Ma's Place: Savior

I have decided that being busy is better than being idle. Around here there is little idle time, but this week has been super busy.

Lots of colds and stomach virus cases. I’ve had increased phone time and documentation time. Much of it is repetitious except for names and times, but each is important so even though it seems I am repeating myself, each new missionary with an illness hasn’t heard it before and needs the reassurance that all will be well if he/she will follow my instructions.

Tuesday (transfer day) I welcomed in the new missionaries by giving them their medical ID cards and then went to a cardiologist appointment with a missionary. The appointment was at noon but we were not seen until close to 2:00. By the time we finished and got back to the office, it was 4:00. I help Anthea at the mission with laundry and dinner on transfer day but I didn’t arrive at the home until a little after 5:00. They were already eating dinner. We had 24 missionaries leave this transfer so it was a large group to feed. I was able to help finish the laundry and help clean up. I usually stay for the testimony meeting to hear their departing testimonies but because it took so long for dinner and clean up, it was time to take Anthea home before they started the meeting. I felt bad because I didn’t even get time with them to take the traditional one last picture I like to capture. LONG day!!

Wednesday morning early I received a call from President Reynolds. One of the departing missionaries was sick and the plane left without him leaving him stranded at the airport. The assistants to the President picked him up and brought him to the office. I went to visit him there and got permission to bring him to my apartment. The sisters upstairs were home so I wasn’t alone with him. Poor person just couldn’t hold down anything. I took him to an UC and he was given anti-nausea medicine. I tried to give him sips of ginger-ale and Gatorade so he wouldn’t get too dehydrated. And of course, chicken noodle soup, the cure-all.

When I went to Urgent Care with the missionary, look who I ran into there.

That night he stayed with some other elders and was good as new (almost but well enough to fly) the next morning so he could be on his way home.

Thursday I invited some elders to lunch with me at Nur, the Thai Restaurant. I had pad thai. I’m in a rut. The curry I had last week was good and I will have it again, but the pad thai called my name: “Foodie, eat me.”

Elders Sakurada and Barton

Laura from Equador called me Thursday morning to tell me her older sister who lives in Iceland was visiting and wanted her to meet me. I asked her what time she wanted to come over and she asked if I could give them dinner because she wanted her sister to have my food. Flattered as I was, I accepted. So I invited the hermanas and the sisters from upstairs so that they, Laura and her sister, would have someone who speaks Spanish to be here. Even though Laura is learning, her sister speaks little English. It was a nice evening. I opened a few cans of beans and threw in some chicken breasts for white chicken chili with corn bread. I love the challenge of fixing a meal with what I have on hand.

Friday I was invited to lunch at Olive Garden. The sisters were so gracious and would not let me pay. I am spoiled!!

Saturday I woke to about 3-4 inches of snow. Beautiful! I went out to shovel the area in front of my home but all I managed were the porch and steps. The snow was wet and HEAVY! I left it for the elders who finally arrived in the afternoon.

Hermanas Staker and Bush couldn't resist making a snowman.
(Taken through the window and screen-I didn't want to go help them!)

Sunday it was 60 degrees and the snow was gone!! What a waste of energy. If we had all just waited, Mother Nature would have taken care of it for us.

Sunday was our ward Christmas choir Sacrament Meeting presentation. The whole meeting was music and narration/stories/scriptures. Very nice. In Primary we did a similar thing with the children. No rehearsal. Just gave them lines to read and we sang songs. The president and a counselor told stories.

A sister sang I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day in our Sacrament Meeting program. She sang it a capella and with such feeling and emotion that I could hardly sing the next song. Good thing I was singing with the choir so it didn’t matter that I was tearful. The message that the carol brings caused me to think of the despair and hate that exists in the world today just as it did in Longfellow’s day of civil war and how grateful I am at the end of the song as the bells carry renewed hope for peace among men.

1. I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

2. I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along th'unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

3. And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

4. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

5. Till, ringing, singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

I love this season when everyone is focused on the Savior. I miss sharing the season with my family and friends but knowing that we have common desires to be close to the Lord and to be united as a family, no matter the miles between, makes it a little easier. I wish you all the greatest of blessings this Christmas time and always.

