Well, They Did It Again!

 

I thought it worth noting that the young missionaries did it again this month. In almost every Key Indicator for Conversion, they met or exceeded their goals. Of course, everyone looks at the number of convert baptisms, last month with 5 Sundays it was 200, this month with 4 Sundays it was 175 with a goal of 161. President Holmes has been emphasizing the retention of new converts and now the missionaries are focused on that as well. New converts attending church was missed by only 0.2 people on average. More and more, wards and stakes are starting to see the value of self reliance as a means for retention. Wherever we attend church or conference, we get the same message from the rank and file, but leaders are less convinced because it is not as proximate as the immediate needs of their units. That is changing and will continue to evolve.

The chapel in Terryville (actually Port Jefferson)

We visited the Terryville Ward and in the Plainview YSA Branch on Sunday. During priesthood meeting I introduced myself and the EQ president became quite animated about the possibilities for his vision of the ward. He is new and sees opportunities for returning members and new converts. After the meeting we shared contact information and before we got to our next meeting with the YSA branch he had sent a request for more information, which I sent him this morning.

The Plainview YSA is mostly single men (18 men and 4 women in Sacrament Mtg) and the Wavenly (Connecticut) YSA is almost all women, so the two groups try to get together often. I wrote to the WSR Lead counselor in the stake presidency, following our visit to encourage specific individuals we have met who could serve as facilitators. They are greatly needed.

The FHE activity for this week in this YSA ward,
is painting the covers of the Book of
Mormon using acrylics. The
women planned it, but the men are good
sports and will support it.

We rushed home to eat and prepare for the next meeting. It was our first Sunday training for facilitators and I wanted to modify the PowerPoint and rehearse the presentation before the meeting was scheduled to begin. I forget while I am online to take a screenshot. I wish I had, because we had quite a diverse group. We only had 2 new facilitators, but we had a counselor from a stake presidency in Massachusetts, the stake RS president and a high councilor from a local stake and Chris George who teaches the QuickReg information. 

Sunday is always a super busy day for us, but so rewarding. It is the day we meet most people in person and on Zoom. It is also the day we make our message known most effectively. 

Lots of meetings in person and on Zoom with employment candidates this week. They are patient with us and some are making good progress. This week, Sister Yamada started her training and was encouraged. At first she thought she would just work from her home in Westchester, north of Manhattan. There is a lot of need in her stake, especially in The Bronx. When she came to help in Union Square, she thought she would like working there, as well, because it is rewarding to meet face-to-face.

Olivia, Sister Yamada, a candidate, Sister Packer
We shared a lunch that day.

I started increasing my exercise routine. We brought a platform and resistance bands that I was using fairly regularly, but, like all good habits, it was easy to break. Now I am back to about 3-4 times a week. We also got in some walking, which we needed. We have been working at home so much, that we needed to get out. 

We took a walk in Forest Park, a block
from our apartment. The Barnes took
our picture. Weather has been perfect.

We also talked the Barnes into going to Roosevelt Island so we could ride the tram and see if it is worth bringing young grandchildren to ride it. We rode it to midtown Manhattan, walked around the blocks to Serendipity. I swore I would not go back to that store, but Olivia wanted Sister Barnes to see the place. On the door it states that the minimum charge per person is $18, so we didn't even venture in.

Outside Serendipity was a vendor selling balls 
of "fried ice cream," a solid crust, inside of
which was ice cream. Here he is tossing it into
the air and catching it in the cup.

The gondola approaching our dock.

Some scenes as we crossed the East River.

The gondola that will take us back is 
approaching.

Here are some pictures of the island. It was named after FDR in 1973. Before then, it was known as Welfare Island because it had hospitals and medical facilities, originally starting with smallpox in the early 20th century. Most of the old buildings have either been razed or are in a state of disrepair, as the windows, flooring and other items were taken off for use in other buildings. Now there are several modern office buildings, cafes, and a nice walkway with a monument to FDR.

The old small pox hospital; now just a ruin.

Time to put our feet up along the 
walking path.

Mother goose protects her goslings.

Much could be said about this big head,
but we are apolitical for now. It is a
very good likeness.

Some history on the fence in front of
the smallpox hospital.

A barge went by with the cityscape including the
Chrysler building. 

                                            These guys were amazing; so much fun to watch.

As I am getting ready for the day, showering, shaving, etc., I listen to talks and blogs. One morning I listened to BYU President Kevin J. Worthen who spoke about the promises made by prophets and the contingencies associated with those promises. He especially spoke of the promises made by President Nelson. I was inspired by that talk, so now, when I have some time, I have started with his first General Conference talk as President and I chart these things. It is a good study; I recommend it.

In talking with Elder Humphries, after church on Sunday, while waiting for our wives to come from Relief Society, he mentioned a young man, a nephew, I think, who finished the course for an elite warrior in one of the services. He was given the choice, and chose not to pursue that area of the service because of the strain it would put on his family. My mind went back to a day just after arriving at my base camp in Viet Nam when I was invited into a special meeting. I was an E-5 Sgt. and had achieved the marksman designation in training at the rifle range which made me eligible to serve as a sniper. I was not impressed and declined, which I was free to do. If they had emphasized the need, appealed to my patriotism and stressed how important the service was to the freedom of Viet Nam, I would likely have chosen to do it. Instead, they told war stories of shooting Viet Cong from a distance in a way that surprised the enemy. It was like they were gloating and I just didn't want to be around that kind of atmosphere. As a result, I was in relative safety for my entire deployment. God is always in the details.

It is Veterans' Day. Both of my parents served in WWII. The Orem City Cemetery honored the veterans with flags. They missed my mother, but my brother gave them the required information, so she will be honored next year.

Enlarge to see my father's name: Merrill Anderson

The field of flags in the cemetery

I have enjoyed this  busy week. A week of lots of growth and spiritually uplifting experiences. I hope yours was blessed, likewise. This mission is doubly blessed for me because I have a companion who is so close to the promptings of the Spirit.