Wedding Week

Perth Amboy Primary

The Primary Sacrament Meeting Program is a BIG DEAL with the Hispanics in New Jersey!  When we first started attending the Perth Amboy Branch this summer, it was obvious that those with musical ability were lacking. When I asked the Primary President, Hermana Vazquez, if I could help, she was overjoyed. The music director was imported from another ward also - she is here visiting for a few weeks from the Dominican Republic. This picture was taken during a practice.  Can you see the white CD player near the podium?  This is what they would have used to accompany their singing.

We had three practices during the weeks prior to the performance. Thankfully, they arranged practices to be on Wednesday nights when we come any way to teach Institute. Just like in Elizabeth when I was helping them with their program, it seemed like the children would never settle down.  But, come the day of the program, everything goes perfectly and the children act like angels.

 

Look at this sweet group! As you can see, they were all asked to wear white.  The teachers and leaders came in white also.  They made cute little bow ties for the boys the wear.  The wall in the foyer that they are standing in front of was decorated to say "Families Are Forever" and then there were pictures of each ward family posted.

After the program the children went upstairs for their classes and then they met in the Primary room for a fiesta.  It was very nice (yet wild).

They served lunch

and then . .  can't forget the ice cream!

Trip to Washington D.C.

There are two couples in our Young Single Adults who became engaged this summer and they both selected to be married in the Washington DC Temple AND they chose the same week to be married. We received permission to leave the mission to attend the weddings.

Since one wedding was on Thursday afternoon and the next wedding was on Friday morning, we contacted our niece, Melanie (Jay's daughter), and planned to meet up for dinner and get to know her and her husband Henry better and meet their son Lincoln, who is just 5 months old.  Melanie knew of this great Vietnamese restaurant "Four Sisters" in Merrifield Town Center, Falls Church, Virginia.  We had a great time!

Weddings in Washington DC Temple

On Thursday, November 13th, Paul Lora and Beviblierka (Liby) Tejada were married. Paul and Liby are both originally from the Dominican Republic and are the only members of the Church in both of their families.  They are also both returned missionaries.  Paul served his mission in St. George, Utah and Liby served at the visitors center at the Mesa Arizona Temple. Both Paul and Liby have been stalwarts and a great support for the New Brunswick Institute.

We worry when we lose Institute members, but, we are told that we are doing our job when the young single adults get married, go on missions, or off to school.

On Friday, November 14th, Wilfrido DeLeon and Violetta Mendez were married.  Again, both Wilfrido and Violetta are returned missionaries.  Violetta served in Virginia and Wilfrido was in Atlantic City, NJ.  Both Wilfrido and Violetta are originally from Mexico.

Sisters Toy and Young, Wilfrido and Violetta, the Hancocks

Both Thursday and Friday turned into cold days.  Sister Toy and I have been working on making Violetta's dress.  Here are some pictures of the front and the back.

Notice all the covered buttons???  I've decided that I'll never make another wedding dress!  After completing the dress, Sister Toy and I looked at it and said "This looks like a simple dress!"  It is hard to see in these pictures all the extras and all the beading on the sleeves and around the neck.

Both of these brides planned their own weddings and receptions and they both had BIG fiestas!  They both began at 6:00 pm and went into the night.  I know that some of our young adults were cleaning up at the Friday reception until 3:00 am.

We have grown to love both of these couples very much and hope they will continue to attend the institute classes, but will understand if they don't. In a sense, they have "graduated".


Great counsel for all from a recent lesson...Lesson week of Oct. 27, 2014
There are three main and associated principles to this lesson.

1. Elect or chosen. References:
    D&C 25:5 - Emma is called an Elect lady. What does that mean to be elect?
    D&C 33:6 - The Lord will gather his elect and those who are elect are those to BELIEVE in Him and HARKEN to his voice. How?
    D&C 35:20-21 - scriptures are given for the salvation of the elect. The elect are those who HEAR his voice, shall SEE Him, shall not be ASLEEP (distracted), shall ABIDE the day of his coming, shall be PURIFIED.
    D&C 29:7 - we are called to GATHER the elect and the elect HEAR His voice and HARDEN NOT there hearts.
The principle here is that if we desire to be the elect we must believe, harken, obey, prepare, repent, and harden not our hearts. To harden ones heart is to NOT do those things in the previous sentence.


2. Alma 12 talks about hardening of hearts. Here are some references.
    Alma 12:10-11 - those who harden their hears will have a LESSER portion of the WORD until they know nothing and are taken CAPTIVE by the devil.
    Alma 12:13 - the state of those who harden their hearts is AWFUL
    Alma 12: 34-36 - there is NO PEACE for those who harden their hearts
    Alma 12: 37 - seeing that we know this, let us REPENT and not harden our hearts.
The principle here is that there are severe consequences if we harden our hearts. So how do we prevent the hardening our hearts? By continually repenting and praying.


