March Memories

Obedience-The First Law of Heaven

Zones 4 & 5 of our mission met yesterday for yet another Zone Conference. We have the opportunity to attend these meeting once every 6 weeks. We always serve lunch and will only do this two more times before we go home. Our mission is going so fast!
I've already mentioned, obedience was the theme for this conference. As missionaries we invite people to experience the blessings that come from keeping God's commandments. We first teach that God is our loving Heavenly Father and He wants us to find happiness in our lives. Years ago we took a wonderful quote that President Benson said and shortened it so that our family could learn and use it. "When obedience becomes a quest, rather than an irritant, then you will have real power." We have challenged our students to put this to the test. Our family knows how true this principle is. As missionaries, it's a blessing to obey. We are so happy we have much to do. President Bennion challenged us to find a family. In Preach My Gospel it says, "Strive to find and teach families- a father, mother and children- who can support one another in living the gospel and eventually be sealed as a family unit by restored priesthood authority." We have been working to meet this goal and we want to obey. Thanks to our family and friends. We love your calls, letters, and all of your support. We feel your prayers. Pray for our Astoria family that the Lord is preparing, please. We are hoping we may have already found them!

Missionaries Making a Difference

Yancy and Leah, became new members of the Astoria Ward last November when they moved to Woodside from Manhattan as newlyweds. They were called to serve as ward missionaries and just recently Yancy was sustained as our new ward mission leader. We appreciate their efforts to reach out to all and their example as they serve in the Manhattan Temple as workers early each Saturday morning. We're excited to see the missionary work in the Astoria Ward move forward as we all reach out to others and exercise faith in our Savior.

OFF & ON: My favorite MAN

Three weeks ago we taught from Colossians at our Intitute classes. We finished Hebrews last night and have so enjoyed our study of Paul, the great apostle and missionary in the New Testament. He was a valiant witness and taught the truth about Jesus Christ and "the hope of glory," Colossians 1:27. My beloved companion taught from Colossians 3:5-25, "to become new creatures in Christ, we must overcome evil and develop righteous." He made a list of the attributes of "Put Off The Old Man" and put them on a black t-shirt, and the attributes of "Put On The New Man" and attached them to a white t-shirt. He did a great job of teaching the concept and importance of preparing for the 2nd coming of Christ, so that we can "appear with him in glory." He saved the lists and put them above his chair next to his dresser to remind him of the attributes he is trying to put off and put on! One morning as I walked in our room he was putting on his socks and shoes with Paul's lists behind him. I begged him to let me take a picture so I could remember always that moment. I am so happy I am married to such a wonderful man who has so many Christ-like attributes. I am reminded of this every day in one way or another, and our mission together has helped us to grow and strengthen one another.

" Seek Spiritual High Ground"

Sunday evening, March 1st, Elder Robert D. Hales admonished the young adults of the Church, "to stand faithful and true always," at the CES Satellite Fireside from Brigham Young University. He taught us that ancient and modern prophets have always sought the Lord as they "seek to obtain spiritual high ground." We were all richly rewarded for attending and felt a warm spirit of brother and sisterhood at our Munch and Mingle Activity beforehand. The singles all participated in a getting to know you activity involving gospel-centered questions. Above, Stephanie and Oscar smiled between bites of cherry-chocolate cake! This terrific couple well represent the Queens YSAs and are lots of fun. Below, Elder West snapped a picture of our friends as they visited before leaving for the evening. Attending these activities generally requires time and energy. They travel by trains, buses, and many walk to and from these firesides held at the Rego Park Chapel. We are always grateful to be a part of this special group.

"MARCH...ing in Like a Lion"

New York City is the most dramatic city in the world...we are sure! We gained a better appreciation for that last night and today as a heavy snowstorm, "charged up the Eastern Seaboard and blanketed the Northeast."

• For the first time in 5 years NYC Public Schools were canceled affecting 1.1 million students.
• It costs the city 1 million dollars an inch to remove snow. Astoria received 10.5 inches.
• There are 6,000 roads to plow in the city, the equivalent of driving to LA and back.
• More than 450 flights were canceled at LaGuardia Airport, 119 at JFK and they currently are experiencing 3 hour delays.
• By this morning the storm stretched from Virginia to Quebec.
  

