Since I barely posted last week's blog, I'll just invite you on a walk thru Central Park with us.  We went this week to see if the leaves were changing.

 We stood on a bridge and watched a man entertaining people making huge bubbles with two sticks, a thin rope and a bucket of suds.  It was fascinating--especially to the toddler in blue who kept chasing them and trying to pop them.  We tossed a dollar down for some friends below us to put in his money collection.

Then we saw a jazz band practicing in the band shell.  We didn't stay long because neither of us are big jazz fans.

 There were professional photographers filming it, so maybe it was for a promotional or something.  But it was fun to see.





Then we came across a guy in a sling ready to go up into the tree.  We watched him climb--it is hard to spot him because he blends in with the tree.  After a while we realized there was already a second tree trimmer in the tree and we observed him pulling up the tree trimming tools.  In that picture, it reminds me of "Where's Waldo?"  Can you find even one tree trimmer?  There really are two--I promise.  :)


Did you spot either one of them?  

On the way back home, we spotted a few colorful leaves on the trees.  But the skyline is even more interesting

There were lots of brown leaves on the ground, but not much color on the trees.

As we were exiting the Park by Tavern on the Green, we watched the construction of a huge pavilion.  It is for the NYC marathon next weekend.

There is an Open House this week, so when the rain lets up we will go scope it out.

Remember a few weeks ago when Spencer told you about the guy with the feather in his hair and a cigar stub in his fingers who tried to sneak into the temple?  Last Sunday, he dressed like a pirate and attended the Manhattan 1st Ward.  He was in the back of the Cultural Hall.  When the last speaker sat down, he marched up to the back row from the chapel and in a loud voice started yelling that this was all false teachings and he needed to set the record straight about what was the real truth.  The bishop stood up and said he'd be glad to meet with him after the meeting, but he wasn't having it.  He kept talking in a really loud voice.  A counselor started from the stand, but before he could get there about five brethren in the Cultural Hall stood up and more or less surrounded him and walked him out.  The organist quickly started playing the closing song.  It seemed like a good ending to a strange event.

Well, I guess he wasn't finished--he came back today--still dressed like a pirate.  But before the meeting started a counselor in the bishopric and another man walked him out.  They didn't manhandle him.  They just walked on either side of him.  My neighbors, the sister missionaries met them getting off the elevator when they were arriving at church. 

You can never tell who might attend church next door--President Uchtdorf, Elder Nelson or a strange pirate.  Life is always interesting!!

We hope all of you are attending church--you can hear eternal truths and meet all kinds of people. :)
Love,
Spencer and Jeanine

I just opened the blog and realized that my post from last week didn't post--I guess the only people who saw it are our four missionaries (and Sarah) where I do a cut and paste and send it to them.  Sorry...  the rest of you will get a double dose this week.

October 22, 2017

We have now been here five months.  It seems hard to believe.  But it is all good.

Friday I made a visit to the podiatrist to pick up my orthodics for my shoes.  The office is in an older building that might have been apartments originally.  Now there are business offices on the bottom floors.  I noticed an old fashioned mail chute in the lobby.  You can put mail in on any floor and in theory it zips right down to the first floor for the mailman to pick up (sort of like a tiny laundry chute).  I asked the doorman and he said most people are afraid something important might get stuck so they come to the first floor to put it in the box.

Last week I was in the Celestial Room of the temple when a patron noticed my name tag.  She immediately asked, "Are you Rachel Dike's grandma?"  I was so surprised!  She explained that she had been Rachel's Mia Maid leader prior to moving to New York.  I had to laugh--the question wasn't "Are you Chad Dike's mom?" or "Are you Ann Marie Dike's mother-in-law?"  but "Are you Rachel Dike's grandma?"  I asked why she asked such a random question.  She explained that a few weeks previously some friends from Mesa had visited and they told her that Sister Brown was Chad's mom.  I immediately remembered visiting with the Miners at the clothing counter.  They were in the same ward a couple of years ago.  They asked about every one of the Dike kids by name.  I was impressed!  They raved about Ann Marie and I concurred and added some extra comments.  It really is a small world in the church. 

When people from out of town come to the clothing rental I always visit with them a minute to learn where they are from.  Many have interesting stories.  One day there were three Delta Airline pilots on a lay over.  Frequently patrons are visiting from European countries or other foreign countries.

Last Sunday we stopped by the pedestal of the Columbus Statue in Columbus Circle.  It is really a nice tribute.  I hope it never goes away--but there is some negative social pressure to have it removed.  If that really happens, a community out on Long Island wants it.  They have a lot of people of Italian descent living there and they still honor him.

We have been plagued with lots of headaches.  Spencer sees and ENT doctor next week about his ongoing vertigo and headaches.  My allergies turned into a cold and my headaches are out of control.  But I keep reminding myself "This, too, shall pass!"  Then today I missed church in order to go to Urgent Care for a urinary tract infection.  I started the antibiotic about noon, so I hope to have it kick in by tomorrow.

Here a couple more pictures from Walter Rane.  Hope  you enjoy them.

