Our Heros

Not enough good can be said about Elder Roberts and Elder Douglas, the current NYNY South office elders. They were so accommodating, kind and helpful during our move from NYC. We are surprised at what we gathered during our 18 month stay. We sent out 750 pounds to New York, using Busfreighter.com to get all we needed here. We were told we would be using what we had at home to cook for large groups, plus sound equipment and music for activities. We sent twice that home, again using busfreighter. All of our boxes arrived both ways without anything broken or missing. It's a great way to go if you have over two hundred pounds to send.

Our thanks to Elders Duce and Wiggins, the office elders who helped us when we arrived, and Elders Roberts and Douglas on our departure. These elders assist the mission in so many ways. They help with mission cars, mail, driving elders and sisters when they arrive and depart, and move senior missionaries, just to name a few of their extra responsibilities along with regular missionary work. Imagine driving a huge van around New York City...then add a black box! I've done it and it's not easy. They are just the greatest...and they serve in our Queensboro Zone too!

Several people have asked us what we used and needed the most in addition to what missionaries are asked to bring. Our answer is simple; three insulated Sam's Club bags. We hauled prepared food, groceries, teaching aids, etc with these good size bags. They kept everything hot and cold and we were so glad we had them. Surprisingly they are still in good shape and may even someday survive a second mission!

Major Mission Moving

Elders Salazar and Flores found a patch of carpet where they could revive.

Our office elders and Woodside district along with the APs came Thursday, June 25th to move the contents of our apartment. All of the furniture and contents that belonged to the mission were moved to a storage facility in Manhattan. The elders drove it just over the Queensboro Bridge where it will stay until another senior couple move into the mission. Midway through all of our missionaries were tired and hungry. We served a make-shift picnic and they had a brief rest from their service project. We had a lot of food and as always it disappeared fast.

We had sisters and elders hauling boxes and furniture down our traitorous staircase. We could have never done it on our own. We gave away food and wood furniture we had collected from the street to the Young Single Adults. The Astoria Elders inherited our $25.00 tabletop grill and they were absolutely thrilled. It was like Christmas in New York all over again!

Elder Norman came ready to work. He greeted us and slipped a T-shirt over his white shirt and tie. He's always looking for ways to serve.

Creative Elder Sanford used the back of the sofa as a table top! We appreciated his positive attitude the entire time we served together. We will always remember the love and happiness manifested by these incredible missionaries as they found ways to serve all, especially us.

NYNYS Mission "IN 'N OUT"

New missionaries arrived during our last transfer, Monday, June 22nd. 11 Elders and 1 Sister came to bring new life to the mission. They were quiet, tired, and ready for a nice dinner after eating peanuts on the plane. It's always a pleasure to welcome them and learn where they've come from. All of the Bennions personal belongings that made the Mission Home so warm and inviting were on a moving van heading for Utah, but the new missionaries feel of President and Sister Bennion's spirits and love for them and it's a great thing to be a part of.

Elder Salazar and Elder McLean step it up and do their part of helping the elders and sisters get settled in, take their pictures and collect information that will help the incoming mission president. They do a marvelous job of assisting anyone who needs help. "Assistants" really fits!

Elder Norman will train his new companion, Elder Nielsen. They will serve the Astoria Ward together.

Sister Phillips was happy to arrive. She told us that to leave the MTC they had to go through a line where their temperatures were taken to avoid taking the swine flu with them. Because of exposure she and her district have been taking Tamiflu and were tested for the swine flu too.

We asked Elder McLean to take our picture with the departing missionaries and when we got home we discovered he'd taken several self portraits. This shot is our favorite! We learned the day we left NYC he was accepted at "the I" and we are so excited that we will see him in Rexburg. President Bennion told us about 25 NYNYS missionaries will be attending BYU-Idaho! Chas was able to help several make application. It's a remarkable university and we are very excited so many of our missionaries will be coming to Rexburg.

Tuesday evening after the transfer meeting all of the departing missionaries and 3 of their families joined together for dinner and a testimony meeting. President and Sister Bennion, three senior couples and 12 young missionaries all told of their love for the gospel and our gratitude for being able to serve in New York. None of us will ever be the same again.

Farewell Astoria and Beloved Dads

Father's Day, June 21st was a special day as we were able to honor our wonderful fathers and bid farewell to the Astoria Ward.

Elder West talked about his love of the Book of Mormon. As a young man he used to join his father who traveled world-wide sharing his experience of putting the Book of Mormon on trial for his final project in a law school class. His budding testimony grew as he learned from his father about the authenticity of this powerful book. Our children also learned from Grandpa Jack about the witnesses, internal and external evidence, and from his slides of trips to South America.

The Wests, Theresa and Craig in front of the Woodside Building

My older brother, Craig and our sister-in-law, Theresa, visited the Astoria Ward. They were spending time with friends in Manhattan and came to spend Sunday afternoon with us. In thinking of our Dad, while serving his mission in '92-'93, he used to jog by the Boliva School for Watchmakers. He heard that it was being sold and felt it would make a wonderful building for the Church. Much later the Church did purchase the building and Dad was right! It's a wonderful building for the saints to meet in. It's probably the most unique building we've ever attended with nice wide halls and ramps, designed for the disabled. It has been a great blessing to see some of the fruits of Dad and Mom's mission. How thankful we are for our missionary fathers and their examples of faithfulness to us and our family.

We took Craig and Theresa home to Steinway Street for a little Father's Day dinner celebration, Greek style! Craig is the father of six great kids and grandpa to 3, as of last Monday. Our five kiddies and their 13 think Grandpa Chas is the best in the West! Thanks Craig and Theresa for a memorable visit and to our kids. Your phone calls made Dad's Day.

As for the Astoria Ward, we have grown to love and appreciate the faithful members here. Shortly after we arrived our Stake President, David Duffy asked us, "How do like living in the resort ward of the Church?" We weren't sure what he meant. He told us, "People stay for a little while and then they leave!" We have found that he's right. Amazingly, it's sad when someone moves away and joyful as incredible new ones arrive. It's a blessed ward for sure, and we are so grateful President Bennion assigned us to serve there.

For Father's Day the Primary children sang, paid tribute to all their fathers and Bishop Glass, and passed out Hershey Bars to all the guys....what a treat! We will miss all of you so much.