18 Months in the Big Apple: Hearts Were Softened at FHE

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Hearts Were Softened at FHE

Our YSA/SA Family Home Evening on Sunday was a huge success. Poochie's pasta and Crytal's FHE lesson were enjoyed by all. We always seem to have a great number who attend FHE and we are amazed at how far the food stretches. We have seen some miracles happen! Crystal Perez from Richmond Hill Branch taught from Matthew on the Beatitudes. She discussed with us how our Savior taught blessed are the poor, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst, and those who are persecuted, and how the success-oriented world teaches us the opposite. We talked about the importance of being humble, submissive, peacemakers who witness to all of the world that Jesus is the Christ. Steve, (standing above, is much more "soft-hearted" than he appears) and charming Gabriel, (who was brought to his knees) congratulated and thanked Crystal for a most meaningful lesson. Elder West and I so appreciate faithful Grace, the Queens Stake Single Adult Leader who serves so well, time after time. She gives a great deal of energy contacting all the YSAs/SAs to keep them informed about upcoming activities and then is there to set up, organize, serve, and clean up with a smile. We are so glad that our calling allows us to serve with and help her. We hope she will have other single adults to help her. Tony Moustakas was sustained as a committee member from the Astoria Ward this past week ... a good thing for all. Time for another BBQ Tony!

1 comment:

Sharon said...: Sounds like an amazing FHE and spiritual experience for all who attended.

I'm impressed with the quality of these young people. The Lord is really preparing them to receive the gospel.

Thanks for sharing!; August 26, 2008 at 11:21 AM

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“Service is the virtue that has distinguished the great of all times and which they will be remembered by. It places a mark of nobility upon its disciples. It is the dividing line which separates the two great groups of the world–those who lift and those who lean, those who contribute and those who only consume. How much better it is to give than to receive. Service in any form is comely and beautiful. To give encouragement, to impart sympathy, to show interest, to banish fear, to build self-confidence and awaken hope in the heart of others, in short–to love them and to show it –is to render the most precious service.”

Bryant S. Hinckley

January 10, 2008 we arrived in Queens, New York. We are currently serving as full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were called to serve in the New York, New York South Mission. It is a special and unique assignment. Serving here is like teaching all nations, with missionaries who teach in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Russian and American Sign Language. Nearly 10 million people live within our mission, representing 112 nationalities. We are blessed to be serving along side the most incredible missionaries in the world! We love President and Sister Bennion who have been cherished friends since he was the president of Ricks College. We are happy to be serving the Lord and living on Steinway Street in Astoria.
Thank you for visiting our blog! Please feel free to leave comments or questions. It makes our day:-)

History of the New York, New York South Mission

Long before our mission was organized, Elder Parley P. Pratt was the first missionary in this dispensation to preach the Gospel in New York City and Long Island.
This mission has significant historic roots. It is the heart of the former Eastern States Mission which was established in 1839.
That mission, headquartered in Brooklyn, enjoys the distinction of being the second oldest mission of the Church, behind the British Mission.
The Eastern States Mission consisted of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and West Virginia in 1948. Since that time, many changes have been made in the boundries of the mission.
The name of the mission was changed from the Eastern States Mission to the New York New York Mission in 1974. At that time the mission included the following areas: New York State as far as Poughkeepsie, the entire state of Connecticut, a small part of Massachusetts, as well as part of New Jersey and the island of Bermuda. The mission boundaries were once again changed in 1976 excluding Massachusetts and all of the state of Connecticut, with the exception of Fairfield County.
In 1987, after another boundary change was made, the New York New York Mission consisted of the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island), Long Island, New York State north to Poughkeepsie, a portion of Connecticut and the island of Bermuda.
The mission was divided once again in 1993. The New York New York South Mission encompasses the New York City boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island, as well as the New York counties of Nassau and Suffolk on Long Island. It also includes the small British Island of Bermuda in the Atlantic.