Week 9 July 12 - 18

A great week in the temple.  Not quite as busy the last couple of weeks but we continue to get tourists from the West.  We are always willing and ready to accommodate them.  We had a lovely sister receiving her endowment and then being sealed in the Boston Temple this last weekend and several newly called missionaries coming in.  One of the Spanish wards brought in a great group of youth so the baptistery has been very busy.  We love busy.  Wednesday night we went over to the temple to help with the cleaning.  It didn't take long because there were five of us.  

Sunday was a wonderful day.  We were not sure what to expect after last week when we had a returned missionary and senior couple come back for a visit.  They contacted so many people and the chapel was very full.  Well this Sunday we were pleasantly surprised because the chapel was again almost full.  We have had a number of new families move into the Ward.  We are so blessed.  Jennifer Garcia was the only one in our class Sunday but Sister Bartholemew was able to help her in family history.  I also was able to participate in the indexing they were doing this weekend throughout the Church.  It's always great to be part of such a great work.

Sister missionaries outside the temple and chapel inviting passersby in to see Walter Rane's paintings of the Book of Mormon

A Spanish sister from the temple who works on Fridays in the Kingsbridge bldg.

our picture taker

New District Sisters Lewis, Green Atkinson, Elder Tabor, Lewis, Sister Swiindle, Leavitt, Elders Brown, DcGraw, Staker and Pulu

On our way home from Kingsbridge Church on the subway

Friday night we got together with Elder &Sister Hansen and Channing and Allan.  We went to AJ Kitchen for this great burger.  Channing (Hoyberg, George & Laurel from Camarillo) and her husband are living here in Queens and the Hansen's are her Aunt and Uncle.  What a small world.  

AJ Kitchen

Channing & Allan

 This morning we had to go back to the MTR station at Stantan Ferry and Riley reminded us that we had not sent any pictures of ground zero or the Statue of Liberty.  We are waiting to go to the Statue of Liberty until someone comes but we did walk to ground zero.

a map of the park

the north fountain with names all around the endge

skyline view of the area

North fountain

waiting for subway

Wall Street Bull (stock market area)

T

Freedom tower

Ready to head out for the evening to Radio City.  By the time we got to the front door we had a down pour.  We waited until it was over and then headed out. 

After finding Radio City we headed to 5 Guys for dinner.

 We finally found Rockefeller Center.  Lego store and walked thru the Rockefeller bldg.

Went to see the Radio City Rockettes.  Very fun evening.  Went with Sisters Wilson, Thompson, Mumford and Elder & Sister Huntington.

Week 8 July 5 - 11

The weeks fly by so quickly.  This week I was trying to decide whether to get a hair cut or let it grow.  The girls voted grow so we will see how it goes.

  

This week we had Brother & Sister Diane &     Powell stay with us for three days.  They were senior missionaries here in the Kingsbridge Ward.  It was a pleasure meeting them and seeing their great love for these people.  They made a huge impact on many lives.  Sunday when they came to Church they brought at least 30 people with them.  We have never seen the chapel so full.  It was wonderful. 

Elder & Sister Powell from Orem Utah MLS missionaries in Kingsbridge Ward, Bronx

 On Saturday Paul was a guide for members of this family.  A missionary son and father both received their endowment and then the family was sealed together.  The 14 year old boy got to spend most of the day (about six hours) with Elder Lewis.  He took him to the FH Center and then watched the Manhattan Temple dedication film and a few other temple films.  It was a glorious day for all of them.  What a privilege to be apart of such wonderful blessings.

 Sunday was a fantastic day.  It started with us leaving home at 8:45, getting to the Church in time for the 10 am Ward Council meeting, then Sacrament meeting which was excellent.  Sister Bartholemew, the FH consultant spoke on discipleship and then Brother Newsome, 1st Counselor, spoke on speaking sot and kind words and being respectful of each other.  I am sure this was in the wake of the Dallas police shootings.  Thank goodness we have the gospel in our lives to give us hope and a better perspective of life.  Elders Howard and Mafi are being transferred this week and Sister Spendlove is now going home.  They have been great missionaries.  We love them immensely.

Elder Howard, from Orem, Lewis, Mafi

Sister Lewis, Spendlove (from Roy, Utah)

 While moving from Sacrament meeting to Sunday School I ran into Sister Vargas.  She serves in the temple and on Saturday runs the baptism laundry.  She is a wonderful lady and I knew I would not get a picture of us at the temple so took advantage of today.

Sister Lewis, Sister Vargas

 Today in Temple Prep class we just had Jennifer but we talked about the blessings that come from receiving our temple blessings.  She is trying really hard to keep the covenants she has made.

