"Preaching and Teaching" in Jamaica

We were invited to speak at the Jamaica Fireside on Saturday, March 14th. Our assigned topic was "Preaching and Teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Members of the English and Spanish speaking wards that meet at the Jamaica building came. We were pleased to speak to a very enthusiastic and appreciative group of saints. Elder West spoke of preaching the gospel and the importance of missionary work through out the world. I spoke of teaching the gospel, beginning in the home and shared Barbara Christensen's, "Making Your Home a (Missionary Training Center), MTC." Chas is smiling above with Kenneth who serves as the High Priest Group Leader in the Jamaica 1st Ward and is a faithful Institute student who adds so much to our Tuesday night classes. New York needs leaders like him or we would drag him west with us!

Sister Urbanowski, Sister Oler, Gretta and Anita have each been easy to love. Sister Urbanowski is a gifted homemaker from Germany. Her food is legendary, especially her German potatoes that she serves at each ward party. She is the "decorator" in Jamaica, making sure there are seasonal flower arrangements in the chapel and that each ward party is festive. She also takes care of Bishop Urbanowski! Sister Oler, such a darling sister, always has a smile and a hug for everyone. Gretta was our student until she bought her first home in Delaware and moved from New York the end of December. She shared with us that she worked 20 years to "escape this place," and buy her first home. We are so happy for her, but she left a hole in our hearts and in our classroom. She served as the Relief Society President, a true "mother hen type", with Anita as her counselor. We learned that Anita was sustained as the new Relief Society President on Sunday. She spoke with us on Saturday evening and bore a beautiful testimony of the importance of visiting and home teaching. Anita joined the Church about three years ago. If every new convert embraced the gospel the way she has, our mission work would be much different. Congratulations Anita, to all of the Jamaica 1st Ward, and we love and miss you Gretta.

Sister Balimuttajjo (second from left) looks for every opportunity to serve. Each time we are with her she is reaching out and helping all. She posed with a returned missionary, (in baby blue) who literally returned from Sandy, Utah for Spring Break! Wish I could remember her name. Our student, Leda, (in gray) is a shinning star who teaches seminary in Jamaica! They are so blessed to have her. We were grateful for the chance to share with these amazing members who have impacted our lives while we have served here.

Bubbling With Happiness

Have you ever wondered what happens when a bottle of shampoo is emptied into a jetted tub? Jenelle sent us the results this week! Lillie and Corbin had a party together, and it took their Mom three hours to clean up. We think it was so worth it! We are missing all of our family and are trying not to get too excited about seeing all of them this summer. Until then, thanks Jenelle. It's so heartwarming to see these two "bubbling with happiness!"

A Desire to Serve

Several weeks ago our upstairs neighbors, Tod and Claudia, joined us for Sunday dinner. Tod served a mission in Japan, so he knows much about the Church, but has been less-active for several years. Claudia is a Catholic from Guadalajara, Mexico. They were curious about our missionary calling. We explained that we teach Institute classes, work with the Queens Stake Singles, and Astoria Young Single Adults, and work with the young Elders and Sisters in our mission. They know we make a lot of food in our little place and see us hauling it in and out of our house. Claudia told me she would love to help serve at a Zone Conference Lunch.
Several days later Claudia and I were visiting with each other. I asked her if she'd ever learned about our Church. To my surprise she told me, "No." I invited her to learn about the gospel. She said she like to and she would talk to Tod and let me know her decision.
Claudia's husband Tod is finishing the final 6 weeks of medical school, and recently the hospital in Queens where he was in the middle of a rotation closed. Last Saturday when we invited Claudia to help us on Wednesday, Tod said he would also like to help and could they also attend our meeting? President Bennion said he was happy to have them join us. We were thrilled!
Late Tuesday night when we got home from Jamaica, Tod was waiting to tell us that he'd been assigned to a rotation at a Manhattan Hospital and would not be able to help us Wednesday. We were happy for him and testified that he was blessed with this new assignment because he was willing to serve the Lord.
Our Zone Conference was such a positive experience. Our Woodside Elders and Sisters were so friendly and delightful with Claudia and had such a good time setting up and setting the tables before the meeting began. Our mission doctor, Elder McIff gave a great talk about balance in our lives. President and Sister Bennion taught the importance of obedience, and even though Claudia did not understand all of what was said, (she is learning English and doing so well), I think she really enjoyed it. Her help was so appreciated in preparing and serving our meal. She inspired us to think "Mexican"....and so we made Grilled Chicken Fajitas, Spanish rice and refried beans. It was all very good and with Claudia's support, our biggest success thus far, despite a few glitches. For dessert we simply served a tangerine and cookie, Sister Bennion's suggestion! Our missionaries are always so kind, thankful and helpful with the clean up. Elder and Sister Smith helped with the serving line and dish washing and lightened our load considerably. Thanks all for a lot of support and success.

We say, "Goodbye, Sister Richie!" She was in the MTC with us and leaves the mission in a couple of weeks. She bore her testimony about the blessings of service. Pictured above, Sister Richie, who is turned around, (clockwise) Sister Smith, Elder Drainey, Elder Thompson, Elder Rencher, Sister Thomas, Sister Montano, and Sister Heininge.

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!