MTC and Manhattan Temple Arrival

In November we received our call to report to the Manhattan NY Temple for 12 months service.  We were first to report in September but some missionaries had to come home early so they asked if we could come early.

The week before leaving for our mission we went to Idaho to say goodbye to Kimberly and hera family.  We had a great few days with them.  So proud of them.  Kaylee and Mallorie go to the Twin Falls Temple every Wednesday morning around 3:30 am to do baptisms.  Courtney is out serving a mission in the Wichita Kansas mission.  So proud of her.  

Mallorie, Brayden, Kimberly, Kaylee (Gary and Courtney are missing)

May 15, 2016 we gathered with two of our children and their families at the River Ridge Stake Center to be set apart for a mission to serve in the Manhattan NY Temple for one year.  President Kurt Soffe, Russ Bradshaw and Shawn Healy were all there.   President Soffe set each of us apart as missionaries.  

President Russ and Sister Karen Bradshaw, they have been at all our setting aparts

President Russ Bradshaw, President Kurt Soffe, Mar Jean, Paul, President Shawn Healy

We later gathered at the house for dinner which Rob generously provided for us. 

Tyler, Rob Kelly Kory, Josh, Katie, Paul, Blake, Brodie, Robbie, Gage, Riley

Kelly & Rob's  Family

Kory & Katie's Family

  Early Tuesday morning we drove to the Salt Lake Temple where we first had cracked wheat in the cafeteria, a fovorite of Paul's and then met with the other temple missionaries in the Chapel.  President and Sister Alldredge and Elder & Sister Hickens did a great job of training us.  There were nine couples and one single sister.  We were going all over the world, Manila Philippines, Villahermosa Mexico, London England, Madrid Spain, Seoul Korea, Regina Saskatchewan, Washington DC, Manhattan New York, Helsinki Finland.  The first day we watched the training on Baptistery and initiatories and then participated in the ordinances. 

We became good friends with Susan Hwang who is from Seattle area and going to Seoul Korea.  She was by herself so we stuck together.  Tuesday evening we went around Temple Square. Her husband passed away four years ago.  She had been less active because of the language barrier.  When she first came to America with her missionary husband, people were not too helpful.  But her life changed and now she is serving back in her own country.

Susan Hwang going to Seoul Korea from Seattle Temple

 Wednesday we were trained on the endowment and attended a session, again a wonderful experience.  The last day we trained on sealings and were assigned to a group that was in sealing room 5.  A very beautiful room.

Thursday after pictures we headed home.  Riley had Cub Pack meeting so we went to that where Rob did the Arrow of Light presentation with Robbie helping him as porcupine  head.  Kelly got up early at 4:45 and took us to the airport.  We got checked in and got on board without any trouble.  We heard today that two couples going to Manila Philippines got stranded in the airport for several hours because no one came to pick them up. 

driving from airport

First view of our apartment bldg.

view from our roof

Hudson River from our roof

President Steve and Sister Marjorie Bennion were waiting for us as we came out for the baggage and we quickly got into the car and headed to our new home.  They got us checked in and then later took us to a very good Italian dinner. 

President Steve and Marjorie Bennion

We have a very lovely apartment, nicely furnished and all the missionaries chipped in and left us plenty of food for several days along with a laundry ticket and MTA card.  Very generous and loving missionaries.

Saturday we took our clothing into the temple and then came back at 1pm to be set apart by 2^nd Counselor President Mark Bench.  He set us apart as temple workers in the Manhattan New York Temple.  They then took us around the temple and turned us over to Elder Paul & Sister Mindie Rogers who continued our tour and training in the temple.  I was able to learn to fold baptism clothing, initiatory, present at the veil and other laundry assignments.  We left at 7:30 Saturday evening.  Later that evening we ventured out and found Trader Joes, McDonalds and a few other places.

Sunday we attended Church at the Manhattan 1^st Ward.  Ran into some old friends Mark and Silvie Wheeler from Rupert Idaho.  We went to High School together.  They were in town visiting a new grandbaby from London.  Elder Tom & Sister Elizabeth Hansen are sister to George Hoybjerj from Camarillo. They are serving in FH Center.  After coming home and getting something to eat, again food provided by the missionaries, we went for a walk to Central Park.  We looked at the South end, baseball field, playground, small pond, ice rink which in summer is a small amusement park, chess & checker house, daily house and back around and out pass Mayflower Hotel, where we stayed about ten years ago when we came to NY, it is now renamed and is a residence and the Trump Tower right next door.  That brought us out at Columbus circle and then back about four blocks back to home.  Sunday evening we went out walking again and found Western Beef, a grocery store many like to go to. 

Monday we went to Costco with Elder Terance and Sister Melba Grimley from Lehi.  They were Mission President in Taiwan in 2012.  We took our first subway in Manhattan and back on a bus and then subway again.  Ended up right in front of our building. 

This evening we had our first FHE activity.  What a beautiful evening entitled "A Night of Hymns".  First we had a great dinner, taco salad, corn bread and strawberry short cake followed by this wonderful program.  Eight Elders and Sisters were asked to share their favorite hymn and why.  Pres. Bennion "Our Savior's Love", Sister Grimley "Each Life That Touches Ours for Good"; President Roberts "The King of Glory (He That Hath Clean Hands) sung by Jesse Evens Smith, Elder Colton "Abide With Me, Tis Eventide"; Sister Bench "On This Day of Joy and Gladness" which she sang at the dedication of the temple; Sister Harris "Lead, Kindly Light"; Elder Mumford "For the Strength of the Hills"  reminded me of what Pres. Alldredge said about every hymn speaks of the temple and this one surely does; and Sister Thompson "I Believe in Christ".  She talked of Elder McConkie's last testimony and how he came to give it.  Elder and Sister Rogers prepared the whole evening and each of these hymns had a video to go with it.  Very beautiful evening and we ended with goodbyes from Elder and Sister Call who are returning after two years to Colorado.

Temple and Area Missionaries

Missionaries who shared their favorite Hymn Elder Colton, Elder Humford, Sister Bench, Sister Grimley, Sister Harris, Sister Thompson, President Roberts, and President Bennion

We can see we are very blessed already.  Many wonderful Saints and people here.
Oh I almost forgot.  Saturday night when we were out walking to McDonalds and Trader Joes we met a family who were walking beside us.  We started talking about how  long we had been married and we said 45 years.  They said that was great we looked so happy and they had been married 19 years.  Then we shared names and hers was Mary Alice.  She said I bet you don't know anyone by that name but I said "yes I do, my grandmother was Mary Alice".  She could not get over it.  Paul gave them one of our cards and we took a picture and wished each other well.