Week 31 December 27 - January 2

The week between Christmas and New Year's was a pretty busy week.  I guess everyone decided to come in one more time or maybe their first time, don't know but we were pretty busy.  One session I followed had 25 sisters and 12 brothers.  It was so wonderful to have the rooms filled.

New Year's Eve we joined with the other Temple Missionaries for a party at President and Sister Bench's apartment.  Again more wonderful food.  I took shrimp cocktail.  That's why we needed to go to Walmart a few weeks ago to find the shrimp.  The Mumford's came up with a wonderful auction game that we all enjoyed.  We got points by answering questions and then we could use those points to bid on some prizes.  The clue to the prize gave you an idea of what you might get.  Like lots of dough and it ended up being a dollar bill.  Lots of fun.  At 9 pm President Bench said it was midnight and time for everyone to go home.


I was so tired I went to bed around 10.  I should have gone to see the ball drop but missed the gathering.  Instead Paul woke me up at midnight to go up on the roof to watch the fireworks at Central Park.  Very beautiful.

January 1st we went to church at our new time 1:30 and we both spoke on Matthew 21.  It went well.  Paul also taught the Elders quorum on the last of the Duties of an Elder.  He had them consecrate oil.  It was dark when we came home.

Monday the 2nd was our 46 wedding anniversary.  We went to the movies with Sisters Thompson and Nabors to see "Hidden Figures".  Excellent movie and then we split and we went to lunch at Saffron, an Indian Restaurant buffet.  Delicious.  Came home and spent the rest of the day in watching Arrow and Hawaii 5O.

We have had a wonderful year and are very happy to be serving the Lord here in Manhattan.  Time is going quickly.

The kids had a great time in Island Park, lots of snow and always lots of fun especially when Rob leads the ride.  Brayden broke his wrist but is doing well now it is in a cast.  Courtney sounds wonderful and is doing great.  We are very blessed and love the Lord.

Week 30 December 20 - 26

We are on the early morning schedule so we go in to the temple from 9 - 4.  Paul goes to the recommend desk and I start the laundry and set up the baptistery.  It was a good day.  Took a little walk to the Western Beef for milk later that evening.

Today was pretty slow, in fact they cancelled the 2 pm session.  No patrons.  It may be a slow week.  Sister Lynn Orhn took us to dinner across the street to Juliard restaurant.  You walk in and order and they bring you your food.  It was very pleasant.  Sister Orhn knows the Cederlofs, our presidency in Palmyra.  we had a lovely visit and learned some things about the temple and area.

About 7:30 Paul went over to the temple to start cleaning.  I came over at 8.  We got the 1st and 4th floors done and then some more cleaners showed up.  Paul is now watching the BYU Fiesta Bowl.

The beautiful temple at night.

Missionaries out wrapping presents and handing out hot chocolate for the 21st Day of Christmas 

 

Christmas Eve we went to the Holloways for dinner and fun.  We had about 14 people there.  We had soup in bread bowls and salads.  So very good.  The Hanson's brought a Danish tradition, an almond in a jello salad.  Whoever finds the almond gets a prize.  I was the lucky winner.

The 1000 piece puzzle I won from the Hansons

Elder Rankin and Elder Sumsion (from River Ridge 9th Ward)

our Christmas letter picture for 2016 in Manhattan NY

 Saturday morning we caught the subway and went out to Kingsbridge to help clean the church and attend the Madera twins baptism.  This baptism has been a long time coming but finally arrived.  Elder Richards confirmed them on Sunday.

Baptism of Brianna and Camilla Madera with her mother Elizabeth and brother and Sister Missionaries Sister Balley and Sister Bongolto 

Eric Billa and Paul.  Eric came back from Maine and is headed to Provo area hopefully to get into school in accounting..

Some of our friends at Christmas dinner at our apartment.  Bryn Bass, Margaret May, Amneris Puscasu

 These two girls came later.  We got the time mixed up.

