ROCKETS SPRING SPECTACULAR - April 15, 2015

We walked to the White Plains train station and arrived at Grand Central Station in time to have lunch.  Jerry had Chinese and I had a salad.  While we were having lunch we visited with a man from Lebanon who is an industrial engineer who does consultation on the underground water, heating and power at Grand Central and other places.  He has a project to replace the 8,000 man hole covers in NYC with a fiber optic security system.  I gave him a #BecauseHeLives pass along card.

We took the subway to Time Square and then the Red Line to 50th Street.  It is a Froehliche Tag! German for Beautiful Day, with warm temperatures, blue skies and flowers blooming.

We arrived at Radio City Music Hall for the Rockettes New York Spring Spectacular and entered the line about 45 minutes before the show. It was spectacular indeed.  It was a celebration of New York City and everything about it.  It tells the story of Bernie, a tour guide who is about to be replaced by technology.  The goal of Derek Hough, from Dancing With the Stars fame, is to convince singer, Laura Benanti, that the personal touch is still needed.  Various comedy, sports, media and fashion stars make the show come to life with movie clips like: West Side Story, Barefoot in the Park, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Crocodile Dundee, Saturday Night Fever, The Wiz, Sleepless in Seattle, An Affair to Remember, Big and Spiderman are featured.  The New York Rangers, Giants, Knicks, and Yankees are fun to see, as the Rockettes dance in the various sports uniforms.  The real show stopper was Singing' In The Rain (which included Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head).  The Rockettes tap-dance exuberantly as 500 gallons of water pour down on them.  They wield umbrellas, and wear daffodil-yellow raincoats with bright purple trim, and matching boots fitted with waterproof mikes.

A visit to the Metropolitan Art Museum, with real ballet dancers from the Degas painting, a huge Statue of Liberty talking head, a dance through Central Park, and dancing on the top floor of the Empire State Building are all amazing.  The finale is to New York, New York.  Even four elders from The Book of Mormon Musical join the show doing gymnastic moves.  It was by far one of the most fantastic extravangaza shows we have ever seen.

After the show, we decided to take a City Tour bus.  It was such a beautiful day that we went to the top of the open bus.  Sometimes the NYC traffic was at a stand still, but we passed and listened to a lively commentary through our ear phones, and saw many famous buildings, parks, museums and even a demonstration for higher minimum wages.  By the time we walked back to Grand Central Station, stopping to get a slice of pizza on the way, and then took our train back to White Plains, and walked four blocks to our Avalon Apartments, we could say it was quite a fabulous day, and we were ready for a good nights sleep.

NEW LEADERSHIP POSITIONS - March 30, 2015

The big news of this Sunday was new leadership positions caused by Transfers, it was a bittersweet time with many changes.  Elder Johansen is going to be the Zone Leader in Olmstead.  Elders Critchfield, Michael Christensen and Elder Beardall are also going there as well.  Elder Cheyne Christensen was so thrilled he will be staying and will be an Office Elder with Elder Haycock.  Sisters Aleccia and Terry will be staying together in the New Rochelle 2nd Ward.  Elder Karch Smith, one of the Assistants to the President is the new Zone Leader in the West Chester Zone because he will be going home in the May transfer.  The new AP will be Elder Keni Reid, from Hawaii.  He is a happy elder and will be a good companion to Elder Daniel Duvall.

ZONE CONFERENCES - March 2015

We had three wonderful days of Zone Conferences in March.  Tuesday was in Ossining, Thursday in the Bronx, and Friday in New York City Lincoln Center.  President Dave Checketts, Stake President from the Yorktown Stake came and talked to the missionaries on Tuesday.  Elder Dale and Sister Nancy Braithwaite spoke at the conferences.  Elder Braithwaite is the Area Medical Adviser.  The Braithwaite's are faithful servants and spent so much of their time talking to the missionaries about health issues and just being their friends. Elder Braithwaite talked about being a young missionary himself in Holland and then gave some great advice about athletes foot and keeping your feet clean and other skin health concerns like acne.  Sister Nancy Braithwaite talked about getting good exercise every day.  She shared this quote, "If you do something out of duty it will deplete you; but if you do something out of love it will energize you!"  This applies to so many aspects of mission life, especially being obedient to exercise every day! She also adapted our mission motto: Loyal to the COREcan also mean Complete Obedience to Regular Exercise.
Elder Gardner, our Vehicle Coordinator, spoke each morning about the care and upkeep of  mission cars. Sister Morgan wrote on the mission blog: "We're so grateful for Elder and Sister Gardner.  They're experienced, kind and hard working."
New i-pads were issued to the  mission at the zone conferences. Every missionary turned in their old i-pad and received a new one. These i-pads will be their own to use in the mission and to take home. It is such a blessing to be an online proselyting mission. We have seen so many blessings come to the NYNYN through using digital tools and apps as well as social media.  It's always so wonderful to see the missionaries and feel of their love and dedication to the work. The young men and young women of the NYNYN are valiant servants.
Each Zone Conference was started out by a bagel and juice visiting breakfast.  Missionaries were also able to bring the clothes they no longer wanted, and exchange for other items.

