May 1, 2015 - Friday

Here we go beginning a new month today.  And today was another beautiful Spring day.  We were up early again this morning ready to work out and enjoy our morning devotional.  We cleaned the jail and took a nice long walk and saw some more of the beauties of our surroundings;

This little critter followed us for half a block on his exercise route.  I was certainly more comfortable on mine!

As part of our morning walk we see these scenes around the edge of town.  The grass is so green and inviting and the warmth of the sunshine is very nice on us as we traverse the roadway early in the mornings.

Mom thinks I may have shown a picture similar to this one,  but it is such an inviting back yard! 

We had some really interesting visitors today and it is has been such a pleasure to guide them through the events associated with the Carthage jail.  On one of my tours we met Mike Carlson's neighbors.  Mike is an artist of unequal talent when it comes to cement work.  Here are some pictures that show just a small part of what he did for us back in Rigby when he poured 87 yards of concrete for our driveway and patio just a few months before we left for the Philippines;

When we found out that they were Mike's neighbors, you can see why we were excited to talk to them.  They love Mike and his family like we do!  

Well, the tour went smooth and after the tour I was talking to them about the mission and how we were getting together tonight as a cast for a weenie roast.  I don't know why I would even bring that up to anyone not associated with the missionary cast, but I did.  He wanted to clarify that I said "weenie" roast and then asked me to come to his car with him.  

Out of the back of his car he pulled out some weenie roasting sticks.  He makes these sticks and had quite a few in his car and he gave me two sets.  And now the rest of the story..... I have pestered mom all week to go out and just buy some roasting sticks, but we just did not want to spend the money.  Then along comes this wonderful couple and supplies us with just what we wanted.... and I have to ask again, does Heavenly Father know our most quiet and private wants and needs, and does He answer those needs just when we need them answered?  My answer is unquestionably, YES!  Here is a picture of those sticks;

We put them to good use tonight!  Our cast has about 54 members and we had an opportunity to have a fun social tonight right in the park at the end of Parley Street in Nauvoo.  This park is right on the edge of the Mississippi River and this is the point that the Saints began their travels west to the Great Salt Lake Valley on February 4, 1846.  Here are some "well seasoned" party animals! -

We had a great time together and I got the nod to get the hotdogs and the buns.  I was able to find our Nathans all beef dogs from the little store just across the street from our home in Carthage.  The store manager had to dig into his suppliers but he finally found them.  Everyone seems very happy with the better quality dog....

The desserts almost did mom and me in.  We have been praying hard the past three weeks to sell the food truck and Ali, Josie, Mom and I have gone without any sweets as part of our "sacrifice", to find a buyer and close the deal.  We were hoping that could have ended tonight because this dessert was soooooooo tempting!  But not really.  We need all the help we can get to secure a buyer and press forward at the deli.  Maybe tomorrow we can close the deal???

All in all, it has been a great day and we feel privileged that we can be here and feel the presence of Hyrum and Joseph and to testify that Joseph was and is the Prophet of the Restoration.

Thank you for joining us tonight!  We even had a greater bonus; we got some mail from our children back home!  We love hearing from them and from our friends, and feeling of your love for us!