20 August 2017

Most of the second and third weeks in August involved quite a bit of physical therapy for both of us usually three times a week, and Diane was also taking occupational therapy for her hands due to a fall on Broadway last month.  Doctors appointments, xrays from Lenox Hill Radiology for Diane and Hospital for Special Surgery with Dr. Sculco for the six weeks follow-up of my total hip replacement surgery took quite a bit of our time.

On August 10th, all hip precautions were lifted and Dr. Sculco indicated he wanted to have a hip followup in one year.  Since we will be in Utah, a request for a prescription to his office for an x-ray will take the place of that appointment.  It was amazing to see the new titanium alloy rod and a ceramic ball and plastic cup in the xrays which Dr. Sculco declared a perfect and tight fit.  Working the muscles will take about six weeks from what he indicated.  Like me nurse sister said: "The key in recovery is the Chinese method: Walk [Wok], [Wok], [Wok].

Elder Adams during a walk through Central Park.

On Friday, August 11th, several of the Temple Missionaries invited us to join them along with the Hansons who also serve with us in the Family History Center and the Dransfields who are Public Relations Missionaries for a excursion to the Morgan Library, Downtown.

Main library room - Morgan Library Reading Room - supposedly as he had  it when alive

Elder DeBry, Elder Dransfield, Sr. Adams, Sr. Brown, Elder Hanson, Sister Hanson, Sister Harris, Elder Harris on the MTA Bus to Morgan Library.

Painted Ceilings in Rotunda of Morgan Library

Sr. Adams in J.P. Morgan's Study

Elder Adams - Entrance to Middle Ages Artifacts

An original edition of the Guttenberg Bible

Some of the special exhibit items in the library included exhibit items from Mesopotamia, the Guttenberg Bible, copies of Thomas Jefferson's draft journal, "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah" aka as the Battle Hymn of the Republic later, music scores of opera, etc.  Recently, a first edition copy of the Book of Mormon was on display, as well.

We have continued to provide training to Temple and Family History Consultants, and recently spent a couple of hours with a veteran FHC Director from Staten Island Family History Center who has requested we work with her in training as a TFHC using "Find, Take, and Teach" using the tools and resources that are now available in planning and executing experiences in "Helping Others to Love Family History" and feel the Spirit of Elijah.  This is proving to be a very powerful conversion tool in the New York NY Stake.

Earlier this week, coming from our physical therapy session early in the morning, we walked in quite a rain storm.  Later in the week, we took a photo of the family history center-temple, and the apartment building where we live on the 10th floor.  Both of these views were from Broadway between 59th Street (Columbus Circle) and 66th Street.

Elder Adams in the rain

Sr. Adams in the Rain

Lincoln Square Church Bldg and Tower - Columbus Avenue & 65th Street.

The photograph above was taken from Broadway at 65th Street and Columbus Avenue.  The Angel Moroni sits atop the steeple marking the Lincoln Square Church Building across from Julliard and Lincoln Center.  In the background is the Church-owned tower where some Senior Missionaries assigned to the New York New York North Mission with specific assignments like Public Affairs, Family History, etc.  The Manhattan Temple Presidency also live here, as well as Manhattan Temple Missionaries.

The last week of July and the first week of August, the temple was closed for semi-annual maintenance.  But on the second day the temple was open, the air conditioning failed and the afternoon session brought temperatures of 92 degrees.  The temple was closed for the reminder of the week while repairs could be made to the A/C unit.  As a result, there was little activity in the Family History Center during that week.

On Wednesday, August 16, Ruth Braithwaite came into the Center again and wanted more information on her father, Harry Ross.  By the time she finished, together we had found census records for her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and their families, some of whom were quite numerous.  She is an older black lady but very gracious.  When she comes in she has a definite goal and it is refreshing to be able to work with a patron who understands that ancestors who want to be found almost jump out of the records--and others who do not want to be found just aren't found no matter what we do.  It is pretty amazing!

On Sunday, the annual Harlem Days Celebration was held. We were asked to serve in the Family History Booth. I [Diane] spent a couple of hours working with three individuals. The first one set up a new account and created her Family Tree far enough to look for records. The other two just wanted to search for records of any kind to find their family. I was able to find records for both individuals and they were so excited. They were going to go home and see if they could search on their own. It is such a joy to watch their excitement when they find a record showing their families. Golden spent his time traveling back to the apartment to get his computer and returned just in time to go back home.

Lots of different activities, food, and "music"- FH booth was similar to these.