2 October 2016

When we came to the New York New York North Mission, we were told that we would be housed temporarily in Inwood (Upper Manhattan).  While we have been in Inwood First Ward (English) we have been blessed to work with the family history consultants and now with shadowing them as they work with members in the Sunday School class.

In the process, progress is being made to get the Inwood Family History Center up and running again as it has not had a director for almost two years.

We received word that we would be moving to Lincoln Square - 60 West 66th Street, Apt. 10J, in the  tower next to the temple and Family History Center.  This move occurred on September 22nd.  Two sets of young Elders, Elder and Sister Larsen from the Mission Office, and Elder and Sister Lewis, Temple Missionaries from Utah who came the same weekend we did were all there to help.

It is exciting to not have to ride the subway (One Train) the 35 minute commute each way daily.  Now we only need to go outside and a round the corner to Columbus Street to get to the Temple and FHC.

Here are pictures of our new "digs".

10th Floor Hall from outside the Elevator

Apartment Entrance - 10 J

 Living Room from entrance

Dining Room looking from the Living Room

Bedroom

The view from our apartment living room window

View from Roof Garden - Above 37th Floor

View toward Central Park to the East

View to Southwest toward Lower Manhattan

On Sunday, September 25th, we were invited to the Open House for President and Sister Steve Bennion who will be leaving as Temple President and Matron the end of October.  President and Sister Roberts will be returning to New Zealand.  President and Sister Bench were hosting the event, and they have been called as the new Temple President and Matron.  They will be leaving for Salt Lake City to attend New Temple President training.

When we first arrived at our new apartment, we didn't have food since we had been working on getting our supply down for the move.  We began to explore around the area to see if we could find a grocery store.  Walking toward the Hudson River to West End, we only found small stores that were of the 7-11 type (European style).  Returning to Broadway, we walked toward 72nd Street where we knew Trader Joe's was located.  We missed it, but on the corner of about 75th street, we encountered Fairway and decided to give it a try.

We loaded up on groceries -- 8 bags worth.  But Diane had left her purse with the subway card at home, and we were trying to figure out how we would be able to get the food back to the apartment, some 8 blocks away.  As we were checking out, the clerk asked if we would like it delivered.  Diane immediately said "yes" and then we asked what it would cost.  We were informed that since we were over $125 (actually it was close to $200) delivery was free.  It would be about two hours before we could expect it.  When the delivery man brought it up to the apartment, he even placed it in the kitchen!

Monday evening, we attended a Hebrew discussion group at Mark and Susan Dransfield's apartment here in the building.  They serve as Public Affairs Missionaries with Interfaith and United Nations, etc.  They are really into studying Hebrew and Jewish culture.  We enjoyed the evening and took photos of blowing the "rams horn", symbolic of Abraham and Isaac and the ram being caught by its horn so it could become the sacrifice instead of Isaac!

Elder Mumford & Sister Dransfield

On Friday evening, we were scheduled to go with Dransfield's to Rosh Hoshanah at the Jewish synagog Temple nearby.  In the afternoon after our shift at the FHC, we walked through the rainstorm looking for a store that we thought had agave that Diane wanted to buy.  Our walk from 63rd Street to 42nd Street took us to Times Square but we didn't find the agave.  

Diane had a great time walking in the rain and enjoying the new experience, but the distance with the cold and rain and a knee that was trying to dislocate made it more miserable for me.  But we found that this was the section of the City where the Broadway productions were all around.  Diane was excited to find familiar restaurant names like Applebee's, Olive Garden, Kentucky Fried Chicken and it made her feel right at home. So there is always good and bad in all experiences and New York City has it all to offer. It makes for a great adventure.