Teaching the youth

Our primary assignment on our mission is to teach institute classes. We presently teach three classes per week at three different chapels in the Brooklyn Stake. One of the classes is at Staten Island, a different island than the one on which we live. We actually live on Long Island, but the people here refer to Long Island as only the part of the island which is east of  Brooklyn and Queens, which are two of the five boroughs of New York City.  So, technically, according to the locals, we live in Brooklyn but not Long Island. 

Our largest institute class is the Park Slope class in Brooklyn near our apartment which is featured in this weeks picture. 

The young man with sister Tenney is a recent convert to the church. His name is Jouvanni. The missionaries knocked on his door at the right time and he was ready to listen to the message. It was fortunate that the missionaries could even knock on the doors in Jouvanni's apartment building, since generally the buildings are locked at the front door and missionaries are not able to enter the building without a specific invitation from a tenant. 

On that one day in January the missionaries were walking by the front door of the apartment building when they heard a loud buzz indicating that the front door was unlocked. They stopped and discussed it for a minute and then decided to enter the building and knock on every door. That is when they found Jouvanni. It was almost like the Holy Ghost was beckoning the missionaries to come in. Such is the nature and joy of missionary work!

Friends from the west

Well, we received our first visitors from the west. The Brignone family from Hooper, Utah. They live in the same ward as our daughter Cindy and her family.

We met at the temple where their children were able to do proxy baptisms.

We then toured Broadway and the theater district to take in a meal. It was a delightful evening. They're here for the weekend to take in the sites of

New York City.

Our apartment is small, but we can accommodate visitors. If you want to visit New York, please come see us sometime in the next 16 months. We would love that.

The zone conference

One of the great joys of being senior missionaries is the opportunity to work with young elders and sisters. On Friday of this week we had the opportunity of attending Zone 3 conference, which is the north Brooklyn area. Our mission president Calderwood and his two capable assistants were also in attendance. They, along with the two zone leaders, organized and conducted the conference. There are 26 missionaries in our zone. 

The spirit was great, the talks were wonderful and we thoroughly enjoyed the day. One of our assignments was provide lunch for the entire zone. But Sister Temney did her normally capable job, and everyone was well fed. One of my jobs was to go outside and feed the parking meter every hour so we would not get a parking ticket!

During the last hour every missionary stood and bore their testimony. We are impressed with the preparation and dedication of these fine young missionaries. 

We have connected well with all the missionaries in our zone. In some ways we feel like their substitute mom and dad, or more appropriately as their grandma and grandpa. 

This work is great and we love it. 

Going to the temple

Our weekly trek from Brooklyn to Manhattan to the temple is quite a sight. Two fair-skinned senior citizens all dressed up Sunday best with little suitcases going on the subway, speaking not within New York accent. We are quite different from most of the other subway riders. 

Rarely do people give up their seats on the subway, but they gave up seats for both of us because we look so different and so much in need! They must've wondered what we had in those little suitcases! It is quite comical. It takes about an hour to get to the Manhattan Temple, riding three different subway trains. So far we have not gotten lost, and it's kind of a fun challenge to get there. 

Periodically someone will ask for money. Sometimes we'll give them a small amount of money, but we always include a pass along card with the money. If they will follow up on the pass along card, that will change their lives much more significantly than

a few dollar bills.

Friday was our first day as temple ordinance workers. In one six-hour shift we were able to do many different functions, some that we've only done a few times in our entire lives, or never before. There is a great need for temple workers here in New York. Most of the temple ordinance workers are full-time missionaries. We feel privileged to be part of that team doing that great work.

The temple is located in midtown New York, just across the street from the Lincoln Center. It is a great place and a great view. Broadway runs diagonally through the temple intersection.  There is a great European deli next to the temple we can get a great sandwich or bowl of soup. It is so New York!

Fridays, we know, will be the highlight of our week. We are having a great time. Healthy and strong.  We do wish Spring would get here soon.  The weather changes significantly in a few hours, so We're not sure if we're still in winter or in spring.  We think spring will win then eventually!

New Callings

This has been a wonderful week for us. In addition to our three institute classes, and possibly a fourth class starting in couple of months, serving as a counselor in the Young Single Adult Branch, we are busy doing other things as well.

On Thursday on mission president Calderwood called us to serve as mission historians. We will keep the mission history record, sharing stories and information about new missionaries, out-going missionaries, major meetings and initiatives of the mission.  We will be closely involved in all of the happenings in the mission. It should be a wonderful assignment. We need to be "tech savvy" to get this done, so pray for us.

On Friday we received another wonderful blessing. We went to the Manhattan Temple where we interviewed with Pres. Steve Bennion. He called us and set us apart as temple ordinance workers. We will work the Friday day shift. That would be a wonderful addition blessing. As president Bennion mentioned in the setting apart blessing, this will be the "frosting on the cake." It will give us something to look forward to every week. 

There is much need for senior missionary couples and this mission, and in every mission.

Transfer meeting

Every six weeks certain missionaries receive a new companion and are transferred to a new area. This happens in what is known as "transfer meeting". About one half of the 300 missionaries icome together for transfer meeting at the chapel attached to the mission office. Only missionaries who are receiving a transfer and district and zone leaders are invited to attend.  As a senior couple we are invited to attend any transfer meeting. We attended our first transfer meeting today and it was a delightful experience. We first assisted one elder in our district who was being transferred. He and his companion road in our van with their luggage to the mission office. That was a great benefit to them as they did not have to lug the suitcases onto the train or subway.

At the transfer meeting all the missionaries enthusiastically sang the mission song especially prepared for the New York South Mission.  They all then recited from memory the mission vision and mission goals statements in English and Spanish. French Creole, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, and American Sign Language elders and Sisters then recited the mission statement and goals in their mission language. 

Our mission president and sister Calderwood both give excellent talks. Missionaries provided wonderful musical numbers. We said hello to new elders and sisters just arriving and goodbye to those going home.

Then the transfers were announced and were

greeted with much enthusiasm. We also sustained by vote of hands the district, zone and mission leaders. Then missionaries gathered with their new  companions and left for their work areas.

We greatly enjoyed the spirit and enthusiasm of the day. It is wonderful to be associated with this great work.

Working with the young missionaries

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We are finding that part of being senior missionaries is to work closely with the young missionaries in our area. We can serve as mentors and role models and as "mom and dad" away from home. Most of them need a bit of "mothering" from time to time. We enjoy that role very much. We hope that some other senior missionaries in other missions will do the same for our grandchildren as they go out to serve. We are confident other couples will be available to provide viable service.  We have wonderful young elders and sisters in our area. This week the sister missionaries surprised us with a box of goodies to show their appreciation for our arrival in New York.  What a wonderful time we are having!