From Spencer:
When I'm on the front desk, I'm always intrigued with peoples' ethnicity, so I often ask.  For example, if their name is Garcia, I just start chatting with them in Spanish.  They love it.  If the name is foreign to me, I ask where that name originates.  They are never offended.  They come from all over the world.  We have a brother who is from Sri Lanka, down below India.  New York must be one of the most diverse places in the world (even diverse hair styles--I mean just plain odd!).
 President Bench, our temple president, has been counseling some ordinance workers about their extreme hair styles to make them more presentable.  They either moderate them or we don't see them around as temple workers anymore. 

 

It is also remarkable that when people travel here on business, they will take time to make it to the temple.  Many times they will ask how do we get to clothing and/or where do I change, etc.  Some patrons come from other nearby states as you would expect.  I love it!

I hope all is going well with each of you.  We count on the assurance that our families are being "watched over" in our absence.  I'm grateful when I hear that brothers and sisters of family are looking out for one another.

 Love to all of you!  Spencer and Jeanine

Oct. 15th, 2017  from Spencer

Being on a mission, like this one, makes it harder to be really newsy.  There is only so much that can be said about our daily activity at the temple.

I can tell you it is highly uplifting and desirable.  One comes to have a deeper appreciation for the essential work that goes on there and a closer feeling for those who have passed on.  And it's not just that, but a recognition of the essential blessing from being a regular temple attender.  Along with reading the Book of Mormon, it changes lives and blesses us forever.  Those who search out names and go to the temple feel the happiness that comes into our lives. With Jeanine's help, I am finding ancestors' names on Family Search.  I am far from accomplished, but I am working at it and have found names of people who are distant cousins and who lack all or some of their ordinances.  Try it kids, and then take names to do baptisms.  Those people will embrace you and will look out after you in your personal struggles.

On my side of the family, we remembered Susan's (your mother's) death.  She is there.  She is watching over you.  There will come a day when we will all be there.  My plea is that you (we) do all we can to merit being in her presence.  We wish the same for Jeanine's family--that they might all be in the presence of their ancestors.

To all of the Spencer/Jeanine family, we do pray for your well being--spiritual and temporal.  I promise that it happens twice a day in our personal prayers.  Some of you are on the prayer roll on the alters of the temple.  You are being blessed by our mission here in Manhattan, NY.

We send our love,
Spencer and Jeanine

Today in Sacrament Meeting a brother quoted Carlfred Broderick (a favorite of mine) about the challenges of life.  It reminded me of a quote from President Hinckley.  I had to search, but I felt like it was something I wanted to share.

President Hinckley used a similar analogy when he cited a newspaper article written by Jenkins Lloyd Jones:  “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed…The fact is most putts don’t drop.  Most children grow up to be just people.  Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration…Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed…The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” (Big Rock Candy Mountains,” Dereret News, 12 June 1973, A4 as quoted in Ensign, March ’97, p. 60).  

I hope our kids who have a variety of struggles can take this to heart--instead of focusing on the sidetracks, smoke, dust and cinders--notice the occasional beautiful vistas and be thankful for the ride. 

We have recently done the rounds with doctors' appointments--dermatologist, dentist and podiatrist (that one was only for me).  Spencer sees an ENT in about 10 days.  I think we must be getting old.  Maladies keep cropping up--but we just keep on going anyway.  I won't bore you with all of our complaints, but just know that we appreciate your prayers for us.

Love,

Jeanine

Report on the last ten days or so...

The day after conference I went on an outing with other missionaries to visit "The Little Red Lighthouse".

It is right under the George Washington Bridge.  What a great view of the Hudson River.  It is impressive to see how fast the current actually is.

 Thanks to the Grays who spotted an article in the Boise, ID paper we learned about a great area of stone art work a five minute walk further down.  Check it out:
http://ireader.olivesoftware.com/Olive/iReader/IdahoStatesmanPress/SharedArticle.ashx?document=ISM%5C2017%5C09%5C24&article=Ar02500

Manhattan mystery: No stone unturned

 We happened to visit the one day a week the artist was building more statues.  He was amazing to watch.

 The children's book about the lighthouse helps children learn that we all have an important contribution to make in life.

We also saw a marker for a redoubt that supported Fort Washington during the Revolutionary War and a marker for Fort Washington.  I always love to see sites from our history.  We live in a great country.

It was a great day!

After our visit there we went out to eat Indian Food.  We went to the highest point of Manhattan Island--265.5 feet.  I conquered the summit--can you believe it?

Saturday night after our shift we went out to eat at "Kung Fu" an authentic Chinese restaurant according to Elder Gray who served his mission in Taiwan.

Sunday on the way to the subway we saw a program going on by the statue of Columbus in Columbus Circle.  Or course demonstrators showed up as well. 

It is one of the statues under scrutiny for removal.  It makes me sad.  They need to read 1 Nephi and know that he was inspired by the Lord.

