October 20, 2015 - Tuesday in Nauvoo

Today is mom's 43rd anniversary of joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She was in college at the University of Missouri when she made the commitment.  It has been quite a life changing experience for her and has yielded four wonderful children and 4 amazing spouses and 19 precious grandchildren, all living with the sweet influence of the Gospel!!!  Happy Anniversary Granny!

We woke up to much warmer temperatures this morning.  We were seeing the low 60's on the outdoor thermometer and our walk was great under these conditions.  However, as the morning continued, we had a lot of the "corn bugs", that look just like lady bugs, covering our house and the sites we were serving in.  Our little home is somewhat protected with a good dose of Permetherine.  This is the same insect control we used in the Philippines and it seems to at least keep the insects at bay.  

Mom served a full day shift at the Scovil Bakery, and I served a split shift at the Tinsmith, and it was a shared site with the Boot Shop.  The Boot shop was the site pretty much infested by these corn bugs.  Mom and I are scheduled at the Boot Shop all day Friday, but I think we will protest working there until it gets sprayed for these critters!

Lucius Scovil uses China plates like this one as tracts for his mission.

It was literally raining leaves when I snapped this picture in front of the Tin-shop!

 It was a very quiet day for me while serving in the Tin-shop, and also covering the Boot shop, about a block away.  There were only 3 tours at the Stoddard Tin shop and one tour at the Riser Boot shop.  I worked a split shift and got to go home for two hours for lunch and a nice nap!

I am always impressed with many of the visitors we have coming to Nauvoo.  They all seemed to be drawn here and there are so many who can't quite understand why.  They are quick to tell me they have their own religion and don't need any more religion, (sound familiar), but they love the feeling and the work ethic of the Nauvoo Saints, and the Mormon people in general.  

You can imagine what a sweet experience it is when some of them are able to connect the dots and see that the force that draws them here is really the Holy Ghost, and that there is more for them to learn about the purpose of life.  Now that gets so exciting when we can share experiences and testimonies at that point.  And not all folks beg to be baptized at that point, but we know that seeds are being planted and that the nurturing of those seeds will continue to be cultivated as they go to other sites or as they meet other members of the Church.  

How sweet it is to be involved in this great work!  Imagine if we decided not to go on this mission??  I would just be getting in the way at the deli and walking around my cement driveway marveling at the fine work that Mike did for us!  As much as we miss the grandchildren and our family members, this is one of the best decisions we have ever made!

October 19, 2015 - Monday in Nauvoo

Mom was up and going early this morning and I was up, after her, at 5:00am to begin my day.  We had our morning prayers and devotional and a few stretching exercises before we headed out for our 3.5 mile walk.  The morning temperature was warmer today than yesterday, and was in the low 50's, so an extra jacket was not necessary.  We were back home at about 7:15am and I finished up some exercises while mom got ready for the day.

We had the early shift at the Visitor's center and that began at 8:45am and we were off at 2:00pm.  It really is a great shift and we had some steady visitors this morning.  Our main focus is to welcome the guests and help them organize their visit to Nauvoo.  We have maps of the area, movies to see, and general welcoming questions to ask, so that we can better help them to make the most of their visit to Nauvoo and Carthage.

Here is a breakthrough photo of a senior missionary who had just completed her first phone call transfer;

The phone lady

It is a tremendously daring undertaking to attempt to transfer a phone call from one extension to another here in the Nauvoo Visitors Center.  The possibilities for losing that call are magnified by the fear of hitting the wrong buttons.  In this case, there was no immediate follow-up phone call indicating a lost connection, so we made the executive decision that the transfer of that call was successful....

We are doing a lot of walking back here in the Nauvoo flats.  From March 2015 through August 2015, we complied over 7,000 miles on our vehicle.  From the first of September 2015 to the present, we have totaled less that 200 miles.  The weather has been favorable so we are enjoying the morning and afternoon walks around the lower flats of Nauvoo.

