A report from Spencer

We struck out on our this morning to find our way to our assigned ward. By the way we were assigned to the ward because we requested a Spanish speaking ward before we arrived. We were assigned the Concourse Ward because it was one that President Bench had been the stake president over and one he was particularly concerned about. We found that it was a fascinating mixture of people of African descent from the Dominican Republic. They are an enthusiastic people. They understand the gospel and are very vocal in their opinions. They like to express themselves on gospel topics in a dramatic way. They seem to chop off words (shorten them) and they talk really fast. They are very loving.

It is amazing how we could leave this jungle of wealthy people and in 45 minutes come up out of the subways into a third world country where poverty is the norm. The bishop is a custodial worker and his wife is a cleaning lady. He told us in his testimony that when he was called to be the bishop that he was faced with the challenge of getting his family of five to church for $20 and $20 to return home. After much prayer, he was drawn to a trash can with some sacks in it. He felt like pulling the sacks out of the trash. While examining it he found a sack of partially used subway tickets and after digging through it some more, he also found $80. It's not hard to imagine that wealthy people could discard their partially used subway passes and if they were drinking and lost $80, they would not bat an eye. Finding that in the trash got them over the hump for a couple of months. It was his testimony that the Lord will provide when we are in need and when we are asked to do his work.

I was asked to teach the priesthood lesson on the 18th, two weeks from today. I don't know if I can talk like them. They might not understand me when they hear the n's and s's at the end of the words.

This is an ominous place with buildings of 20, 50 and 100 stories high. I haven't met "Donald" yet, but his towers are just a few blocks away. We pass right in front of it on our way to Columbus Circle to catch the subway.

We look across the street at the ABC Broadcasting Co. and there is an ESPN building one building down from us. That building is in a cute castle.

We are GLAD TO BE HERE!