Busy Busy Busy

The Lynbrook Building (swapping a wrecked car for a loaner)

On 10/22 we had stake conference in the Lynbrook Stake. (BTW, I learned this week that the stake name came from reversing the name Brooklyn.)  It was a good conference, with many good speakers, but the highlight for me was after, when three of the men I taught in my last priesthood advancement class were ordained elders!  Jose (Anthony) Carpintero, Adrian Dimitriou, and Edgar Cheka were ordained. Anthony is a 19 y/o who has been coming to my SS class the last year, Adrian was baptized when we first got here on our mission, and Edgar was baptized a little more than a year ago.  I was honored when two of the three asked me to stand in their ordination circle.  (I’m sure if Anthony had known he could, he would have invited me also, but he went first from our branch.  President Shinn spent a lot of time teaching before the ordinations, since very few in the room had been involved in these kind of ordinances before. I’m sure they will remember it forever.)  There was a great spirit in the room while three men from our branch and two men from the Chinese ward were ordained (One in Spanish, two in English, and two in Mandarin).  I was so thankful to be a part of teaching some of these brethren about the Melchizedek Priesthood and the blessing it can be in their lives and the lives of others!  Nearly everything I’ve learned in life is a result of my priesthood callings and my marriage.  I’m so blessed!!

On Monday we met some of the other senior missionaries in Brooklyn at our favorite pizza place, Grimaldis.  As usual it was great to talk and see each other!!  We used to have FHE on Mondays for the senior missionaries, but that hasn’t happened since Sister Petersen went home from her mission.  Sister Postma, who took Sister Petersen’s place is a great person and we are learning to love her!  The dynamics of the senior missionaries change as people change, but they are all wonderful people!!  What struck me Monday night was that we left at 5PM and got home a little before 9PM – four hours to travel 15 miles, eat dinner, and return home!  As I’ve said before, everything in NYC seems to revolve around transportation and parking!  In Kent, we drove a mile, had “empty nester” FHE, then drove home – pretty much everything in 90 minutes with energy to spare.

L to R: Sister Shapiro (Aunt Debbie), Diane, Congers, Adams, Hos, Carlins

Last night we met seven other senior missionaries and went to “Hello Dolly!” at the Shubert Theatre.  It was fun!  Five of us rode the subway from our place, 2 rode the subway from Jamaica, and two drove (Elder Openshaw has a bad foot).  The theatre is an old theatre and is very ornate (and steep!).  We sat in the upper balcony, but they were still very good seats, once we got over the impression that we were going to fall forward!  The show stared Donna Murphy and David Hyde Pierce (from Frasier).  Just like at the Rockettes show last Christmas, the talent, sets and sound were spectacular!  I guess Broadway gets the best, doesn’t it?!

Ceiling detail at the Shubert Theatre

Waiting for the play to start.

10 PM in Times Square (truly the city that never sleeps!)

It’s still fun to have so many experiences we thought we’d probably never have, and Diane’s bucket list still has more items than there is time!  What a joy it is to serve the Lord (and have some fun on our own) in NYC!!