3. Pray always. Here is a list of scriptures on prayer with emphasis on praying always. I have found that when one stops praying it is only a matter of time until he or she gets into trouble (sin). Please take time to read, ponder, and discuss these.
D&C 93:49
D&C 31:12
3 Nephi 18:15
D&C 61:39
D&C 19:38
D&C 10:5
D&C 88:126
D&C 32:4
2 Nephi 32:9
Luke 21:36

So, I invite all to choose to be elect or chosen. Choose not to harden your hearts. And choose to pray always that you don't succumb to temptations. Great happiness will follow when such counsel is followed.

Love,
Hancocks

West Point

Culture and Foods in New Jersey

Things are so different in New Jersey, that even shopping for food can be a learning experience.  There are many different cultures here.  As we drive down the street, on one side of the street is a Peruvian restaurant, then on the other side of the street is a Columbian restaurant.  In mid New Jersey and especially in the area where we live, there is a huge Indian population.  We have seen huge Buddha statutes along the road and many of the women (and men) dress in their native dress. They have their own schools, markets, meat shops, bakeries and restaurants around the area. There are also lots of Orientals, Italians, and Jews.  There are some beautiful Jewish temples here.

In mid October, we noticed that lots in our apartment complex had Christmas lights along their patios or around their windows.  My first thought was that there were a lot of crazy people excited for Christmas to come.  What we found out though was that there is a Hindu celebration called "Diwali" which is a "festival of lights" celebrated in the autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

But, back to food.  This sign in a grocery store in Elizabeth tells the story for us.

Even in the Costco close to us, we see things we wouldn't see at home.

I believe that it is lamb in the freezer.

Seaweed

Pickled cabbage

I could add hundreds of photos if I wanted to.  There are lots of different items to purchase that don't sound appetizing to me at all.  In the main grocery stores near us there are complete isles dedicated to only Goya products.  But, we can't find chili beans or Ranch beans or certain spices for making chili etc.and it is hard to find El Pato or tortillas.  By now though, we know where we can find some of these things and we will survive.


Halloween

Since we bring refreshments to all of our classes, the week of Halloween I tried to be a little creative. I am not artsy when it comes to decorating, so I knew that whatever I did, it had to be simple.  This is what I did.  I just added eyes to my chocolate chip cookies and then I tried to make mummies.

This is what the boys in Perth Amboy did with my refreshments.

West Point

For our culture day experience this month, on November 3rd, Brother Bean and his wife Natalie, took us to West Point.  All of us CES missionaries and the Beans met at the Newark Chapel and then caravaned on a beautiful drive into New York. We drove through hills covered with trees and vegetation.  West Point is located 40 miles north of New York City and is right on the Hudson.

West Point's role in our nation's history dates back to the Revolutionary War, when both sides realized the strategic importance of the commanding plateau on the west bank of the Hudson River. General George Washington considered West Point to be the most important strategic position in America.
Washington transferred his headquarters to West Point in 1779.  A 150-ton iron chain across the Hudson was used to control river traffic. Fortress West Point was never captured by the British.

The United States Military Academy was established at this location by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802.  Being accepted for admission to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point is an exceptional honor reserved for our nation’s most exceptional students. But it takes more than excellent grades to be accepted for admission. USMA also wants leaders who are physically fit and of outstanding character. Those who are selected to attend USMA receive a college education that is unparalleled in the world with tuition, room and board and expenses fully paid. To be accepted, one must be appointed by his or her congressman.

The Academy is BIG on character development.  I love the Cadet Honor Code:  A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. 

We had a personal tour of the grounds by Russ Way who is aCES Director and teaches Institute classes on campus.  There is so much history here and the Academy is filled with traditions!

A chapel just across from the museum.  I love the chapels out here.

             Hudson River view - Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform here next 4th of July at this
                                                       spot on the USMA campus

The bend in the Hudson

Statute of Eisenhower with Patton in background

In the visitor's center

Can you see remains of the gun placement from the Revolutionary War?

These are 13 links of the 150 foot chain that went from raft to raft across the Hudson during the Revolutionary War.  The bend in the river would cause ships to slow down. The British never got past this point on the Hudson.

Cadets waiting to march inside the mess hall for lunch.  Can you see the fife and drummers on the right?  We watched ALL of them march in for lunch in a very orderly and timely manner.

Fife and Drummers

                                    
Statute of  George Washington

West Point is an officer training school for the Army.  All over campus one sees "Go Army Beat Navy"









Front Row:  Strouds and Pittsons
Middle Row:  Hancocks and Beans
Back Row:  Russ May, Shaz Kramer, Sisters Young and Toy