25 December 2016 Christmas is here!

25 December 2016

Well, we have made it to our 7 1/2 month mark here in New York and I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I have had many wonderful experiences and my testimony of this work has grown. I have to say that this is our Savior's work to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of [all] men." Whether we choose to be a part of His plan is really up to us, He can only invite and pray that we will accept this offer.

It has been a rather calm week as far as the family history center goes. We have had two or three people come in each day but most of them we able to work on their own and little assistance. There is always Pedro that will keep us on our toes. He loves being with Golden or myself and to as he puts it "Let me just tell you a story on how I got here." Four hours later, we are still hearing his story but when he leaves, he leaves with a smile of his face and knowing that we are glad that he came. When the other missionaries come in to relieve us, Pedro will get up and leave with us because he knows that they will not work with him.

Last month when Daniel and Melanie came to New York to stay with us for a few days and the nursery leader, Nabuko, took some pictures of Enoch playing while he was visiting. It is always such a joy to watch children as they play. They really get involved with their play.

Enoch is the one of the left.

Enoch is the one in the blue shirt with his back to us.

This week, I can officially declare that I am a full fledged senior. I filed for Social Security Benefits and qualified. I use to have a deal with my husband, Golden, that he could not get old until I did. It has been a running joke since he is 7 years older than me. I guess his time has come where he can now claim ownership of his aches and pains as a part of the aging process.

We spent almost four hours at the Social Security Office because the worker that was assigned to us had never worked a claim that involved someone that worked under the umbrella of the state and did not pay into the Social Security system. He was so afraid of making a mistake that he just kept researching and researching all of the guidelines that he could find to insure that his decision was right.

He said that we the quietest couple that he had come in. He knew that we were Mormons, and he said that if he had the time, he would love to ask us some questions. Hopefully, someday, we will be able to get back there and give him a Book of Mormon to start his quest for answers about the Mormons. 

Golden wanted a picture of the family history center as it is now a part of our mission history and we have had some wonderful experiences while serving there. It is located in the same building as the temple and the meetinghouse chapel which is attached to the tower where we live. It is all really convenient so if the weather gets really bad, we can opt to attend the ward here rather than traveling to Innwood which is 35 minutes away by subway.

Golden standing in front of the Family History Center Entrance

 Golden sitting at one of the computer stations we have for the patrons

Golden just outside the doors to the Manhattan Temple. This is at the opposite end of the foyer from the Family History Center.

Last night, Christmas Eve, we went to a party with some of the missionaries that had no family for Christmas. We had a lovely dinner and then we watch a couple of church videos. Then each of us shared some traditions that our families had. We play the recording that I have of the music CD the my kids gave me for Christmas about four years ago. Elder Martinez kept telling me that I should promote them because they were so good. Everyone was surprised how well they sound together. I will always cherish the gift of music that all of my children, including grandchildren have given me. Music is such a universal language  and is quick to touch the heart.

I guess the best way to end the year is to bear a missionary's witness and share the message that the Savior sent us out here to share. I just completed reading the Book of Mormon again, and I can say without a doubt, that it is true. It holds within it the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It hold promises that are sure and hope for eternal life. It proves that our Savior is unchanging. He has been with all people throughout the generations of time and the path that He has made is the same yesterday, today, and it will be the same for the future. All of us must repent and keep ourselves unspotted from the world, enjoy the blessings of baptism under proper authority of the priesthood, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost who can be a constant companion who guides, teaches, warns, and bring peace in hard times.

God is our Heavenly Father and he lives. Our Savior, Jesus Christ was born, he lived and gave us a perfect example to get through this life, he died and was resurrected and is now an immortal God that still lives. He loves us and wants us back home with him. Of these things I leave my witness that they are true.

On Christmas day, we walked across Central Park from our apartment 60 West 66th Street with the idea that we would go to the East Side and view the decorated windows on Fifth Avenue.  After crossing Central Park, we saw "Big Bird as several children came to him while they, too, were celebrating Christmas Day.  Several children were seen in the park with their new Christmas gifts of toys and other items.

Top: Diane on Central Park East on a walking bridge ("Big Bird" in the background); and a close-up of "Big Bird" enjoying what the children were showing they had received for Christmas.

On the southeast corner of Central Park is a statue of General William Techumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the Civil War.  He was criticized for his "scorched earth" policy as he marched through the South.  Diane and Golden.

Diane at sign for Tiffany & Company, Fifth Avenue, New York City on Christmas Day 2016.  We can't afford the jewelry and gold, but we did capture a photo!

18 December 2016 - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

18 December 2016

Christmas in New York has brought out many friends and activities that has kept us rather busy this last week and we have had the opportunity of seeing new things and places. One of my goals was to take a walk down 5th Avenue to visit Macey's Department Store. It covers a complete square block with nine floors to see. We walked inside to see what it was like and the decorations were beautiful.

