In our Zone conferences this transfer we are discussing our purpose as “…instruments in the hands of God to bring about (His) great work” (Alma 26:3), emphasizing that our role is to invite and help people to be baptized. We are using Alma 26 as our discussion base. In verse 22 Ammon states “…he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing” …shall be given to bring souls unto repentance (baptism). I love that verse because it clearly identifies the need that we have as missionaries to continually repent and exercise faith in order to magnify our callings.
In our August Zone Leader Council we talked about the fact that we must constantly be striving to change and “…yield our hearts unto God.” (Helaman 3:35), refining our understanding that improvement must come based upon the real desires of our hearts. Our hearts change only as we desire that change and exercise faith and work (as Ammon said in verse 22). As we discussed this reality, many Zone Leaders talked about missionaries in their zones who are focusing on strengthening the Christlike attributes described in Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel. Only as we strive to become more Christlike will we be able to magnify our callings. Only as we pray with all the energy of heart for an increase in charity, and as we are obedient and pray for increased faith, and as we are diligent in our work, will we really change and grow into the mighty servants the Lord so very much wants us to become.
Elders and Sisters, we call all to do better. We must continue to change and grow so that we, too, can be more effective in bringing souls to repentance.
We love you and consider it a blessing to be here with you.
History the Church on Long Island
In July, under the direction of the Plainview Stake Long Island pioneer reunion was organized. Histories were gathered, and tours were planned of Mormon historical sites. In the stake center cultural hall, histories, stories, photos, testimonies, etc. were posted for all to read. The far-reaching effects of the 1964-65 World Fair were re-told. Everybody that had ever been a member of the stake was invited to the reunion. Many came back to renew old friendships and to share their testimonies.
The Eastern States Mission was the second oldest mission in the Church. The New York South Mission is one of the descendents of that Mission. The British Mission is the oldest. In 1837, Parley P. Pratt was called as the first mission president.
*Mormon Hole
Mormontown. Some families who owned farms in the area--the Sopers, Browers, Bedells and Pettits--were asked to remain in Christian Hook, then called Mormontown (now Oceanside). They continued farming to help supply the European immigrant Saints with food and supplies necessary for their trek West. Thus, Long Island became the first stopover on the Mormon trail.
The Sopers were instructed to go West as well, but never did. They could see the potential growth and hoped to get rich by eventually selling their property. However, the Great Depression hit and it never happened. The last Soper, an antagonistic old man, died in poverty living in a old shack warmed only by a stove in the middle of the room. It stood on the last acre of what was left of his land.
The Soper Home
The Soper Home. From 1846–1869 the Saints met in Aunt Nauchie Soper’s” living room. Wilford Woodruff and John Taylor were some of the mission presidents during this time.
*Mormon Cemetery
*World’s Fair
*Plainview Chapel
*President John Baileycompanionships and the mission every month.
In addition, every four weeks, President Bailey had to interview all the missionaries. In order to talk to every missionary in the mission, the limit for each interview was 6-7 minutes. Zone conferences were also held during this 4-week period.
Hurricane Irene...
The New York South Mission “weathered” Hurricane Irene. When it hit us, it had been downgraded to a tropical storm. There were downed trees and power lines, but little structural damage. Other states did not fare as well.
Emergency Storage: A mission project to be prepared had just been completed some months before the storm. Each missionary had been instructed to buy a three day supply of food and water (one gallon of water/day). Also, the mission has always supplied arriving missionaries with an emergency kit containing basic emergency supplies—medications, bandages, a bar containing needed nutrients for three days (the missionaries refer to it as “the brick” and pray they never have to eat it), and other supplies.
No Power. Hurricanes can be unpredictable and preparations always need to be made. In preparation for the hurricane people in specified areas on Long Island (areas near the ocean in danger of flooding) were instructed to evacuate. Missionaries in these areas were evacuated to the apartments of other missionaries, as well as the mission home. There were about twenty missionaries staying in the mission home with President and Sister Nelson. The only problem with that was that the home was without power for three days.
Helpful Hints for “entertaining” 20+ people for three days without power:
(a) Buy a lot of candles, flashlights and batteries before there is a rush on them in the stores or better yet—have them in your home storage (Sister Nelson did discover a supply of candles left over from the President Bennion era in the pantry.)
(b) A BBQ can be used as an oven.
(c) Canned vegetables can be heated up by running hot water over them (nobody ever suspected). Luckily, we had hot and cold running water!
(d) Don’t plan on finding any ice in the stores—it’s long gone. The mission home has a commercial fridge and freezer that kept things cold, so we had some backup food. It just had to be eaten before it thawed.
Candlelight anyone?
Sacrament Meeting at the Mission Home.
Baby Blessing. On the last night, still without power, we hosted a baby blessing in the home with 25 people in attendance. Some of the family members didn’t belong to the church, so they wanted to have it in a home instead of the church. The baby was blessed by candlelight—it worked. Luckily, that dinner was a potluck and Costco did have power (menu--Sister Nelson’s infamous Costco ham, Costco cheese, and Costco croissant sandwiches). And someone from the neighboring town actually brought ice! (see Sister Nelson’s “Fresh Ice Recipe”—following article).
Downside: Since the two bathrooms in the basement were out of commission because they are powered by an electrical pump, thirteen elders had to share one bathroom. Upside: Because of the hot water, they did all get hot showers—affectionately referred to as “rinses” due to their short duration.
Recommendations: A generator would have been nice.
Note: Because of Bermuda, hurricane warnings are a part of the job description in the New York South Mission. However, in Bermuda they are well prepared—all the houses are built of cinder blocks and because there is no natural water source, water is collected in rain barrels/tanks of the individual homes. (Also, we forgot to mention that the week before there was a small earthquake.)
