"Guess Who's Coming...or Going to Dinner"

I had invited the four sister missionaries in our area to dinner for Tuesday, April 28 at 5:00 pm. It had been on the calendar for about a week.

Unbeknown to me, just this morning, Elder de Paula told the Rivas family to be ready at 4:00pm and we would take them out to dinner.

Oops!

Isn't there something in the missionary handbook about communicating with your companion. Oh, that may just be for those young, pliable, communicative elders?

The Rivas family is on the left - Frank holding Frankie & Marlene (behind), Sisters Frodsham and Mullens; (back) Elder de Paula, Sisters Burton, Brimhall and de Paula.

It all worked our just fine. We invited them to come to our apartment. I marinated chicken and steak and cooked up loads of stir fry loads vegetables and served it with spinach salad with Mandarin oranges, crusty sesame bread and lemon bars for dessert. The Rivas' also brought beautiful Colombian pastries.

We all had an enjoyable time together and Frank's wife, Marlene, seemed pleased that the Brentwood Spanish-speaking sisters were here since she's still working on her English. Three-year-old Frankie communicates in both languages, and was, of course, the center of attention.

The evening couldn't have turned out any better.

Thanks for your Kindness

Sometimes in some places with some people you make a connection. It doesn't really matter the age span or the background differences or the varied interests or anything else - you just make a friend. And it's good.

Deanna and I had several phone conversations over the months and shared some profound ideas and thoughts. I think we both got some good understanding and insights.

On Monday evening we were invited to their brand new, newly decorated and very adorable apartment, as their very first guests, for a wonderful "going away" dinner for us. It was not only delicious, but great fun to be with them. Who would dream that young people would be caught dead with old seniors like us? Thanks Bryant and Deanna!

Bay Shore Ward's Newest Member

Congratulations Oscar!

Oscar with his two children Jennifer 13 and Chris 6, and Erika with her daughter, Kaylie 3, enjoy Oscar's baptism day Saturday April 25.

Oscar and Erika have been dating for two years during which time Erika, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as been trying to get Oscar to have the missionaries over to teach him. It wasn't until he met Sisters Frodsham and Burton that the Spirit touched to him. They are engaged to be married and all three children are delighted. They will live in Oscar's home in the Bay Shore ward after they marry.

"These sisters are just amazing," said Ocsar at his baptismal service. He bore a powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and the Book of Mormon. And he also told of how he thought he had been a good man in his life, but now he noticed ways he wanted to improve and people he wanted to exemplify.


Many friend and family from Erika's ward were in attendance for support and to participate in the service. Ward members brought refreshments for a social after the baptism. Oscar's daughter, Jennifer (in denim jacket) and her friend Destiny (in yellow shirt) are taking the missionary lessons now and are attending Church regularly.

Chris waits patiently while his dad cuts the adorable CTR (Choose The Right) cake made my a member of our ward.

Oscar was baptized by Erika's uncle and confirmed Sunday in Sacrament meeting by Elder de Paula. President Bennion gave a few closing remarks at the baptismal service and mentioned what a great contribution Oscar and his family will make to this Church. This was a good weekend for Bay Shore.

On The Way to the Manhattan Temple

Woodhaven Subway Station

The Manhattan Temple is not in our mission, but our young elders and sisters are allowed to go two times during their missions - at the mid point and just before the end of their missions. Senior missionaries do not have the same rules as young missionaries and can go whenever time permits. The young people always give us new life...and sometimes wear us out!

We made the hour drive in from Bay Shore to the mission office where we met the sixteen missionaries we would escort to the temple and walked to the Woodhaven subway station to catch the R train.

Click to watch and hear our R train coming:


Teaching on the Train
Elder Jeong never stopped being a missionary for even one moment, going to or returning from the missionary temple trip. He passed out cards, initiated conversations, smiled at everyone, shared pamphlets, had discussions and even got help when he couldn't speak the right dialect. What a missionary!


I saw Elder Jeong (above) conversing with a woman for about 15 minutes, explaining something, showing her materials, writing information down, and giving her a card. Several seats down in the same car, there was an Oriental woman watching the entire thing, who seemed interested in Elder Jeong and his presentation. I watched with interest.


When the first woman exited the train, the second woman (above) got up, hurried over, sat in the empty seat and began talking to this missionary. After only a few sentences, Elder Jeong stood and went to the front of the train where some other missionaries were seated.


Elder Jeong returned with Elder Ng. I assumed there had most likely been a dialect or language problem, and that Elder Jeong knew right where to go for help. Now everyone appeared happy and content. With 184 nations represented within our mission boundaries and several languages spoken among the missionaries, there's a chance the right language or dialect can be found.

It was a beautiful experience to watch this drama unfold on the way to the temple - a dedicated young elder fulfilling his purpose by "inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel..."

At the Manhattan Temple

The sixteen missionaries we escorted on Friday, April 24 were celebrating the halfway points in their missions.