TRANSFER - February 2015

Sister Morgan wrote on the mission blog: "Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail," will stop the NYNYN from doing the Lord's work! We have had all four of these weather patterns this month and it has been one of the coldest ever! We had a record low of -23 in Scarsdale this past month! BRRR!!
But nothing will keep our amazing missionaries from coming and going. Transfers this month were great. We had 21 missionaries return home to their families. They are Loyal to the CORE in every way."

Returning Missionaries: Elder Henry Diaz, Elder Jerek Lewis, Elder Joseph Sevy, Elder Brandon Miller, Elder Michael Delahunty, Elder Lucas Rydalch, Elder Ben Hunt, Elder Zach Jensen, Elder Adam Kia, Elder David Reynolds, Elder Cameron Burr, Elder Brett Cloward, Elder Hayden Kroff, and Sister Emily Livingston, Sister Marcella Toronto, Sister Savannah Astle, Sister Tessa Palmer, Sister Sadie Dodson, Sister Manielyn Arquero, Sister Yesenia Hoyos, Sister Victoria Tirado

14 New Missionaries arrived: Sister Erika Smith, Sister Dakodah Terry, Sister Madeleine DeFord, Sister Erin Geiger, Sister Kayla Larsen, Sister Holly McAlister, Sister Alexis Spender, Sister Makenna Petersen, Elder Alec Unice, Elder Ryan Cheney, Elder Darius Nutall, Elder Kaden Muirbrook, Elder Anthony Jagneaux, Elder Christopher Rankin

GENERAL CONFERENCE APRIL 4-5, 2015

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will gather in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, as well in chapels and homes around the world, Oct. 5 and 6 to participate in the 183rd Semiannual General Conference.

General Relief Society Meeting

Sister Linda K. Burton: "The power, joy and love of covenant keeping"

Carole M. Stephens: "We have great reason to rejoice"

Sister Linda S. Reeves: "Claim the blessings of your covenants"

President Thomas S. Monson: "We never walk alone"

Saturday Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson: "Welcome to Conference"

Elder Robert D. Hales: "General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony"

Elder Ulisses Soares: "Be Meek and Lowly of Heart"

Sister Carole M. Stephens: ''Do we know what we have?"

Elder Edward Dube: "Look ahead and believe"

Elder David A. Bednar: "The Windows of Heaven"

President Uchtdorf: "Come, join with us"

Saturday Afternoon Session

President Boyd K. Packer: "The key to spiritual protection"

Elder D. Todd Christofferson: "The moral force of women"

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen: "Hastening the Lord's game plan"

Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela: "Small and Simple Things"

Elder Timothy J. Dyches: "Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "Like a Broken Vessel"

Elder M. Russell Ballard: "Put Your Trust in the Lord"

Priesthood Session

Elder L. Tom Perry: 'The Doctrines and Principles Contained in the Articles of Faith'

Bishop Gerald Causse: 'Ye Are No More Strangers'

Elder Randy D. Funk: 'Called of Him to Declare His Word"

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "You Can Do It Now!"

