#BecauseHeLives - Easter Initative - March 2015  

The Church had another beautiful two minute video about our Savior Jesus Christ, along with pass along cards that missionaries can share throughout the world.  On the Church Website it says:
"Jesus Christ lived.  He walked the Holy Land, worked miracles and teaching truth.  Then He was crucified.  But His death was not the end.  Because of His Resurrection, we will live again.  Because of His sacrifice, we can rise above sin to experience true joy.  Because He lives, we can fin His help and healing every day of our lives.  The last week of Jesus Christ's life changed the world forever.  See how each day can help us better understand His miraculous mission - then and now.  No matter where you are, Jesus Christ's love is universal."

UNITED NATIONS - March 30, 2015
We walked about eight blocks to the United Nations building.  The cold wind was blowing and the flags of the world were really whipping in the wind.  We waited about 30 minutes and our Mormon group started to arrive.  Our Public Affairs guide from the country of Georgia met is.    She joined the Church when she was 12 through Humanitarian Missionaries and grew up, went on a mission to London and is a student of BYU-Idaho doing an internship here in NYC with the Church Public Affairs Department.  Elder Sowby met us and took a picture of our group on the UN stairs.

The UN Water meeting was very interesting with a goal to improve pure water, sanitation and hygiene throughout the world.  We are so blessed to have clean water to drink, to use to wash our clothes and take showers.  A great part of the world doesn't have good water and many babies and people die because of water problems.  We heard from keynote speakers and then from many countries like Japan, Cuba, Slovakia, Georgia, Slovenia, Korea, South Africa, Nicaragua, Italy, Singapore, Finland, Spain, France,

SISTER CALEE GARDNER - Preston, England MTC - February 27-April 7, 2015
Calee is a missionary!  She left her home in Lindon, Utah and flew on Delta Airlines to England where she learned how to be a missionary, led the MTC Choir, and improved her German speaking.  Her companion was Sister Burgess from Australia.  

SENIOR MISSIONARY LUNCH - January 31, 2015
On a cold wintery day in January we had all the Senior Missionaries come to the mission home for a pot luck lunch. These amazing Senior Missionaries work so hard and give so much, to help our mission. We're grateful for each and every one of them! We're so lucky to have so many faithful seniors serving in the NYNYN. Our Senior Missionary assignments include: Member Leadership Support, Family History, Public Relations, United Nations Government Relations, Records Preservation, Military Relations, Employment Center, Church Education Systems, Apartment Coordinators, Vehicle Coordination, Mission Historian, Mission Secretary and Finance Secretary. We couldn't run the mission without these wonderful people! We are grateful every day for their dedicated service.

Welcome Dinner - Elder and Sister Goo

Saturday, January 24 was a relaxing day.  We woke up to the most snow of the season so far.  We enjoyed a day in our apartment.  Jerry colored my hair and it really turned out great.  I did some cleaning in the apartment, took down the little Christmas tree, and we finished the puzzle.  We took a little nap and then got ready to go to the Mission Home.  

We drove to the CVS Pharmacy and bought some almonds for President Morgan's birthday.  Sister Morgan had made the most delicious chicken enchiladas, chips, rice, guacamole, salsa and apple pie for dessert.  It was a dinner to welcome the new Chinese couple, the Goos.  They were very sweet and will make such a great contribution in their MLS Mission in China Town.  They invited the office couples, the APs, Elders Smith and Duvall, so with the Morgan's, we had 10 in all.  We all fit around their dining room table.  I had made a birthday card earlier in the day for President Morgan and also Pete Litster.

Today we enjoyed a sunny drive to the New Rochelle 2nd Ward.  One of the high councilman Brother Adam Fleming told about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir coming to New York in July.  Jerry came home and ordered 6 tickets.  I emailed Jeanne, Judi and Sue about coming to NYC and going with us.

We are studying the New Testament in Gospel Doctrine class and Ezra Taft Benson this year in Relief Society and Priesthood meeting.  The lesson today in RS was on prayer.  We came home and cooked potatoes in our little pressure cooker, and had chili over them, with corn and pineapple.  Later we both had a yogurt.