I love you my family and friends.

Jake sent me this picture from a hike he took along the Bonneville trail.
I love how gorgeous the icicles are and how blue the sky is behind the snow covered trees. Had to share.

I just found this picture Kristin took when she and Jake came for my birthday. Jake told me that I carried
him for 9 months so he was going to carry me. We made quite a ruckus in the subway!!

The missionaries found my kazoos.

My nativity set under the tree

I truly enjoy sitting in a room full of missionaries!! They exude enthusiasm, love, and the Spirit. I’ve been blessed to sit amongst them four days this week.

There are eleven zones in our mission. We had Mega-Zone Conferences on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Each day three zones came together to meet for training and to receive “Black boxes” in the cars they drive. (There will be one next Tuesday for the last two zones.)

Most missionaries walk but there are about 40 cars in our mission. The black boxes are devices that monitor the driving habits of the drivers. It tells them in a robotic voice if they are speeding or being reckless and reports this along with the time of day to a computer system which sends reports to the mission vehicle coordinator and President Reynolds.

The missionaries are not really excited about this. The speed limits in New York are very low and EVERYONE drives fast. The missionaries are complaining because everyone, including white haired grandmas, (They aren’t referring to me of course.) are passing them and they feel that they are creating a driving hazard driving so slowly. They may end up adjusting the boxes for this hazard but I’ll bet they won’t adjust it to the speed that the normal traffic goes.

I was asked by President Reynolds to take 20 minutes and talk about the holiday and winter season when people easily get depressed and blue and how to keep their spirits up. I talked about the importance of proper nutrition, exercise, rest, and cleanliness. I gave them a handout that included more detail about each of these topics. I focused most of my talk on relying on the grace of the Lord and keeping a positive attitude. I used parts of a talk given in April Conference 2014 given by Elder Bednar. It had a great impact on me because it was just six months after Kay died and it gave me hope and courage to do the things in this life that I needed and wanted to do. If you would like to, please take to the opportunity to read "Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease".

I also talked about having an attitude of gratitude. In my Sacrament Meeting last week, the 29^th of November, my bishop gave a talk about gratitude. He challenged each of us to keep a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, we are to write down three things for which we are grateful. At the end of the month we are to read back over the blessings we enjoy. He also challenged us to write and mail a letter, on paper-not an email, to a person who has had a positive impact on our lives. Writing this letter would help us and the recipient. Doing these things helps us to focus on the positive things in our lives.

I made this same challenge to our missionaries. Since then I have had several missionaries tell me that they already do that and that it does help them to stay positive.

I then talked a little about Christmas and homesickness and loneliness. I read a story entitled “My Last Christmas in the Mission". It is a few stories into the article.

The last thing I shared is one of my favorite quotes of the season which I know some of you have heard me read or use in Christmas programs. It is a quote. From the words of President Spencer W. Kimball: “Though we make an effort to follow the pattern of gift giving at Christmas time, sometimes our program becomes an exchange—a gift given for a gift expected.

Of the Savior's service, and His example to us, President Kimball goes on to say: "Never did the Savior give in expectation. I know of no case in His life in which there was an exchange. He was always the giver, seldom the recipient. Never did He give shoes, a scarf, or a vehicle; never did He give perfume, a shirt, or a fur wrap. His gifts were of such a nature that the recipient could hardly exchange or return the value.

His gifts were rare ones: eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, and legs to the lame; cleanliness to the unclean, wholeness to the infirm, and breath to the lifeless. His gifts were opportunity to the downtrodden, freedom to the oppressed, light in the darkness, forgiveness to the repentant, hope to the despairing.

His friends gave Him shelter, food, and love. He gave them of Himself, His love, His service, His life. The wise men brought Him gold and frankincense. He gave them and all their fellow mortals resurrection, salvation, and eternal life. We should strive to give as He gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift."

The zone conferences were in different areas of the mission so I drove to Woodside, Lynbrook, and Patchogue. It was raining cats and dogs again the day I went to Patchogue but one of these days before my mission ends, I’m going to be there on a dry, sunny days. Woodside is close to where I live in Elmhurst/Rego Park. It is a most diverse neighborhood. Lynbrook is (Brook- lyn with syllables reversed) 85% Irish. The area is marshy and wooded. At least the drive I took to get there looked that way. It is a beautiful neighborhood with mostly stand-alone homes. There are some high rise apt buildings but I liked the area.