President Henry B. Eyring: "Bind Up Their Wounds"

President Thomas S. Monson: "True Shepherds"

Sunday Morning Session

President Henry B. Eyring: "To my grandchildren"

Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "No Other Gods"

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson: "Be Ye Converted"

Elder Richard J. Maynes: "The Strength to Endure"

Elder Richard G. Scott: "Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ"

President Thomas S. Monson: "I Will Not Fail Thee, Nor Forsake Thee"

Sunday Afternoon Session

Elder Quentin L. Cook: "Beware of bondage"

Elder Neil L. Andersen: "Power in the priesthood"

Brother David M. McConkie: "Teaching with the power and authority of God"

Elder Kevin Scott Hamilton: "Continually holding fast"

Elder Adrian Q. Ochoa: "Look up"

Elder Terence M. Vinson: "Drawing closer to God"

Elder Russell M. Nelson: "Decisions for eternity"

President Monson: "Til we meet again"

WASHINGTON BRIDGE, FORT WASHINGTON AND FORT LEE - March 25, 2015

Today, was our P-day and the weather was sunny and in the upper 40s this morning.  We decided to take advantage of this combination of events to re-live a little history.  It was during the 1776 campaign and a failed attempt by George Washington to control the Hudson River.  By bringing ships up the Hudson, the British would be able to split the colonies in two.  During the summer of that year 31,000 British troops landed on Staten Island and in August Washington’s army was trapped in Brooklyn with their back to the East River at the tip of Manhattan Island.  It is a miracle that the entire revolutionary army, thus trapped, was able to evacuate across the East River to Manhattan Island during one long night with the help of unseasonable fog (that covered the river) and currents in the river (that kept the British Men-o-War ships in the bay). General Howe and his brother Admiral Howe then chased Washington and the surviving army North towards White Plains (where Grandma and I now live).  There were two forts (Fort Washington on the New York Side and Fort Lee on the New Jersey side) of the Hudson River, built by the colonists to keep any enemy from moving North. Both were at the present crossing of the George Washington Bridge. Both were captured by the overwhelming British throng.  Today we visited the remnants of both Forts and walked one mile across the Hudson River on the GW Bridge.  It is fun for me to close my eyes and imagine what life would have been like during these critical moments in the history of our country. Over and over again, men and women of great faith and courage stood firm in times of crisis to keep the dream alive.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY - March 17, 2015

What a wonderful Sabbath Day!  In Sacrament Meeting this morning it was all about Christ.  Elder Johansen talked about Christ's love and when Christ cast the man with legions of evil spirits in him, and into swine, as they ran over the cliff and drowned in the sea.

A new couple in the ward Jessica and Brock spoke about Christ too.  I liked what he said about the Resurrection being such a big part of the Atonement, because without it, we would be subject to Satan.  Brother Gibbs always gives such a wonderful Sunday School lesson.  Today it was about "Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God."  In Relief Society the teacher gave a great lesson from the Ezra Taft Benson manual, "Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer."

It is always wonderful to see the missionaries in the foyer between sessions. We have Elders Johansen, Haycock, Driggs and Christensen and Sisters Aleccia and Terry.  The Spanish speaking Elders are Zone Leaders Critchfield and Christensen, and Hermanas Hazelton and Hill.  The Portuguese elders are Beardall, Rebireor and Stanford.  They were all in the foyer as we were leaving our New Rochelle 2nd Ward, and we were able to shake hands with all of them.

We came home.  Jerry made the calendars for the Missionaries dinner appointments, and I made a salad for the dinner appointment.  We went to the Brooks and it was a wonderful time.  Dave talked to us about his mission to Norway with JD.  He replaced JD as AP after we picked up JD from his mission.  Dave Brooks has many piano students.  His wife Cyndi is a very talented singer and pianist as well.  They fixed Corn Beef and Cabbage, potatoes and carrots.  I made a spinach salad with fruit in it.

Sisters Aleccia and Terry came and left a message about following the prophet and watching General Conference.  Dave played their piano as we all sang, "Follow the Prophet."  Brooks family have four children:  Matthew-12, Lauren-10, Parker-8 and 

Nathan-2.  He is so cute, but is a handful like Hugo.

#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.

Ice Storms, Baptism, and Dinner in New Canaan - January 18, 2015

Ice Storms yesterday!  We got up and started out for Church at the usual time.  The roads were like ice.  It had been raining all night and today.  Since it was so cold, the rain would freeze as soon as it hit the ground.  We drove slow, but when we got to the freeway entrance, there was a police car with flashing lights and we could see the exit was packed with cars, all stopped.  Jerry turned around and we went a different way to Church.  Along the way, we saw a car on a tow truck which had been rear ended, and another car down in a ravine.  There were several police cars and a fire engine, and cars all backed up for a long way, thankfully going the other direction.