Golden across the street from Macey's Department Store

Front entrance to Macey's Department Store 

This is the Wish view of the revolving display

Diane in front hall of Macey's Department Store

Ceiling decorations in the hall and the display between the two escalators going up and down

Golden in front of Macey's Department Store

Christmas tree display up on the 9th floor

The window displays are like taking a walk through Disneyland with their quality and animation. Here are some images from their windows.

Diane in front of the Pinball display. You could actually play pinball from outside the window

Golden in from of the Window with the character seeing Santa

Book display of kids reading and hearing Christmas stories

Child's imagination with reading a book

 Not far from Macey's Department Store is Saks Department store. This is also a very popular store on 5th Avenue in New York. Here are some of their displays.

This is the light display outside of Saks Department Store that kept changing

 These following pictures are of the windows from Saks Departrment Store helping to promote the Nutcracker Ballet being shown in New York.

Scenes from the Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

Scenes from the Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

Scene from the Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

Scene from the Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

 Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

 These next pictures are of the famous Christmas tree that it put up in Rockefeller Center. In order for them to get the tree in they after to cut off all of the branches before loading it on to the truck. Then they build scaffolding around the tree and drill holes to put the limbs back onto the tree after it is standing. It is a beautiful tree to see.

Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center - Diane and Golden

On December 16th, the New York New York Mission Christmas Devotional was held in Ossing, New York ad the Yorktown Ward.  President David Smith and Sister Smith's family had memorized "The Living Christ - Testimony of The Apostles" and presented it. Selected missionaries also gave a personal story from their lives and bore testimony of the Savior.  Afterwards, we had a very delicious Christmas Dinner, served by the Senior Missionaries.

Arriving early, we helped the Elders and Sisters prepare the cultural hall for the missionaries.

Ham, Green Beans, Potatoes, and Pie were served to the Elders and Sisters by the Senior Missionaries.

Elders and Sisters of The Best Mission enjoy Christmas Dinner and Celebrating together.

Sister Missionaries in front of Family History Center with Elders preparing the Christmas Initiative Campaign "Light The World - Serving in 25 Ways Over 25 Days.

These are the Elders that come and stand outside the Family History Center showing the Christmas campaign "Light The World" - Service in 25 Ways over 25 Days. "Jesus read the scriptures AND SO CAN YOU!

These are members of the Blind School that came around and did some Christmas Caroling. The Public Affairs Missionaries were giving out hot chocolate in support of their activity and everyone really enjoyed it.

There are always Security Guards just outside of the Family History Center that have become good friends to us.

This is Albert, one of our steady ones who is always there when we are

With all of the fun things that we have been able to enjoy here in New York, my most cherished memories will be of all your love and Christmas wishes. After working with so many people that do not have families, I have truly come to appreciate the great family that I have. Everyone is so special to us in their own way and I want all of you to know just how much I love and appreciate each one.

Here are the Christmas wishes that I have been able to get pictures of. Some of the pictures I have not been able to figure out how to get, but I will.

This is a Nativity picture that Melanie Made in Relief Society and sent to us for our Apartment.

This is a picture of left to right Melanie, Enoch, age 3, Jocie, age 1, and Daniel

These next pictures are  from Aaron and Lori's Family. I can't believe how everyone is changing so much.

 Cameron, age 11

Zach, age 9

Katelyn and Camille, age 1

 This is a book that they sent with a story from Russell M. Nelson along with some notes from the family.

Garrett, age 6

Aaron and Lori's family from left to right Zach, Cameron, Lori, Katelyn, Cameron, Aaron and Camille

Here are pictures from Paul and Jenny's family in Wyoming.

Jenny with Ammon singing into some music box they got for Christmas

Riley Ashlynn, Ammon, Jenny, and Kyler singing

Paul and Jenny's family left Riley, Ammon, Paul, Kyler, Ashlynn, and Jenny

Here is a PaulMark original:

These others are letters and pictures from Jenny and each of their children.

I love Christmas and the cards and pictures have meant so much to me in bringing the Spirit of Christmas into our little apartment. The testimonies shared and the thoughts that were sent from the ward back home were so special and my heart was filled with the love and gratitude even though I do not know many of them now since they changed the ward boundaries. It is amazing to me how love can touch a life when the people have never met. I give my gratitude to those that took the time to share a little something with us.

These are some of the thoughts and cards that will be a special part of my life and memories as I continue to serve our mission here in New York.

Joyce and Will Inlow

Lana Parker

Nicholas, age 5

Rick and Jody Adams

Ryan Rhodes my grandson

This is the season to celebrate and remember the greatest life that ever came to this earth, our Savior Jesus Christ. So as part of my gift to the Savior, I will leave the message that he has entrusted to me as I bear his name while serving this mission. The message is that families are forever and they are a major part of our Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness. He wants everyone to help gather Israel through missionary work and through Family History. The gathering of Israel is real. It is moving forward in ways that are staggering. As the programmers up in Salt Lake have stated, "The Lord is  hastening his work and we are just trying to keep up with him." This work is a miracle that is happening every day and what a joy it has been to be a part it.