So yeah...I left my wallet on the bus. Man I was so upset when I
figured it out. I let you guys in on the long version of the story. It
actually combines two stories that I wanted to share with you.
So Elder Rydalch and I are walking to our bus stop after we were at
the church, and on our way to the bus stop, we hear this voice calling
out to us: "Hey! Elders!" We were shocked to hear the correct term,
instead of: "Hey! Jesus Boys!" Haha. So I thought it was a member at
first. We run over to him and his girlfriend and he says: "Wow, I
haven't seen you guys in a while. I used to attend kings-bridge (a
ward on the opposite side of the Bronx) when I was a little boy." So I
asked him why he stopped and he said he just got busy with life, which
is understandable. He asked if there was a church around here and we
replied with: "Definitely! We just came from it. It's only right down
the block,would you like to see it?!" And they agreed. So about 9:00
pm we gave a church tour to this couple who has been dating for 12
years...yes...dating! Turns out that they live across the street from
the church and they said they would love to come. It was really cool!
Oh, and he said he used to attend the ward as a kid, but he was never
baptized, so he is an investigator. So, after we were excited about
all that, we went into a little bodega (Crappy run down store) right
next to our bus stop and my companion bought me a Malta, which
everyone seems to hate :( haha. Anyway, as I was drinking it, the bus
came. So I got out my wallet to get my metro card. I got on the bus
and out my metro card back but never put my wallet in my back pocket,
for some odd reason. And as I sat down, I saw this Hispanic lady and
her two kids and I felt prompted to share the gospel with her, so I
got out my iPad and pulled up the huge list of Spanish terms that the
Spanish missionaries gave to the English missionaries for this exact
purpose. So I looked for a reasonable conversation starter. ¿Puedo
darle una tarjeta? Which means, "Can we leave you a card?" Put my
wallet between my legs on the seat and out my iPad away and pulled out
a pass along card and just studied that phrase until the time came
where I could say it and give her the card. When the time came, I
stood up, said it, gave her the card and walked off the bus. The next
morning I went to put my wallet in my pocket and realized that I never
grabbed it from between my legs. Depressing, huh? Yeah. I had that
wallet since sophomore year in high school, and it was still in
excellent condition. I didn't really care about the contents, I just
want my wallet!! So there is that crazy story. I feel super dumb for
leaving it, but I'll get over it.
So our investigator, Devon, is the dopest! He is so awesome. He has
come to church twice now. Last week was fast Sunday and he leaned over
to me and asked: "Is that okay if I bear my testimony?" I couldn't get
the word "Yes" out quick enough. I was so overcome with happiness. I
was grinning from ear to ear the entire sacrament meeting, haha. He is
so ready to be baptized. When we teach him lessons, it's as if we are
only reminding him. He is also extremely smart. He has his masters in
education and leadership. He is going for his PhD this fall and his
hopes in a career is a professor in college. He is brilliant. He also
loves listening to talks by Elder Holland because of Hollands
brilliance and vocabulary, lol.
I'm not sure if I told you guys about another investigator we are
teaching, but his name is David. He is from Montenegro, but when he
lived there it was called Ugaslavia (Not sure how to spell that). So
he speaks Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian and English. The first three are
sorta similar, but different at the same time. Kinds like Portuguese
and Spanish.
Man, it's pretty hot here, and it's only July. The locals say that
August is the worst month. I'm NOT looking forward to it. My clothes
stick to my skin because of all the humidity. Yesterday it was in the
mid 90's with like over 70% humidity. It was ridiculous.
I also want you all to know of how much I love President Morgan. We
had interviews this last week, and he is just so powerful in
everything he does. When he enters the room, that spirit fills the
entire room. I know we aren't really suppose to predict this, but I'm
predicting that Thomas Brady Morgan will be an apostle of the The Lord
Jesus Christ. I'm telling you, he is hands down the most powerful and
spiritual man I have ever met. But at the same time, he is one of the
funniest. I am so blessed to server under his direction. He is really
making the work here in New York boom. It's so awesome!
I love you all. I really do. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be
involved in your lives. I miss you!
Love, Elder Branndin Brian Long
On the third of July, it rained like crazy! I had no umbrella at the
time, so I used a box. It worked pretty well!
This last picture that is
mostly black. That is the firework show
that
we got to watch, lol. We watched it from our apartment window and
it was
the show going on at the Brooklyn bridge in south Manhattan. So
it was
a ways away. The white blotches are the fireworks, haha.
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