"Finding The Treasure"

Monday President and Sister Bennion hosted a "gathering of sisters" for all of the sisters from our mission at their home. I was able to meet several new young sister missionaries. It was a gloriously green Spring day and Sister Bennion taught us about the importance of finding our treasure, which is love, and being willing to share it with others. She served a yummy luncheon with lots of beautiful fresh fruit, chicken salad croissants, and key lime pie, cheesecake or chocolate cake...too many good choices! As always, it was a perfect day, special in every way and a real treat for all of us who were invited. Sister Bennion exemplifies the 13th Article of Faith in all she does...and she is virtuous, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy. I'm still learning new things from her each day. Pictured above are the senior sisters (L to R) Sister dePaula, Sister Comer, Sister Woodruff, Sister Conlin, Sister Roush, Sister West and Sister Bennion. Pictured below, the mission home with sisters lunching on the lawn!

Lady Liberty...Senior Social

Elder and Sister Woodruff planned our May Senior Social, a Circle Line Sightseeing tour around Manhattan. We enjoyed seeing everything from a different perspective while visiting with all of our good friends who are senior missionaries in our mission. Thanks to the Woodruffs for a very fun day!

"Happy 78th Birthday" DAD!

DAD
a
son's first
HERO
a
daughter's first
LOVE

Queens Zone Conference--Always Enriching

Most Wednesdays we are teaching at Queens College, but because of final exams yesterday we had the rare treat of attending our own Zone Conference. President and Sister Bennion inspired us with their great insights. He admonished us to commit with love and be bold as we find those who are prepared for us to teach. In our mission it's called "fearlessly finding!" Both President and Sister Bennion spoke of the importance of staying focused in our work here. We also heard from two of our departing missionaries, spiritual giants in every sense of the word. We have appreciated serving with these fine young elders and will miss them when they leave on June 11th.

• Elder Tyler Juergens, from Houston, Texas, has served as the Spanish AP since just before Christmas. His favorite part of serving in this special assignment has been getting to see so much of the mission and to know all of the missionaries well. We have observed his quiet, powerful leadership. He teaches by example. The missionaries in our district have talked of striving to be the kind of missionary Elder Juergens is. He bore a humble, sweet testimony of all that he has learned, all that he knows, and his desire to continue to strengthen his testimony. We hope to catch up with Elder Juergens after we complete our mission to see what he's up to. We can only imagine his bright future. He is a star!
• We're sure you recognize Elder Gage Loftin, who we claim as our own after two transfers in Astoria. He compared his "glory days" as a high school football star in Spanish Fork, Utah, to the "real glory days" of serving as a representative of Jesus Christ. He quoted from D&C 128:22 and encouraged us to go forward with courage in this great cause. We have learned much from this young man. He follows the Spirit and Christ is foremost in his mind. He has blessed our lives in our home and as we have met with him several times each week. He bore a heartfelt testimony and then announced that during our lunch they met with Eugene, ''who committed them to baptize him on June 1st!" If we had one word to describe Elder Loftin it is valiant. We look forward to more glory days for Elder Loftin and we will be cheering for him!
  

Flower Boxes and Greek Restaurants

When flower boxes combine with Greek restaurants we begin thinking of our favorite things! Each day as we bee-bop in our neighborhood it's hard not to get sidetracked and get a good workout. Tuesday I found 10 pound bags of Italian tomatoes for 99 cents! After purchasing two and lugging them home it did become a good walk with weights! I made fresh salsa for barbecued chicken salads we served at yesterday's Zone Conference lunch. Tonight I will use the rest in our Greek salad...our new favorite thing to eat. It's so fresh and light.

