Week 3 May 30 - June 6 2016

Tuesday, May 31 we came out of the temple and stopped at the FHC where we had our first success.  We found some people whose cards had been printed but the work never completed.  We were able to print off several ordinances and looked for more.  The Hansens and Adams were great helpers They are the FH center missionaries.  We found when we got home that one of the cards had the sex incorrect.  We went back and Sister Lulu helped us clean it up.  A wonderful Spanish sister who lost her home in the last hurricane that came thru four years ago. 

Sister Lulu in the FHC

On Memorial Day at Columbus Circle

 Thursday June 2 Today I was assigned to be a guide for Marilyn Sykes who was receiving her endowment.  What a special opportunity and privilege.  Two Sister Missionaries brought her to the temple.  They were later joined by her Escort Sister Smith.  I was able to help with the initiatory and then was first follower on the session.

We have some wonderful Spanish brothers and sisters to serve with on Saturday.  Every other session is Spanish.  I was a follower on the 2 pm session and was able to serve a Spanish and Portuguese sister on my session.  Paul was on an early session officiating.

Today we purchased our first tickets for a musical “Daddy Long Legs”.  Everyone has raved about it and it finishes on the 6^th.  We took a walk down to the theater so we would know where to go on Saturday.

While walking down Broadway we saw this gentleman with four little dogs on his bike.  Two in front and two in back

We have been assigned by President Bennion to attend the Kingbridge 2^nd Ward out in the Bronx.  Pres. Jeffries, Stake President, gave us some direction and we will meet Bishop Ferguson on Sunday.  

Police officers on horses at Times Square

Saturday night we saw "Daddy Long Legs" a delightful musical with only two people in the cast and in a very small theater which holds 100 people.  We went a little early and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant and then wandered around and wandered into Times Square.

The Red Stairs Robbie was looking for

someone's rather nice Porsch

Sunday we took the subway to the Bronx to Church.  People have been very helpful when we need directiions.  It took about 50 minutes to get there and the Church is just about 100 feet from the subway so very close.  There are three wards which meet in the Bldg.  The first is a Spanish, then our ward, an English and then at 1:30 another Spanish Ward.  

We first met the Sister Missionaries, Sister Spendlove from Roy, Sister Green from Arizona, Sister Swindle from American Fork, and Sister Atkiinson from Logan and then we met four Elders. Elder Tabor from California, Elder Pulu from California and Elder Mafi from Tonga,   who are also assigned to the Ward.  It is a wonderful Ward and hopefully we will be able to be a support.  We bore our testimonies since it was Fast Sunday and everyone was really friendly.  The first people we met were the Newsomes.  Sister Newsome was so sweet.  She said "The Lord only sends us His very best".  We later visited with the Bishop and were asked to teach a Temple Preparation class starting in two weeks.  Sunday School and RS were great, really good teachers.  We are going to love it here. 

On the way home we went by way of Grand Central Station.  We want to go back and take a tour. 

Grand Central Station

 We left home about 10 and got home about 5 so a nice long day.

Today was going home day for the Calls.  They head back to Colorado area after serving 23 months here in the Manhattan Temple.

Sister Melba Grimley, Steve & Janean Call, Bob and  Dee Ann Buchanan, President Bennion

Sister Bennion and Elder Call turning in the keys

Today, Monday, Paul went down and did the laundry early 8 am and around noon we left to go see the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine up on Amsterdam and 113th.  It is an Episcopalian Church.  I thought it was Catholic and where the Pope came to visit.  Anyway a very beautiful building.  We stayed for an organ recital and then a tour of the building.  It was started in 1892 and built in two parts.  

St. John the Divine is an Episcopal church. They are a break off of the Angelican Church of England. It is the Cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.St. John is the largest Cathedral in the world, meaning a church that is also the seat of a Bishop. Measured by length or internal volume, it is one of the five largest church buildings in the world.  Construction of the Cathedral began in 1892, making it over 120 years old.  The first phase of the cathedral was  Romanesque-Byzantine style.  The second phase started in 1921 was neo-Gothic or Gothic Revival architecture.  It would hold two football fields and the Statue of Liberty could stand in it.

Rose stained glass window

In 2001 there was fire which started in the gift store in the middle of the night.  It ended up causing smoke damage which cost 45 million dollars to clean and took seven years.  It was rededicated in 2007. 

After getting home I went with Sister Wilson to the Lincoln Center to get me a ticket for Swan Lake.  I'm going with Sister Wilson next week. 

We are on days at the temple for three months so we go in 10 to 5 most days, Tuesday thru Saturday.