Normal Week

It was a fairly normal week this week, getting back into the swing of things after our trip, getting all our office work cleaned up for the month and getting ready for transfers on Tuesday, 11/1.  We did drive up to Yonkers on Wednesday to pick up four brand new 2017 Chevrolet Malibus for the mission!  I’m not sure why the church upgraded from Cruzes to Malibus.  I suspect it’s for the safety features, and I know the elders and sisters won’t mind!!  The Malibus are beautiful, plus a little bigger and have blind-spot warning, back-up collision warning, and even automatic braking collision avoidance!  Plus, they have full Bluetooth and wifi (just for 1^st few months) in them.  While we were driving one home, Diane kidded (I assume), “I think we need a new car!”  We laughed about it, but it is amazing how much things progress in two or three years!!

The mission has 12 vehicles now that need body work (9 minor accidents in last 6 weeks), so I plan to keep one ‘old’ (2013 with 51k miles) car in service as a loaner for a transfer or two, until we can get caught up.  Getting new cars will also keep me (more) busy trying to sell three more old cars (added to the two I haven’t sold yet from the last batch).  Well, we wanted to feel needed…

We had another elder go home early this week, which was/is heartbreaking!  He is one of our favorites, and a wonderful missionary.  As usual, it was sad to say goodbye to him, cry with him and see his companion (a new missionary) crying in the lobby.  We assume the early return was health-related, although we really never know. We do know, though, that the lessons and challenges of mortality are constant and unique for each of us, and there’s a good reason even the best of us, Jesus Christ, had to experience mortality in its fullness!  All we can do is pray for each other and love each other!!  The one time I went with Diane to education week, one of the teachers showed from the Book Of Mormon that our challenges spring from three different causes:  Our own miss-use of our agency (bonehead decisions, as Dad would say), Other’s miss-use of their agency, and just plain lessons of mortality!  (And they are all hard!)  We hate to see people we love suffer, but our testimony is strengthened with every experience that it’s so much easier to bear and learn from these experiences if we remain obedient to the principles of the gospel. 

Several of the senior missionary couples that were here when we got here are finishing their missions and being replaced by other couples.  It’s sad to see them go, but also fun to meet and get to know the new couples!  Every couple is unique, with their own strengths and challenges, and Diane and I often comment that it’s like working in the temple—it’s such a blessing associating with others who are at much the same place in life as you are, and are all trying to simply do what is right!!   Another brief glimpse of what heaven will be like!  WE STILL LOVE IT.

Dinner at the Duffys, 10-30-16. L to R: Marc, Sister Duffy, Diane, Brother Duffy, Kathy (Sis Duffy sister from CA), Elder Harris, Sister Harris

Conferences, Histories and a Little Bit about Pedestrians

This weekend we had a wonderful Stake Conference in Little Neck.  My companion has been sick for a couple of days so I had to attend by myself.  I stepped outside of my comfort zone and sat with Branch members rather than with other missionaries.  The talks were mostly on service and wonderful stories were told.  It is so nice to hear from people of varying backgrounds and parts of the world who have testimonies of the Gospel.  When they speak of how the Gospel helped them through difficult times or talk about their testimonies of the Atonement, I realize how alike we all are.

After the meeting on Saturday, 4 of the elders were looking for a ride home so, with the permission of President Reynolds, I drove them to their apartment in Flushing.  Then today, I gave the Flushing Sisters a ride to conference and back.  My second, third and fourth times driving in Flushing.  It is only becoming slightly less terrifying to drive there.  The most difficult part is the pedestrians who just boldly dart out in front of you.  But the more I drive here the more self-confident I become just in the fact that I am able to do something that terrifies me and am able to overcome those fears.

One of the things that used to annoy me, but that now I just find humorous in New Yorkers, is that they will walk out in front of cars and hold their hand up as if they were a traffic cop telling you to stop.  This week I was driving and a mother with her young son (about 4-yrs-old) walked out in front of me and the little boy held his hand up for me to stop. I really did laugh out loud.  She was teaching him young to be a true New Yorker.

Today Sister Petersen had a 92-yr-old Peruvian woman and her son over for dinner.  They were so fascinating to talk to. They had lived here since the 40s or so and related much of the history of the Church in this area.  It was so delightful to listen to them and I realized how the Church has changed and the progress that has been made.  It made me want to find a history of the Church here and find out more.

The Elders were asking me what I enjoy most about my mission and I gave them the same answer all the senior couples give—“the missionaries.”  When I am feeling like maybe I’m not doing anything important on my mission that is when some Elders or Sisters will walk into the office and need something.  (Or they will need a ride somewhere as happened this weekend.)  Then all is good in the world and I feel like I really am serving and making a difference.  We live to help the missionaries and love feeling needed.  

Home (but not home) for Darci and Jeremy's Wedding!

