We love these youth - members and non-members, inactive, less active, reactive and hyperactive - visitors for a night or bug-boys for the summer - locals, borough browsers, utah transplants, hampton au pairs, or someone's friend, or cousin - from South Bay, or Bay Shore or Ecuador - or the Costco contingent at midweek showing-up the volleyball homeboys.
They live at home. With parents and grand-parents, and brothers and sisters. We are warmly welcomed into this young society. Long Island missionaries speak a dozen languages - Korean to Creole, but east Nassau is heavily Latin. Gatherings are friendly and relaxed. They approach newcomers like long-lost friends, even if met only five minutes earlier. Many branch members are former missionaries holding firm gospel convictions. All are accepting, tolerant, trusting. Friendships are easily formed. They yearn to share. Everything. A simple salutation often elicits an extensive and candid biography. It charms and then wins over completely.
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| Munch . . |
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| . . . and mingle |
Most enjoyable, and amazing, is The Peace that they share. We have not witnessed a single expression of contention, gossip or criticism. Their feelings for each other seem hopeful and full of a genuine goodwill, often expressed by a certain cultural artifact . . . the hug:
left-side lean from waist, forearm grasp, nudge and sometimes, air-kiss
I am an awkward huggee
Stefanie is a natural
I am carefully practicing this social grace since its usage is general across the entire mission, my first hug coming from President Calderwood.
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