can you spot our ward's scouts?

You can click to enlarge these pics from the stake Court of Honor on Sunday. It isn't too hard to point out the Harlem 1st ward. Oh boy, do we love our scouts. Even though they forget their shirts, make loud comments during the Stake President's closing remarks, and are physically incapable of all holding still for a picture at the same time. Yes, we love them. They make me laugh. They are very entertaining and keep their leaders on their toes.

I especially love their reaction when the congregation gave them a round of applause for their merit badges. Half of them had their backs to the crowd, some were more excited:

I wish Klane was in this but he's behind the camera. I was laughing so hard at him trying to get everyone's attention at the same time. They all have ADHD, I swear. Maybe it was the root beer floats. I thought it was so funny I took this video. You can hear me giggling.

Honestly though, these boys are making great progress in the scouting program and the church, and Klane has had a lot of fun spending Sundays and Friday nights with them. They may not fully understand the concept of reverence (or the concept of not swearing during Sunday school!), but they're good kids.

It has been so much fun being able to serve in the church in this area and help build up a ward that's fairly new. Klane's home teaching partner is the sweetest 19-year-old black guy named Lawrence, who was recently baptized this summer. He used to live in the Bronx and was heavily involved in gangs and had a really difficult (and downright scary) life. But when he almost got arrested, he decided to turn it around, moved to Harlem to escape his old friends, and eventually joined the church.

Tonight we had him over for dinner and Klane helped him put together a resume so he can get a good job. He is so cute and polite, and kind of shy, until you get him talking about sports, especially Boston teams. He and Klane have a bond since they're both Red Sox fans. :) Anyway, this is such a unique place and it's been a fun, new, exciting experience to be here as members of the church.

on our walk to church

There are a lot of really awesome churches in Harlem.


Not exactly sure what this is talking about. Kind of funny though.


Me and my lover. Sunday best.


Inner City.

welcome to our 'hood

Took a walk around Harlem today, so you could see what our neighborhood looks like. I got a little nervous flashing this huge camera around, so a lot of these shots are from the hip. (I don't know what my problem is with that. Someday I won't be so paranoid about people seeing me taking pictures.)

this is where I grocery shop: C-Town Supermarket


and this is how you get your groceries home.
(hey, another white girl! yeah, sistah!)


Right after I took this, the man on the bike stopped and asked me if he could take my picture for me. Uh, no thanks. I'd like to keep my camera.
[Post-edit: I'd like to clarify that I'm not just totally racist... for the record, it was quite obvious that I didn't need a picture taken, and that he wasn't just offering to be nice. And if he had my camera in that little bike-basket, there is no way I could run fast enough to catch him.]


Our good friend MLK Jr. The quote on the wall says
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
I pass this on my way to the grocery store.


Harlem hair


On Sunday when we're walking to church, we always hear loud, rockin music coming from inside this First Corinthian Baptist Church. It always sounds like people are having a great time in there :)


store fronts on our street


You see people everywhere dressed in brightly colored, traditional, African-looking clothing.


Older people push around these carts so they don't
have to carry everything around, like groceries.
Also notable: people around here love to gather on the streets and hang out and talk.
(See group of gentlemen on the right.)


there are two things that every Harlem native loves: fried chicken, and president Obama.
Put the two together, and this just might be the most beloved restaurant in the area.
Obama Fried Chicken actually sparked a little controversy with its name.



some cool looking graffiti

on a sunday

Our friends Pat and Lindsay came over for Sunday dinner, then we all went for a walk in the park. We explored the North Woods a little; it is so cool in there! You would never guess you're in the middle of New York City. If you stopped and listened, I don't think you'd hear the sounds of the city. It even smells like a forest. The weather today was gorgeous. We did get rained on a little at the end of our walk, but it was actually kind of nice.

taken by Lindsay

Klane and I are less healthy and topped our walk off with a treat.

Strawberry or caramel? How about both?

We're liking our ward a lot. I've subbed for Nursery and Primary the last two weeks and that's been fun. I did have kids running and screaming (literally. top of their lungs.) through the halls and locking us out of the classroom... and jumping off the chairs. Other than those little hiccups it was all treat-eating, toy-playing and picture-coloring fun.

Here's something to give you a good picture of the Harlem 1st Ward. There is a priest that comes into sacrament every Sunday wearing a do-rag (how do you even spell that?!). He walks to the front, takes his seat behind the sacrament table, removes said do-rag and proceeds to bless the sacrament like a perfect priesthood holder! I think it is awesome.

friday night in harlem

Amy Ruth's. Famous for their authentic Harlem soul food, and of course, fried chicken and waffles.

Usually they serve the chicken right on top of the waffle, but since Klane ordered it smothered, they had it on a separate plate.
Either that or they thought the white boy couldn't handle it.

I ordered a slightly safer waffle option, which turned out to be really delicious. Bananas, cinnamon and walnuts.

Even after such a filling dinner, I had already determined we had to visit Make My Cake, because every time we pass it on the bus I want to try it out.



The shop is really cute inside, they have flowers and butterflies hanging from the ceiling

We met the owner, Aliyyah, who looks nothing like this caricature of her. She's really thin and very pretty. She struck up a conversation with me and asked me to email her the pictures I was taking. Very nice lady.

We braved the rain and went out for a night on the town in Harlem. These two famous Harlem gems are right around the corner from us. We'd been curious to try chicken and waffles. I was surprised, but it was actually pretty good! You mix the syrup right in there with the fried chicken. Totally different, but it was fun to try. Klane said next time he wouldn't have it smothered, but that he still liked it.

Make My Cake is known for their red velvet, so we picked up a cupcake and headed home. It was our intermission treat for the LOST finale (which was amazing, and sad, and confusing, and I can't wait for the final season). Here's my cupcake analysis, for those who care: the cupcake was good, but after the one from Butter Lane the day before, it just wasn't the same. I just didn't think it was that good. A little dry. But it probably comes down to personal preference. If you're looking for something light and fluffy that melts in your mouth, go to Butter Lane. If you like your cake more dense, thick and rich, Make My Cake is great. It's a different ball game. I think I just prefer the type of cupcake Butter Lane delivers.

i'm definitely not from around here

I just got back from the grocery store. I walked 1 mile total and passed hundreds of people, and six of them were white. None of them were even close to blonde. I was wearing a skirt with lace and my gold shoes, and I felt completely ridiculous. It was kind of terrifying. I stick out like a sore thumb in Harlem.

I wonder if this is how black people in Provo feel...?

But seriously, I'm learning things about myself here. I'm doing things I never would have thought I could do. I'm a stronger, more independent person than I thought. And I'm sure I'll get used to this and it will seem normal in a while. For now it is very different and kind of scary! I've never felt so out of place in my life! I just thought I would share since I'm kind of proud of myself for making the scary trip to the grocery store on Malcolm X Blvd. :) Thank you.