COLD Week!

This last week winter finally hit the city!  Temperature has peaked each day in the low 20’s, with the wind chill taking it to around 0 degrees.  I went out and walked for a mile Friday morning (dropping a car off at Maaco), and found that, fully dressed for cold, you can keep everything warm except your face!  It made me feel bad for the elders and sisters, many of whom are not really prepared for extreme cold!!  (I also wondered how they keep their runny nose in check while greeting people outside…) All I can say is that the beanies and hand warmers given out in the Christmas packages are now being put to good use! I don’t think I had ever really felt a COLD wind that cuts right through you before coming to NYC.

Parking lot under the Flushing Church

Looking out the church window (16 Deg F, 0 with wind chill)

Diane and I went to Staten Island on Thursday to swap cars with some elders to get body work done.  It was under 20 miles during the low traffic hours, and it still took 90 minutes each way!  The BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) always has bad traffic due to construction and congestion.  We couldn’t help thinking that this may be our last trip to Staten Island, so it was necessary to go to the “Z Diner”, one of our favorites, for lunch.  Then, next week will be my last monthly vehicle reports, and the week after that will be our last set of MegaZone Conferences!  I’m not sad to see all the work end, but it’s still a little nostalgic!  We love the relationships with the young missionaries and the senior missionaries!!

At "Z Diner" on Staten Island

As I think about the new year, I know the resolution I really need to meet is to continue to study the scriptures every day like I have on my mission!  I’ve mostly always read the scriptures, but have been far too weak in studying them!  It will be interesting to see what the next year brings.  I know I will be doing many serious home projects, but I can’t help but wonder about what callings and assignments Diane & I will receive. (My worst fear is that Diane will be called again to be a seminary teacher, with me as a co-teacher.  I really don’t want to work that hard.  Luckily, we’ll return home more than half way through the school year, so most seminary positions should be filled…)

We had another one of those sad experiences this week where one of our former office elders had to go home for medical reasons.  He was in the office van probably four months ago when it got rear-ended, and in spite of regular medical attention, his headaches have gotten worse and worse.  I think he will be OK, since he served 18 months, and he will be able to answer all the well-meaning (but rude) questions at home in the ward.  It is really hard for any missionary to come home early, because our church culture seems to equate it as a failure, but IT ISN’T. Service is service, and often we have no control over what actually happens in mortality.  I for one will try to do a better job of just loving return missionaries, no matter how long they serve!

On a happier note – Angie and Allen and their family moved into their long-awaited new home in Clinton, Utah last night.  What an exciting time for them!!  They had been living in Allen’s parent’s basement for 5 or 6 months while the house was being built, a very stressful proposition for all involved!  Many thanks to Ron and Gaylene for helping to make the kids’ dream possible!!  We know they will be blessed for this service! Speaking of service, Diane and I still love our missionary service!  What a blessing it is to learn to love so many new people, and we know that even if we don’t see them again in this life, we will always be friends!!!

Radio City Music Hall

Saint Patrick Cathedral

Inside Saint Patricks