A Glorious Weekend

We look forward to General Conference like most people look forward to Christmas. It's always such a feast. In Rexburg we watch it on the big screen in our home. Here in NYC we have a choice between our 17" computer screen or the Woodside chapel. Most of the members watch conference in their homes that have cable or satellite networks. Saturday our group was very small, the Woodside District and a few members and investigators joined us.

President Monson opened the conference welcoming 21,000 people seated in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, UT, as well as hundreds of thousands more watching the broadcast throughout the world. We were very happy to sustain Elder Neil L. Andersen as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We first met Elder Anderson in Rome, Italy, in 1997, while touring with the BYU-Idaho Folk Dancers. Elder and Sister Andersen were with us through out the weekend for the Faith In Every Footstep Parade through out Rome. We remember how warm and enthusiastic he was with all the dancers and how supportive he was in the Rome Italy Mission President's quest, "to bring the Church out of obscurity." Since that time we have appreciated his insightful talks and example of faithful service in all he's asked to do. We were impressed with his humble words, "The Lord has deeply blessed me...I have felt soberness in this calling...I am not what I must become, but I will hope for the promise that President Monson gave in priesthood meeting--that the Lord will shape the back to fit the burden...For much of my life, I've been trying to become what my wife already thought I was."

Between the Saturday sessions we treated our friend Charles to lunch at a legendary Astoria neighborhood deli,
Sal, Kris and Charlie Deli...sandwich king of Astoria!

The deli was jam packed floor to ceiling with sandwich makings, drinks, and people! In a very small space there's a lot to choose from.

We'd never heard of Boar's Head Meats and Cheeses before moving to NY...they are primo!

The selection of meat, cheese, salads, and puddings is immense!

Chas ordered their specialty, "The BomB", coleslaw, egg salad (by mistake), and salami on bread, for Charles, who dislikes mayo, vinegar, any dressings or sauce.

Bakery Boys makes their bread...it's both plentiful and beautiful!

Here it is...THE BomB...where is Sam Berry when we need him?

Meet Charlie, (on the left) He told us Sal died, Kris is his wife and so he is the sandwich king! The guy wrapping our BomB was so happy I was taking his picture....a pretty nice New Yorker.

Loved the wrapping!

Chas tackled the BomB! He could only eat half of it. It was huge.

Charles was proud of how well he peeled his tangelo..so I snapped his pic!

50 years ago President David O McKay admonished, "every member a missionary." Elder Perry reminded all of us that members need to be finding and full time missionaries need to be teaching. Many ward members joined us in the chapel for conference on Sunday. It was great!

Darling Melissa, serves on the activities committee and helped organize the traditional Astoria Ward Potluck that is held between the Sunday sessions. I just love her.

Sunday was absolutely beautiful, about 65 degree in NY and the choir sang, You Can Make the Pathway Bright. Elder Pickering and Elder Pickett make any pathway bright. They are the Astoria Elders and traditionally they have been outstanding. These two are easy to love.

New York New York South missionaries were so excited when Elder Jose A. Teixeira of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke. His son is an outstanding missionary serving in Brooklyn. All good things must come to an end. We loved conference and will write more about it in the coming days. We will cherish the three we've experienced here in New York.