Monday, December 15, 2008

TEACH BY THE SPIRIT

We love working with the Bennions and the elders and sisters through out our mission. We also spend a good deal of time and energy with the Young Single Adults and Singles here. But the part of our calling that is the most challenging, time consuming, and rewarding for us is preparing for and teaching our institute classes each week. We are so grateful for each one of our devoted students who bring such diversity to our classes. We have grown to love them and appreciate the fact that most of them are very new to the gospel, and each varies in his or her level of knowledge. All have a desire to learn, and so we feel the weight of this responsibility and want to do our very best, with the Lord's help.
Friday we were called to a special Church Education System, or since we have been here, Seminary and Institute meeting. None of us knew why, including our coordinator, Pres. Cory Bangerter. When we arrived, we met Brother Randy Daybell, who is from the Area Office in Virginia. He works as the Assistant to the Director, and described himself as "a home teacher for CES teachers, who travels around making home visits, checking to see how we are doing." We talked about where we were serving and our assignments. It was like a home teaching visit warm and friendly.
Then Brother Daybell began to teach us.
He talked about forts that surrounded Washington DC, built to protect the city from attacks from the South. He also mentioned empty silos, once filled with missiles to protect East Coast Cities. Then he reminded us that President Faust talked about temples, "sentinels of refuge and protection," that are across our country. We were asked to open our Bibles to Zechariah 3 and 4. He assured us that "we would own these two chapters when we finished that day." I thought to myself, I remember teaching Zechariah last winter, I also remember teaching that Zechariah was a contemporary of the Prophet Haggai and also that he prophesied that the Savior would come, riding on a donkey. Brother Daybell challenged us to look at these scriptures with a visual perspective and then had us read just a few verses, and asked us questions, having us quickly fill in the blanks from the verses we'd read. Next we discussed the symbolism, of the menorah, the olive trees, pipes, bowl, and the oil. What did it all mean? We discussed Joshua, the High Priest, and King Zerubbabel, and it was so interesting, and I was wondering, "Have I ever read this before?" We talked about "tapping into others," and others "tapping into us", and about the woman in Luke 8 who "tapped into" the Savior. He explained that we never know when someone else is "tapping into us". Even when the youth seem uninterested in what we are teaching, they are "tapping into our oil". Brother Daybell shared some important things he learned about this in his teenage years, during his mission, and while serving as a Bishop. By the time he finished we were completely thrilled by what we had learned. It was so powerful and meaningful to us. We did own it and have thought, and discussed it ever since. We want to be teachers who truly teach by the Spirit. We are so grateful for the lesson he taught us, not only the material, but what he gave of himself. Through him, the Spirit testified of the truths that were taught and we were all edified. It was a choice experience.

(above L to R) Elder and Sister West, Sister and Elder dePaula, Sister and Elder Smith and Brother Randy Daybell. Picture taken by President Bangerter.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Train Carroling, Joyfully Inviting All to Join Us.

Elder West, Elder Olsen and Elder Goodman sing with might!

Nothing brings the Christmas Spirit quite like beautiful music and we had such success on Thanksgiving weekend, that we decided to give it another whirl! Saturday, December 6th, it was cold and crisp. As we sang Christmas carols, we gave out printed invitations to The First Presidency's Christmas Devotional on Sunday, December 7th. We sang on busy platforms and inside the trains. We would sing two carols, talk to the people for a minute or two and extend our invitations to all, and then hop off at the next stop, into the next car. It was a little like a Chinese fire drill, and we had to really race to all make the next train car. It's everyday fare to see people singing or performing on the trains and then they "pass the hat." We sang and then gave something to them. They seemed to really appreciate and enjoy it, with some even joining in, singing with us.

Sister Thomas, Elder Goodman, Elder Law, and Elder Bahr "hang on" as they barrel down the tracks, singing all the way!

Our plan was to sing in groups of four at different ends of the trains, fa-la, instant stereo! One lady made sure we gave an invitation to each person on the train and when a few new ones got on, she made sure we gave an invitation to them too. It was very rewarding as we received handshakes and smiles. It was a free and easily given gift to all!

Comfort and Joy...serving with the Queensboro Zone!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Senior's Celebrate...Christmas Is Coming!


Elder and Sister Smith planned a great December Senior Missionary Social to usher in the Christmas Season. We went to the famous Sardi's Restaurant for their business lunch. The food was very good with great service, a festive atmosphere, and we were with such cherished friends.
Sardi's is famous for their signed caricatures of celebrities that decorate the walls.
The Smith's filled New York City mugs with candy and had it at each of our places!

Align Center We attended the matinee performance of the famous 76th Annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The sets were magical, with joyful music, starring the high-kicking legendary Rockettes. Santa arrived with the reindeer in the beginning and we wore 3-D glasses. It was very well done and we all enjoyed it. The Rockettes performed their famous "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers." They also danced as darling rag dolls. There was a meaningful story told about two brothers who were looking for the perfect Christmas gift for their sister and Santa was the helper and narrator.

In the end, and the most marvelous gift of Christmas was the birth of Christ. The living nativity with camels, sheep, and beautiful set was so touching. We live in the most secular city in the world, and yet the birth of our Savior was what was celebrated and it was spectacular. Thanks Smiths for hosting a most memorable and festive activity.

Just a quick block away is Rockefeller Center with the most incredible Christmas Tree.

Toy Soldiers with flags and beautiful angels decorate the Square.
Manhattan is magical at Christmas.

Our Day After Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving Day was spent with members and investigators and then on Friday we had our weekly district meeting. It was followed by Christmas caroling on the trains. We gave out many Joy to the World pass along cards. It was lots of fun and people were very receptive. Then we all went back to the church to celebrate with our Thanksgiving potluck together. We won a free 22 pound Butterball Premium Turkey from Best Market. We brought the stuffed bird, candied yams, gravy, cranberry sauce, peach cobbler (for Elder Werner) and pumpkin crunch dessert. The elders and sisters brought mashed potatoes, corn, green salad, fruit salad, and cherry, banana cream and chocolate cream pies and miracle rolls! Amazingly, our dinner was absolutely delicious and we had such a wonderful time together. On Thanksgiving Day some of our elders shared that they had stomach lining, which was tasty and good, but they were grateful for a traditional dinner. Friday was also Sister Marshall's birthday. The sisters put 23 candles in pumpkin crunch and she made her wish and blew them out! We each talked about our beloved family traditions and then drew each others names and told why were thankful for that person. We are a family of sorts and we loose and gain new members every six weeks. Still we grow to love one another as we strengthen and serve together. It's a blessing we cherish. pictured above at the head of the table, our birthday girl, Sister Marshall, on the left side, new Hermano Montano, from American Fork, Utah, Sister Folsom, an ASL sister (who was transferred back to Woodside), Elders West, Werner, Goodman and McLean. On the right side, Hermano Thomas, Elders Imlay, Froerer, and our new Zone Leader, Elder Heiner.