During our missionary correlation meeting we had fajitas and talked about what was going on with the missionaries.  They all seemed to love being fed.  We also had a baptism planned for 5 pm when the Spanish Ward finished so we had a little time.  Elder Lewis went with the Elders to give the sacrament to Sister Ferguson and I went with Sister Spendlove and Green to visit Elizabeth.  She has fallen on hard times, lost her job, became ill.  She has four children.  Two twin girls who are turning 9 on Thursday and the Sisters have been teaching them.  We are all praying that the family will start coming to Church so they can receive God's blessings and inspiration in their lives.  It's always fun to be with the Sister Missionaries.  They are very powerful.

Elizabeth, Sister spendlove, Green

 Emmanuel was baptized today by Frank Bartholemey, a new member who is preparing to be sealed in the temple to Gina.

Elders Tobor Emmanuel Ehiakhamen, Elder Pulu ,and Elder Mafi

 This young man, Eric, is not a member but came to Church today.  He was invited to come back for the baptism and he did on his own.  Great potential here.

Just as we were getting on the train Sister Wilson, from Tetons, called to see if we would like to come over for pumpkin pie.  Who can say know to that.  We had a nice visit with her and Sister Thompson, from Taylorsville, and the Buchanans, from Alpine.

Eric 

Monday morning we left early for Queens where Paul got a hair cut after eight weeks.  Yes we had to go home and color.  We were in a part of Korea town.

We got off the subway at Times Square were out to find Rockefeller Center someone lead us astray and we ended up walking down 5th Avenue, which is something we wanted to do anyway.  We came across St. Patrick's church, really beautiful.

5th Avenue New York City

St. Patrick's Church 

Further down 5th close to Central Park we found another Trump building.

We ended up walking all the way home from 44th Street but we got to come thru the park and see some beautiful areas of Manhattan.  

After going home and resting from our long walk we scouted out Shake Shack which we have been hearing about.  They do have good hamburgers and we enjoyed the walk.

It has been a great week.  Family at home have been busy.  Kory and Tyler went to Island Park with the Priests.  This week Brayden (he turns 12 on the 13th of July), and Robbie are at Scout Camps, Kory, Katie and family are at Island Park, Riley is at Cub Camp, Rob is busy working on fires and other events.  Courtney is now is Hays, Kansas and in a new area and doing great.  We are so proud of each one of our family and know God is watching over and blessing them.  Have a great week.  Read scriptures, pray and give service.  We can do HARD things.  

Week 7 June 28 - July 4

Wow what a day we had today, Tuesday.  Paul was assigned to the baptistery at 11 and was expecting a group of 5, then two came in trying to catch the airport, 3 Elders and one endowed brought a new convert from PA,  Spanish couple, 2 sisters and 1 Spanish brother and 3 more sisters all walk-ins except for the Buchanan family (one of our missionary workers).  It all worked out as usual in the temple.  I had the opportunity to assist in a sealing of a Spanish couple who had been on a session and wanted to to have his grandparents sealed and then have his mother sealed to them.  I got to be the proxy for the his mother who was being sealed to her parents.

We always have a wonderful day in the temple no matter what comes.  Again it's summer and we ave a lot of visitors who want to come to the New York Temple.  That really says wonderful things about the members of the Church that they would make time in their schedule to come to the Lord's house to help further His great work.

Wednesday evening we had Christian Jones and a professor and her husband that he had in Provo come to dinner.  They were in NY for business.  They are from Pleasant Grove but looking at moving to NY for his work.

Paul, Christian Jones, Bradford and Heather Pack

 We were blessed to meet up with Mercy and Jerry Strubeck on Thursday.  They were on their way to a family wedding and took time to come to the temple.  We were able to be on a session with them.

Sunday was a wonderful day in Kingsbridge 2 Ward.  Lots of good testimonies and two investigators who have set a baptism date bore their testimonies.  Our Temple Preparation class was full, everyone was there and we had a new member, JoJo, Sunday, Gloria, Frank, Gina, Pearlina and Jeannette.  After the block we met with the missionaries.  I made them some Artisan Cheddar bread which I got from Sister Harris and some strawberries.  They have a baptism next Sunday so we are all excited and transfers are coming up next Sunday also so we will be losing at least two of our missionaries.  Sister Spendlove is going home and Elder Howard has been in this Ward for 7 months.

Sunday evening we were invited to the Mumfords apartment to visit with a sister they had met who is studying vocal.  The Holloways were also there and we had a chance to get to know each other much better.  The Mumfords are from Logan and the Holloways are from Rexburg and have served 5 missions.  We are in great company.

