Elder and Sister Williams NY NY South Mission: A day of really hard work, and a day of needed rest

Tuesday was the transfer from heck. It was one of the largest transfers of the year (22 missionaries coming in), so we knew it would be busy, but it turned out worse than busy! At about 8:30 AM, I noticed that a backhoe was tearing up the sidewalk in front of the church parking lot and the small lot next door. As I talked to the foreman, I found that both lots would be blocked all day—not what you want to hear when you are expecting 40+ cars and 150 missionaries within the next hour or two (and most already on the way)!!

The foreman felt bad and was willing to do everything he could to work with us, laying plywood over the wet concrete, etc, but our cars were going to be in and out all day, so in consultation with President Reynolds we decided to move the entire transfer to another building a couple of miles away. Luckily (as the less spiritually inclined would say), the fact that our mission is running a church trial where all the missionaries have smart phones made it possible to get the word out quickly, and most found out before getting off the subway and hauling their suitcases ¼ mile up the hill to the church!

Meanwhile, I had four needed vehicles trapped in the church parking lot with a trench out front, including all the incoming missionaries’ luggage in the rental van, plus some luggage that had shown up at the church the night before (missionaries are creative!) and all the mail, packages, eating supplies, etc. So, as missionaries showed up who hadn’t gotten the word early enough, I pressed them into service moving and temporarily parking vehicles (mostly illegally, since there was no parking slots on the street available). The construction crew stacked lumber and debris in the trench so we could drive out. (Did I mention that it was 87 degrees with 90% humidity at 9AM (“real feel” temp of 100+)!?) We did find drivers and get all the cars and supplies to the Woodside building almost on time, only to find that the parking lot was locked and no one there had a key! So, more scrambling and calling and parking illegally, and hauling suitcases in a side door (like I said, missionaries are creative!). And a key did come 20 minutes later.

Also, Diane had ordered 12 extra large pizzas to be delivered at the original location and we couldn’t get in touch with the pizza guy, so we made a trip to the pizza shop and changed the delivery location, and then I made another run with the rental van to get all the packages from the office, and later in the day our friend Jay made a trip in his car to get the luggage scale from the office. All in all it was a hot, sweaty, stressful day where everything ultimately worked out, but we still don’t want to do it that way again!! That’s the ‘cliff’s notes’ version of a transfer day we mostly want to forget…

Yesterday we had a much nicer and more peaceful day! My companion’s Dr. asked her to stay off her feet as much as possible for a few days (result of soreness in her bionic knee from being on her feet too much in past two weeks…), so we decided to drive to the two tips of Long Island. It was a spectacular day! 75 degrees and 30% humidity (about as low as it gets)! We started by driving to Orient Point at the very end of the north tip of the island and had lunch there in a nice seaside restaurant, then drove back in a few miles and took a ferry across to Shelter Island, and another ferry across to North Haven and Sag Harbor.

The north side scenery was different and beautiful, with many wineries, orchards and fruit stands. Seemed peaceful compared to what we’ve become used to! Everywhere on both forks was beautiful green scenery and many spectacular homes (mixed with the less spectacular homes of the long-time residents). From there we drove east on the south fork through Hampton Bays all the way out to Montauk Point and lighthouse. Along the way we stopped to visit Paul McCartney and Robert Duval, although neither seemed to be out working in their driveways (which was about all we could see…). It was a fun trip in spite of the fact that many others seemed to have had the same idea. Traffic and people are all right if you’re not in a hurry… It was fun to be with Diane, and we laughed a lot even though we’ve heard all of each other’s stories!

View from Orient Point

Lunch (I'll probably get some grief for the wind-blown look)

Passing another small ferry

Shelter Island Dock

Shelter Island

Montauk Lighthouse

View towards Connecticut from Montauk

Today in my Sunday School class several students returned who had been gone with their family to Ecuador all summer. (It’s surprising how many families in our branch go ‘home’ to Central and South America each summer!) Anyway, Nicole, who is 15 asked me if I’d heard of ‘EFR’ and said she got to go this summer, and LOVED it. It is the Spanish version of Especially For Youth, and this was by far the best conversation I’ve ever had with her, as she told me how wonderful it was to be with 200 youth with the same values and desires as her! These programs have a wonderful effect on YM and YW, and we are so thankful that our daughters got to attend several times!! (If I remember correctly, I always squawked about the money in my mind, but I’m so thankful I always sucked it up and went along!!) There are lots of things in this life that are difficult in the short term, but absolutely invaluable in the long term, and luckily one of us (not me) recognized that at the time! I love the Lord, and I love this work we are doing!