April 19, 2015 - Sunday

Oh, what a much needed day of rest!  We were the official drivers for the "Carthage gang" this morning.  We drove the Shepherds and the Skidmores to our Sunday meetings this morning at the Stake Center in Nauvoo.  The meetings begin at 8:00am and we got there at 7:45am.  The attendance is building with about 45 new senior missionary couples joining the mission.

We had another couple speak in the Sacrament meeting who will be leaving the mission in two weeks, the Thurston's.  They are in our cast for Rendezvous and we have enjoyed getting to know them.  We all have our set time releases, and it is important to make the most of each day and do our best to serve our missions to the fullest.  Isn't that what we need to do wherever we are?

Here is a little definition of what it is like to serve here in the Nauvoo Mission;  One of the new senior sister missionaries made this observation this morning; "We compare ourselves to our prized pet kitty cat who has just delivered her eight precious baby kittens.  They are so dependent and will not yet opened their eyes for several days..... and that is the missionary beginning of life here - during the first days, we are assigned to teach Priesthood or Relief Society, or Sunday School.  And we are given an "audition" on where we would best 'fit' in to the Rendezvous Play, and we are assigned to work historic sites and begin to teach the histories behind each experience, all before our eyes are even opened!"

So here we are!  The afternoon was a day off for us.  We got home from our morning meetings about 11:45am this morning, and spent the rest of the day, well, resting!  I must have gotten in three or so naps and it was so refreshing!  We will be back in full swing tomorrow for sure!

In our Sunday School lesson today we read Matthew 15:22-29.  The women was not acknowledged right away by the Savior, and perhaps the comment about "the dogs" could have been offensive to her, but her reaction is exactly the formula for success for all of us;

22      And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23     But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24      But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25     Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26     But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

27     And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

28    Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

29   And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

As we have read here, she would be satisfied with the "crumbs"....  Perhaps his delay in responding allowed her to gain the faith she needed for the "healing miracle".... for her faith was increased and His praise was worthy of that healing!  What a great lesson for me!

Our afternoon of rest was blended with study of the life of Joseph Smith.  I am currently reading the book, "Murder of the Mormon Prophet", by LeGrand L.Baker.  It discusses, in detail, the political prelude to the death of Joseph and the individuals that were part of the murderous conspiracy.  This will be my 4th book in two months in the mission field to learn more about the happenings here in Nauvoo and Carthage from 1839 to 1846.  It gets me to bed late, but it makes for fascinating study!

Thank you for joining the blog tonight!