bathroom. I said, “Boy, the food was good.” They were like, “Right, that is why you’re green.” I was like, “Honestly, I loved the food.” Just then my stomach curled and I stepped into the bathroom. I realized I wasn’t going to make it. They were all looking at me. Then all of a sudden as I was moving into the bathroom… blauuugh… my hand went up toward my mouth, but the food shot out of my mouth spewing all over the sink and mirror. I was so embarrassed. [Thinking to myself] I’m like, yeah, the food is good but I just didn’t have enough room for it.
NYNYS Mission September 12-18, 1996
A while ago we were fealessing in Rosevelt and in Sunny Side a man approached us on the corner and said, “Hay did I tell you about my experience with Jehova Witnesses?” I’m like, “No.” Well, he proceeded. “One day a lady stopped me you know, with the little magazines, and asked, do you want to be a Jehovah’s Witness?” And he said of himself, “How could I? I didn’t see the accident”.
NYNYS Mission September 2-11, 1996
Maybe I should note what is in this edition. Teaching a drunk, working it out with my comp, Mike Tyson Fight, TuPac’s Death, and an attack of the one eyed monster.
NYNYS Mission August 25 to September 1, 1996
Sex and Abortion are plagues in New York City. From the number of people who live out of wedlock, to the number who have illegitimate children, to those who have lots of illegitimate children with lots of different people, to those who abort all their pregnancies. I talked to so many women that had abortions. Most I dealt with were unable to get baptized. I haven’t gotten to it yet, but the worst I was saw was a mother and two daughters who we were going to baptize, then we found out that between the three of them, if I remember right, they had 20-30 abortions. It’s hard to imagine.
NYNYS Mission August 12-24, 1996
Well along with many blessings comes humbling. I have the runs again. I had them bad for 3 days now. We just finished eating at a member’s house and had to hurry to a baptism. We were walking towards his house, I was with [Elder], my comp was with [Elder] at his house. We were 3 blocks from his home and it hit me. I had to go like lightning. All there were were buildings and fences. I ran up to a house and beat on the door. They didn’t come so I ran up to the other, nothing. I couldn’t hold it any longer. I was humiliated. Well, life goes on. I just hope my accident doesn’t ruin me by becoming part of the grapevine [gossip]. So, I ran home so nobody would see and took a shower then we hurried to the church. The baptism was so cool.