"Paul Writes to the Romans...and Us"

What a thrill it has been to begin our study of the Book of Romans this past week in our Institute classes. We have had some marvelous preparation and study time and so much enjoyed our classes this week. There has been a good spirit in the classes as we have shared our insights and testimonies. The Apostle Paul is a perfect example of a true saint - living the gospel, being a missionary, loving all people and being bold in his witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. It has prompted us to do the same.

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"District Meeting then Old Country Buffet"

BAY SHORE'S SIX MISSIONARIES AT DISTRICT MEETING

Every Friday we have district meeting with the fifteen missionaries in our district. The current look of that district changed quite a bit at with the last transfer - many left and many came. We love them all!

Our district leader assigned lessons to be taught Friday on charity and service. They were beautifully presented from Preach My Gospel and the scriptures.

'HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUNCH'

Where do you take a bunch of starving missionaries after a two-hour district meeting? Oh yes...the Old Country Buffet should do just fine...especially if it happens to be Elder Caramia's birthday. We celebrated all birthdays in a 3-months period of time:-)

(L to R: Elders Alder & Johnson, Sisters Frodsham & Goldthwaite, Elders de Paula, Caramia & Carcel.)

We felt bad that three sisters from our district were not able to meet with us today because of a temple trip to Manhattan. We're quite certain their day was wonderful, and we will do this again.

We LOVE those salads!

(L to R: Elders Oliverson, Lee, Law and Maughan.)

We had a great time eating and visiting with the elders and sisters...and checking to make sure they were getting a good balanced meal:-)

Sister Bennion would have been so proud of the huge salads elders...as would your moms!

"Paul of Tarsus - A Chosen Vessel"

Paul of Tarsus would have fit very well into one of our Institute classes on Long Island with his multi-cultural background and linguistic ability.

Our classes just this week finished studying the last half of Acts and have come to appreciate Paul’s conversion, stalwart missionary zeal and powerful testimony. We all sensed that we must be a little more bold in declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ to those with whom we come in contact.

The Prophet Joseph Smith gave a description of Paul on January 5, 1841, at the organization of a school of instruction: “He is about five feet high; very dark hair; dark complexion; dark skin; large Roman nose; sharp face; small black eyes, penetrating as eternity; round shoulders; a whining voice, except when elevated, and then it almost resembled the roaring of a lion. He was a good orator, active and diligent, always employing himself in doing good to his fellow man.”

As a Jew, Paul was known by the name of Saul and was educated in Jerusalem as a Pharisee under the famous rabbi Gamaliel. He was also a Roman citizen by birth, a rare privilege for a Jew at that time. Also, he was familiar with Greek language and culture through his early environment in the city of Tarsus. Therefore, he was able to deal with Jews, Romans, and Greeks on their own cultural terms-a great advantage for his later missionary work.

The Seminaries and Institute website has so many resources that are available for our use as teachers. To summarize our teaching of Paul’s life in the scriptures, we have used DVD clips offered by the Church Education System. They are beautifully done.

We've been so impressed with Paul's missionary journeys over thousands of miles to many countries, cultures and languages. He would have loved New York! Our students have truly enjoyed this 3-week segment on the teachings, travels and testimony of this great missionary apostle. Paul is a powerful example of mighty change.

"The Gospel Changes Lives"

Let me share of the most amazing stories of our mission. It began in February, several weeks after our arrival in Bay Shore. We were teaching our weekly Institute class on a Thursday evening. In walked an awkward, unkempt, long-haired 20ish-year-old who sat down in the third row, soon introducing himself as Kristain.

Countless thoughts darted through my mind, the most benign of which was "What are you doing here?" To the surprise of everyone in the room, Kristian asked no less than a dozen compelling questions during that Book of Mormon discussion. The thoughts in my mind took a change of direction. And so did Kristain's life.

Kristain, a former gang member, was baptized June 1, has received the Aaronic Priesthood, attends two Institute classes and is president of one of them, is a ward missionary, has had a remarkable Patriarchal blessing, is preparing for a mission and is truly a living example of what the gospel can do in one's life. He truly lives the gospel every day and testifies to everyone he meets. He is not afraid to tell people where his life was and where it is now - because of his love for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We love this young man. He has a wonderful, kind heart and a great testimony of the Savior. And his questions have only increased:-) What an example!

"Teaching The New Testament - Part II"

What a thrill for us! We just love The Acts of The Apostles and are so happy to be back teaching our classes. This great book could also be called "The Book of Luke - Part II" since Luke is the author, writing a beautiful discourse to an acquaintance, Theophilus. I have given it a subtitle - "The Gospel in Action."