Manhattan Anniversary Temple Trip

Included in this anniversary temple trip (in no particular order) are the following Sisters: Heininge, Kevan, Frodsham; and Elders: Goodman, Karl, Rhodes, Wallace, Baker, Carcel, Gabrielson, Haggard, Jeong, Mendbayer, Ng, Peterson, Stone.


Looking up at Angel Moroni

We brought the missionaries up from the subway on Broadway where the first thing they spot is the temple. We could hear all their oohs and aahs! We arrived in plenty of time for them to take a few pictures before entering to serve in this beautiful edifice.


Looking out through Stained Glass Doors

When the temple session was over, we exited through the beautiful stained glass doors, taking with us a bit of the celestial - a greater commitment to serve, to work hard, to love more, to be better missionaries. It was good to be in the House of the Lord.

"A True New York Experience - The Hot Dog Stand"

"I could be starving right to death!"


"There's no graceful way to eat a drippy hotdog!"


"How many of these things do we get?"
After a quick bite we headed one long block east on 66th street and there we were at Central Park on one of the most beautiful days of the year! The missionaries were thrilled to be able to see one of the most famous sites in New York - or in the entire country for that matter.

After the Manhattan Temple

After the Anniversary Temple Trip, when both time and weather permit, the escorting senior couple have the option of taking the missionaries on a brief walk through Central Park. Everything was right, so we made the decision to go. For most, this would be a once in a lifetime experience. They were elated!

A Walk Through Central Park

The day couldn't have been more beautiful!

After days of heavy rains, people could enjoy Spring in New York!

The blossoms were bright and the trees were beginning to leaf.

Blue skies and green grasses seemed endless in the Park.


As we walked, we heard the rhythmic sound of this jazz trio.

There was plenty of space for visitors to find the sun and the solitude of Central Park.

And here in the Park, a gentleman from Orem spotted our name tags and struck up a conversation with Elder de Paula. An additional coincidence is that his own son, Elder Dan Kim, now at Cambridge University in England, was in the New York New York South Mission a few years ago. Small world!

The missionaries were amazed to learn that Central Park covers over 800 acres and has many natural wooded areas.

These missionaries loved Central Park...almost as much as we loved being with them. We've been to the Park many times, so we didn't need to see it. We enjoyed watching them. We watched people watching them. There is something unique about them. They truly are different. They are clean. They are set apart. They are the Lord's Chosen to do His work in spreading the gospel on the earth...and they do it well.

The purpose of the Anniversary Temple Trip is to give missionaries the opportunity to serve in the House of the Lord, to renew their covenants and to gain strength and perspective for their continued service in the mission field. That mission was truly accomplished.

"If you feed them...they will come"

Elders Law, Merrill, Maughan and Evans grab an appetizer before dinner

Yes, if you feed them, they will come. And who might "them" be? The elders, of course! They came to dinner on Thursday the 23rd...and we loved having them over. When I invited them to come and have dinner with us before our mission ends, one of them mentioned that they were ready for some regular "Utah-Idaho" food. Somehow I kinda' knew what he meant.


There was a request for "funeral potatoes." Would that have been from one of the two Idaho elders? With those, the pork chops, carrots and broccoli with garlic bread seemed to help fill up these "starving servants." They also enjoyed a dessert of sugar cookie cake with mandarin oranges, fresh strawberries and ice cream - topped with whipped cream.



Elders Lead in Bay Shore and Brentwood

These great elders are very dedicated and give countless service to others - in and out of the Church. We comment frequently that the two wards in our building - the Bay Shore English-speaking and the Brentwood Spanish-speaking -would not be able to function properly were it not for the full time missionaries. Both bishops rely heavily on these young men for the smooth operation of their respective wards.

We are honored to know them.

Zone Conference Lunch - revisited at Woodside

Woodside LDS Chapel

Because of a family situation, the senior couple who was to provide the Woodside Zone Conference lunch today was not able to and asked us to take over. We did a "repeat performance" of last Wednesday's menu for different zones in a different venue. And it was every bit as fun! Today we planned for 50 missionaries and had the help of senior couples Elder & Sister Bulloch and Elder & Sister Smith.

"Thumbs Up Lunch"

We hadn't remembered that there were so many Chinese speaking missionaries in these two zones. In fact, many are wonderful native Chinese elders from all over the world. You should have seen the look on their faces when they saw - first in the food line - two enormous trays of rice! Then when they spotted the sweet and sour chicken with vegetables their joy was almost audible...almost:-) There were numerous very polite "thank you I love this!" statements and many more "oh my gosh, this is amazing" statements. Bottom line - missionaries love food and are so grateful.

"Called to Serve"

President Bennion asked the fifty missionaries to stand, and as a "thank you" for our preparing lunch for them today and in honor of our departure in two weeks, he asked them to sing one verse of "Called to Serve." Their faces, their voices and their spirits were clear, and simple and inspiring - just like the gospel they proclaim.

We will not easily forget what we saw and felt today.

On Our Way to Institute Meeting...

I like taking pictures. I like capturing the moment. Even when "the moment" happens to be moving down the Long Island Expressway at 50 miles an hour...in the rain trying to make to our Institute training meeting on time.

So I captured the moment through our dirty, spotted windshield.