P-day today was pretty fun, 4th of July.  Paul got up and got the laundry done and at 9:30 we left for Coney Island.  Took an hour on the subway.  A concert was going when we got there.  We walked up and down the boardwalk and out on the pier.  People were already filling up the beach and by the time we left the rides were starting to open and more people were arriving.  Before leaving we stopped for a hot dog but they didn't look that great so we decided on an Italian sausage with onions and peppers, very tasty.

Reuben, a real helper on the subway.  A local Brooklyn who took the time to be friendly and help us.

A small group on Coney Island as we arrived.

Coney Island Beach behind us

Looks pretty scary

Coney Island beach

Brooklyn minor league ball park on Coney Island

Our tasty Italian Sausage

We were leaving Coney Island just as the mob of people were arriving.  We caught the subway and got off at the Brooklyn Bridge.  Decided it was a good to walk across it.  Very beautiful afternoon and it is quite amazing how this bridge was built.  It was started in 1869??

In the sidewalk before going up the stairs to the bridge

leaving the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge walking and biking across

We were serenaded by three artists on the subway 

NY Supreme Court and Federal Court

 From here we went to China Town and tried to find a couple of store we visited a few weeks ago.  Some success and some failure.  We finally got home around 4 pm.  A really fun day and our feet were tired.

Later in the evening we went to the rooftop to watch the fireworks.  We were not sure if we would be able to see them but around 9:25 pm they went off and we could see the tops.  We got a little rain on us but it was fun.  We came back to the apartment and watched it again on tv.

We are grateful for your love and support.  Keep your covenants and be faithful.

Week 6 June 14 - 27

We have been busy in the temple.  We continue to see many tourists coming to the temple and so a lot of walk-ins which we are happy to see.  Many are from the West and sometimes we run into someone who knows someone we know.  I have been serving a little more in the office to learn how things are run there.  Paul has been using his Spanish at the veil and is starting to get more comfortable.  I'm anxious to try also and one of these first days they will need an extra Spanish presenter.  It's great work and we love it.  Also have been stopping into the FHCenter to check out some family names. We have wonderful missionaries here who know what they are doing, Elder & Sister Hansen and Elder & Sister Adams.  They also serve in the temple at least one day a week.

Wednesday evening Paul returned to the temple to help clean.  Good thing he showed up because he was the only one.  I had gone to an interfaith activity with Sister Janice Wilson.  There were three faiths, ours, Jewish, and Muslim.  The Muslims were celebrating the ending of their fast for Ramadon.  First we had  beautiful music from a NY missionary.  Very talented who had given up a $10,000 scholarship, or put it on hold, while he served.  He sang "Redeemer of Israel" and "He is the Christ".  So beautiful.  Then a Jewish young man, Noah Aronson who writes his own music and lyrics played for us and then we ended with The  Saami Brothers Oawwai.  a very lovely evening and educational.  We stopped about 8:30 for a break the fast and then they played again until 10:30.  We had to leave at 10:00.

This is Albert, one of the security officers at the Temple building.  He is investigating the Church and would be in our Ward Kingsbridge 2nd Ward

Elder Tabdor, Howard, Staker, Pulu, Mafi, Lewis; Sister Spendlove, Green, Atkinson, Spindle, Lewis

Sunday Elder Lewis and I spoke in Church with Sister Grant, our RS President.  We introduced a Ward Mission Plan which we hope will help the missionaries get into more homes.  They are a great group of missionaries.  We are blessed to serve with them.  We had three new families move in Sunday so we are hoping to get some more Melchizedek Priesthood holders.  They also have two baptisms scheduled in the next couple of weeks.

Elders were on the subway with us

Monday we took a trip to Costco on the bus, or two buses.  We had a great adventure.  We found the mall which had Aldi, Target and Costco.  One has to be careful though because whatever you buy has to be carried home on the bus.  Going I wasn't sure how we would get the cart back on the bus it was so crowded but coming home it was very light, not rush hour.

Can you believe they don't have frozen Rhodes rolls?  But they do have hot dogs, ceasar salad and pizza.  We got all three for later.

On the way home we changed buses at the Panda Express store so picked up a dinner.  We should be set for the week.  At Costco we took down all the names and  numbers of the foods we wanted and we will order on line and they will ship them to us.  That should work. We just found out it does not work.

Wards Island is behind Paul.  Someone told us they have a lot of concerts there during the summer.

Tonight we have a FHE dinner and activity.  The last one was excellent so we are looking forward to it.

 Have a great week.  We love you all.  Keep reading the Book of Mormon and praying and giving service.  We can all do Hard Things.