Adams in Manhattan

28 August 2016

A couple of weeks ago, on our way back from Harlem and Diane's foot doctor appointment, we were impressed with how they move furniture in and out of the apartments several floors high. This photo shows a worker who is standing near the larger opening where furniture can be moved into a building. The elevator in the old buildings like the one we live in, built in the 1940s is so small that few things can be moved from floor to floor. Note the size of the opening compared to the worker standing near it.

Ten days ago, or so, Elder and Sister Larsen notified us that they were working on getting an apartment in the tower next to the temple (Lincoln Square) for a move as new missionaries were coming in October to take our apartment in Inwood which is normally used for Employment Missionaries. Elder and Sister Huntington invited us to dinner where we also met Elder and Sister Colton. The Huntington's are CES Missionaries working with the Young Single Adults, and Elder and Sister Colton work with United Nations as part of Public Relations. The apartment has a kitchen cubby that you walk into and back out of and the apartment is much smaller than where we are in Inwood.

Last week, one of the incredible set of experiences involved Qiong Shi, a member from China who was visiting her daughter here in New York City. Elder Terrence Grimley and President Roberts, Second Counselor in the Temple Presidency brought her into the Center and asked us to help her prepare the Family Ordinance Card for her father to have his temple work done, and so that she could be sealed to her parents. She said the temple work for her mother had been previously done in Salt Lake.

After several hours of trying to get into her FamilySearch Account, since she had two accounts that were "fighting" each other and FamilySearch worked with Sister Hanson and Diane for over five hours before hoping that the problem was repaired.

The following day, Sr. Shi [pronounced Shure] was able to have her father's baptism and confirmation completed. But since she was going back to China after the weekend, the temple was trying to get the rest of his ordinances done that day, as well. Caught in traffic, Sr. Shi was late in coming to the temple and President Roberts, Sister Hanson, and Elder & Sister Adams and others were trying to get everything taken care of. Elder Grimley, working with her branch president in China and Salt Lake (he speaks Mandarin Chinese) were able to get her recommend for living ordinances to be sealed to her parents.

Elder Roberts was able to get into FamilySearch to verify that her mother's ordinances were completed, and during this time, Sr. Shi's daughter said something about that she wanted a blessing. Pres. Roberts was able to ascertain that it was her patriarchal blessing that she wanted, as there was a waiting list in China that would take months before she could get her blessing.

Long story short, Sr. Shi was able to be sealed to her parents; Elder Grimley, who has been set apart as a patriarch for the Mandarin Chinese community in New York (who also had to get permission from Church Headquarters, etc. to give the blessing) was able to give it and Sunday evening before the Temple Missionary trip to the Philadelphia Temple, he was able to get it typed and delivered to her before she left a day later to return to China! Lots of prayers and faith were exhibited and Sr. Shi was very grateful for all who helped her receive these blessings.

To start this week off we had the opportunity of going to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to visit the new temple before dedication in October. It was about a 3 hour train ride one way but the train was very comfortable and quiet compared to the subways.

There were 29 of the missionaries that went and it was a lot of fun getting to know them. Because of living in Inwood, we have had very little interaction with them, so it was a great experience.

Temple Missionaries, Presidency, and FHC Missionaries at NY-Penn Station

The temple was beautiful. It followed the patriotic theme with an original picture in the front foyer of the temple depicting the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. There isa set of quill pens with an ink dipping jar behind them carved into the woodwork in back of the front foyer. This temple is about double the size of the Manhattan temple with two endowment rooms and four sealing rooms.

Each time I go through a new temple, the Spirit is always strong. It is very interesting to see those who come to the Open House who are not members and the amazement they show as they take the tour. The explanations given at each point were extremely clear and uplifting so that anyone could understand the purpose of the temple.

This week, we also had several experiences working with patrons and members in Family History. A couple of times, patrons with very difficult family circumstances involving "family secrets" that they were trying to discover because family did not share but kept things pretty hush-hush were able, with our help and being directed by the Spirit, discover facts that really helped them to understand and learn things that affected the family and its story!

We worked with the Spanish Elders in helping them use Family Tree to clear the name of a brother's mother. Fred Williams is being reactivated and recently receive his temple recommend after years of inactivity and now can have his mother's temple work done.

Last Sunday, in consultant training, only one of the new consultants at Inwood showed up. So we took the time to help George Mittag prepare family ordinance cards for family of great grandparents. We postponed the last lesson on Finding resources to help them learn and help members for today. It was really fun to see the expressions on the faces of the other consultants when this group of family ordinance cards was handed to George. One could sense the hopeful thinking that this will happen to them!

Yesterday, while waiting in the subway in Harlem (125th Street) on our way from Diane's Podiatrist appointment to the Manhattan Family History Center, we sweltered in the heat and noticed this little guy savoring a morsel of tomato under the rail next to station landing for the A Train.

After meetings, we took a hike to the Cloisters, a museum near the Church and just enjoyed the beauty around us. On a P-day we would like to visit the museum and experience the relics that have been restored as part of this NY Museum of Art site.