Como vai?  Hey everyone,

How is everything going?  The Bronx is nuts!  There is never a dull moment.  Missionary work in the Bronx is super tough.  Most people don't speak English and their Spanish is Dominican Spanish, so super slangy and I don't understand most of it.  However, I contacted a lady last night and talked to her in Spanish for about ten minutes.  It was awesome.  

We meet so many different people each day.  Everyone here in the Bronx loves to pick on the missionaries--through arguing.  We just smile and keep walking when people get contentious.  

We live in the ghetto--but I love it.  People always want to talk because they want to know why in the world to white kids in ties and shirts are in the South Bronx.   I interviewed with president yesterday and the first thing he asked me, "So how do you like serving in the hood?  I feel perfectly safe because everyone in our area loves the missionaries.  But Hunts Point (my area) is definitely not the safest place in the world.  There are so many crimes and gang fights.  But the missionaries are perfectly safe. 

We have a few investigators.  Jose, is awesome.  He has been wanting to change his life forever.  The Spanish elders found him.  They were walking down the street and a group of Dominicans starting giving them crap but Jose jumped in and told the guys to get lost.  He listened to the message and asked for the English elders.  I've taught him a couple of times and he retains everything. He said one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard in our last lesson.  He reads the Book of Mormon to his little girls at night and they love it.  He has a baptism date for the 28th of September.  He always tells me, "You know, that makes sense!  Never in Catholic school did anything make sense.  But your message, I feel that I've heard it before."  It is amazing to see the small changes in his life.  He has heard the message before, in the pre-existence.

Overall, I love the Bronx.  Everything is unique and crazy.  Everyday is unique.  It is a whole other world here so, in reality, I have already gotten my visa and I am in a foreign country.  I love it here.  My Portuguese hasn't faded yet and I have been able to speak a little.  When I can't remember the words in Spanish, I just respond in Portuguese.  Hopefully, they understand.  For the most part, I speak English, but I love to speak in Spanish--it is always an adventure.  

Com amor,

Mac

Here are some pictures Dave sent from New York...