Acts is just that - a book of action. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ in action. It begins with organizing, calling new leaders, spreading, teaching, baptizing, training, caring, ordaining, feeding the poor, healing and vast missionary travels to "the uttermost parts of the earth." Acts feels much like the Church today...as well it should.

We read Peter's first powerful public discourse and testimony of the risen Lord, and of his skilled direction of the apostles, and of the healing of the sick and other miracles. We found Peter's leadership as president and prophet of the Church to be nothing short of spectacular - preaching with such a Spirit as to bring 3,000 souls to repentance and baptism in one day shortly after his call.

This is that same Peter who obediently denied knowing the Savior three times when the Savior gave him the command... "thou shalt deny me thrice." Had Peter not done so, his life, along with that of Jesus, would have been taken and the Church would have all but withered and died shortly after the Savior's crucifixion. Our lesson manual suggests that we bear our testimony about Peter. It was an honor to do so!

We readily agree with President Kimball who refers to Peter as "Peter, My Brother" and asks the question "Do we understand the circumstances of Peter's denial as well as we think we do?" Additionally, we were thrilled when Dr. Andrew C. Skinner's article from the 2002 Sidney B. Sperry Symposium later appeared in the Church News where he maintains that everything he knew to be true about Peter indicates that "when Jesus told Peter he would deny Him thrice before the cock crowed twice, it was not a prediction; it was a command."

My interpretation of Peter going out and "weeping bitterly" afterward was because of his sorrow in having to obey a difficult command from the Lord - one he would never have chosen to do. This is the Peter I have known and admired for over 30 years. How wonderful it is to be teaching our students the Lord's teachings through Peter and the other great apostles' dedicated service.

"Mission Transfers and More to Love!"

If you thought we were the biggest district in the New York New York South Mission before...well guess what? We're even bigger now! Instead of being the biggest at 14, we're now the biggest at 15. The smallest district in the mission has 4. With all the new sister missionaries, our new district leader got up today and welcomed us to Relief Society. (He could only be so lucky!)

So here we are: (l to r) 1st row: Sisters Brimhall, Goldthwaite, Frodsham, Brown and Sellers. 2nd row: Elders Maughan, Oliverson, Law, Carcel and Elder & Sister de Paula. 3rd row: Elders Caramia, Peterson, Alder and Lee (new district leader). Aren't they great? (click on the picture to make it bigger and/or save it)

Once in a while we get the urge and the time to throw something together for a little district meeting lunch. Today was one of those times. The missionaries are always so-ooo appreciative. They work so hard and have so little time and money that we like helping when we can. Maybe that's why we're referred to as Papa and Mama D.

We're really happy to get to know this new "family" that we already dearly love!

"Frank & Nicole Spend Christmas in New York"

There is something
magic about New York
at Christmas time -
the store fronts,
the windows, the crowds,
the colors, the music.

We were so happy to have visitors for Christmas to brighten the season with love from home and family.

For Frank and Nicole, spending Christmas vacation in New York City was as easy as 1, 2, 3!

One: Find really good airfare from SLC to JFK leaving Christmas afternoon - after the rush.
Two: Have parents living in New York so you don't have to pay hotel rates.
Three: Make sure you know what you want to see and do.

So here they are! Just arrived at their "hotel" room - complete with a mint on the pillows.

Frank and Nicole loved to shop on Canal Street, visit Little Italy, eat at Lombardi's Pizza and enjoy the Christmas decorations in Manhattan. They also attended Church in our ward, just hung out with us, went sight-seeing around the island and also ate some pretty decent meals and snacks in "Sharon's Kitchen." It was so fun for us:-)

Two Interesting Sites
Sagtikos Manor is located in West Bay Shore. Its 1200 acres formed a shape which resembled that of a “head of a snake”, the Indian term being “Sagtikos.” During a tour of Long Island in 1790, President George Washington stayed at Sagtikos Manor.














The United Stated Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY was a highlight for Frank and Nicole. None of our children had been to this spot although this is where we drive one hour each way to teach every Monday night. These two just loved it!




Sunset Silhouettes at Kings Point USMMA Academy

One of the real advantages of serving a senior couple mission is that there is flexibility in time and activities - quite unlike the young missionaries. That is a real blessing for us parents and grandparents. So you seniors who may be considering a mission, just do it!

You mean it's been a week already?

Saying good-bye is never fun. The week went way too fast. Like Nicole said, "It seemed like two days!" When we got back from taking them to the airport our tiny apartment seemed so big and empty. And so did our hearts.

We had a wonderful time...but the magic is over and the mission continues. We're preparing now to teach our regular classes next week. After all...that is what we came here to do.