March 27, 2015 - Friday

We have all of our move completed and everything is put away in our new home, so it was back to work today.  We were ready this morning for our neighborhood walk around Carthage and the Town Square.  I have not yet measured the distance of our morning walk but will do that in the next few days.  It was a cold morning that the temperature was at 29 degrees. I even think we saw a snowflake or two as we made our way around.  The town of Carthage is really poor and many areas are run down.  The sidewalks are crumbling and, in many areas, the weeds have literally taken over the sidewalks.  It is interesting to note that this little city has not really prospered since the Martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  The people are very cool toward the Church members but we hope to get involved in the community and hopefully help soften some hearts here.  I took some pictures on the walk this morning as follows;

This property was donated to the Church many years ago by the Bushnell Family.  They were not members of the Church and tried to donate the property to another church if they would restore it.  That church indicated that they would only accept the donation if they could sell the property for the money.  A son of this family who had joined the LDS Church suggested his dad try asking the "Mormon" Church if they would accept the donation in his terms.  They were happy to and restored this beautiful home into a five apartment complex for missionaries serving in Carthage.  

This is one block of the Town Square.  The sidewalks are in fairly good shape here in the Town Square but are showing age and lack of upkeep.

That building on the corner has all the windows broken and the orange barricade seems to be an old fix to making people walk around the aging structure.  Most of the spaces are "for rent".

The sunrise was beautiful this morning with the golden rays just showing up on the horizon.  This picture did not do it justice!

Our day at the Carthage Visitor's Center began at 9:30am with a devotional with the couple we were serving with, Elder and Sister Orme.  Elder Orme is the mission veterinarian.  

We opened at 10:00am and we stayed busy all day long.  We had another family from Norway in attendance today.  They were in the United States traveling to Salt Lake City for General Conference.  They flew into New York last Sunday after an 8 hour flight from Norway and they have spent the last 48 hours driving to and visiting the different Church history sites on their way to Salt Lake.  

Below:  This is the lobby of the Carthage Visitor's Center.  Those are paintings of Joseph and Hyrum and the bust of Jesus by Dee Jay Bowden is right in front of them.  Interestingly, the bust of Jesus has a Scripture placed on it; D&C 88:67-68.  Check it out!  The theater is through that door on the left, and a history room of the Church beginnings is to the opening on the right.

I also gave a tour to a man in his early 30's who has driven by Carthage many times but never took the time to stop.  It sounded like some of our customers at the deli!  Well, he stopped and we had a wonderful discussion and he told me he had a friend who was going to General Conference.  I told him to make sure he called her when she got back and ask her what she learned.  I also gave him a pass-along card on #BecauseHeLives effort the Church is initiating March 28, 2015, and continuing through Christmas 2015.  Check it out!  (#BecauseHeLives and HeLives.mormon.org) 

We had our Rendezvous Play tonight and we are remembering our parts a little better each time.  It is kind of a rush when you see some improvement!  Have a great evening!