So That's Why We're Here; At Least in Part

 You will recall that we had invited the missionaries from our district for a meal last Monday. In part, because two of them helped so much in our moving into the apartment and because we love them and wanted to do something nice for them.

This week, because there were several senior sisters who had questions about issues that have arisen in their text group about such matters, especially as the holidays are upon us, President Holmes called a special meeting with just the senior missionaries. As the meeting progressed, he made clear that while he pretty much left the work of the senior missionaries up to them, some things would seem to hamper the work. Among them was inviting the missionaries for breakfast, even on a P day, and inviting them for a meal to thank them for helping seniors move into their apartment. We looked at each other and the thought, though not expressed was, "We've done it all wrong so far..." 

President and Sister Holmes

I'm glad we said nothing because as the meeting wrapped up he expressed the concern he and others have that with so many baptisms, retention is a big problem. He expressed it in such a way that it was apparent that it weighed on his mind. Immediately, it occurred to me that Self Reliance is a valuable tool in addressing that need. On Saturday, we attended a stake conference where Bishop Gérald Caussé was the presiding authority, and the same issue arose. He invited Pres. Holmes to address the issue and he showed what the missionaries are doing with members to make retention more likely. Again, it came to me that this issue can be addressed with the Self Reliance courses and English Connect, the Church's English as a second language initiative. Those who are involved are much more likely to find friends and remain.

Bishop Caussé

Every lesson in every course ends in agreeing to keep commitments made in the course of the lesson. It also requires checking in with another member to encourage their follow through. (Enlarge to read)

Now to get the stake and ward leaders throughout the mission to buy into it.

Sundays have proven to be very busy days for us. This week we started with a Leadership Meeting session of the NYNYC YSA Stake conference. In it the high councilor, Brother Waldir Alatriste, responsible for Self Reliance gave an excellent talk about the resources found in the Life Help tab of the Gospel Library. At the end of the meeting, there were a number of break-out sessions, none of which really fit what we are doing. It turned out that none were applicable to Brother Alatriste, either, so we decided to have our own meeting. At first, he was more interested in how we met, what attracted us to each other, how we managed to stay together for 50 years, etc. Of course Olivia would talk about those things as long as anyone is interested (OK, so would I), but we did spend a good deal of time discussing the issues that concern the stake leadership and how Self Reliance could be applied to assist. We developed a great relationship with him.

That caused us to miss the sack lunches provided by the stake, so we tried to grab a quick lunch on our way to the train station to get to the next meeting. It was a Jewish restaurant. We had a delicious meal, but it put us behind and we were late to the general session.

It had scrambled eggs, 
avocado, pita bread, and
some things I'd never 
heard of, and it was yummy

We caught the train and bus and got back home in time to have a quick meal and prepare for the monthly Zoom meeting with the Self Reliance Specialists of all stakes in the Mission. We were on that call for about an hour discussing details of what concerns they were faced with and how we could be of service. Sadly, only two stakes were represented, but one participant was a counselor in the Brooklyn Stake Presidency who was responsible for this initiative. He had great insight and could immediately see the value in his stake where so many of the new members are coming in. Since then I have been corresponding with him about the needs and how they can be addressed. 

I mentioned the other stake conference with Bishop Caussé attending. It was the Woodside Stake. We attended the Leadership Session and the Adult Session. It seems that quite often we will find someone that is somehow connected. Bishop Caussé knew the family of one of Olivia's former roommates, for instance. Even closer, a young mother came up to Olivia and asked if she knew Ruth Anderson. It turns out that she is our daughter-in-law's cousin. She had been to our home in Nevada for the bridal shower 16 years ago and still remembered Olivia. She recently married and is now living with her husband and new baby in Queens.

Anna (Flores) and her husband Matthew Romney
Matthew played the organ for the conference

It's always so much fun to catch up with people with whom you have some connection; especially when you are in a place where you don't expect to know anyone. What a sweet family!

Speaking of connections, what a surprise when we got a call on Friday late afternoon. The call came from Margo Clouse. She and her husband Keith were friends from our old ward in Arizona. They were also primarily responsible for training us on our mission in Sweden. Just before we left Sweden, Keith's brother Terrill, and his wife Kari came to the mission to take our place and we were able to train them. It turned out that both couples were going to be in the City, on their way to a cruise up the coast to see the turning of the leaves. We arranged to meet them Saturday morning at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. 

Keith and Margo as they left
Sweden to return to Arizona

We carefully planned our bus and subway travel to be at their hotel an hour early, so we could walk with them to the museum. Public transportation doesn't work that way in New York on the weekend. We were informed by a long-time resident at the conference on Saturday that the subway infrastructure is pretty much from the 1930s, so repairs, which are scheduled on the weekends, take longer because they have to figure out how to make those repairs with parts that no longer exist. As a result of repairs, trains that don't run on Saturdays and bad directions from a subway helper, we ended up taking about 2 hours and got to the museum 15 minutes after our ticket specified. They let us in and we were finally able to take in some of the museum, but more especially, we were able to catch up with some very special friends.

Terrill and Kari showing the tools we
left them with for their assignment
in Sweden

Kari is barely visible at the right side. Terrilll
is far right. Welcoming a couple who came to
Sweden right after they arrived.

A Sweden blog post will remind readers of the initiation we gave them in one of the first apartments we cleaned. It involved maggots. I won't get into that here - another mission, another time.

The six of us together again.

Keith and Margo on Saturday

We understood from news media that the museum had closed due to lack of public interest. I couldn't see how that was possible. The lines to get in were huge . Many paid for private tours or walking tours with headphones. It turns out that the 9/11 Tribute Museum just down the street, is the one that closed. This one is much larger and has more displays. We need to go back as we missed much of what is on display. We will do so when family and friends come to visit. It stirred some old feelings as we watched what we had seen happen in real time on television that day. Concern, anger, a little fear, admiration of the bravery of first responders and survivors, to name a few of those feelings. One thing that surprised me was how touched I was by the display of photos of the heroic dogs that took part in the finding and rescue efforts. 

Inside the Oculus, a building near the memorial 
that is a central gathering place.

There are two pools like this one where the towers
once stood and where material was taken out.

They are surrounded by marble slabs
where the names of the victims are inscribed

We've been here only 6 weeks, but we are already amazed at the wonder this great city has to offer. From the homeless (we assume) woman who went between the cars on the subway to relieve herself, to the young man from Russia who helped us find our way on the crazy Saturday trains. The temple and the stake center in Manhattan, Central Park, and the 9/11 memorial sites. We are coming to love it. Most of all we love the special people we have met and with whom we work.

We love each of you and wish you a wonderful week. I'm sure more excitement is on its way.