October 22, 2015 - Thursday in Nauvoo

Mom and I were back at the Visitors Center as our site assignment today.  Interestingly, this was our first official day of being the site leaders and it was fun to be there.  However, we found out that the site leaders we are replacing are going home early because of health reasons so our training time has been considerably shortened.  We thought that we would have until the end of December to work with them, but that will not happen.  So many health problems here in the Nauvoo Mission!  Mom and I are so grateful for the good health that we currently enjoy!

Our morning workout was exceptional and we have been able to set up a great morning routine.   Also, our Scripture reading and devotional time is such a great way to start each day!  We were both enjoying this time together this morning by 5:00am.  But mom is always up around an hour earlier so I feel like I am getting up late when it is actually only 5:00am!!

After our site shift ended at 2:00pm, we came home to change clothes and have lunch.  Then we went to the facilities management offices and helped carve pumpkins for the city activity this Saturday.  We won't be involved with that Saturday activity because we work until 5:00pm and then we have Rendezvous at 7:45pm. But, we are not Halloween fans, so missing the festivities of this pagan holiday isn't going to hurt our feelings at all!  But take a look at our art work..... 

Check out that focus!

Here is Mom's, the "before", picture...

And here is mom's "after" picture!  A happy ghost!

What is this guy going to come up with?

What do you think??  Do you see that rat??  No, not Grandpa... the pumpkin rat!

I had a late meeting scheduled for the Visitors Center for an interfaith group at 7:00pm.  I went down to the Visitors Center to get everything ready, since I am one of two site leaders and one site leader has a standing appointment for bedtime, and by 7:10pm there were 6 of 30 or so who came.  So the meeting was cancelled.  Another indication that these interfaith meetings are only well attended if they are not on Latter-day Saint property.

It is really sad when there is such a feeling of opposition to the Mormon folks here in Nauvoo.  There are so many missed opportunities to became better acquainted with each other.  I have noticed that it is generally a one way street when the people around this area want something from the Mormon's if it benefits them.  If it does not benefit them, they refuse to participate.

However, I did have a wonderful experience this evening.  Elder Ramsey gave me a call and asked if I would be at the Visitors Center tonight and I was!  He wanted me to talk to some of his ward members who were planning a Stake Youth Conference for next July here in Nauvoo and Carthage.  He felt I could give them some direction on preparations for Carthage.  That was a great opportunity to assist them in their planning for next summer!  The Carthage experience is absolutely amazing and is the capstone for any  visit here to Historic Nauvoo!

We can only hope that future attempts will one day yield greater feelings.  There is some progress,l but with results like tonight, it is so obvious that we have a great deal of work to do to build relationships in the Nauvoo and Carthage communities.