We loved having face time with JD, Sarah, Bergen, Anders and Emme.  They had been skiing at Beaver Mountain, Bergie's first try.  Emme can say so many animal sounds now and her hair has turned more blonde.  They have been looking at a new home about a mile from their present home.  It has a steep road to get there, but a flat driveway.  They would be in the same ward, schools for the kids, and it has a swimming pool.  JD and Anders had built a big Star Wars figure out of Legos.   They had their Ward Conference today and their Home Teachers came while we were talking to them.  It was wonderful to talk with our kids.

I sent some pictures to Sister Morgan from the Sisters Conference.  It has been a wonderful day!  We are in Ether, almost finished with reading the Book of Mormon.

NY NY Mission Sister's Conference

Friday, January 23, 2015 was the NY NY North Mission Sisters Conference, held at the Scarsdale Church.  As these beautiful young sisters started to gather, there were many hugs and sounds of joy as they greeted each other.  Jerry dropped me off and then made two trips to the  train station to bring sisters to the conference.  There was just a loud din in the foyer as they were so happy to see each other.

President Morgan spoke first followed by the China Town sisters singing.  Sister Frihoffer spoke next (her husband is a counselor in the mission presidency).  She had been a former missionary from Tooele, in this mission, who had expectations of grander, Broadway etc., and was hit with the hard reality when she served in Harlem.  She finally found the treasure and joy in sharing the gospel.  We then had two break-out sessions.  Sister Jennifer Darger spoke about humility and confidence.  And Kem Nixon spoke about handling stress, which included relaxation techniques.  Photo below are West Chester Zone Sisters.

We had a lovely salad bar for lunch, which included three Valentine cookies with frosting and candy sprinkles to decorate them with. In the afternoon, President Morgan did a question and answer session, and our West Chester sisters sang, "The Lord  is My Shepherd."  It was fun to sing with our zone.  Sister Morgan finished up with comments about being fully wrapped up in the gospel and committed to its principles.  She had a scarf for each sister to take home with them. 

I met Sister Kalli Kovak (above right) from Switzerland, who comes from the Alpine German Speaking Mission where Calee will serve.  Jerry took sisters back to the train station and then picked me up and gave me a ride back to the office, where we worked until 6pm.  I did some filing and got him the missionary files he needed.

China Town - January 20, 2015

Our alarm went off this morning at 5:30am.  We walked to the White Plains Train Station, about four blocks from our apartment, and took the 6:40am train to Grand Central Station - NYC.  There we met Elder and Sister Wilson who are responsible to oversee and open apartments. We took the Green Line to China Town.  

  
President Morgan wants us to cross train so we will know how to do all the office jobs. The Wilson's go home in June and will be very hard to replace.  Today we prepared an apartment in China Town for a Chinese couple (Elder and Sister Goo) who will be coming Saturday. The red front is where the China Town Ward meets.  It is a short walk from the Goo's apartment.  This 2nd photo is out the apartment window.

Elder Goo and his wife have been the Mission President and Temple President in Hong Kong.  They will be doing Member Leadership Support.  

Furniture will be delivered today.  We are having a Chinese adventure. Elder Gardner is all tired out after helping set up the apartment in China Town.  It was totally empty when we arrived with Elder and Sister Wilson this morning about 8:30am.  This photo is the after.

The Office Elders Moss and Johansen brought all the apartment accessories: rug, towels, bedding, pillows, appliances, dishes etc. and Chinese food for lunch.  A furniture company brought the couch, chair, bed, dresser, desk, end tables etc.  Jerry and Elder Wilson went to a Chinese Market and bought grocery basics for the fridge.  We all helped take everything out of boxes and set up the apartment.  It was quite eye opening to see all that is required to get a missionary apartment ready.

After riding the subway back to Grand Central Station and taking the train back to our home in White Plains, we were tired and needed a nap.  We are happy to be serving and helping the Church and Kingdom roll forth in the NY NY North Mission.