January 9, 2016 - Saturday in Nauvoo

Burrrr, it was cold today!  A few snow flakes with a lot of wind brought the temperatures down to the teens.  And, as we got home from Rendezvous, it was 9 degrees.  The temperature should stay positive throughout the night but this is the coldest it has been this year!

Our morning started off with our prayers and devotional.  Then we went to the stake center for our cleaning assignment.  The assignment for our zone is for the entire moth of January.  However, half the zone forgot, so the cleaning took a little longer than last week!

We served in the Visitors Center today and we had a few guests come in.  One family in particular came to experience Nauvoo and wanted to take the noon wagon ride... It was 11 degrees at noon today!  But they came prepared for the cold and they had their 5 year old son, Riley, who was experiencing Nauvoo for the first time.  Riley reminded me of our two 5 year old grandchildren, Landon and Emma.  It was fun to show him around and he was so naturally curious.  

In the course of conversation with his grandmother, Riley shares his custody with his mom and his dad who brought him here today.  His dad did not have him for Christmas and this was their Christmas gift trip for Riley.  They live in St. Louis, so hopefully they will be back this summer.  Here is a picture;

Riley's first visit to Nauvoo with "his" missionary

Riley lives with his mom half the time and with his day the other half.  His mother has separated herself from the Church and Riley only attends when he is with his dad.  I can't imagine how his dad must feel about that.  But his dad was so positive and upbeat and happy to be here in Nauvoo.  I was grateful to show special attention to Riley and then find out about this challenging arrangement.

 

He had about 20 minutes before his wagon ride so I got the show him some displays and two 1 minute movies on sharing.  (Ask me about the "cupcake boys" and the "cupcake girls" when you come to Nauvoo).  Then his dad wanted to take a picture of us and as we were posing for the picture I asked Riley if he wanted to be a missionary.  He looked up at me and said, yes!.... I want to be a missionary just like you!  It made my day.  They later came for Rendezvous, and that was another treat for me because I got to be the Editor and he was sitting wide eyed on the front row!

Elder LeeMaster and Sister Swenson

Elder LeeMaster had the spiritual thought tonight in our Rendezvous Cast, and got really emotional.  He had the closest person, Sister Swenson, read the thought that he had prepared.  His grandson was traveling through Nauvoo, to his temple marriage and sealing in Utah, and stopped to see his grandma and grandpa.  This was the emotional part, this is his first grandchild getting married and all seven of his children came from all over to support this grandson getting married.  

It was a grand reunion without grandpa and grandma.  Then he said this;   "this has been a very hard day." "And as hard as it was to not be there for my grandson's marriage in the temple with all our family, I am so grateful to be here with such wonderful missionaries."  "If  we had not come on this mission, we would not have had the privilege of meeting you and knowing you and serving with you".  Allergies flared up all over the room when he said that...

And the interesting part... was that we ALL felt that same way!  Going though a family centered holiday, or a family centered event, away from family is very hard, but the people you meet as a result of that sacrifice is absolutely priceless.  The experience of doing this really cannot be explained.... it can only be experienced.