Elder Long in New York: May 21, 2014

Hey all!

So, this week has been pretty great! All four of us in the apartment
get along really well! It's pretty crazy sometimes.

So, Elder Berube (My companion) is a big "Tracter". So we have tracted
a bit this last week. People in New York are so flippin rude! I've
tracted with the missionaries in Colorado and now I've tracted in New
York. There is a big difference. The most common response we get is
"I'm catholic, thanks". But we have gotten a few really rude people.
The first one we came across, this lady answered the door, and before
we could speak, she yells: "I'm not feeling well. My husband is in the
ICU. And I'm trying to sleep!" *Slams Door* I wish there was a video
to show you our faces. It was just like...oh...Kay? Haha. Then, after
a few hours of being shocked at how rude people are, I said: "Im gonna
be bold next time". So we came up to is door that has a "Welcome"
sign. The man answered the door, looked at our tags, and said: "Nope,
I'm not interested". So I replied with: "But sir, you have a welcome
sign..." He started looking around. "Where?!" He said. "Right on your
lawn!" I replied. He got pretty disgruntled and slammed the door. It
might have been a little rude, but sometimes we got to be honest,
haha. I guess we always need to be honest, but you get the point.

The other day, we decided to do some less active look ups. Brother
Smith has created this list of every less active in the ward in our
area of the ward. So, we have this binder that has every village with
the less actives in it. So, we decided to do look ups in Hopewell
Junction. Just east of where we live in Wappingers Falls. Well, the
last one we came upon, ye weren't home. So we left a card with a
greeting, our name and our number. No longer than 10 minutes, we
receive this call from an enraged woman. She started yelling at us
saying: "Yeah, um hello?! Yeah, this is ****** and I just received a
knock on my door from you guys. I don't know how many times I have
told the church to take me off the contact list. Trust me Elder. I
know what you guys are all about. I was in leadership in the church
for several years". And, she just repeated herself a few times. Long
story short. She got offended from the church a few years back, and it
really taught me something. Nothing that I didn't already know, but
that just goes to show that ANYONE can fall into the hands of Satan.
We need to be always boosting our testimony. We can NOT be lazy about
it you guys. We just don't have that option. We need to be constantly
doing the thing that The Lord commands. Are you reading your
scriptures? Be honest! I know that I was never the greatest at doing
so, but I regret it. Don't regret it!!

I love you all and I appreciate the love you all send me.

Keep the light of Christ shining bright in your life. It will ALWAYS
overcome darkness.

Love, Elder Branndin Brian Long

Elder Long's district in front of the temple. (SUCH a good picture Elder Long! I want more like this!!!)