It is garbage day on our street. The garbage trucks are plowing!
The garbage is waiting.

Our Institute Training Meeting was canceled this morning, mostly because the dePaulas would have traveled an hour on icy NY freeways from Bayshore. They reside on"The Island" where 14 inches fell. We look forward to our meetings where we have the opportunity to learn from our S&I Coordinator, President Bangerter and one another.

Elder West did some shoveling...I made herbal tea, and we
have had an extra day to prepare our lessons for this week.

Notice the 1M peaking through.
This is the most snow we have experienced in NYC. It's nothing compared to the amount of snow that falls in Rexburg, but when you throw in 9.5 million people (yes, the number of people who reside in our mission), it's always dramatic, with or without snow!

Our Neighborhood

We need to document some of the things we see here in Astoria that we don't want to forget. Often we say to one another,"We should have taken a picture of that!" We are not sure what is ahead for us, but we think we'll probably never live any where as busy or populated as NYC or Steinway Street again. Traffic roars in front of our house day and night, and the big trucks start each morning about 4:00 AM. When we arrived home last Friday evening, a woman crossing the street in the dark, had been hit (out in front of our home) and the ambulance arrived shortly after we did. We asked the police if we could help her or her family, but they could not give us any private information. We are continually amazed at how truck, bus and emergency workers get around this place. This poor guy took out the signal and light on the corner of Astoria and Steinway. This driver's big mistake was just not swinging wide enough.

Before our mission I remember asking Sister Bennion if she had someone that helped her with all of her cooking. She replied, "My best friend is Costco!" We too buy at Costco in quantity almost weekly and agree that it is a boon with so many Saints and hungry missionaries to feed. What is so amazing to us is how people leave shopping carts everywhere. Pictured above is the beginning of a pile-up! Often I have to get out of the car and "move trolleys," (NY terminology) so we can drive the car through an opening in the parking lot or get into a parking space!

It's Official...Elsie Renee

Our newest little doll was given a name, Elsie Renee, and a
blessing by her father, Sunday, February 15, 2009.

We hear she has her Mom's profile and eyes, but the rest
of her belongs to her Dad! Actually, Jennifer says she looks
a lot like Shelby and Lizzie did...so who knows. They seem to
change so much. Her little blessing dress is 34 years old and
was worn by her Aunt Jennifer, her mother Krista, and her two
cousins, Shelby and Elizabeth, and has become an earthly treasure.

We love this beautiful little family and we were there with you in spirit.

Establish a House of God

"Shoot For the Stars"

We are so impressed with our new district leader, Elder Pickett. He's such a strong leader, and we all agree, he's had the most challenging struggles as a missionary thus far. He was called to serve in the Russia, St. Peterburg Mission. He entered the MTC in Provo, Utah and was stricken with some serious medical problems. He was sent back to his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. After extensive medical tests he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Elder Pickett and his family joined together in "mighty fasting and prayer." When he went in for his surgery, there was no sign of a tumor. He was sent back to the MTC, finished his language training and then had problems obtaining his visa for Russia. He served in Atlanta, Georgia, for two months, waiting and hoping, but he learned much and loved his mission president there. He was able to serve in Russia for four months and then he was sent home again with medical problems. This time, he had another unrelated problem, that was easily corrected with surgery. He recovered from the surgery and was planning to return to Russia and just before he was leaving the Church closed the mission there to American Missionaries. He arrived in the New York, New York South Mission on June 16, 2008, and we are so lucky to have him here. He is an inspired leader and has a missionary motto, "It's better to shoot for the stars and land in the trees, than to shoot for the trees and land in the mud!" He attended SUU (and knew President and Sister Bennion there) before his mission and loves Italian food. We are also happy to have Sister Fields who is a brand new ASL missionary. She had some pre-mission signing experience and was so excited when President Bennion assigned her to serve with Sister Marshall. She graduated from Columbia College with a degree in Sociology and she can't decide what she likes best, spagetti or all Asian food. Elder Norris hails from Whittier, California, likes waterpolo, Jepardy, and attended Cal Poly before beginning his mission eight months ago. We always feel the best missionaries serve with us here in the Woodside District. Again this transfer, after some difficult goodbyes, we feel we have been very blessed.