10 December 2017

The last ten days of our mission were busy trying to get our laundry done, several of our personal items packed, and begin the shipping process of television, monitors, books, journals, clothing, etc. back to Utah.

Elder Adams carting boxes to UPS in the rain.

This is just one of the many trips we made to the UPS Store on Amsterdam Avenue, NYC.  Elder Adams with television and computer monitor shipment.

After service at the New York NY Family History Center one afternoon, Tom and Liz Hanson took us around the corner to the Atlantic Grill.  We enjoyed a great meal of fish and chips.  Our share of the meal came from a gift card that one of the patrons had provided.

Left to Right:  Elder Adams, Elder Tom Hanson, Sister Liz Hanson, and Sr. Adams

The most difficult part of returning home from our mission was saying goodbye to several of our friends in New York City.  These photos represent some of the people we met during our mission, including many with whom we served.  Our friends who have served for several years at the FHC include Aurea and Zaida, Spanish volunteers, and Roger and Stanton who were African American volunteers.

On Wednesdays at the FHC, Aurea and Zaida were Spanish volunteers, and good friends.

While living at 2 Lincoln Square, we made friends with the doormen and employees who manned the desk for various shifts.  We were not able to get photos of all of these, but Randy always answered "I'm good" whenever asked show he was doing, Freddy was always easy going, Tony liked to kid and had a great sense of humor, and Robert was always opening the door for us (as did the others) but usually early in the morning when we went to serve in the temple on the first shift of Thursday mornings.

Tony at the desk of 2 Lincoln Center where our apartment was: 10J

Robert Ardon and Elder Adams at 2 Lincoln Square entrance

Just outside the door of the Family History Center at the front entrance, our security guards were always on duty to make sure that the Church, Temple, and other offices were safe and no unsavory visitors made it into the various parts of the building.  Albert was always friendly, and he usually worked the early morning shift, beginning at around 5 am.  Michelle was always very friendly, as well.  But the most recent security guard was Patricia, who I always called Teresa for some reason.  It wasn't until we were ready to leave that she informed us that she would be baptized by Pres. David Smith here at Lincoln Square building on Saturday, November 18.  We departed on Thursday, November 16th.

Michelle at her station.  She said she never let anyone take her photo--but did let us!

Sr. Diane Adams and Patricia. 

Some of the young Elders and Sisters who were at Lincoln Square building as we were preparing to leave, and with whom we had the opportunity to serve in the New York New York North Mission, shared their best wishes as we prepared to return back to Utah. Elder Mafi, from Tonga, will also be returning home soon.  He and his new companion posed at the temple entrance with us.  It was Elder Mafi that scared Elder Adams at the subway station as he was counting the money in his wallet on the platform waiting for the train.  "I thought for use I was being mugged!" Elder Adams had said.  The look on his face made Elder Mafi laugh so hard and this experience brought us close together whenever we saw each other.

Sister and Elder Adams (left) and Elder Mafi (right) with his new companion.

(l-r): Sr. Leavitt's new companion, Sr. Adams, Sr. Leavitt

Elder and Sr. Adams, Sr. Bon Lee, and her companion

We took Uber to JFK airport on November 16th.  When we arrived at the Salt Lake International Airport, we were met by our daughter Chantel and her husband Joseph Rhodes with two of their four children, Kristina and Ryan and our daughter-in-law Melissa Adams with her children: Tori, Kayli, Austin, and Graci.  Our son Matthew met us at Chuck-a-Rama not far from his work at Carmax in Sandy, Utah and our son Aaron later joined us there after he finished work at St. Mark's Hospital.

Ryan was so excited to have us receive the balloons they had brought to welcome us home!

The welcome home balloon boquet with our old family photo in the background.

We were surprised by being escorted to our new home that Matthew and Melissa had spent many hours remodeling and decorating after they and our daughter Chantel (with power of attorney) had obtained it for us.  Our son Aaron helped with some of the electrical that was added, and we were informed that the new carpet had just been placed earlier the day before.  This was at the Lindon Creekside 55+ community.  Everything was readied for us to settle in for the night, and they had moved our home furnishings and personal belongings from Salem, Utah where we had lived prior to our mission to New York City.

Family Tree Matthew and Melissa made with Diane's parents and all our descendants.

This is the fireplace that Matthew put in for us. It is all  electric so we don't have to clean it and it heats our house with controlled heat and lighting options for the fire.

This is the new bedroom set that Melissa had set up for us that had a blue bed cover and pillows . We added a 3" form to the bed so we had to add the bed spread.

 This is the dresser and vanity in the master bedroom. It was beautiful.

This is the visitor bedroom upstairs where she had many of the painting from Grandma Jolley and Great Grandma Huntington with heirloom bedspread made by Diane with squares from all of our grandchildren. The pillows on the bed are from Grandma Meacham, Golden's mother.

This view gives all of the four seasons that Grandma Huntington painted for Diane when she was a teenager.

We reported our mission in the Salem 12th Ward on the 26 of November 2017 before moving into our new ward, Lindon 23rd the following week. We will truly miss all of our friends in the Salem 12th Ward but are looking foward to meeting new friends in our new ward and Stake.

This mission allowed us to participate and experience many miracles where we watched the hand of the Lord change lives along with ours. Each time we participated in presenting personal experiences in Family History for our mission friends and Temple and Family History Consultants, we were always astounded with the miracle we were able to watch unfold and experience their joy as they found new family members.

An added blessing was that we were able to serve as Manhattan Temple Ordinance Workers, and with the help of temple missionaries and patrons, over 750 of our own deceased progenitors received the ordinances of the temple.

Temple release letter as Ordinance Workers at Manhattan New York Temple

We will be forever grateful to our family who sacrificed their time and efforts and supported us with their faith and prayers. We have truly been blessed!