South Shore Ward

Dearest FAMILY and Friends,

First off, shout out to my sister Amy for giving me a new niece today🏻🏼🏼 i just can't wait to meet little Dot. You might as well make her middle name Kelsey since I have to miss this grand event. Send me lots of pics when she's born

Well, my prediction was right, I joined Sister Passey and Sister Moore in a trio on Tuesday. This is a big deal! Two dreams came true at once! Not only do I get to kill sweet Sister Passey, but I also get to be companions with Sister Moore, my fellow deaf sister :) you guys, it's been one of the best weeks of my life. Haaaaa I love these sisters so much. We have TOO much fun.

You know how in Alma 17 Alma just so happened to run into the Sons of Mosiah and they were all freakin out and excited/astonished/happy to see one another?! And remember how it brought Alma so much joy to see that they were still his brethren in the Lord?  I've been feeling a lot like Ama this week!  It's pretty cool to see how Sister Passey and I have grown and changed since we were last with each other. (For those of you who don't remember, Sister Passey was my companion from August to February.) Our reaction at transfer meeting as they announced assignments was CRAZY hahah all three of us were so stoked!

So now I'm here... In a ward called South Shore.

Guess who our bishop is- Brandon Essig!!!  Laura Essig's brother!! Haaaaaa that was a fun connection... "Hey Bishop, where are you from?" "Utah, Centerville, Utah." "........I'm from Centerville...... Wait a second are you from theee Essig family?" 

The Ward is TINY. It's really, really small. Half of it consists of newly weds who basically came on their honeymoons to do summer sales. So when they leave in August, it's going to be even smaller!

OH, here's something exciting: we have what's called a "Relief Society district," which means there's more sisters than elders. We have 5 sisters and 2 elders in this small Ward! I love it! Especially the 5 sisters part.#sisterpower🏼🏽🏻🏼🏼The Bishop seems to be a bit overwhelmed that there's so many missionaries haha. 

So, I mentioned last week that South Shore is ASL. okay, so it's not completely ASL. we teach half English and half ASL- it's perfect for me because while I do love ASL and deaf people so much, I LOVE teaching in English. Until about 3 months ago, there was no church for deaf people to go to here on the island. Sister Passey pioneered it with nothing but 3 deaf members to start with! So we join the English Ward but have interpreters and have a separate deaf Sunday school. Does anyone remember J from Bayshore? She's the deaf woman I taught ASL to if that rings any bells. Anyways, she goes to South Shore now so it was SO NICE TO SEE HER. Hahaha she's so cute. Unfortunately she's moving to Utah in 3 weeks to try to find a husband :(((( hey, I see where she's coming from, the pickings in NY seem to be slim. Especially for deaf people.

Since we are speaking of ASL, let me tell you what happened this week- the deaf finding event of the century! You're going to think we are terrible people when I tell you what it was....... 

We attended a deaf wake! Lol the things ASL missionaries will do to find deaf people ;) 

Okay, this is not as bad as it sounds. All of our deaf investigators and members informed us about their good friend S who passed away and whose wake they were attending. I really wanted someone to invite us, knowing the whole Long Island deaf community would be there. We called a lady named K K(strange name I know) on the VP and BAM, she said "you must come, you must come. Show support to the two deaf sons. Please come." So we went. As we pulled into the parking lot, we all looked at each other thinking "should we really do this.... It's a FUNERAL." But we prayed to confirm it was the right thing to do. 

The spirit came upon us sisters and said "go!" So we went. 

WE MET SO MANY DEAF PEOPLE. The room was j a m  p a c k e d. I felt as though I was on the 7 train during rush hour again. OUR MEMBERS AND INVESTIGATORS WERE THERE AND WERE TREATING US LIKE CELEBRITIES. P, our investigator tried to introduce us to EVERYONE...."the Mormons are here! The Mormon sisters are here!!!!" She's a great missionary, she is. 

K and C (also deaf investigators) took us to lunch during the break and highly encouraged us to come back for the evening wake. Needless to say, we met lots of people! 

Oh and you'll never guess who was there.... President and Sister Bond from the Union Square ASL branch. I about died I was so happy to see them. :))))))) 

I feel like I should add in that the wake itself was pretty sad. I really want to teach the two young sons. So pray for that if you will.

In other news, there's really not that much other news. I did give a talk yesterday on the Mormon Pioneers. Can you believe that's only the second sacrament meeting talk I've given on my mission? I can't. I wish I spoke more, I love speaking! 

It's about time i wrap this up. Please pray for us to keep finding Deaf people, and hearing people too. But especially deaf people.

Okay I have to goooooo but I do love all you you! Let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do for you. Keep doing all you can do to build up the kingdom of God. Nothing will bring you greater joy🏻

Xoxo🏼️

-Sister Layton

Pics:

-Sister Moore and I in front of our cute little house. We live right next to a lake. You can't tell from this pic, but our area is pretty much a forest. I love it! 

OH, my address is now:

100 Engelke st. 

Patchogue, NY 11732

You can probably use that for the rest of my mission. I'll guessing I'll die here. 

-Sister BARKER.

-The "RS" district sisters.

-Classic Pres. And Sister Bond pic.