Zones 4 & 5 Conference

We were blessed for being a part of our Zone Conference, Thursday, January 29th. Our Woodside District helped us wash and ready baking potatoes for the oven, toss salad and set up and set tables. Elder West and I slipped into the meeting in time to hear President Bennion speak of the importance of loving our companions. In missionary work, love or charity is the foundational principle. Moroni said, "Charity is the pure love of Christ." Paul reminds us, "Charity never faileth." Without charity, we just go through the motions. President Bennion recently visited with one of our missionaries who with his companion had received many blessings in finding, teaching and bringing souls unto Christ through baptism and confirmation. He asked him the key to their success. The elder responded, "We are both connected to our purpose. We love each other and the people can feel this positive bond between us." Often as I listen to what we need to do to be better missionaries in our meetings, I know I need to do much more. This time I sat comfortably, at ease and at peace. We've been working at this one for so many years it feels good! President Bennion reminded us that our love for the Lord is reflected in how we love and serve one another. (Mosiah 2:17) We aren't perfect, but we're working on it!
How thankful I am for the wonderful companion I'm serving with. I love him for his patience, long-suffering, and for being a true peacemaker. He's so easy to love.
(Pictured above), departing missionaries with President and Sister Bennion, Elder Hansen, Elder Olsen, and our Sister Folsom. Each shared wonderful testimonies of our Savior, and gave thanks for all they have learned and done while serving here in New York. We will miss them.

Astoria YSA Sunday Dinner

We are so happy we live in the Astoria Ward and this is why! These Young Single Adults bring us a lot of joy and happiness. Last Sunday we got together for Sunday Dinner and FHE. We were missing several and they were missed! Judy, Nephi, Bryndel, Phillippa,Vanya, Keely and Helen, all add to our Astoria Ward YSA family. We hope you'll be able to come next time. Those that came are (1st row L to R), Jiyoung H, Jiyoung C, Kat, Sarah, me and Victor. (2nd row) Keiko, Eddie, Elder Goodman, Robert, and Elder Goodman, with Tony behind Keiko and Eddie. We discussed how important faith is in our lives. We talked about how we can strengthen our faith using our Bishopric's new ward goals...(soon to be posted). Jiyoung C. shared an experience she had with missionaries from another church. She said that you realized she'd become cold and impatient, a typical New Yorker! She wants to become a more Christ-like person who shows kindness to others. Kat and Jiyoung H. have set a goal to prepare to attend the temple. Sarah wants to support a friend who is serving a mission by sending letters. Robert hopes we will all work on loving others more. Speaking of which, Victor says this is his year! Keiko is brand new and brings a beautiful spirit with her. Tony and the Elders all remind us of our wonderful boys, and Eddie, well Eddie is a star! After a year, he finally came. He is often out of town, and we were just so happy he was able to join us...in his past life, he was a BYU Folk Dancer! We love all of you...thanks for all the yummy treats you brought to share. It will last us till the end of February!

Manhattan Restaurant Week at Delmonicos's

Thursday, January 22nd, we had a most delightful and delicious evening with President and Sister Bennion at Delmonico's. In 1827, at the beginning of New York City's evolution as the financial center of the world, the genesis of what would become a world renowned culinary institution, Delmonico's Restaurant, was set. It began as a little shop by the Delmonico Brothers. It's success led them to purchase a triangular plot of land at the intersection of Beaver, William, and South William Streets, where in 1837 they opened the first fine dining restaurant in the country. On the third floor they had luxurious private dining rooms. The basement held the largest private wine cellar in the country, holding 16,000 bottles of the world's finest wines. House specialties, Delmonico Steak, Eggs Benedict, Baked Alaska, and Lobster Newburg are their most innovative original creations. With a mission to make Delmonico's Wall Street's premier fine dining steakhouse, it has been renovated to assume the opulence of it's early years.

It was absolutely beautiful, and our fillets memorable. Our favorite part though was visiting and sharing great old memories with the Bennions. We always have a lot to laugh about together! We enjoyed catching up on their family and mission memories, and because it was restaurant week, the four of us ate dinner for the price of two. Sweet...a little NY culinary history for half price! Thanks dear friends for such an excellent evening together.

Another Great New Year in Queens N.Y.!

Meet our new student and Institute President at Richmond Hill, Nadya! She moved here after graduating with a creative writing degree from a North Carolina University. She hopes to attend graduate school at NYU this year. In the meantime, she writes on the side and works at a health club in Astoria. She adds so much to our Wednesday night class. Nadya loves the gospel of Jesus Christ, serving others, has a strong testimony of paying a full tithe, and is anxious to learn. We celebrated her 24th birthday together and hope she will feel so blessed in all of her endeavors and efforts this year.