Friday I attended a leadership training meeting for zone leaders, district leaders, sister training leaders, etc. I didn’t participate but just enjoyed the missionaries. I am such a tease that I enjoy making them laugh. I also like to be available to talk to them and to get to know them and build trust with them.

After the meeting I got a haircut. Sister Duke and Sister Prince go to a shop just around the corner and they suggested I go these. I liked the beautician. She is from Bulgaria. She has two children and has been here for eleven years. She speaks really good English with a delightful accent.

Saturday, I went to the Temple. I went solo and I was a little afraid of getting lost but I made it both ways with no problem. It was a great day. They don’t have as many sessions as other temples because there is only room for one session at a time. I got there in time for the 12:30 session which was in Spanish so I had to wear the headphones which is not a problem. The temple is beautiful. All ordinances except baptism are on the fifth floor.

Manhattan Temple

In front of the Temple.

I did have an interesting thing happen on the way from my apt to the subway. There is a park with benches along the sidewalk. Sitting on one of the benches was a man probably in his late forties, early fifties. He had his shoes off and was sunning his stockinged feet. I always try to smile and say hello to people as I pass. When I said hello to him, he beckoned me to come talk to him. He apologized for showing his feet but said they hurt so he liked to get them cold so they would hurt less. His name was Louis and he was from Cuba. His English was pretty good but he still had a heavy accent. We talked for a few minutes and he asked me about my name badge. I soon found myself sitting on the bench next to him.

I told him about the church and what I was doing. He said that he had talked to other young missionaries before. I asked him if I could have missionaries come and teach him about our church in his language. He was reluctant and wouldn’t commit to that so I invited him to come to the Spanish speaking ward. I told him where the church is and he said he went there once with the missionaries.

He wanted to talk about how we are all Gods children and he wanted to call me his sister. We talked a few more minutes about our families. We talked about eternal families and his mother and father whom he left in Cuba and has not seen for a long time. I could feel the Spirit and it brought tears to my eyes. He asked me if I felt the Spirit when he saw my tears. He said he cries when he feels the Spirit too. He told me that he felt God had directed me to come by at that time and to talk to him.

I again tried to get him to let me send or bring the missionaries to him to teach him in Spanish. He was still reluctant to do that but said that he sits on that bench almost every day between 9:00 and 11:00 in the morning and he would look for me to come talk to him again. It was a wonderful experience. I will try to talk to him again and to bring the sister missionaries who live upstairs along with me. They speak Spanish.

I know that the Lord directs his work. Along with caring for the missionaries, I pray that I can be an instrument in His hands to help people find the Savior and to help them learn how to return to His presence again.

I am so blessed to have my eternal family. I love my husband and children and grandchildren more than words can express. I am so blessed to be able to be here on this mission and to be able to serve in any capacity that I can.

I love you my family and friends.

I love poinsettias. I'm beginning to feel the Christmas spirit.

My tree.

Christmas music is my fave!

Progresso is not too fattening and is quick and easy but....

Soup gets boring so on Friday night, I cooked myself a dinner.
It had been so long I almost forgot how delicious a baked potato can be!

I liked the flowers in these planters on a neighbor's door step.

Geraniums in December. The little purple flowered plant on the ground is cabbage.
I see many ornamental cabbages here. They are pretty.

This is a train underpass through which I walk on my morning walks.
I've learned that you had better not be in that tunnel when two
siren- blaring fire trucks rumble through. I couldn't hear for an hour afterward.
Well, at least for five minutes!!

I can't resist the city pics. The morning was bright and beautiful.

The bridge we cross on our morning walk over the train tracks.

The stairs to the bridge gets my heart rate up. Looking down my street
from the stairs to the bridge.

The Church has an "A Savior is Born" initiative going on. In Times Square there are billboards and
videoboards promoting Christmas messages through out this month. 400 taxis also promote the church.
I found this one parked on the street in front of my apt. I didn't have time to go to Times Square
on Saturday but I plan to get there before Christmas.