Our shift ended at 2:00pm and we took a stroll home along Partridge Street and enjoyed a nice afternoon in our little home away from home.  We marvel at the wonderful people we are meeting each day as we serve here.  There are more guests coming to Nauvoo in the "off" season, when the crowds are quite small, and we get to talk more about who they are and what their lives involve.  I am enjoying this opportunity in the visitors center to help folks get the most out of their visits here and mom has been great at offering Books of Mormon to those who have any sparks of interest. 

It has been a good day!  Our Family Home Evening consisted of listening to conference talks fro our last conference.  What a great blessing it is to be led by inspired Prophets and Apostles!  We are grateful to be serving a full time senior mission and we are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family and friends!

October 18, 2015 - Sunday in Nauvoo

Another day here in the Nauvoo paradise!  It was stake conference weekend so we had a later Sunday meeting this morning.  We could not attend the Saturday evening session of stake conference, last night, since we had Rendezvous that took priority.  So our only meeting we could attend was the 10:00am to 12:00noon general session of stake conference today.  The only challenge was we needed to be at work at the Cultural Hall for our site assignment that began at 12:15pm.  Such is the rigorous schedule of the senior missionaries here in Nauvoo!  What was interesting was that the theme was encouraging more senior missionaries to serve missions, and keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.... 

A beautiful Fall morning walk to Stake Conference

Arriving at our site assignment with one minute to spare!

And, today was Mackenzie's 2nd birthday!   Happy birthday Kenzie!  We were able to talk to her and sing her happy birthday and all we could think about was giving her a big hug... of course we think about those hugs for all the grandchildren everyday!

We had 7 visitors today who came to the Cultural Hall.  One couple came in from Washington State to see the dance floor on the third floor of this building where Emma and Joseph danced.  This is an interesting story... The Cultural Hall was build in the 1840's and used for plays, meetings, offices, Masonic ceremonies, funerals, and even wagon assembly when the Saints had to leave in February 1846.  

When the Cultural Hall was sold after the Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo, it sold at auction for $4.87.  The third story was ultimately taken off the building when it became unstable during years of non use.  Then, when the building committee began the restoration process in the 1960's, it was discovered that in the ceiling of the second floor was the old dance floor, under the roof added during the elimination of the third story, back in the 1840's.  That meant that the prophets and apostles and many of the Saints, had walked and talked and danced on this discovered floor!

Well, this couple had an even more tender reason for their visit here.  Their daughter had been to Nauvoo several years ago and had attended a dance in that upper room.  She passed away suddenly two years ago and they came here as part of a self guided history tour to see this floor.  I took pictures of them dancing, perhaps close to where their daughter may have danced.  It was a tender moment in many respects.

At stake conference I had some impressions about how strong the adversary is in our lives.  One of the speakers was addressing this subject when the thought came to me that he, the adversary, knows our weaknesses and our strengths.  He puts thoughts into our minds but doesn't know our thoughts, just our responses.  The adversary works to tear down our strengths and build up our weaknesses and we must be on guard at all times to keep this powerful force at bay.  

That means to me that we need to be praying and reading our Scriptures and following the Prophets to help us stay strong.  Reviewing conference sessions is one way that helps me to stay focused and true to the faith.  I have printed out the conference itinerary from the LDS website and have been listening to the talks again and then checking them off my itinerary list.  My goal is to get through the conference sessions twice before the Ensign comes out in November... 

Have a great evening and thank you for checking in with us!

October 17, 2015 - Saturday in Nauvoo

Now this morning was a cold morning!  It was a two hoodie walk!  After getting up at 5:00am and having our morning prayers and our devotional, and our 20 minute workout, we tested the morning air.  It was so invigorating and gave a whole new definition to "cold sweat"!  We walked our 3.5 miles and came home to a warm house.  Life is good!

Our site assignment was at the Nauvoo Visitors Center and we were the opening crew.  We had a good rush of guests between 9:00am, our opening time, and 11:00am.  Probably over 100 people came in for movies or wagon ride tickets or Rendezvous tickets.  The time goes by so much faster when we are busy!