We arrived at Church at 10am and found they had pushed the meeting back to 10:30am.  That gave me time to talk to Sheron Gayle who was baptized tonight.  She asked me what a Stake is and I explained. I also showed her a Relief Society video from Lds.org on my iPad.  It was a wonderful experience!  Then she asked me what are the purposes of Relief Society.  I looked up on my iPad and told her: 

Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness

Strengthen Home and Family

Care for the Poor and Needy

The elders were at the Church when we arrived chipping the ice off the sidewalks.  They only held Sacrament Meeting and cancelled the other two meetings because of the weather.

Brother David Brooks, who had accompanied Calee last week when she sang so beautifully in our New Rochelle Ward Sacrament Meeting, and was also the same Elder Brooks who replaced Elder Jerrold David Gardner as AP in the Norway, Oslo Mission - he spoke about reverence.  

We went slowly back home on those icy roads, then at 2:30pm, we drove to New Canaan, Connecticut to have dinner with one of Nate's former missionary companions in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Keith Dickinson told us of the great positive influence and example Nate was to him when he first arrived, was homesick, language was hard, etc.  He got teary eyed as he read from his Missionary Journal about Elder Nathan Gardner, who helped him catch the vision of

Missionary work.  We are sure proud of all our kids and the great examples for good and Christlike influence you are to those you meet.

It was fun to Skype with Ashley, Chris, Aiden, Hugo and baby Ellie last night.  Those 19 grandkids are so precious to us.  We miss our dear family!

Mission Vehicle Safety Training

Today was the day we have been preparing for, the Car Safety Training.  We had prepared a packet for all the new missionaries, and each one had a cover sheet, a copy of their drivers license, their personal driving record.  They all watched three videos on car safety, then signed their "Signature of Compliance," after also reading the rules of driving a Church vehicle.

Jerry and I came back to the mission office and got everything for those whose files were incomplete.  About 2pm, we went back to the Scarsdale Church and waited until the meeting was over at 3pm.  The missionaries had Hawaiian Haystacks for lunch.  On our way back to the office we went to the market across the street from the mission office  and bought soup and oatmeal raisin cookies.  Jerry had clam chowder and I had tomato bisque.

Calee and Malisalee come to NYC - 1/9-11/2015

This has been a wonderful weekend.  Saturday we took the train from White Plains to Grand Central Station.  We took the Subway to the NY Temple. It was beautiful right across the street from the Lincoln Center.  

We then took the Subway to Times Square and met Malisalee and Calee for lunch and then went to "Phantom of the Opera."  They had attended the Broadway show of Matilda on Friday night.  Matilda is the story of an extraordinary little girl of genius and super powers who decides that despite a bad beginning filled with rotten parent, a terrifying school and a vicious head mistress, her story is to be an astonishing one.  It was written by Ronald Dahl.  

Calee was able to have her dream fulfilled of coming to NYC, attending some Broadway shows, and even ice skating at the Rockefeller Center Rink, before she goes back home and makes her final Alpine German Speaking Mission preparations.  She will travel to the Preston, England MTC for six weeks, starting February 25, 2015.

We went to Planet Hollywood for dinner and then to another Broadway show, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder."  It was a hilarious show about Monty Navarro, an heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by eliminating eight relatives who stand in his way (each played by the same great Tony winner Jefferson Mays).

After the show, we retrieved Malisalee and Calee's bags at the Hampton Inn and took many subways, up and down many sets of stairs, no elevators in sight.   

We returned to Grand Central Station and from there took the train to White Plains.  

There was a drunk guy on the train who got in a fight, his girlfriend cried, the conductor threatened arrest, another plain clothes policeman interrogated the drunk.  It only added to a great day of adventure. We walked to the Marriott Regency Hotel (four blocks) and Malisa and Calee got checked in for the night.  It is across the street from our Avalon Apartments.  It was a day of treasured memories.

Sunday, Calee sang, "The Master's Voice" by Sally DeFord.  David Brooks accompanied her.  It was amazing to find out that he too had served his mission in Oslo, Norway and had replaced JD as the AP.  We had heard him play at the Norway Mission Home when we picked up JD from his mission.  He is a fantastic pianist, and was a piano performance major at BYU.  