Bermuda Onions, Ice and More
When President and Sister Nelson went to the branch in Bermuda, the sisters presented Sister Nelson with a Relief Society cookbook that they had put together. Included in it was a recipe that they had submitted in her name. (They had heard about her great love [not] for cooking—her statement about instructing the elders to take the word “homemade” out of their vocabulary (and she’s the mission mom??). It goes as follows:
Homemade Ice
To make Homemade Ice:
Ingredients—clean drinking water
Directions:
Pour water into ice trays and then place trays in freezer. Take out when frozen and serve.
Quick Ice:
When time does not allow for homemade ice cubes or when you are stressed about “what to bring” to a potluck, you can always bet there will not be enough ice and it will be appreciated by all. Go to any retail market or quick mart and buy a bag or two as needed. Enjoy!
Sister Nelson—NY NY South Mission
(Note. The Homemade Ice recipe has since become Sister Nelson’s favorite):
And More..
Bermuda Onions: Onions were first grown in Bermuda in 1616 from seeds sent from England. Bermuda’s soil and climate produces onions that were particularly tasty and developed a huge following in the markets of New York, so much that Bermuda was referred to as the “Onion Patch’ and Bermudians as "Onions.”
Bermuda Relief Society Recipes:
Mo-House Mac & Cheese
Paksiw No Lechon
Homesick Chicken Adobo
Slimy Bean Burritos
Better Than The Princess’ Beef & Carrot Soup
Celestial Cole Slaw & Dreamy Dressing
Sweet Friendly Carrots
Petticoat Lane Peas & Rice
Cookie Treats from Devil’s Hole
Bermuda Um Um Balls
Aqua de Tamarindo
Rascal’s Maruya
Bowen’s Bermudiful Bread Pudding
EZ Wreath
Pink Beach Jello Salad
Meaty Eggs
Note. President and Sister Nelson go to Bermuda three times a year. They have a district meeting with the Elders and Senior missionaries, meet with the branch presidency and members, do Temple Recommends and other needed interviews and attend and speak in the Sunday meetings. The only “beach time” they get is when there is a baptism. The little historic chapel doesn’t have a font.
Temple Trip.
Missionary Note
A sister missionary was calling some names of people who had been formerly contacted, but had decided against receiving any more information. A man answered the phone. Jesus was his name. He told her that he had talked to missionaries before (it was the last name on an old 2007 list of names), but that they had forgotten him. The Sister asked, “You mean the ones in white shirts and ties? He said, “Yes, I haven’t forgotten you, but you had forgotten me. The missionary asked him if he wanted to know more. He said that he always wants to know more.
The problem is that he works in New Jersey. He doesn’t even have a day off. He leaves at 5:00 in the morning and leaves work at 8:00 at night. He did say that his schedule will be changing. The list that she was calling was two pages long. His was the last name on the list.
Jeremiah 16:16 – Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.”
The point is there are people out there that need to be found and they are looking—”but they are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.”
April “Arrivals”
The April 2011 Missionary “Arrivals” are as follows:
Sisters
Sister Madelaine Graves (English)
Sister Andi May Hughes (Spanish)
Sister Sara Langevin (English)
Sister Marisa Nay (Spanish)
Sister Courtney Smith (Spanish)
Elders
Elder Daniel Anderson (Spanish)
Elder Baxter Harris (Spanish)
Elder Kody Hunter (Spanish)
Elder Kooyman (Spanish)
(Elder Joshua Munday English)
(Elder Man Tsang Mandarin)
April “Departures"
We failed to include the Departures for April, 2011 in the Mission Blog They are as follows:
Sisters
Sister Rachel Banaszewski (English)
Sister Jennifer De La Mare (English)
Sister Marina Manon (English)
Elders
Elder Jordan Crump (Spanish)
Elder Alma King (Spanish)
Taylor Mathusek (Spanish)
Elder Derek Paulson (Spanish)
Elder Benjamin Eddy (Mandarin)
Elder Andrew Jacobs (Spanish)
Elder Samuel Kerby (Spanish)
Elder August Larson (Spanish)
Elder Adam McFarlane (English)
Elder Kao Saeyang (English)
Elder David Wheeler (ASL)
Elder Darren Woodland Spanish
August Arrivals
The August 2011 “Arrivals” from the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah are as follows: *NOTE: The Candlesticks! This picture was taken right after hurricane Irene paid us a visit.
Sisters
Sister Rachel Simplicio (Spanish)
Sister Dominina Tanielu (Spanish)
Sister Tapia (Spanish)
Elders
Elder Tyson Bowles (Spanish)
Elder Raphael Bussereth (Creole)
Elder Montgomery Campbell (Creole)
Elder On Wah Chan (English)
Elder Matthew Daley S(panish)
Elder Benjamin Ferry (Spanish)
Elder Daniel Heaps (Spanish)
Elder Evens Jean (Creole)
Elder Zachary Johnson (Creole)
Elder Justin Nemelka (Spanish)
Elder Ry Neri (Spanish)
Elder David Ostler (Mandarin)
Elder Riley Stauffer (Spanish)
Senior Couple
Elder and Sister Hawkes
August Departures
The August 2011 Missionary “Departures” are as follows:
Elders
Daniel J. Doxey (Spanish)
Elder Jeramy D. Doyle (English)
Elder Kacey Sean Figgat (Spanish)
Elder Marshall W. Grimm (English)
Elder Jordan J. Hunter (English)
Elder Seung-Han Kim (Korean)
Elder Austen C. Harris (Spanish)
Elder Ryu Kosaka (English)
Elder Christian A. Thieme (English)
Elder Daniel L. Tyrrell (Spanish)
Elder James A. Yancuba (English)
Slide Show
