"A Gathering of Sisters"

Faith and friendships were strengthened Monday, May 18th, as all of the sisters from the New York New York South Mission gathered at the Mission Home. It is a marvelous group of women, beginning with our Sister Bennion, and included 24 young sister missionaries and 6 senior sisters. We were so happy to see one another and missed those sisters that have gone home this past year.

Sister Bennion, a master storyteller, began by telling us one of her favorite stories, the enchanted story of The Spyglass, by Richard Paul Evans. It tells of a king who ruled over a darkened kingdom. Yet when a traveler showed the king his land and people through the lens of the spyglass, the kingdom was restored to glory. It teaches that when we have faith and hope in our hearts we can reach for that which we thought was beyond our grasp. I couldn't help but feel that President and Sister Bennion look through their spyglass and have such faith in each of us and the work we are doing. Our faith was strengthened as we talked about how we can accomplish what the Lord needs us to do in his kingdom. We feel strengthened and blessed each day as we serve here.

We enjoyed a luscious luncheon of chicken salad croissants, an array of fresh fruit, and scrumptious cheesecake with the most heavenly garnish of cream and huge strawberries. After our meal, we had two workshops. Sister Roush spoke about the importance of living with an eternal perspective. She shared her experience of unexpectedly loosing her son, a husband and father of a young family, just before her mission began. She admonished the sisters to look in the mirror each day and remember that they are daughters of a Heavenly Father who knows and loves them. I was asked to review with the sisters again, (I did it last year) the importance of our appearance. As missionaries we are given important guidelines and our challenge is to "arise and shine forth." Each sister is so beautiful and their spirits shine. It's been such a joy to serve with so many of them.

President Bennion was the concluding speaker. He is such a loving leader and assured us that there are 41 wards and branches in our mission and every bishop or branch president is clamoring for sisters to serve in his ward or branch. Only 12 of those leaders are able to have these capable young sisters serving with them. President Bennion shared some personal feelings about our prophet, President Monson, and testified of his love and support for him. He shared with us wonderful quotes from the letters the sisters have sent to him each week. He asked us to be faithful in all we do and take each opportunity to share the gospel and our testimonies with all who are placed in our path. Such meaningful messages were shared and each sister was edified.

All 37 sisters were present for this joyous occasion.

Always enthusiastic missionaries, Sister Dunn is serving in Brooklyn while Sisters Thomas and Brimhall are both currently serving in Queens.

We welcome new Sister Edwards, smiling with Sister Bennion. Sister Edwards is from Kansas, a new CES missionary who will be living in Brooklyn and teaching there and in Manhattan. Her assignment is unique in that she and Elder Edwards serve in both the North and South New York Missions.

Beloved Sisters Brimhall, Roush, and Sellers.

Adorable Sisters Barrowes and Carney are both presently serving in Brooklyn.

Sassy Sisters Montano, born in Woodside, now serves out on the Island, and Johnson serves in Queens.

Sister Ditto conducted our meeting. She and Sister Sellers visit with President Bennion.

Our "Two smiling Sister Bs", Sister Balimuttajjo from Uganda, serves in Jamaica. Each sister loves Sister Bennion. She sees the best in everyone and we all feel of her love for us.

Sister Fields was "born in Woodside." She is now serving in Jamaica with Sister B!

Sister Gonzalez, (for our Rexburg friends, she is Deana Christensen's niece) is serving in Brooklyn. Sister Burton and Sister Frodsham, our Bayshore gals, send love and hugs to their Sister dePaula, and Sister Sellers who is now serving in my Zone is a sweetheart!

Beautiful Sisters, Twitchell serves in Brooklyn and Mullen is out on Long Island!

Sisters Isert, Rogers and Frodsham served in Jamaica together and enjoyed a mission reunion.

Sister Gonzalez and Sister Barrowes loved smiling in the sunshine. It was a glorious day.