But our real miracle of the week happened Saturday afternoon in the temple.  I arrived early to take care of some things in the office.  But immediately I was asked to help at the veil for the session that was just ending.  When I arrived, they sent me to the Celestial Room instead.  About the third sister to come into the room looked so much like Carolyn Vance Merrill.  But that thought was totally out of context.  She had a puzzled expression on her face as well.  But as she got close enough to see my name tag she broke into a big smile and I knew it was her!  She is the youngest sister of Susan, Spencer's first wife, and one of our dear sisters-in-law.  She had come to NYC with a friend from the Gilbert temple.  She had forgotten that this is the temple where Spencer and I were serving.  We embraced and figured out what was going on and immediately the sister assigned to the Celestial Room arrived and it was time for me to go to my assigned area.  The Lord truly is in the details of our lives.  I was only in the CR for less than 5 minutes--but that was enough to make the connection.  There were actually several other little miracles surrounding her visit, but I won't describe them in detail here.  Just a short list:  how she was invited to come, locating the temple via the Angel Moroni, reconnecting a temple missionary with her first companion of 50 + years ago, finding an old friend of Sister Davis' (her traveling companion).
It was all such a bunch of tender mercies.  We met for dinner on Monday evening--we had all been out in the wind and rain that afternoon.  I had such fun finding
Spencer in the temple so he could make connections.  I felt like I was levitating the rest of the afternoon/evening.  The Spirit was strong and I was so-o-o-o happy at this unexpected surprise.

Monday Spencer and I were the coordinators for the Columbus Day opening of the temple.  It was a lot of fun to do -- and more work than we expected.   It was hard to pin down who would be there for the two sessions other than temple missionaries.  We were able to get a lot done in just a few hours.  It was a great day!

We love our work.  The Lord's work moves onward and upward!
Jeanine and Spencer

Addendum:
Just so you know that Spencer does occasionally attend outings :) I am including a couple of pictures we finally have from the Yankees game a few weeks ago.

Hello family and friends,

Hasn't this weekend been wonderful!? I loved listening to the speakers and the music of General Conference as it was broadcast from SLC.  I could sense the message of giving service to others was a recurrent theme.  We were also reminded to focus on the Savior--not on ourselves.  I also loved Elder Dallin H. Oaks comment that salvation is an individual matter but exaltation is a family matter.  I pray for all of our family members.  I hope we can all focus on the Savior and make good choices.

Last Monday night we had a wonderful missionary meal in the home of President and Sister Bench.  We were welcoming Paul and Ellen Schoenburger as our newest missionaries.  They are seated in the center front, along with the Benches and the Nixons (also in the presidency).

Ellen joined the church as a youth in Cottonwood.  Back then she went by Eleanor.  We were in the Flagstaff Stake together.  They raised their kids in Cottonwood and Stephen Alexander and Eric Schoenburger were the best of friends.  It was fun to be with a new/old friend once again.

We have been busy in the temple.  Thursday night was especially busy because on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays we have a Spanish session.  The session was full because the temple was/would be closed on Saturday for General Conference.

Spencer did a great job officiating with a mixture of languages and a very crippled man that had to be assisted in every activity.

I had 21 sisters and no assistant, but we handled everything efficiently and without a hitch.  President and Sister Nixon were in the session and they were very verbose with their praise for our work.

Probably the spiritual highlight was prior to the session.  A little Hispanic lady had two family name cards for men.  She has no men in her family and the only male priesthood attender in her branch has lots of his own family files.  She was most anxious to have the work done.  I was checking names by the chapel door.  She greeted every man who came to attend the session and asked if they could take one of the family names. EVERY single Hispanic man had a family card of his own!  I was amazed and touched.  Finally, when the time was just about gone, a Japanese brother came and an Anglo.  They each accepted a card.  With tears in her eyes she said, "This is my father" and "This is my grandfather.  He has been waiting 30 years."  She literally stood there for 20 minutes waiting for the right men to come along.  She told me she would have stood there all day long if necessary.  She was very tearful.  This week she will having the family all sealed together.  It was very spiritual.

Some were intrigued with the narrow shopping aisles and check-outs.  We have another unique feature here.  Most stores are on more than one floor--including basement and sub basement levels.  They have unique escalators for the shopping carts.  Little spikes stick out and grab the wheels.  It is fascinating engineering.

Last night Spencer took the subway to the Bronx for priesthood meeting.  That made me a little nervous for him to be out alone on a Saturday night.  Life is pretty tough in the Bronx. But he had promised the men in our ward he would join them.  My worries were pointless as he returned unharmed.

We watched all of the other sessions here in the apartment.  We thought about many of you in different parts of the world and the country watching it in your time zones.  We are so blessed to live in this day when technology has blessed our lives with the ability to hear the words and counsel of our leaders in "real time".

Our hearts go out to Carl and Linda's grandson, Jonathan with the loss of his wife.  We know how challenging this event is for those closest to Ashley and Jonathan Walker.  Our prayers are with you.  We know there are others with serious illnesses in the family.  We pray for them also.

Love each other and hug those close to you.  You do not know what the plan is for your life or for theirs.  Loving one another is a great gift, blessing and responsibility.

Jeanine