Elder West, Amparo, and Nadya

'09 Team...We love the Woodside District

Front row: Sisters Folsom, Marshall, Thomas and Montano
Back row: Elders West, Pickering, Goodman, Froerer, Wrigley, Heiner and Rowley

"Great Expectations"

All were uplifted by President Thomas S, Monson, as he spoke to the young adults of the Church, Sunday, January 11th. The Queens Stake had close to 100 members join together at 7:00 for a "Munch and Mingle" that included getting to know you activities. Some just wanted to enjoy the treat of each others company. We got lots of hugs and have come to love the singles of this wonderful stake in the past year.

Citing examples from the classic literary work Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, President Monson suggested that the students "have great expectations, not as a result of an unknown benefactor but as the result of a known benefactor, our Heavenly Father, and great things are expected of you."

President Monson counseled the students on the vital role of preparation to enter what he termed "the race of life." He spoke of academic preparation here that you learn to meet the challenges of this changing world in which we live. Four specific suggestions would assist students in achieving their "great expectations in the race of life: avoid pitfalls and detours like peer pressure and temptation; persevere--beware of the flashy start and the fadeout finish; help others along the race of life; and seek the Lord's help in every decision." He reminded the young people of the critical need for spiritual preparation for life's experiences. He recounted the story of Joseph Smith's search for truth and counseled the students to follow the same process when questions arise in their lives. In closing, President Monson said, "This promise I leave with you, the Divine Father will attend those who humbly seek the truth. With His help and the preparations of which we have spoken, you can go forward in this race of life and achieve your own great expectations." We loved President Monson's encouraging message and were blessed for being there with so many friends.

Sisters Folsom and Marshall do such a great job of signing for the deaf members that join us and really are involved in activities and add to the Spirit that is always there.

"The New Testament- Part II"

Elder and Sister dePaula became our treasured friends when they entered the MTC a little over a year ago with us. We see each other at least every two weeks at our S&I training meetings, at Senior Missionary socials, and sometimes on a P-day we do something fun together. They are gifted teachers and have had the opportunity of blessing our mission with their musical talents. Both of them sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 20 years. They shared their talents most recently at their Bayshore Ward and at our two Christmas Zone Conferences in December. Each program was well planned and presented. All three were miracles as they each turned out beautifully with little to no practice time. Now were are all back to teaching our Institute classes after the December break. Last semester we taught the Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Our last night of Institute before our break was filled with inspired testimonies as our students shared what they had learned about Jesus Christ. This week we began, "The New Testament, Part II." We will teach through the month of April, The Book of Acts through Revelation.

Sister dePaula is a most creative writer and I asked her permission to copy her post and include it on our blog. The words from President Kimball and Andrew Skinner about the Apostle Peter are true. Last semester as we studied and taught about "Peter's Denial," we each knew that it was a command from Christ. This week we again had the opportunity to teach and testify of Peter's obedience and strength. Our thanks to Sister dePaula for allowing us to add her post and picture to our blog.



What a thrill for us! We just love The Acts of The Apostles and are so happy to be back teaching our classes. This great book could also be called "The Book of Luke - Part II" since Luke is the author, writing a beautiful discourse to an acquaintance, Theophilus. I have given it a subtitle - "The Gospel in Action."

Acts is just that - a book of action. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ in action. It begins with organizing, calling new leaders, spreading, teaching, baptizing, training, caring, ordaining, feeding the poor, healing and vast missionary travels to "the uttermost parts of the earth." Acts feels much like the Church today...as well it should.

We read Peter's first powerful public discourse and testimony of the risen Lord, and of his skilled direction of the apostles, and of the healing of the sick and other miracles. We found Peter's leadership as president and prophet of the Church to be nothing short of spectacular - preaching with such a Spirit as to bring 3,000 souls to repentance and baptism in one day shortly after his call.

This is that same Peter who obediently denied knowing the Savior three times when the Savior gave him the command... "thou shalt deny me thrice." Had Peter not done so, his life, along with that of Jesus, would have been taken and the Church would have all but withered and died shortly after the Savior's cruificition. Our lesson manual suggests that we bear our testimony about Peter. It was an honor to do so!

