Malachi

     Today is Malachi’s 13th birthday.  He is such a special young man.  He is so well liked and has an infectious smile.  He is kind and helpful and a joy to have in our family.  He will be such a great man.  Happy Birthday Malachi.

Utah Earthquake

     Yesterday we had a running text with our dear missionary friends.  One of the stories was about a 5.7 earthquake that damaged the Salt Lake Temple and broke off the Angel Moroni’s trumpet.  We followed as our dear friends returned home one at a time.  We still have three missionary couples driving (Jensens, Lightfoot’s, and Kings) and the Wongs had to remain due to Elder Wong having kidney stones.  The Bentleys, Dodds, Mays, Nielsons, and Jeff and I are all home now.  The Hughes left on Monday and were home before the rest of us left.  Sister Stone and Sister Cella are safe at their destinations.  We are blessed to be safely home, to know and love these people and to have served with them in the Manhattan New York Temple.

Temple Closing

    We working in the temple Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  Jeff and I were last out so we had to wait for all the patrons and workers to leave before we could.  I was feeling good because we had made arrangements for the Wednesday (25th).that we needed to leave early to be with Jacob and we were ready for their visit.  Thursday morning I got up to a text that the temple was closing and we were to stay in as much as possible.  Then we started hearing news that venues were closing and sporting events closing.  Eventually even Broadway closed and the church cancelled all public meetings.  This virus (OVID-19) was panicking the whole country.  We had a meeting at President Nixons apartment where we sang, shared testimonies and learned from the Presidency.  We had church by ourselves on Sunday with Jeff preparing and serving the sacrament.  It was a sweet experience.  On Sunday afternoon we walked through Central Park and back.  Sunday night around 10 o’clock President Nixon and President Tan came by to tell us we were going home and that Church travel services would be contacting us about arrangements.  We returned to the temple to pick up of clothes.  It was a very emotional experience to return to the temple.  We saw a dear friend while there (Miguel) Jeff snapped a picture of him.  We returned to our apartment, went to ups for boxes and started packing our apartment.  We packed and shipped 4 boxes and started cleaning the apartment.  Travel services didn’t call.  By Tuesday morning when travel services hadn’t called and most of the missionaries already had plans to return President Nixon asked us to wait until 11; o’clock and then make our own plans.  Becca called at 10:30 and was booking tickets for that afternoon at 5 o’clock.  I was so overwhelmed and things were happening so fast I couldn’t answer her.  She booked them, i worked like a mad women and we were at JFK airport waiting for our 4:25 flight at about 2:00 o’clock.  Our bags were too heavy and we has to buy one more bag and repack but we got it done.  We flew to Phoenix with some school kids from Tucson.  We had a two and a half hour wait for our connecting flight to Tucson.  We ate Zinburgers and waited.  We arrived in Tucson and Becca picked us up at the airport.  We are quarantined in her guest bedroom until Saturday.  She has been so good to us.

The Cloisters

    On Monday, the 9th we went to the Cloisters Museum on the upper west side.  The art was from the dark ages and religious however, we found much of it unappealing.   The grounds and the location were amazing and I loved being there.

Our Last Sunday

     March 8th was our last Sunday in the Bronx.  We didn’t know it at the time but it was.  I was suppose to teach our primary class but when we arrived the primary president told us due to a special meeting for the sisters that primary would all meet together the whole time and a member of the presidency would teach.  Jeff just happened to snap pictures of three very special boys we taught Miles, Allen, and Aaron.

Knicks Game

    March 2nd Jeff attended the Knicks game with his fellow missionaries.

Jersey Boys

     The evening of Feb 17th we went to see the Off Broadway play “Jersey Boys”.  I really enjoyed it for the music.

The Wongs in China Town

      A Chinese missionary couple the Wongs had wanted to take us to China Town for Chinese New Year but we couldn’t go then but went on February17th.  We ate at a restaurant that they selected.  We wandered around China Town.  We went to a market and I found the sights and sounds a little disgusting. 

The Play That Goes Wrong

     We have been told so often how fun the off Broadway play “The Play That goes Wrong” is that we decided to goon February 13th.  I must say that it was too slap sticky for me but I was gad we went so I didn’t feel like I had missed anything.

Return to New York

  Thursday, February 6th we returned to New York City.  Tired but having had a wonderful time.