We spent the last week in Kent for our daughter Darci's wedding to Jeremy Black.  (He is a great guy! More later on that...)  It's a little strange being guests in our own home. Courtney & Tyler have kept it up well (I'm sure with a little scrambling at the last minute like all of us...).The first several days of our trip we spent some time with our friends, going out to lunch and spending time with the Smiths, Carlsons, and Balls.  (Others were tied up with other events, and I'm sure the Hortons would have been included if they had not moved to Minnesota.)  It was fun to reconnect, and share mission stories!!  It made me realize what a life-changing experience a mission is, even for senior couples!  So many experiences and so much learning are crammed into a short period of time!!  We miss our friends when we're gone!

The wedding and reception were great.  It was nice to spend a little time with Jeremy’s parents, Cindy and Don.  Don retired from Boeing this year, so we have a lot in common, and Cindy is a school principal.  We felt really comfortable with them, and I think we could become great friends if we get the chance! We are so proud and thankful that our kids are all such productive, good people!  It was rewarding to see them all working alongside each other at the reception.  Avery and Chris’ wedding present to Darci & Jeremy was Avery acting as wedding planner (she coordinates corporate events for her work), so she was in the middle of everything, and everyone (especially Chris, Angie (came from Utah without her kids) and Stephanie (after Jay took the kids home) worked for several hours getting the site disassembled and things organized and put away. Avery hasn’t had as much interaction with the family due to work and other conflicts, and I feel like the help of her sisters will really help bring us all closer! 

My mother was able to come from Utah for the wedding, along with my older brother, Randy, and it was wonderful to see them (although we didn’t see them as much as we would have liked) and feel their support!!  Although she hates to hear it, Mom continues to be an inspiration to all of us!  What a great example of doing everything possible to remain productive and enduring righteously to the end!!  My sister Sara and her husband Ken also came, and also their son Konrad, and his wife, Ashley and daughter Kimber.  It was also really fun to see Stephanie’s kids dance and have fun, too.  I left out Stephanie’s husband Jay-- All he did was perform the wedding, and do a fantastic job giving just the right mix of marital advice and teaching to a whole room of non-Mormons!

We heard many positive comments on Jay’s advice and comments, and also many comments from co-workers and other friends on how wonderful they think Darci is, and what an impact on their lives she has had!  (I told Darci that it felt a little bit like her funeral, hearing all those eulogies!) Jeremy is a really good guy, and we think they will be very happy together!!!  It was a wonderful week, and wonderful to see a bunch of the people we love!  It reminds you what’s really important in life!!

We are also excited to get back to the mission field!  Through the miracle of cell phones and email, I was able to limp along doing most of my mission functions while we were home, but we missed the interactions with the missionaries (both junior and senior). We also missed being in a mission meeting with Elder Holland, and we will be happy to get back to our normal routines!  Right now we are flying home—45 minutes from JFK airport.  Sister Peterson will pick us up, take us back to our little apartment and little (queen-sized) bed, and we will continue to love it!!  We love our family and friends, and love to be with them, but now is our time for full-time service to the Lord, and we love it!!!  It’s hard to imagine being happier!!!!!!!!!!! 

Bambi Wreck

This is the sisters' description of a wreck.  We thought it was cute!

We were driving about 40 mph down the road and out of the trees bounds baby Bambi right into the front right side of our car. We're fine, the car is a little bruised up, and the deer struggled for life for a little bit, and is now in a better place.  there are some scratches that we're not sure if they were there before the deer or because of the deer. also the front bumper that was previously loose became unattached on the left side. 

Challenges and Blessings

This has been a busy week.  We have been preparing for our trip home to Darci's wedding.  We are so looking forward to seeing family and friends. Preparing others to do our jobs makes us realize how much we actually do.  The new missionary training meeting is Wednesday.  That is one of our busiest days.  Sister Petersen is kind enough to fill in for both of us!  She's a trooper and the missionaries love her.  We will miss an all mission conference while we are in Seattle. There is a General Authority coming but I can't say who yet.  I was disappointed to miss it, especially when I found out who it is!

The diversity here in the mission is great!  Missionaries from all over the globe.  We had dinner with 6 sisters today at Sister Petersen's.  Three of them are Hispanic, one is a sweet little Philippino and one is caucasion and very blonde and very white compared to the others. We love seeing the other missionaries who meet in our building on Sunday.  Some Hispanic, some Caucasion, some Korean and some Chinese.  They are all wonderful.  I'm learning to love people from all cultures.

We have begun feeding the elders in our area.  For some reason the sisters get lots of dinner invitations from members but the elders don't.  We love having them in our home even if just for 45 minutes.

