We Have Seen the Future!

 It's true, we have seen, as in met, the future. The couple who will replace us in February came to Manhattan to visit their daughter's family, especially the 15 month-old grandchild. While they were in the City, they arranged to visit us in our apartment, because this will most likely be the place where they will live when they come. We will still be here for a few days after they arrive, so we'll see how that works out. Brother and Sister Hansen are from San Diego and have lived in many places during their marriage. They are very nice and will fit right in. They will serve for 23 months, so they will really get to know the area.

They are about the same age as we were when we
served our mission in Sweden.

Okay, I wanted to lead with that story, because I wanted that headline and I wanted their picture to appear when you went to the blog. We have spent some time with Sister Olive Wang, who has helped with the video devotional in Mandarin and has been our interpreter when we needed someone to help when attending the Chinese ward. We saw her last month at her stake conference and she noticed a mole on my hairline. Being a dermatologist, she asked how long I had it. I told her it has been there for at least 60 years, but Olivia told her that I have a spot on my back that she thought needed attention. She also showed her a spot on her face that has been bothering her. It turned out that mine was nothing, but hers was a nasty carcinoma that needed to be removed. On Monday, the deed was done and she is healing well.

We are glad to be rid of this pest.

Dr. Wang is obviously not a plastic
surgeon, but next week the stitches
will be removed and it will look good.

We also had a brief afternoon visit from our son, Micah, who was in town for the Emmys. His team was nominated for three, but didn't win one this time. He was able to do some good networking, so it made the trip worth it. He and his family have allowed us to stay in their home while awaiting entrance to the MTC for both of our missions. We love that family.

A nice visit while waiting to go to JFK
to catch his plane.

Halloween was a little more like Halloween, this year. Last year, we were out on Long Island at the Pumpkin Blaze, so we missed the kids and costumes. This year we stayed home. I went to get an oil change (finally), and coming home late in the afternoon, noticed that the sidewalks were packed with children in costume carrying bags for candy. Every business was competing with the other businesses to give out the best candy and the little princesses and DC comic characters were happy to take advantage of their largess. It was cuteness in the extreme. We didn't have to worry that they would knock on our door; we could never compete.

We had a very uplifting district council meeting on Wednesday. Our DL is from Nicaragua and speaks very little English. Ours is a Spanish-speaking district, so it works well for our elders, and they interpret for us as needed. He is a good leader and will be a real asset to the Church when he returns home.

Elder Pravia, our district leader. We have
been so pleased to see President Holmes
call so many leaders from among the 
missionaries who are from other countries.

Elder Pravia told of going to a deli in Rockaway and approaching a young woman about going to church. She declined and the missionaries went on. Suddenly, Elder Pravia stopped and hurriedly returned to the deli and asked the woman if she recognized him. Looking carefully, her face lit up and she remembered him. She, too, is from Nicaragua and her brother was a close friend of Elder Pravia growing up, there. The family is now receiving the missionaries.

Sunday, we attended the sacrament meetings for the Riverside Park Ward and the Lincoln Square YSA Ward. It was the day of the NYC Marathon, so there was a heavy police presence and lots of blocked off streets as we walked the six blocks from Columbus Circle to the church, which is in the same building as the temple. Coming home the street and sidewalks were packed with people. We had to beg pardon of the crowd that was hardly moving at all to get to the stairs leading to the subway, as many more had finished and friends and family were on hand to greet them.

Just across the street it was already crowded.

The runners got the wraps to avoid 
cramping as they cooled down.

Various streets were designated as
meeting places for friends and family
members of the runners.

Tata Consultancy Services is a huge
sponsor of the Marathon and supplied
the cool-down wraps for the runners.

We had to move down these stairs
to get into the subway. The crowd,
as you can see, was moving up. Once
we got down, Olivia turned to get
this shot.

This was a TV news photo. We saw several suited for bear like
this guy as we walked down the streets to and from the temple
building.

Over 50,000 runners participated this year, so you can imagine the size of the crowds. This year the record was broken and the winner finished in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 58 seconds. That means he averaged approximately 4.7 minutes per mile on a 26.2 mile run. That is a sprint in any other race.

We missed our friend Sophie in the YSA ward because she wants to run the Marathon next year, so she became affiliated with the New York Road Runners. In order to qualify, the NYRRs have to run 9 qualifying races and perform one day of service (appropriately called the NYRR 9+1 qualifier). She was required to serve at the Marathon, this year. Elder and Sister Barnes' daughter Amber, did compete. We did not see her because she was still running when we were coming home.

We were able to meet with some of our contacts in both stakes on Sunday, so we got a report of the success of the NY YSA Stake's Zoom devotional last Sunday. It sounds like a lot of people were involved and several groups were formed. We also learned that the Harlem 1st Ward, an English-speaking family, ward did their own 5th Sunday meeting with with bishopric introducing the courses and having people enroll. We have volunteered to train their facilitators.

Upon coming home, we met the Barnes in the park where they were watching their phones, and tracking the progress of their daughter in the race. We walked home with them and a few minutes later they came over to ask if we would like to come with them to the hospital in Brooklyn to visit a member of their ward. We drove over and were informed that only two people were allowed to visit, so Olivia and Sister Barnes stayed in the lobby while Elder Barnes and I went to the room and administered to this new convert. We ended up eating with them to break our fast, afterward. It was a good, full day.

Some random pictures: 

A couple of young boys doing gymnastics
on the subway. Hanging by his toes.

This little guy was exceptionally double
jointed. They got their tips.

We were finally able to have a meal with the Barnes
and the Taylors in our apartment.

We were able to get back to the Union Square Employment Center this week, where Sister 
Yamada met with a candidate from the Bronx.
Sister Taylor and Sister Chivers also helped.

Elder Taylor and I trying to figure out the printer.

The work session.

We have prayed for success on this mission and it has seemed slow in coming. I guess that is usually how life works. I have to ask myself, from time to time, "When was the last time you accomplished anything worthwhile that was easy?" We are starting to see some of the fruits of our labors, and we are certainly grateful. We are grateful for blessings too numerous to count, and for which we find ourselves taking for granted. We try to avoid that, because we know that we are truly, deeply blessed. We hope your days and weeks are blessed, as well.