'Quiet Week'

I thought this week was going to be a pretty quiet week, but it turned out full, as usual!  Four accidents and resulting car swaps filled most of my week, even our preparation day.  You know what they say about pride!  The two most serious accidents were to cars with under 1000 miles.  A car turned across in front of one of the new RAV4s and we t-boned it.  Both cars had to be towed away.  No injuries to the missionaries, but the other driver left in an ambulance, and both vehicles were pretty badly damaged.

The other serious accident was our one 2017 Nissan Altima, 1 month old, that was rear-ended at a stoplight.  On this one, all 3 missionaries had injuries.  Whiplash, bloody nose and a concussion.  The one (and only) good thing about more serious accidents is that the police are always involved, so you get good accident reports with all the information needed.  On the other hand, injuries complicate things a lot…

Both sets of missionaries now without cars are in areas where a vehicle is absolutely necessary, so I got them loaner cars in the last couple of days.  One has to drive a minivan, and the other an old car we are selling, so both will be glad to get their new cars back!  The other accidents were simple ones: 1) A can of paint fell of a truck and burst, getting paint all over a new Subaru, 2) Backed into a pole (I don’t know how, when the companion should have been outside helping him back up…).  OK, enough bad news!

Last night we went to a baptism in the branch.  It was a 10 or 11 year old boy that got baptized, so the program was heavily Primary-influenced.  The prayers, talks and musical number (a total surprise to the Primary chorister (Diane) when she walked in) were all Primary children.  Now that we’ve become used to starting 45 minutes late and the full meal after, we love to come and spend time with the branch!!  I especially love to see Diane doing the hug and cheek-kiss with all the women! The men just shake hands, except I usually hug the missionaries (remember my goal to become a hugger on my mission – mostly met). 

We see in the system that a senior couple has been called to take our place, but they are still in “hush mode” (no names), which probably means they have not accepted their call yet.  The challenge will be the timing. Current call shows MTC on 1/15 for 2 weeks, then a week to drive out puts them getting here right at our 24 month mark, which is awkward for us. (There are some pretty severe tax implications when you reside in another state for 24 months.)  We are seeing if SLC can get them accelerated a couple of weeks, but that may not work because of the time of year.  More to come on that…

Friday night we went out to dinner with the Shapiros and President & Sister Reynolds, which was fun!  It’s amazing how much better you get to know people in small groups.  These senior missionaries are the salt of the earth - - people who are doing the best they can with the talents and resources they have to serve the Lord in NYC.  We are happy to be associated with them!  We just keep thinking over and over, “WOW, how in the world will we ever top this senior mission?!  So many wonderful and unique experiences, and so much growth, at this stage of life!!!”  We will hate to see it end, although we do get tired sometimes.  Even though we spend most of our time doing the ‘grunt work’ of keeping a mission running, I know it is the Lord’s work and this is where we should be right now, and there is nothing I’d rather be doing right now!! (Except briefly, when I see friends having fun on Facebook.)

Inside Junior's, home of one of the most famous cheesecakes

in Brooklyn and NYC

Outside Junior's