Kathy, Paul, Holloways, Bryn, Eric, Mar Jean, Kathy Thompson took the picture

Paul doing Monday laundry

 We also went out to Flushing and got hair cuts and tonight I am going to dinner at the Holloways.  Paul is nursing a cold so will stay home.

Week 29 December 13 - 19

This was a good week.  Paul has had many opportunities to do Spanish at the veil.  He has several Spanish sisters who are helping him and he is getting really good at it.  I have also done a few.  Thursday I got to be a guide for a couple who were being sealed and then having their four children, 14, 12, 8 and 1 sealed to them.  It was a very sweet experience.  She had brought a beautiful dress but wore one of the temple dresses for the sealing and then changed for pictures with the family.  The children looked beautiful.  It was all done in Spanish.

Wednesday evening the Apartment building sponsored a wonderful dinner for all the residents.  It was very delicious and enjoyable.

The men who serve us every day.

Friday Paul and I were both  guides for a young couple who were being sealed.  The bride arrived an hour late.  We had our first snow storm the night before and they had trouble getting into the city.  She was from here and he was from Seattle.  They met at BYU I in February.  Again another really sweet experience.

Sunday we got to choir practice late because we missed the 1 train and had to wait and then had to wait for about 20 minutes for the D train.  Got there about 11:15 just in time to sing it twice before meeting started.  The choir sang and it was beautiful.  It's fun to have a choir and music by individuals or choir.  We found out that Sister Richards sang with the Tabernacle Choir and she does a great job, obviously.  Brother Matthews sent out a note that the Tabernacle was going to be on PBS, last year's Christmas program and we were to watch for Sister Richards.  We did spot her several times.  It was fun to watch Sunday evening.

We also went to a fireside with Stewart Edge, he does UTube videos.  It was very good.  We had forgotten about caroling in the lobby so stopped and sang with them for a few minutes.  This was the missionary group.

The Elders and Sisters have been out every day in front of the temple doing service in conjunction with the "Light the World" initiative.  Fun to see them out there.

Monday was Paul's birthday.  What to do?  Decided NOT to go to the movies "Star Wars" and opted to take the 1 to Times Square and get on the Port Authority bus to NJ to WalMart.  We had to wait for about an hour for the bus to come.  Once we got on it didn't take long to get there.  It was cold.  We did find the shrimp were looking for.  We ended up catching the 3:05 bus coming back to the City.  We ate at Wendy's which made him happy.  Then we came home and watched "Hawaii O and Arrow".

We also received more goodies from more missionaries.  Lots of treats the last week.  The Pelo family gave us pictures of Walter Rane's Book of Mormon paintings with their testimonies on the back.  It has a wonderful story with it.  When Brother Rane was commissioned to paint the paintings   as he finished them he sent them to Utah where they were hung in the Pelo home until they were all completed.

This is their story.  Several years ago Walter Rane, a friend and artist, was completing a large commission of Book of Mormon painting that would end up at the LDS Church History Museum.  Walter was living with his wife Linda and two children in a small apartment in New York City.  We on the other hand lived in a large home in Utah; so we made an arrangement.  As Walter would finish each painting in New York he would ship it to our home in Utah for storage pending completion of the seventeen piece collection.

It didn't seem proper to store this beautiful artwork in our garage--so with each arrival we found an empty wall in our home.  One by one every bedroom and living space became a gallery, in no time at all we found ourselves living in a virtual Book of Mormon time machine.

Our children slept under the banner of Captain Moroni and the guard of Stripling Warriors.  Each morning we sat at breakfast before a rainbow of angels and young children in the arms of their Savior.  It was a very sad day two years later when the museum truck arrived to pick up the completed collection.  The people of the Book of Mormon had become our friends and daily companions.

After first being exhibited at the LDS Church Museum, the BYU Museum of Art and several visitor c enters, the collection found a new home in New York City; at Lincoln Square, in the building that houses the LDS Temple New York City is our new home and it has been a blessing to be reunited with our wonderful  Book of Mormon friends after all thee years.

