instance variables in App package state

In the class code below, transaction method is called and then from transaction method, method2 is called where the instance variable is set  with this code &nodeArry = &xdListDoc.DocumentElement.GetElementsByTagName("LIST");
Then from method2, method3 is called.  in method3 the &nodeArry is accessed and it is empty.  It is not empty after being set in method2?  Why does it not keep state between the methods?  Does it need to be initialized somewhere?  Any help is appriciated!

class Transaction;
   method Transaction();
private
   method method2();
   method method3();
   instance array of XmlNode &nodeArry;
end-class;

method Transaction
   
end-method;