January 2016

We have two wonderful cousins, Brian and Debbie Barker who faithfully email us every Sunday evening. Their emails are always encouraging, sustaining and always contain inspirational messages and thoughts. These anticipated "letters from home" have become some of the reliable anchors of our mission experience.

As we have previously mentioned, many of our YSA come from very diverse backgrounds, some not long in this country.  Many of our youth are the only Church members in their family, many struggling against the worldly influences of peers and friends, all facing the ever constant enticements from technology and the negative bombardment from all forms of social media.

Recently Brian Barker shared two quotes which captures the resolute determination of our valiant young adults:

“Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved.  Sometimes we are inclined to put up with a situation rather than endure. To endure is to bear up under, to stand firm against, to suffer without yielding, to continue to be, or to exhibit the state or power of lasting.”  
                       ~Elder Marvin J. Ashton 

“Perseverance is a positive, active characteristic. It is not idly, passively waiting and hoping for something good to happen.  It gives us hope by helping us realize that the righteous suffer no failure except in giving up and no longer trying.  We must never give up, regardless of temptations, frustrations, disappointments, or discouragements.”                         ~Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Amazing Personal Stories

January brought changes to our YSA Institute and YSA Branch. We had a number of our members return to school, Bryan Calle, BYU Idaho, Carlos Rivera, Utah Valley University, and Kate Wilson, Aberystwyth University, Wales UK. Becky Gerhartz moved to Nashville to begin a Masters Program, John Holland accepted a company transfer to the Washington DC area and Bailey Hirase, returning to her home in Utah. Each have brought a wonderful and unique spirit to our programs. We will forever cherish their testimonies, enthusiasm and friendships. 

Bryan Calle

Carlos Rivera

Kate Wilson

Becky Gerhartz

John Holland

We are also feeling grateful for recent additions to our YSA programs: Austen Bilal, returning from BYU Idaho, Thomas
Abramowitz, returning home after graduating from the University of Arizona, Brandy Nguyen, returning home from a Brazil Mission, Kory Wilson, here for an Ophthalmology intern rotation, Matt Odom, returning home from the Missouri St. Louis Mission.

Austen Bilal

Thomas Abramowitz

Brandy Nguyen

Kory White

Matt Odom is a recent convert to the Church and a more recent returned missionary. 

Matt Odom

With Matt's permission we are sharing his conversion story:

"After hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey in 2012, I was going through a tough time in my life.  I felt I needed a change of scenery, I didn't know where my life was heading and I was feeling just a sense of going through the motions without real purpose.  My life was filled with distractions and temptations every young man goes through.  I truly did have the broken heart and contrite spirit the scriptures talk about.  I knew there was more for me and that God had a plan.  After a rough few months, my mom suggested that I move to Florida to live with my sister, Nicole.  It was something that I had wanted for awhile, I felt like Florida was where I needed to be.  My sister was excited to have me join her.  My original plans were to get a job and just try to get on my feet.  To have a new start in life and be just generally happier.  While visiting family in South Carolina over the Thanksgiving break, my sister told me she had been going to a new church.  She had been attending for awhile.  My sister grew up knowing Ivy Nguyen (Brandy's sister) and knew some of the beliefs of the Mormon Church.  When she moved to Florida she met with missionaries and began attending.  The Sister Missionaries came over a few days after our Thanksgiving discussion and invited me to attend Church with them and my sister.  I didn't have a whole lot going on so I figured, "why not".  I went to Church for the first time that following Sunday.  I remember how everyone was so friendly, they all seemed so nice and happy to include me.  I was feeling something, but at that time I wasn't sure what it was.  

I hadn't considered myself a "Christian" prior to joining the Church.  As the Missionaries began teaching me the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I remember them giving me a Book of Mormon. They were very nice, I still keep in touch with them to this day.  I now know it was the Spirit, and as I was taught by the Spirit and continued to attend Church, I knew it would be something good in my life.  I was surprised when they originally invited me to be baptized, it was only the second week of meeting with them.  I felt very hesitant.  I was unsure.  My faith was weak and I didn't know anything was true, yet I felt good about what I was learning and sensing.  I began to recognize I was feeling the prompting of the Spirit. I had struggles in my life, I needed change and I understood it would be a big commitment.  Yet it felt like the right thing to do.  My sister was very supportive in my getting baptized when I expressed my desire to her.  She had understood I had been wrestling with personal struggles.  The members were all very encouraging.  I was worried that I to be perfect to get baptized. I knew I had overcome my struggles and bad habits, but it would take my faith.  I ended up taking a huge leap of faith and on December 9, 2012, I was baptized at the Nova YSA Branch in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, a decision that I had no idea would change my life so dramatically.  I took that leap of faith and I've never regretted it. My testimony and the power of the atonement in my life was manifested in the months to come. 

Fast forward one year and one month later and I'm in the MTC preparing to serve in the Missouri, St. Louis Mission.  Looking back it was all the hand of the Lord, it was He that led my move down to Florida, it was He that put wonderful, supportive and loving people in my life, it was He that helped me find the gospel and the foundation and faith I always needed and always wanted.  And it is He that will carry me to my future.  I need Him now more than ever".    

                                        -Matt Odom 

                                                   ---------

Exiting 66th St. subway, Temple left of center

In January we attended the NYC Manhattan Temple with our CES family. Following our morning at the temple we gathered at a small NYC French restaurant, La Boite en Bois (The Wooden Box).  We said good-bye to Reed & Sheryl Hancock who are returning home to Tucson Arizona and Shaz Kramer who is retiring as a CES Administrative Assistant after 15 years.  These are wonderful people who though our friendships have only been 5 months in the making feel every bit like eternal friends. 

Craig, Mike & Shaz Kramer, Natalie & David Bean, Reed & Sheryle Hancock,
Marilyn & David Cherrington, Janet and Benji Kramer

Miscellaneous pictures from this past month:

Maplewood

Princeton

Saying "good-bye" to Bailey Hirase with Katie Hall

Wuthney, love this guy!

Record Snowfall - Apartment Parking Lot

Our love of these young adults grows by the day.  They are dedicated to what they believe, they remain undaunted by the challenge that confront all 20-somethings facing decisions that will determine their eternal destiny.  One of our favorite reminders regarding our purpose as a CES Missionary couple was a talk given by Elder Neil L. Anderson, February 28, 2014 to all CES instructors:

"Let us remember that those who sit in your classrooms are some of the most spiritually sensitive sons and daughters of God that have ever entered mortality.  I like these words from President George Q. Cannon, who served in the First Presidency, 'God has reserved spirits for this dispensation who have the courage and determination to face the world and all the powers of the evil one, .... He has sent these spirits in this generation to lay the foundation of Zion never more to be overthrown, and to raise up a seed that will be righteous, and that will honor God, and honor Him supremely, and be obedient to him under all circumstances."  The young men and women in your classes are these spirits.  They are the hope of the future".

January 2016