We'd like to share some of these images with you, together with a brief testimony or thought from a family member.  Our witness, together with the witness borne from the images themselves, is the gift we share this Christmas.
Merry Christ  The Brad and Melody Pelo Family

We are so blessed to be here in New York City.  We love the Lord and our family and look forward to being together forever.

Also Aunt Mary had a stroke and is now home but not doing well.  She is 93 and still recognized and talked to me on the phone.

Our first snow storm

 Saturday was our Ward Temple day.  We were excited to see several members come to do baptisms and a session.

Brother Mattews, William, Bishop Fergeson and Brother & Sister Jones.  Sister Fergeson and Johnson were not in the picture

Brother Monenagro and Sister Fergeson got in this picture

Sister Richards, Elder Richards taking the picture, Sister Phillips, Woods and the Lewises

Missionaries and Sister Phillips out caroling 

18th day of Christmas, write a not to your mother

Elder Sumsion, his companion and trainer is going home day after Christmas so he might be transferred.

Birthday lunch at Wendy's

Week 28 December 5 - 12

Wednesday was a light day.  Not a big load of laundry to do in the morning and I was able to get my last four initiatories completed and also go on the 2 pm session.  We had the most lovely couple on the session.  They were in the temple to do the temple ordinances for their son who passed away last year and then they were being sealed as a family later in the day.

Evan and Tara Hagland

At 7:40 we walked over to the temple to help with the cleaning.  We finished the 1st floor and saw there were five other cleaners there.  We went up to the 5th floor and who should be standing outside the elevator but Evan and Tara Hagland from our Slovenia days.  He was the Branch President in Ljubljana.  They came back to our apartment and we had a nice visit.  They were in town to celebrate their 15 wedding anniversary and had been int he temple performing sealings.  What a great blessing for us to run into them.  No coincidence.  They are living in New London CN.  They came back to the temple on Friday and I was able to be a follower on their session.  Great people.  They now have four children and he is a Bishop in their Ward.

Thursday we worked the evening shift.  Elder & Sister Buchanan flew home for the funeral of her sister in Alpine.  It was fun seeing the evening shift again.  Last week I also got to do some Spanish at the veil.  Paul continues to have opportunities to help.  He has it memorized now.  I'm still working on it.  Need to do it more often for the motivation.

Saturday evening was the Kingsbridge 2nd Ward Christmas dinner.  It was very nice.  Lots of food and people.  It is a great ward and everyone one helps out.

Sunday we went out early so we could help clean and attend choir practice.  We get to sing next Sunday.  Sister Richards, MLS missionaries, plays and conducts.  She has brought some beautiful music into the Ward and also plays the organ.

We came back from Church and went to the Mid Single Branch in the Manhattan Bldg.  Luis Oveido was confirmed and Paul wanted to be there.  During Sacrament meeting they had a couple of beautiful Christmas music presented.  Emily Snyder was also teaching the Gospel Doctrine class and had invited us.  She gave a great lesson.

Monday we left home around 10:30 and went to Macy's.  We wanted to see Santa Clause which Sister Thompson told us about.  However he was not out where you could see him.  You had to go into a train and he was back in another room.  We found out we could have made a reservation and not had to stand in line.  Of course, we chose not to stand in line.  From there we headed to Tad's Steak House for lunch.  On the way Paul spotted a 99cent pizza place so picked up a slice.  From their we went to Radio City where we waited for the rest of our group of missionaries to see The Rocketts at Christmas.  It was really good.  We are home again relaxing and getting ready for next week.

We had our first snow.  Lasted about ten minutes and it is getting colder.

