Experiences out here in New Jersey

Dear Mom and Dad, and Family,

I hope that you're all doing well! New Jersey and myself are doing just fine. I got a package from you on Wednesday that had my coat, pants, sweatshirt and sweater in it. Thank you! I had to use my coat yesterday so that was nice to have. Once it begins to get cold, I'll really need it.  I'd guess that you still have another package on the way - I'll be getting that on Wednesday. Thanks again!

One question I have that's been concerning me, although it probably shouldn't, is do I have mail that's being sent to the MTC right now or is sitting in the MTC? I mailed a whole bunch of letters the week I left and forgot to include the fact that I would soon be leaving to New Jersey. And so they had no address to send it to besides the MTC. Anyway, if you could call the MTC or stop by and check that for me, I'd much appreciate it.

As for my experiences out here in New Jersey, I already have plenty! I'll just mention a few however. First is about a guy named Aaron Green and his friends David and Philip. They all three live in a boarding house, and they are between the ages of 35 and 55. Aaron is interesting but I like him because he knows what he's talking about. Unfortunately he ended up in a boarding home because he has a hard time walking. I'm not sure what his illness is. One day we taught him how to pray and why, and he told us he didn't believe God would help him turn his life around. He said he'd think about it  and maybe pray. We visited him the next day and he couldn't keep this smile off his face because that morning as he was walking around the block, he saw his family drive by and stopped and talked to them. He hadn't seen his family in 25 years he said! But even better, they were going to help him find his own home and get his life back to normal. I hope that happened because he had faith God would help him. So we shared a scripture in D&C 63 that talks about how faith is required for miracles to happen and build our faith.

Next is David, who I think has even more promise because he is so humble. David is a smoker and he had a stroke the weakened the whole left side of his body. But, he knows Heavenly Father has a plan for us all and that there is a reason for all things. So strangely enough he is grateful for this trial because he knows God will give him something better if he endures it well. David has a baptismal date on the 11th of November and we're hoping that he will be able to quit smoking and drinking coffee before that date. We're playing basketball with him today!

Philip is the oldest one of the bunch. Ironically, he is the only one who has come to church yet! Philip really enjoyed church, I think, but he secretly went out and took a smoke break while we were in sacrament meeting. He came back in and told me that we needed to talk, so we did, and he decided then and there he wanted to quit smoking.  So we went to Walgreen's and got him a pack of Nicorette gum and exchanged them for his cigarettes. He promised he would quit smoking. We haven't been able to talk to him since. All I know is that he still smokes on occasion and that the doctors tried to put a hole in his throat but he wouldn't let them. So he's not too happy, but I hope he'll start meeting with us so that we can help him.

Then there's John and Jasmine and their son Joshua. they're the most awesome people I've met yet! John used to be a rapper but he settled down, got a girlfriend and had a kid, and now wants to turn his life around. He and Jasmine both have struggled with addictions but when we invited them to be baptized on the 18th of November, they said "DEFINITELY WE WOULD BE BAPTIZED!" In fact John wanted to be baptized tomorrow but we told him that couldn't happen. They both committed to stop drinking, smoking, cursing, and the biggest thing - they committed to live the law of chastity. They want to get married in the LDS "castle!" I firmly believe they will follow through with those commitments because John told us this is something they'd been searching for all their lives, and that they'd given it much thought. I know they are so ready and I know that is because the Lord has been preparing them. I'm super excited for their family. Oh, and John rhymes in his prayers, it's funny!

Last is Larry, a 30 yr. old (white!) guy who is homeless. He lives in the forest somewhere like an hour away, but he takes the bus to the church building so we can meet with him twice a week. Larry has seen it all. President Jeppson said he had to do some major repenting because the first time he met Larry, he said in his mind that there was no way this man could ever change his ways. And guess what?? Larry is being baptized tomorrow! By me! Larry is ready for this covenant. He has given up just about everything to do it too! He said something to the effect that the LDS Church is the only thing that fills his soul.....that makes him feel worthwhile. Larry is awesome and I can't wait for him to be our next Branch President, haha. Speaking of Branch Presidents, our Branch President Hines is a big Jamaican (or Haitian) man with dreadlocks. He looks exactly like Reggie Williams the football player. Super cool.

Anyways, I'm doing great! I hope that you all are too. I can't wait to hear back from you. You're in my prayers.

Much love,

Tab