More Mission...

On Monday evening when Diane was gone, I got a call from the housing senior couple that a couple of elders had locked themselves out of their apartment in Brooklyn.  Since the Hopkins live on the opposite end of the mission from Brooklyn, they asked if I could take some keys to the missionaries and I agreed.  I left at about 6:30 PM for the 15 mile trip, and ended up getting home at about 9:30!  Rainy night, bad traffic, and an adventure!  As I’ve said many times, everything here revolves around transportation and parking!!  (The housing couple gets 3-4 calls a month from locked-out missionaries, even though each individual missionary is supposed to carry a set of keys.  They always remind the missionaries about keys at zone conferences, but it still happens…what a pain!  The things that happen on a mission that you never thought about…!)

 

Heading through Brooklyn on Flatbush Ave towards the Manhattan
 Bridge, after letting elders into their apartment.

I had occasion last week to see two more churches here.  I took a car to Staten Island and went to the “Spanish Building” on the north side of the island, then last week we took a car to another building in Brooklyn.  The Brooklyn building location was unique, right along (almost under) the D train.  It’s fun to see how the church builds buildings that work in the various surroundings!

 

Staten Island "Spanish Building"

View out the front door of the Bensonhurst

Building in Brooklyn. Note the train going by.

Bensonhurst Building

Saturday we went on a little trip with Sister Petersen to Fire Island.  This specific island is 32 miles long and about 500-700 yards wide located along the south side of Long Island with beaches along most of the ocean side of the island.  Cars are allowed only on the western 5 miles or so, and the entire island is a national park. We took about a 20 minute ferry ride over with many families who were obviously going over for a day at the beach, walked to the far side to see the beaches, then went on a park ranger tour of the Sunken Forest, ate lunch and then rode the ferry back.  The Sunken Forest isn’t sunken that we could see, but is called that because it’s tucked in behind large dunes that protect the ecosystem from the wind and salt spray from the ocean side. Ranger David said there are only two forests like this in the US.  It’s famous for its 300 year old holly trees and other unique trees and plants.  We enjoyed the tour other than hearing about all the damage global warming may do to the forest.  As always, it’s really fun to get out and see things that are unique to this area!!  On the way back we took a little side trip to go to a chocolate/caramel apple shop in the town of Babylon (yes, that’s really the name.  For good reason, with the cost of the gourmet chocolates!)  Sister Petersen seems to know the location of all the good chocolate shops in the area.  She’s the nurse, so it must be good for you…  Diane and I seem to keep going back to the basics—chocolate chips!

Sunken Forest

We still like it here on a mission!!  It’s good to have been here long enough to know what’s going on and not get surprised too much.  Jay and Stephanie will be here the week after next, and we are looking forward to that!  Tomorrow is the fourth of July, but nothing too big is planned.  We have to take a newly-repaired car to Staten Island (early to avoid as much traffic as possible) and pick up the loaner, so we can take it to the other end of the mission on Wednesday, and bring another car in for body work.  7 accidents in the last 10 days! Just evening things out after almost 6 weeks without an accident before that!  Anyway, plenty to do and we love it!!  Also very nice to have Diane back—I’ve become quite attached to her!!!!!!!!!!!!!