We readily agree with President Kimball who refers to Peter as "Peter, My Brother" and asks the question "Do we understand the circumstances of Peter's denial as well as we think we do?" Additionally, we were thrilled when Dr. Andrew C. Skinnner's article from the 2002 Sidney B. Sperry Symposium later appeared in the Church News where he maintains that everything he knew to be true about Peter indicates that "when Jesus told Peter he would deny Him thrice before the cock crowed twice, it was not a prediction; it was a command."

My interpretation of Peter going out and "weeping bitterly" afterward was because of his sorrow in having to obey a difficult command from the Lord - one he would never have chosen to do. This is the Peter I have known and admired for over 30 years. How wonderful it is to be teaching our students the Lord's teachings through Peter and the other great apostles' dedicated service.

Our Gifts...Christmas 2008

The Best Gifts this Christmas could not be wrapped..

after months of fasting, prayer and bed rest,

December 16, 2008
at 11:29 AM

Krista and Will

along with all of us,
welcomed their precious new baby daughter,

Elsie Renee

...named after her Great-Great Grandmother Elsie Talmage and Grandma Renee...I'm so honored!

5 pounds 8 ounces

18 inches long

She came with all ten long fingers and ten little toes...
(her Mom's feet)
and is perfectly healthy...

Bright eyed and gorgeous....
the best gift, sent from God...

to the best parents...who were so happy
to leave the maternity ward and take
Elsie to her new home...
such a blessing to her family!

My parents, Norm and Geri, celebrated another
Christmas together...

and on December 29, 2008,
they celebrated their

58th

Wedding Anniversary together!
Congratulations on a great
journey.

December 12th, 2008

our son,

Zachary West

graduated with his MSHR Degree

from Utah State University...

Jenelle, Corbin and Lilly helped...
Corbin displays his joy...
with a tug on Zach's tassle!

Zach begins his new career the end of this month...
We are so proud of him...them!

NY, NY South Christmas Miracles...and Gifts

Our dear friends and leaders, President and Sister Bennion, are celebrating their third successful year of New York, New York South Mission Christmas Zone Conferences. Our mission has eight zones with four zones that attended on Tuesday, December 9th and then four more zones were invited on Tuesday, December 16th. The conferences began like most with all singing beautiful hymns, the introduction of new missionaries, inspiring messages and departing missionaries shared their testimonies of their missions. Next, Senior missionaries served a lovely Christmas dinner of ham with all the trimmings. After the meal, a beautiful musical program, "The Gifts of God," was presented by missionaries. President Bennion inspired us with his message of recognizing the miracles that we see each day in our work through out the mission.
Several months prior to Christmas, the Bennions asked each of us to submit a mission miracle. They were compiled and bound and given to each of us. What a incredible gift....each miracle is a treasure! We read a few each day through out the holiday and had such warm thoughts of all of the missionaries we are blessed to serve with. They also gave us a delightful Christmas card with individual pictures of each missionary on it...it is small poster size! In past years we have been blessed by their thoughtfulness at each holiday and special occasion in our lives. Now to see each missionary remembered in the thoughtful ways that are, "Bennion worthy," has meant so much to us. Month after month, each birthday is celebrated, and missionaries are cheered on by these two leaders we love.

Mark and Kristine Bennion planned a surprise for their parents. They asked each missionary to send a Christmas message to them in Rexburg. They created a collection of memories for President and Sister Bennion for a Christmas gift. It was a special surprise.... and they pulled it off! Way to go in creating another Mission Miracle for such incredible leaders. We are thankful we will be released with the Bennions, as filling their shoes will be difficult!

Congratulations, Sister Chiriac!

A highlight of the Christmas Season was the baptism of Sister Lydia Chiriac, by Brother Brent Sorenson. It was held on Sunday, December 14, 2008. Elders Werner and Goodman had a beautiful experience as they taught Lydia and felt of her receptive spirit. Tiffany and Brent Sorenson invited her to join their family Thanksgiving Day, and a new friendship began. We have been impressed with how Lydia wants to participate and become an active member of the Astoria Ward. Congratulations Lydia! We are looking forward to getting to know you and supporting you in this New Year. We are happy for the Astoria Ward that is strengthened by new members like Lydia.

"Do You Hear What I Hear?"

Newlyweds, Leah and Yancy Zimmerman, new members of the Astoria Ward, portrayed a beautiful Joseph and Mary, in the Queens Stake Christmas program, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" It was held on Saturday, December 13th, and written and directed by talented, Kathy Curtis, who also sang, "O come, O Come Emmanuel." We both had parts on the program. I read from Luke 2, and Chas was the Old Testament Prophet, Enoch and gave a scriptural reading. There was a lot of singing and musical presentations, an inspired message, and the Christmas spirit was felt by all.