Elder and Sister de Paula

Elder and Sister dePaula are from Highland, Utah. They were called to serve as Institute Missionaries in the New York New York South Mission. If you've followed this blog, you would know that I stumbled upon their blog (http://www.depaulamission.blogspot.com/) before Justin left. I have followed their blog regulary and was thrilled when I found out Elder Maughan would be serving with them in Bay Shore. The following posts are courtesy of Sister dePaula's blog. The dePaula's will be returning home in May.

President and Sister Bennion

President and Sister Bennion go home in May. Elder Maughan has so much respect, love and admiration for this outstanding couple. He's going to miss them terribly. I'm sure he'll grow to love his new President just as much.

District Meeting February 20, 2009

Elder Maughan gets a new Companion, (number 6) Elder Oliverson. This picture was taken when Elder Maughan and Elder Oliverson first arrived in Bay Shore and the de Paula's took them to the Old Country Buffet. Elder Maughan said, "We get along great. He's my first comp. where its more like we're friends...we already were before we were together. " Elder Oliverson has been out 9 months and he's from the Sandy/Draper, Utah area.

You've Gotta' Love Missionaries!
"Our district - the biggest in the entire mission - has twelve young missionaries and us. After mission transfers last Tuesday we got one new missionary, Sister Burton with a few elders being "shuffled" within the district.
Front row: (l to r) Sisters Frodsham, Burton, Brimhall and Sellers. Back row: Elders Alder, Low, Johnson, Oliverson, Lee, Carcel, Maughan and Caramia.
Half of these missionaries were called as Spanish-speaking, half English-speaking. What a joy it is to know them!"

~Sister de Paula

Ward Correlation Meeting February 2009

"Missionaries meet every Saturday evening for about two hours - all the missionaries assigned to the Bay Shore Ward and the ward mission leader, Brother Siniscalchi. One by one each missionary presents the names of the less active members or investigators who may need love and encouragement from this group, the bishopric or the ward members. The Spirit is often very strong at these gatherings as we begin and end with a hymn and a prayer and attend to the Lord's precious work. During the evening, the following phrase frequently crosses my mind "Feed my sheep."It is the most important work to be done."

~Sister dePaula

Dinner in the Mission Field February 2009

Elder Maughan elbow deep in cookie dough with Sister Cruz.

"Missionaries can eat at member homes on Sunday and Monday evenings and on any other evening of the week if there is an investigator present. Ward members love to feed the missionaries! Missionaries love to eat! It's a great combination. Sister Cruz loves feeding the missionaries every week! " Thanks Sister Cruz .

District Meeting then The Old Country Buffet- January 29, 2009

Bay Shore's missionaries at District Meeting

After a two hour district meeting, Elder and Sister de Paula took this bunch of starving missionaries to the Old Country Buffet. (L to R: Elders Oliverson, Lee, Law and Maughan)

New District-January 8, 2008

After Staten Island, Elder Maughan went to Plainview, Long Island. He was only in Plainview for one transfer! After Plainview, he was transfered to Bay Shore, further east on Long Island. His new companion in Bay Shore was Elder Alder.
(l to r) 1st row: Sisters Brimhall, Goldthwaite, Frodsham, Brown and Sellers. 2nd row: Elders Maughan, Oliverson, Law, Carcel and Elder & Sister de Paula. 3rd row: Elders Caramia, Peterson, Alder and Lee.

One of these days...

One of these days, I'll remember that my first post will be my last post. I never seem to remember that. Anyway, today is Justin's "HUMP" day. To see my post of this event, scroll down to "One Year Ago, Today." The other pictures are random photos from the past few months. I haven't kept current on posting, but now that I have a new computer and fast internet, watch out!

The Rasmussen Family

This was Elder Maughan's last day on Staten Island.

This is Bishop Rasmussen and his family. (Sister Rasmussen, Christian, Aiden and Kira)

This is what Elder Maughan had to say in his last letter home from Staten Island: "Bishop Rasmussen changed my life. There is nobody, out here that I look up to more than him. He's always smiling. He's the absolute best bishop I've ever met in my life and he is an awesome leader. He would always smile at me and give me a wink from the stand. Sister Rasmussen did wonders for me as well. She always made sure that I was okay and doing well. I tore some of the muscles in my back last week playing soccer. I had a hard time doing anything. She was on the verge of tears when she found out that I was hurt. She said she was going to call my mom and tell her. I told her there was no way she could do that. "Look how worked up you are, how do you think my poor mother would handle it?" I made her promise not to tell you that I was hurt. She mad me take their heating pad to loosen up my back. I'll miss the Rasmussens a lot. Their three kids were so good: Twins Christian and Keira and two year old Aiden. Hopefully I'll get back to Staten and finish my mission there." (sorry about the misspelling of the names, but Elder Maughan wasn't sure of the spellings.)

When we talked to Justin at Christmas, he told me that leaving Staten Island, after serving there for 6 months, was almost as hard as leaving home. He also told us that if he were to return to NYC to live, he'd live in Staten Island. We are so greatful for the Rasmussens and their long lasting impression on our son.

Missionary Tourist

Teixeira and Maughan P-day

Boardwalk on eastern Staten Island

Halloween '08

Teixeira and Maughan w/ companions. Summer '08

Elder Teixeira and Elder Maughan with their companion at the Staten Island Zoo!

September 11th Memorial

Elder Rencher and Elder Maughan-Staten Island

Elder Rencher was Elder Maughan's second companion.

Transfer Meeting- Summer '08

On the way to Queens for transfer meeting.

One Year Ago, Today . . .

February 27th, 2008

Happy "Hump Day" Elder Maughan!

It's hard to believe that this picture was taken one year ago. They say the first year passes slowly and then the second year flies by. In our case, the first year seemed to zoom past us. Looking back, the MTC experience was so hard, but I'm so happy that Elder Maughan is out there, immersed in the work and so happy to be a missionary.

In the past year, he's had so many unique experiences. He's grown in ways that he couldn't have anywhere else. There have been days, I'm guessing, that's it's been hard being a missionary and days that it's been rewarding being a missionary. I keep telling myself, "It's all part of the growing process." It's all worth it though. All the tears, worry and frustration have been worth knowing that Elder Maughan is happy and loving life in the mission field and that he knows what he is doing is important and necessary.

Before Justin left, someone gave us one of those "count down charts." You know, the one with 730 little, teeny, tiny cirles on it. I looked at it a year ago and thought, "No Way!" I just filed it right away. I pulled it out this week and looked what was "behind" us and what's "ahead" of us. It doesn't seem so overwhelming, now! Don't get me wrong, I love having a missionary. I'll just love it more when I have a return missionary!