He's staying on Staten Island

Justin's letter today was upbeat and happy, as usual.

Elder Maughan and Elder Godwin are staying together and staying on Staten Island for atleast one more transfer. He seemed happy about this.

They had a baptism Sunday. A young man named Shawn. Shawn will be confirmed next Sunday.

A few words from today's letter

ABOUT THE WORK: "Everthing is great on the Eastern Front, as Grandpa refers to it. We've got people being baptized, people to teach, and ward that loves us."

~Elder Maughan

Some more from today's letter

ABOUT GENERAL CONFERENCE: "Wow! Conference was amazing! What a way to begin conference, such a powerful first session. Saturday was awsome and ended with PRIESTHOOD SESSION. It all went way too fast. Conference is a nice break from all the work but its still exhausting. It was over so soon. Every speaker spoke with such power and with such authority. I did get a bit emotional as President Monson spoke of the Living Waters that I grew up with."

~Elder Maughan

The traffic isn't the only thing moving fast in NYC!

Everything is moving so fast in this city. We're teaching all the time. We're finally getting member referals. Everything is so much better then it used to be. I love it.

I love you too.

Elder Maughan

This reminds me of a quote from Elder Bednars talk from April 2008 General Conference titled, "Ask in Faith".

"We properly pray for the safety and success of the full-time missionaries throughout the world. And a common element in many of our prayers is a request that the missionaries will be led to individuals and families who are prepared to receive the message of the Restoration. But ultimately it is my responsibility and your responsibility to find people for the missionaries to teach. Missionaries are full-time teachers; you and I are full-time finders. And you and I as lifelong missionaries should not be praying for the full-time missionaries to do our work!"

What a great reminder to all of us. This has changed the way our family prays for our missionaries!

Three scheduled Baptisms!

Just to let you know, so you wouldn't mourn too heavily for me, we DID receive a letter from Justin yesterday. Apparently, it was suspended somewhere in cyber-space. Or maybe, I was being taught a lesson in patience! Either way, he sent it yesterday morning and I just barely received it today. As you can imagine, I had a million thoughts running through my "mother-head" about why he wouldn't write to his dear old mom. I won't bore you, or, in some cases, make you laugh (AT me, mostly, not WITH me) with the details. Just know, I'm very relieved! (as I'm sure are all my friends are who got to hear me whine!)

Anyway, on to more important items. Elder Maughan and Elder Godwin have THREE baptisms scheduled for October 5th, between the morning and afternoon sessions of General Conference. Two of the candidates are from Lyberia, Abraham and Ernest. The third cadidate just walked into church from off the street. He wants to be baptized so he and his fiance, who is already a member, can be married in the Temple.

Elder Maughan said that he and Elder Godwin have been very busy. They've been going through old records and looking up past, potential investigators. He said "the work is flying!"

All is well in New York!

A letter from President Bennion

We didn't receive a letter from Justin today and I was feeling a little sad, since I look so forward to my weekly email. When I checked the mailbox, I found this waiting for me instead.

Dear Brother and Sister Maughan,
I wanted to share with you the news that your son, Elder Maughan, has been called to serve as a trainer for a newly arrived missionary.

As you will no doubt appreciate, the training that a new missionary receives can be of immeasureable assistance in ensuring a successful mission.

Consequently, we try very hard to select as trainers only those missionaires who are demonstrating the highest level of commitment to the work and who possess those qualities of devotion, obedience, and wisdom that are so vital to being a truly successful missionary.

You might be intersted to know that before being asked to serve as trainer, your son was carefully evaluated concerning not only his own qualifications but also his willingness and ability to provide an environment where a new missionary might adjust, learn, and develop those characteristics and skills crucial to success in the mission field.

I am please to tell you that I believe your son fully meets the vital requirements to serve in this calling. I thank you for all you have done to help him to be worthy of this trust and for sharing him with us.

Kind personal regards,
Steven D. Bennion
Mission President

I'm glad President Bennion shared this with us!

Today's letter . . . I think he likes NYC!

"Last week was September 11th. All the flags were at half-mast. A couple of days before the 11th another new missionary, Elder Teixeira and I were out and we looked up in the direction of Manhattan, we couldn't see the city, but saw two pillars of light reaching up into the dark night above. On the 11th we rode the ferry to Manhattan and you could see to pillars of light rising up from where the Twin Towers were. It was really neat. I got some amazing pictures."

"It's still so sureal being in NYC. Especially seeing the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, and something as patriotic as this monument for the World Trade Center. I don't think I'll ever realize that I was in NY until I get home. I love it out here. There's nowhere in the world I'd rather be, than right here in NYC . I've got a great district and President. I love President so much. There's no one that can replace Presdent Bennion, and I'll be sad when he leaves next summer. We have Zone conference tomorrow in the Dyker Heights chaple in BKLYN, about a 20 minute drive. I can't wait to hear from President."

~Elder Maughan