Mom and I were off from our shift at 2:00pm and we walked home and had lunch together before I indulged in a wonderful nap.  We had Rendezvous tonight and there were two shows.  The first show at 7:00pm was almost full so that means about 20 did not show up who had made reservations.  The second show had about 35 in attendance and this was my night as the Editor.  

I am intrigued  by the fact that I practice so hard every day on my lines and I know that I know them... Then as I am delivering those lines, a word or phrase pops into my mind that I had never ever thought of before.  And I even once had a brain freeze tonight on two back-to-back lines..... Ahaaaa memories!

Our retiring director Sister Curtis and her husband on their last night here.

The final performance of the Rendezvous Play for our director, Sister Curtis, was held with our Emma Hale cast as her final show.  They head back home to California after having completed their mission.  Here is a snapshot of the "king" and "queen" tiaras" and the farewell cake we had for them.  However, mom and I did not have any of the cake and ice cream!  It's our treat fast and we are sticking with it!

This was a fun day and it is late.  Tomorrow is Stake Conference so the first meeting is at 10:00am.  Thank you for checking in with us tonight!  We so appreciate your notes of encouragements and love!

October 16, 2015 - Friday in Nauvoo

We have so enjoyed the beautiful Fall days here in Nauvoo.  This morning we started off on our walk with temperatures in the low 40's.  Since there was no wind, the walk was brisk and wonderful.  We covered the 3.5 miles in just over one hour and our day was off to a great start.  And, as we preceded our walk with our morning devotional and prayers, we were well prepared for the days events.

Mom and I served in the George Riser Cheap Boot and Shoe Shop.  George Riser was a convert to the Church. He apprenticed as a shoe maker for over 3 years beginning around his 18th birthday, and owned his own shoe shop by the time he was 22.  He had his first, very successful, shoe shop in Ohio when one of his employees talked to him about the Mormon Church.  He was so curious about the Mormon Church and Joseph Smith that he loaded his wife Christiana, and their 9 month old son Jacob, in their wagon and rode over 600 miles to meet Joseph Smith, in Nauvoo, and learn more about the Church, and the restored Gospel.

After being taught about the principles of the Gospel, but before he committed to baptism, his young son became very sick and was expected to die.  George sought out Joseph and he and Orson Hyde gave young Jacob a Priesthood blessing.  Young Jacob recovered immediately and that convinced George and Christiana to join the Church.  They were soon baptized in the icy waters of the Mississippi River in mid December 1842.   Their realization of the truthfulness of the Gospel required that they be baptized immediately and not wait for warmer weather!

The first part of the day found mom immersed in one of her favorite pastimes whenever she has the rare chance... take a look;

1000 pieces of pure concentration!

Mom even let me put in the final 10 pieces of this puzzle!  That is about the extent of my concentration!  It was about this time that I was able to get my first nap...  (talk about concentration!)  The boot shop was pretty quiet for part of the day and then we started getting some great visitors and we were able to trade off and tell the George C. Riser story.

Our first visitors of the day were some special people.  We met the 4th and 5th great granddaughters of George and Christiana Riser.  They were here for the tour and visit to Nauvoo from Utah.  That is always pretty special to meet direct descendants of the people who lived here during the Nauvoo years.  Especially those who stayed true to the Church!  

Among the wonderful visitors today we had part of the Durrant family come in.  George Durrant is Susan Easton Black Durrant's husband.  And she is a researcher of extensive Church history.  Brother Durrant is the father of Devin Durrant who made the word "ponderize" a very familiar name!  He is such a kind man and our family has embraced the inspired idea of ponderizing Scriptures.  I was able to tell him that we fully supported his son's message!  Here is their picture -

George Durrant and two of his daughters and family

Isn't it a small world we live in?  The family members were very kind and complimentary of the missionaries here in Nauvoo.  Brother Durrant even mentions that he had seen our picture in the missionary phots and was "hoping to meet the Lasher's".  I felt like he was being sincere in his comment and it sure made mom and I feel special!

