Go Ye Therefore and Teach All Nations

What an international July!  I had to throw in this picture of Elder Nebeker at Flemming Meadows with one of the few remaining edifices from the 1964 World Fair, which he attended with his family when he was only 12.  When we got our call to New York City, we both said that we couldn't get any more international and still have the amenities of home, and that has proven very true. We started July by celebrating our own nation's birthday with a walk through Sherwood Island State Park, just up the road from us in Westport, CT.  I'm not sure why they call it "Island," but it is certainly a beautiful park and beach - and it was quite full of people despite it being a rainy day. 

Our mission district, which now consists of only two companionships, was blessed to bring eight people to the waters of baptism in July.  They or their families come from such international areas as China, South America, Central America, and Eastern Europe.  Within the NYNYC mission, 226 people from all over the world made a new covenant with God through baptism this month.  Truly, the gospel is going to every nation - sometimes without leaving New York!

Rosa

Kent

Helen

Ehel

 Jocelyn, Tiffany, Edwin

Beau

We can't keep up with these amazing young missionaries, but we were able to help three of our YSA new members and four Stamford Ward members participate in temple baptisms for the first time.  

Diana, Helen, Natalia

Jhonny Sr, Jhonny Jr, Marcus, Horangel

New England is dotted with pre-Revolutionary War cemeteries, so we have also been trying to photograph headstones in a cemetery near us.  It’s quite a feeling when you see a headstone that’s nearly buried in dirt and grass and impossible to read and are able to clear it off and discover a name and other vital information – I love it!  The data is then indexed and made available in Family Search.  It's so joyful to see the gospel going to all the world and both sides of the veil in so many ways - there is something for everyone to do in this work!

Our Senior Missionary outing this month was to Coney Island!  We walked the boardwalk, ate Nathan's hot dogs, stuck our toes in the sand, listened to the screams from the rides, and even watched a Brooklyn Cyclones ball game (until it got rain delayed).  It just wouldn't be summer in New York City without it!

But we actually prefer summer in Connecticut and hiking through New England's old-growth forests.  We enjoyed a hike in the Mianus River Gorge this month, but maybe not quite as much as the mosquitos enjoyed us!

Our favorite adventure this month was a tour of the United Nations campus. The UN is very interesting and we learned so much as we saw the Security Council, Advisory Council, and General Assembly rooms, as well as lots of amazing artwork and displays. I especially liked the wall with the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, originally written by a committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt.  After our tour, we were privileged to meet with Felipe Queipo, a Communications Officer in the Department of Global Communications specializing in faith-based organizations for the UN (and a member of our church).  He explained the many ways the UN aligns with the gospel in its goals and the many ways the Church supports the UN through humanitarian work and donations.  We definitely walked away with a new appreciation for the UN and all it does, as well as the international reach of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are blessed to live in this day of the fulfillment of prophecy; when the gospel of Jesus Christ is going forth to every nation!