Lots of food, turkey, ham, chicken and all the trimmings

Jennifer Garcia, Paul, Carol Matheson, Sasha 

Jennifer, Me, Carol

Gloria and Sunday, from our Temple Prep class

Brother & Sister Woods and Richards (MLS)

Mary Hunsinger and Sister Phillips

Sister Fergeson

Bishop & Sister Fergeson

Sister Grace and Sister Barthalemew

Paul & Frank 

Sister Grant,... Sister Wright

Primary program of nativity

drummers in the Columbus Circle sub station

Emily Snyder preparing to teach her Gospel Doctrine class

Paul, Mar Jean and Emily

Monday at Macy's to see Santa

Foyer of Radio City 

Radio City 

Rockettes 

Week 27 November 29 - December 5

A great week.  Paul got to do practice Spanish last week in the baptistery.  What a great experience it was for him.  All his practicing is paying off.  They are starting to give him opportunities to use it.  \\

We started the day shift.  We go in 9-4 on four days.  Paul goes to the recommend desk to relieve the President or Counselor and I go directly to the laundry to start the washers then I go and change and come back and put them in the dryer.  In between I go to set up the baptistery but Sister Bench usually beats me to it.  She is so wonderful, I want to be like her.  By 10 o'clock the other workers are arriving and the day starts.

Church along 5th Avenue

Sax 5th Avenue and music was playing

Monday evening we went down to see the tree at Rockefeller Center.  Fun evening and not too cold.  Ended up walking home down 5th Ave to see the store fronts and around the park.

Rockefeller Center

Store display

Trump Tower

Wednesday evening we went to the temple around 8 to help clean.  Good thing because only two sisters showed up.  We are happy help with the work.

Thursday we begin at 5 am to noon.  Same routine but the first session is at 6:30.  At 8 o'clock I was follower on the session.  We came back to the temple to do the 2 pm session and then on Friday we stayed and immediately to the 4 pm session.  We are getting lots of names completed and the temple helps us with ten names a week but we feel we should do our part so we try to do everything else and at least some of the endowments.

Saturday evening after the temple we went  to the Christmas Program "Carols on Columbus".  They had two performances and we chose the first.  We went early but still did not get seats in the chapel.  It was an excellent program, lots of beautiful music by people in the New York Stake.  Many were ordinance workers from the temple.

Sunday was Fast Sunday and they were having a special Stake meeting for Ward Councils.  They were introducing the self reliant program here in the Stake.  It started at 7 am so we left at 6 to get there on time.  We actually caught an express so got there early.  Sounds like a wonderful program we would like to be involved in.  It sounds like they are going to start with the finance strand.  The Pothiers are missionaries assigned to teach how to set it up to five stakes.  They also serve in the temple on Thursdays.  We are blessed to have all the senior couples in the mission serve in the temple one day a week.  I think they love it also.

Samuel Latumba and a picture of his family he made in Primary

Jennifer Garcia and Yesenia were both in Church Sunday so we had our temple prep class.  They have really hard lives but are trying their best with all their hardships.  We are grateful to know and love them.  Paul taught the Elders Quorum.  He has been asked to teach qualifications of an Elder, five lessons.  This was his 4th.  He didn't have much time because they were blessed to have two ordinations, Brother Woods and Lutumba.  The missionaries are doing some great work.

Sunday night we attended the baptism of Luis Oviendo from the mid singles Branch.  Paul had met him over at the Church a few weeks ago and we were invited to come.  He had great support from his Branch and we saw Emily Snyder there and had a nice visit.  Should have gotten a picture.

We also ran into some of our missionaries who are now serving in Manhattan, Elder Tabor and Staker.  They were out front of the temple inviting people to the Carols on Columbus.

Monday, today, we took the subway to find Dollar Tree.  We got to walk thru Columbia University, which is very beautiful and finally found the store.  We took the bus back.  36W 116th street.

We heard a wonderful report from Courtney this week.  They are having many miracles and another one of her companions want to be adopted by our family.  Isn't that sweet.  We love the Lord and are so grateful to be able to serve here in the Manhattan Temple.  The Lord has blessed us immensely.

Elder Sumsion still in Kingsbridge bldg.

Merry Christmas