"Gathering the Elect"

Today was a day to lift up our hearts and rejoice! Yasmin Ben-David was baptized by Elder Loftin at the Astoria Ward. As we look back on our blog, Yasmin is pictured several times. We have been able to watch her progress; study, pray and know for herself the Church of Jesus Christ is true. Last Monday night at our Family Home Evening she told us that her mother always said that it didn't make sense that God would have prophets anciently and not today. She has been well taught in her home and was prepared to receive the gospel. Elder Loftin was prompted to talk to her on a train. He and Elder Rencher taught her and then Elder Loftin was transfered to Brooklyn and Elder Patton arrived. These three young elders have had the opportunity to teach Yasmin and we hope they feel so rewarded for their service. As a Young Single Adult in the Queens Stake, we will be able to continue to encourage her as a new member of the Church. We absolutely love Yasmin who is a very confident, poised, and intelligent young woman. She is so eager to learn and we see her as a strong leader and friend to all. Elder West was asked to speak at her baptism and he pointed out that we all chose Jesus Christ once which is why we are here on this earth. Today Yasmin chose Him again. Pictured above left to right, Elder Patton, Yasmin's older sister, Lee, Yasmin, Yasmin's mother, Phyllis, and Elder Loftin.

Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks Mom for being the best...to understand that I'm a day, at least behind! David O McKay said this about all Mom's, but it applies to my Mom who is perfection. "Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world." My Mom is the ultimate care-giver, hostess, homemaker, and example of everything that's important to me. My Dad is everything a Dad should be too! I've always felt so lucky to be so blessed. My Mother-in-law passed away several years ago and I loved how giving and generous she was. Chas's favorite memories of his mother all go back to her love and commitment to her family. We both are so thankful for our parents. Thanks Mom and Dad for all you have given, sacrificed, and shared. It's been especially wonderful for us to serve in NY where my parents served in 92-93. We love you both lots. I also wanted to share what the awesome Astoria Ward Bishopric gave me for Mother's Day. They took the money they has set aside to buy flowers or chocolates for all the women in our ward and doubled it. They gave a donation to Hour Children from the Astoria Ward Relief Society Sisters. It is located in Long Island City, within the Astoria Ward boundaries. They offer help and services to incarcerated mothers and their children. Our Relief Society has served there and so it was especially touching to all of the sisters. I thought if every bishopric in the Church felt so inspired think of all the good we could do! Thank you for such a loving and powerful Mother's Day gift, Astoria Ward Bishopric. While I'm saying "thank you," all of our children sent cards and called, Mom and Dad sent darling notes, and my thoughtful companion planted a beautiful flower bed in our front garden for me to enjoy all summer. Thanks to our landlord Sal who is willing to pay for the flowers, if we'll do the work. Now that's a win win for Charles West! (Pictures upcoming ) Thanks for all your support. I feel very loved!

From Small and Simple Beginnings...

After a two week Spring break our Summer Institute classes began this week. We started a new class at Richmond Hill. We have met some wonderful Young Single Adults from the Richmond Hill Branches. We sent postcards and personally called many of them. Milda Vasquez was the only one who came. She designs clothing for Alex Evenings and is working to finish her masters from FIT a year from now. She has been a member of the Church for 7 years and is from Santa Domingo, D.R. She serves as the 1st Counselor in her Primary Branch and desires to have a greater knowledge of the scriptures. President and Sister Erazo, a most delightful couple joined us too, and we look forward to getting to know them. He serves as the Branch President, they are the parents of two teenage sons, and are originally from Ecuador. We are excited to be teaching, The Power of the Word. It is a study of the scriptures designed to help us understand and learn the truths they contain. We love our class in Jamaica, a group of between 12 to 24 students, as well as our students at Queens College. We finished our Temple Preparation class with the Astoria Ward YSAs and now will begin twice monthly dinner and family home evening lessons with them. They are such a great group!
Last Sunday night we served about 56 at the CES Dinner and Fireside. Those who attend really enjoy them and then this weekend we have a dance and YSA/SA Sacrament Meeting. We are also invited to the Jamaica Ward Mother's Day Dinner Party Saturday night. We are loving our mission and the opportunities for service that we have been given. Our Richmond Hill class is beginning small, but with lots of study, prayer, and diligence we know it will grow.