April 2015

"Whenever I hear the sound of a bird, or look at the blue blue sky;
Whenever I feel the rain on my face, or the wind as it rushes by;
Whenever I touch a velvet rose, or walk by a lilac tree;
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me."
We love this Primary song and have been reminded this month of all the beauty that spring brings.
We started the month with transfers. On March 31 2015, 14 new missionaries joined our mission family. We had new Elders and Sisters come from Guatemala, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brazil, Philippines, and China.

Everyone is here safe, now it's time for dinner!

Sister Freihofner with her twins, Charlotte and Johnnie

Elder Guerra, Elder, Elder Brower, Elder Brasileiro, Sister Perkins, Sister Lee, Elder Arines, Sister Fu, Sister Tesch, Sister Marriott, Sister Zelaya, Sister Fink, Elder Li, Elder Nelson

Our returning missionaries have been wonderful. They are Loyal to the CORE in every way.

Sister Maw, Sister Hall, Sister Randell, Sister Card, Sister Kim, Sister Steele, Sister Baker, Elder Wang, Elder Wilkins,
Elder Fronk, Elder Tancayo, Elder Filoso

Another Transfer day!!

Elder & Sister Powell and Elder & Sister Hanson are returning home to their grandchildren. We have been blessed to have them both here.

We said a fond farewell to Sister Madisyn Randell. She left a couple of days early to return to New Zealand for her brother's temple sealing. She has brought so much happiness to our mission. Sister Randell presented President Morgan a Mania Taonga, meaning the Guardian Angel. Sister Morgan's Taonga is called, Rau Kumara which represents love and friendship. We are grateful for our Maori Missionary!

We were so happy to have Sister Jamie Presley come back to serve in the NYNYN. We missed her while she was in California, now she is back "home" in the NYNYN.  We also welcomed Elder Shepherd as one of our new ASL missionaries.

Elder Fotheringham, Elder Hill, Elder Shephard, Elder Holloway

We are happy to have Elder and Sister Veach serving in the Family History Center in Manhattan

Every year we have been able to have the Newburgh Stake young adults share a mini Zone Conference with our Newburgh missionaries. We are so grateful for President Ey and his desire to help this righteous generation prepare to serve missions.

We have been blessed to have President Steve Bennion and his wife Margie serve as the temple president of the Manhattan Temple. They have become our dear friends. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at their home on Lincoln Center. The Calderwoods and the Morgans will forever be thankful to have served with the Bennions.

This month, Elder Karch Smith was released as an Assistant. He has served so faithfully. He has been called as a new Zone Leader in the Westchester Zone and will finish his last cycle there. He has been such a strength to President Morgan.

Thanks, mi amigo for a great time as an AP

With Elder Smith being called to be a new Zone Leader, Elder Keni Reid was called to serve as a new Assistant. Elder Reid is a kind, loving and respected missionary. He will be the perfect Assistant to welcome a new mission president to the NYNYN!

Elder Danny Duvall and Elder Keni Reid

April also brought a chance for us to take all our Portuguese speaking missionaries to a Brazilian Churrascaria for lunch. These great Elders work hard with our Portuguese members. Sister Amorim is from Sao Paulo, Brazil; and when we invited her and Sister Smith to join us, she started to cry she was so excited.

Sister Lydia Fraga de Amorim from Sao Paulo Brazil with her companion Sister Melissa Smith

Everyone had to eat at least one chicken heart!

Elder Whittaker and Elder Encarnacion

Elder Richardo Henriques Filho

Elder Longo, Elder Beardall, & Elder Ribeiro E Silva

Elder Sanford, Elder Johnson and Elder Gore

Churrascaria selfie

April was a very busy month! It's wonderful to think how much our Father in Heaven has blessed our mission.
"He gave me my eyes that I might see the color of butterfly wings;
He gave me my ears that I might hear the magical sound of things;
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank Him reverently;
For all His creations of which I'm a part, Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me."