Mission Leadership Conf. January 2, 2015

The missionaries were taken to the JFK Airport to depart and return home after serving with all their heart, might, mind and soul.  The mission didn't miss a beat, as this morning the new trainers for the incoming missionaries coming next week, were trained.  It is called "Train The Trainer."  We didn't attend that meeting, but did attend the lunch (Pizza and salad), and then stayed for the Mission Leadership Council which was all the new Assistants to the President, Zone Leaders, District Leaders, Office Elders, Sister Leadership Trainers etc.  One of the senior office missionary couples attend each time, and it was our turn.  It was very interesting to attend our first MLC and to get to know the leaders in the mission.  The photos are of some of the missionaries who attended that day.

NY NY Mission History July-December 2014

Today during our Office Staff Meeting, President Morgan asked me if I would compile the NY NY North Mission history from July-December 2014.  I wanted to say, "I wasn't even here!" But of course I said, "I would be happy too!"  

The picture above is of January-June 2014 history book, about an inch thick.  

I have to get it copied and made into books to send to SLC, one for the Mission President, and for others in the mission.  It needs to contain all the things that happened during that six months, including their Zone Conferences, transfers, missionaries coming and going home, Mission Leadership Conferences, Training of new missionaries, agendas, minutes, including their mission blog that Sister Morgan posts with pictures.  

Missionaries Farewell Dinner at the Mission Home - January 1, 2015

New Year's Day we slept in, went down to the exercise room and did our 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill, went to the mission office from 3-6pm, then to the Morgan's Mission Home.  It was such a wonderful event.  Sister Debbie Morgan had cooked flank steak, salad, corn, beans, rolls, baked potatoes and cheesecake for dessert with blueberries and strawberries on top.

Each of the departing 22 missionaries bore their testimonies, as well as President and Sister Morgan.  President told the missionaries, "You can go home, but can't ever go back to what they were before their missions.  They now know too much.  They have experienced miracles, felt the Holy Ghost's influence as they have taught about the restored gospel.  They have refined their lives and humbled their hearts.  They have become true disciples  of Christ, and never will as pure in their lives as they are at that moment.

Colleen and Jerry go to NYC

On Saturday, December 20, 2014, Elder Jerry Gardner and I took the train to New York City to see the Rocketttes at the Radio City Music Hall.  The train station is in White Plains just four blocks from our apartment.  It took us just 33 minutes to arrive at Grand Central Station.  We were bundled up against the cold, but with warm hearts for our exciting adventure.  We walked along 42nd Street to 6th Avenue, then over to 51st Street where we passed a park with ice skating, large Christmas balls, and we even met characters from Star Wars.  Since we arrived early, we enjoyed delicious hot sandwiches at a bakery a block away from Radio City Music Hall.

The show was an eye-popping extravangaza of synchronized moves and ho-ho-ho enthusiasm.  We had to wear 3-D glasses at the first of the show when Santa is delivering presents all over the world.  The Rockettes started out the show as Santa's Reindeers in "Sleigh Ride."  Favorite numbers were Santa's workshop with charming Rag Dolls that came to life.  Every moment was magic in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular!  From the beloved Wooden Soldiers, to the dazzling Snow scene, to the unforgettable Living Nativity, it was really the best show of the season.  

The final two numbers wereThe Living Nativity and Joy to the World.  It was the beautiful and inspiring story of the first Christmas - told reverently in pageantry, with music and scripture.  An angel appeared to the shepherds to the song, "Angels Ye Have Heard on High."  Real camels accompanied the Wise Men to "We Three Kings," and a donkey carried Mary to the Inn where the Savior of the World was born.  

"He Is The Gift"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzjFEMmM0Xs

THE IMPACT OF "HE IS THE GIFT"

At the NY NY North Mission Leadership Council, held on January 2, 2015, the statistics were reviewed about the reach and impact, "This Is The Gift" video had:  About 95,000 individuals looked at this video on the the NY NY North Mission Facebook page.  About 16,000 shared the video from this same page.  

This initiative was a tremendous influence in teaching lessons about our Savior Jesus Christ.  It was also advertised on the big screen in Time Square.