Good Ol' Hazy, a Brand New Experience

Bienvenidos!

I hope all of you have been doing well! It's been great over here in
Pennsylvania! A lot of changes and new experiences. Also, my emails
may be a bit shorter since I have a ton to do, but I will do my best.

So Tuesday (aka transfer day) we drove up to Broomall to see where I
would go. And I went to Hazleton PA! It's around Scranton which is
pretty north. We are about 3 hours away from Philadelphia, but it's so
great here. Hazleton is full of Dominicans. So much that there are two
Spanish companionships working here along with us, who are the English
missionaries. But we pretty much have to speak Spanish everyday. It's
a blast. In all of my past areas, I have been in farmland and rural
area for the most part. Here in Hazleton, it is not the case. It's
super city and we pretty much street contact people all day. It's such
a blast.

My new companion is Elder Neilson. He came out a transfer after me, so
he's been out 14 months. He's a fairly new Zone Leader (2 transfers),
so we are pretty much figuring everything out as we go. He's probably
been my hardest working companion I have ever had. He's from Orem,
Utah. He's also the biggest hipster I have ever met. He told me he's
wearing cut off slacks, fuzzy socks, and his hipster hat he bought at
a garage sale we were at. He's hilarious. He's been showing me the
ropes on how to do things here in Hazy and how to be a Zone Leader.
It's been great to work with someone who is willing to be patient with
me. It's awesome.

The Zone is great as well! We have 6 companionships, the smallest Zone
in the mission, but they are all wonderful. We range from old
missionaries, to a brand new golden, to some who are in between.
Hazleton is also a branch, which is smaller than a ward. We meet in a
small building that is part of a strip mall. It's such a blast. They
are short handed, so we gave talks and taught priesthood as well. We
also share the building with the Spanish branch so we see the other
two companionships all the time. Not much to report on for this week,
it's been a lot of trial and error as well as getting to know the
people. All I know is that my Spanish is being tried and tested
everyday, I wish my brother in law was here to coach me. But that's
alright, I learn somehow someway.

I hope all of you have a great week! Just remember it's up to you to
choose to be happy, no matter what circumstance you are in. I love the
Savior Jesus Christ and I know He is strengthening me as I go, which I
am forever grateful.

Tengo buen noche! (Elder Neilson's favorite Spanish phrase)

Elder Cortes

Hazleton, PA