We just got through Mega Zone Conferences.  Once again, inspecting cars, feeding missionaries, giving training presentations (Marc).  We love anything where we get to see lots of missionaries.  We are fortunate to be in an assignment where we have lots of access to them.  The best is when they come into the office for interviews or something where they have to wait around.  We usually stop what we are doing and talk to them.  All our missionaries are quite loving and appreciative.  I realized it's because we are a port in the storm--like a safe harbor for them when the world is being cruel to them.  It's like we are the closest thing to home and for the few minutes they are with us everything is ok.  Plus I usually have fruit or candy out for them.

Speaking of storms, we got the edge of Hurricane Matthew today.  Lots of rain and wind.  Made us feel at home.

Sundays continue to be challenging but rewarding.  Generally alternating between the two.  Marc is feeling like he is making some progress with his Sunday School Class.  They have finally begun to open up and actually join in discussions.  Primary is fun most days.  We are getting ready for the Sacrament Meeting Program.  With only about 10 kids it makes the singing challenging.  I do love the kids though and feel like they have gotten used to me and may actually like me.

I am coming to believe it will be truly hard to leave this place when our time is up.

Activity Day. Book of Mormon Skit.  They kids loved their director. 

Samuel the Lamanite.  Love these kids. We are grateful for Dollar Store props.

Dinner at Sis. Petersen's.  L-R Sister Mejia, Sister Zambito, Sister Petersen
Sister Williams, Elder Williams.  Marc is usually outnumbered.

Sisters.  We love them SO MUCH!

Mega-Zone lunch.  The missionaries eat quite well.

More musings...

Not much to say this week (at least that I can think of up front). This last week was hectic, with four mega-zone conferences in a row Tuesday through Friday!  At each one I check all the cars and give a brief presentation (15-20 minutes) on vehicle-related information. The purpose is to emphasize safety and other timely information.  I’m always glad for the years of experience (church callings) in front of groups, so I can focus on the best way to get the information across, instead of on overcoming nervousness!  Elder Johnson (housing coordinator) and I were commiserating ahead of the first conference that it seems like we talk about the same things every time, and the thought came to me, “Do you think we will hear a lot of startlingly new information at General Conference this weekend?”  I guess we hear what we need to hear, and whatever we are prepared for sticks.  Our weather here is turning Autumn-like (mid-sixties, overcast, rain showers), and at the conference yesterday I got pretty wet checking out 22 cars!  I was wearing my Tilley hat, and every time I got into a car to check out the registration and insurance, the water ran off my hat onto my lap and the seats.  Made me feel pretty tough!!

Missionaries are like the rest of us—many different ideas of what taking care of and keeping a car means!  Most keep the readily-visible exterior pretty clean, but the less-visible interior is immaculate and organized in some cars, and others are dirty and disorganized.  (And they all think they do a pretty good job keeping their vehicle up…)  The church spends an average of $14,000 a month (of your tithing money) on the vehicles just in our mission.  I always try to emphasize to the missionaries that if they are like me, they may never drive a vehicle this new and nice for the next twenty years!  It kind of amazes me that that the mission cars we are selling (50000-54000 miles) are the same age as my brand new (in my mind) retirement car! 

My companion has been sick with flu-like symptoms the last three days, and it’s made me realize how blessed with health we have been since we came!  She has been able to work in the office every day, and handle three callings in the branch, with NO sick days until Thursday.  We are truly blessed!!  I told the missionaries in my zone conference introductions that of all the companions I’ve had in my two missions, she is by far the best, and they (led by the sisters) always say, “AWWWW…!” Then I tell them that the only unique thing is the dresses that show up on my credit card sometimes…  They don’t have that problem very often.

While I’m rambling, let me talk about being in the eastern time zone.  Everything is three hours later than Seattle, so conference sessions start at noon, 4PM and 8PM.  Kind of different going to a meeting that lasts from 8-10PM!  Sports events (not that I notice, since I’m on a mission) often start at 8PM and end after midnight!  The Seahawks are playing the Jets at MetLife stadium today, about 3 miles from our apartment (GO HAWKS!), during the Sunday morning session of conference.

We are looking forward to going home for a week for Darci and Jeremy’s wedding!  We’ll leave a week from Tuesday (10/11) and return a week later (10/18).  It will be fun, and a little strange, to see everyone after 8 months!!  Speaking of time zones, while I’m home I’ll be fielding calls from 5 or 6AM, when the auto shops open in NYC.  Will be a little strange! Hope there are no accidents! (Probably will be, but hopefully just a fender-bender or two…)

We love you all, and know we are doing the right thing (for us at this time) by being here on a mission!!  I tell people all the time that if Diane had her way, we’d put in mission papers for a second mission two or three months before we leave this mission.  I tell her, though, that I need six months to fix up the house and sell it (and actually be retired) before another mission…  We’ll see.  You never know what the Lord has planned for you in your mortal training program!!