Men are that they might have Joy!

July 01, 2023

Men are that they might have Joy!

June was filled with Joy in the NYNYC mission! The end of May found us out on the furthest tip of Long Island for a little senior couple overnight at the historic Montauk Manor. Driving out there gave us the opportunity to ride the ferry across Long Island Sound from Bridgeport, CT, to Port Jefferson, NY (on Long Island), visit a gift shop shaped like a giant duck that was manned by a very nice gentleman and was once used for selling - you got it - ducks, and drive through the Hamptons: South Hampton, North Hampton, Westhampton, Hampton Bays..., where houses run in the tens of millions of dollars. We loved spending some time on the beach and at meals with our new mission friends - they bring us such joy!

We drove all the way up Long Island (118 miles) to meet our daughter Lindsey and her family in Manhattan the next day. Joyfully, they chose to go to the temple for our first activity together - followed, of course, by New York pizza.

We were back in the city the next morning to experience the Harry Potter Exhibition - very magical! We then, wisely, explored Manhattan from the top of a hop-on-hop-off bus. Two days in the city were enough for them, so we spent the next two days showing them the places in Connecticut that we enjoy, including the aquarium with Genna and Logan and the ritziest Concourse D'Elegance with Austin. But no matter where we are, being with our family always brings us joy!

Since we don't proselyte as senior missionaries, a lot of our time is spent working with members and recent converts. We felt the joy of the harvest this month as we had the opportunity to go with our devoted Elders Quorum president and his wife to the Hartford Temple where they received their endowments and were sealed together for time and all eternity. Neil, who serves in the Elders Quorum presidency, has grown especially close to them and was overjoyed at their decision. Nothing can strengthen a marriage and family more than being in a covenantal relationship with each other and with God.

We were blessed to be able to go to the Manhattan Temple the following week with some of our youth and new members. The temple is, as our EQ President testified, halfway between heaven and earth, a place of pure joy.

It might not sound like it, but we do occasionally do some work in the mission. This month we were responsible for feeding 70 missionaries at our 3-Zone Conference. We were put in charge because, believe it or not, we are the senior Senior Couple in these zones. I fretted over the menu, over the assignments, over the amounts, and over pretty much everything else. I was especially nervous as I watched how high the young missionaries could pile their plates - but in the end, the principle of the loaves and fishes came through and everyone had plenty. I'm so looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the next Zone Conference!

We are really loving the beautiful trees and flowers that surround us here in Connecticut. We got to make another visit to Devil's Den Preserve - this time at the peak of the Mountain Laurels and with our whole Fairfield Zone. But we also see great beauty every day on our morning walk - check out the beautiful front yard of wildflowers that is just around the corner from us.

Unfortunately, we were impacted by the smoke from the Canadian wildfires and had a few days of eerie skies. Our prayers go out to those who are more significantly impacted by these fires - it reminds me all too much of home.

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" Meet the newest members in the Stamford District:

Ian