About 4:30pm this afternoon, we had not had a visitor for about an hour.  To pass the final 30 minutes of our service I rehearsed the Editor part and got it pretty close.  I was encouraged by this extra effort because right before we left for our site assignment this morning, I got it word perfect for the first time!

October 15, 2015 - Thursday in Nauvoo

It was about this time in October, 2014, when Helen and I read this from President Hinckley's book, "Stand a Little Taller".  We were really struggling with justifying that we could financially afford to serve a full time mission.  We had not yet submitted our wills to Heavenly Father's will, so you may understand the struggle we were facing!

"Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things'

Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy

God in righteousness, even that of a 

broken heart and a contrite spirit".

- Doctrine and Covenants 59:7-8

President Hinckley elaborated; "Before you make a decision against a mission, count your blessings, my dear friend.  Think of all the great and marvelous blessings you have.  Are they not all gifts from a generous Heavenly Father?  Out of a spirit of appreciation and gratitude, and a sense of duty, you ought to make whatever adjustment is necessary to give a little of your time, consecrating your strength, your means, your talents to the work of sharing with others the gospel, which is the source of so much of the good you have".

Right there is the reason we pressed forward.  And, because of the love and support, and encouragement, and support, (did I mention support), of our entire family and many friends, and the hard work of those running the deli, and shopping at the deli, we are here a year later full of gratitude for the privilege we have of being in Nauvoo serving this mission.  {especially after hearing that Laoag is in line for a hit from the typhoon and up to 50 inches of rain}....So, THANK YOU!

My day started real early at 6:00am this morning.  I helped prepare breakfast for our facilities management group of about 40 people.  There are about 6 or 7 full time paid employees and the rest full time missionaries who serve in the FM department.  They work hard to keep the facilities in the best shape possible and this was a good way for me to help thank them for their service.

Then, I had a meeting at 8:00am with our Public Relations committee concerning the missionary Thanksgiving dinner that mom and I are in charge of.  We laid out the plans to reach out to the Bishops and Branch Presidents in the Nauvoo Stake to help them in their missionary work.  The purpose of the dinner is to have each ward or branch identify less active families, new convert families, and families investigating the Church. And, under the direction of the local leaders, have the ecclesiastical units bring them to Nauvoo and enjoy a day of wagon rides, Nauvoo movies and site visits along with a full Thanksgiving dinner.  The Public Relations members will work with the wards and branches and come up with a list of people who commit to attend by November 7th.  The activity will then take place November 21st.  Here we go!

Our site assignment today was at the Visitors Center.  We had the 1:00pm to 6:00pm shift.  We were also asked to be the site leaders today by the presidency.  The current site leaders have been in this position for most of their mission.  They leave in December and wanted to get out into other sites before they leave.  

We are meeting so many people from all over the world while we serve here.  Mom and I marvel at all the wonderful people we meet at these different sites both members and non members alike.  Such precious people searching for more truth and good in their lives!

And, of course, our morning walk was short because of the meetings this morning, but how about these pictures?

The tree across the street from our apartment

Amazing clouds this morning over the temple

And more amazing clouds!

We have had a great day, but what a long day!  I think I might join my in going to bed early tonight!  Thank you for checking in with us tonight and for your part in making our mission possible!

October 14, 2015 - Wednesday in Nauvoo

We had a busy and fun day, today.  We were up at 5:00am for some exercise before the weekly training meeting.  We didn't have time for our long walk, but it would have been a great morning for that.  Instead we got to our training meeting at 7:15am and then to the temple for the 9:00am temple session.  Then, after the temple we drove to Quincy and did our monthly shopping visit to Sam's.  But this time it has been over 6 weeks since we were able to come down.  Then, we stopped in Carthage for my haircut and got back to Nauvoo by 3:30pm.  Plenty of time for a nap!

Our Rendezvous Play was booked for two full performances tonight so we got home at around 9:30pm.  This was a long day but what a change of pace for sure!  There was not much to report today since we spent most of our day traveling and sitting in meetings or in the temple session, but it was a wonderful day and we are ready for our site assignments tomorrow at the Visitors Center!