It was a bright, colorful truck in an otherwise dreary morning, rumbling westward through heavy Queens traffic toward Manhattan.

The truck itself was adorable. The logo - very clever.

"Apple & Eve 100% Juice - Be Pure Be Fruitful"

Only in New York.

A Family Home Evening from New Zealand

Fun and Games and Feeling the Spirit

Melanie went home to New Zealand just after Christmas to be with her family. Her father suddenly passed away and none of us were sure she would be back to New York to visit the old gang. She came for four days and made arrangements to get together with her friends YSA friends from Stony Brook Institute for an evening before flying out to live in Minnesota for the summer.

Below Melanie, Diana & Anjela listen and smile

Landon, Chandi & Ryan watch and enjoy

Rob and Tate think and write


Chandi & Diana try their skill at the straw game

Melanie introduced us to a couple get-to-know-you games and then we had a nice review of the recent General Conference - our impressions and new insights. These young single adults know how to have fun, are deep thinkers and want to be obedient. What better combination could there possibly be?

We then went into the kitchen where Melanie had biscuits (cookies) from New Zealand which everyone would bite off one end and dip the other end in hot chocolate. Then through the cookie, suck up the hot chocolate and finally nibble away the cookie. Watching it was interesting, but no thanks! I had my two biscuits with cold milk.

Melanie with Elder & Sister de Paula

We have great memories of escorting this darling gal to the Manhattan Temple November 22, 2008. Tonight we hugged about ten times and got phone numbers, addresses, email, and Facebook information... just to be sure.

I think we're all covered!

David's Doctors of Musical Arts Recital

David has been one of our treasured students at the Stony Brook Institute program for the entire time we have been here on Long Island. He is a returned missionary, a student of the scriptures, a fine leader and has now earned a PHD in music from Stony Brook University.

An Afternoon of Beautiful Viola Music

Click "play button" to hear a portion of the Sonata.


David invited us to his final Doctors of Musical Arts recital Monday afternoon at the university. The video is my recording of David playing the viola assisted by Winnie on the piano performing the lst Movement of "Sonata for Viola and Piano" by George Rochberg. His intent is to teach as well as perform in a symphony orchestra. He will achieve success in both.

Institute Director Hosts Farewell Luncheon

Bangerters Host Farewell Luncheon

Around the table clockwise are President Cory & Sister Gayle Bangerter, Sister & Elder de Paula, Elder & Sister Smith and Sister & Elder West. There has been a bi-monthly Institute Training meeting with other senior couple our mission here in New York. We have received instruction, shared teaching ideas, discussed scriptures, and refined teaching.

Today was a less a day for those kinds of things and more for a social and a farewell. But the end of June, all three missionary couple will be through with their missions and going home.

Taunting aromas from the kitchen wafted through the hallways and into our meeting room as we put the final touches on the spring semester. It was pretty hard to discuss summer classes and the Wednesday evening forum when pulled pork, beans with cheese and salsa was waiting just around the corner.

On the table where we sat to eat were adorable ceramic "Big Apple" napkin holders for each couple along with a kind note from the Bangerters. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and your very tasty food! We'll miss you...but will see you, Bangerters, in Utah. The Bangerters have been employed by the Church Education System for 36 years and have lived, taught and supervised all over the world. They will return to Alpine to retire in just over a year.

Harper's Blessing Day

Happy Family Event

A baby brings a lot of love to a family. On April 19, baby Harper was given a name and a Priesthood blessing by her daddy, Cade. She is held here by her mommy, Ashley, our niece. They are dotting, adorable parents with lots of extended family who offer plenty of help with Harper.

Among those enjoying the lovely event and luncheon on Sunday were some of our family - Nicole & Frank, Tiffany and her children and Matt & Rachelle.

Just this month, we'll miss several birthdays and other important family events, as we have for the last fifteen months. We keep reminding ourselves that serving a mission is indeed a sacrifice - " giving up something good for something better." We know our family has been blessed in our absence.

Friday, Food, Fun and "Family"

Fridays are always days with "our kids" at the church for district meeting. We're not in charge. They are - and what great leaders and teachers they are, teaching from "Preach My Gospel."

After the meeting there was a "secret" plan to take Sister Burton to lunch for her birthday. That was a good idea, but these young missionaries are allotted barely enough money each month to buy the basics, if that, let alone any extras. So Elder de Paula and I decided to treat them all to a Birthday Lunch. The looks on their faces was worth more than a fortune!


We're going to miss these two great sisters when we leave - Sister Frodsham and Sister Burton.

Here at our apartment, as Sister Burton blows out the candles on her birthday "cake" she asked "why three?" Didn't I read somewhere that three meant perfect?


An ice cream cake roll is our own children's favorite birthday cake. Our kids always get to choose what flavors go inside - and they do get creative! I made this one for Sister Burton's birthday. It has a thin layer of strawberry jam and is filled with vanilla ice cream, and is dusted with powdered sugar and candy sprinkles. She love it. It's just a touch of home for me to make one here in the mission field.

It was a good day - celebrating life and love and missionary work and family, and food!