Sunday July 29, 2018

To say that this week has been normal would be an understatement!   I would like to experience a "normal" week.....haha!  As a continuation from last post,  Elder Paxman did not convert his heart rhythm in Fort Madison so they transfered him to Burlington Iowa....Great River Medical Center  Cardiac Unit on Monday afternoon.  They continued the medication that was used in Fort Madison but were much more aggressive and knowledgable and by midnight he was back into normal rhythm without having to have a cardioversion procedure.  We were very grateful for that tender mercy.  Of course, we waited until about noon on Tuesday to bring him home.  They did an ultrasound of his heart (forget the name of the procedure) as well as the echocardiogram.  We are scheduled to meet with the cardiologist this week for a consultation and evaluation.  We are so grateful for everyone's concern and felt the prayers of faith that were offered on his behalf.  We will keep you updated on his progress.While in the two hospitals, we had four opportunities to talk with people who asked us what we were doing in Nauvoo and why we were there.  We invited all of them to come over and see the Pagaents and experience the great spirit of Nauvoo for themselves.

On Friday evening we went with our district to serve a supper for the underpriveleged in Fort Madison.  It is a very old community with alot of beautiful old houses.  This house belongs to the person that is over Sister Paxman in the painting department of FM.....Jared Willeard.  It is at least a 100 years old and he has done ALOT of work on it.  Sitting on the right side of me is Sister Pollock (from southern Utah) who has worked with me in painting  but is now doing grounds and will come in to help with the painting when we have big projects and deadlines.   On my left is Sis. Schmitt (Idaho) who, along with her companion are our district leaders.   The husbands were taking the pictures.

     Tonight we had our district meeting at a place built at the end of the road along the Mississippi River.  It is a log house built in a circle with big trees as the log supports for the upper loft.  The couple that built it are so interesting !   Irene & Tomasi Tukuafu.  We brought the food and shared it with them in their house and they entertained us after.   She is a convert to the church and met her husband in Hawaii at the Church college (as it was called then)   He is from Tonga and they have been everywhere.  They have 14 children and have tried to raise them in the traditional Polynesian style.  He taught high school at the Liahona school in Tonga.   He even attended pre-med school in Edmonton but they couldn't take the winters...haha.  As you can see (from the top pic)  he sat on a stool with his back to the tree and harmonized with anything that she played.  They both sang everything.  She played the harp, the dulcima, bass recorder and another instrument that I can't remember.  She had me play one and it was alot of fun !!   They ended their impromptu entertainment with "Till We Meet Again...Aloha oe"  and it warmed my heart.  I heard mom and dad sing this alot.  The second picture shows Elder & Sis. Pollock and Elder Naef (suspenders) .  They are part of our district.   We have learned to love and share experiences with these good people. 
    We attended our mission training meeting on Thursday and were shown the second part of the mission presidents training meeting.  We saw the first talk two weeks ago.  It was a talk by Pres. Dallin H. Oakes about the Prophet Joseph Smith.  I gained so much insight into him.....although he was formally uneducated, Pres. Oakes talked to us about how brillant and astute he was with matters of the Lord AND the law of the land.   This week, we saw Elder & Sis. Holland share their thoughts and feelings about the Book of Mormon.  He made this statement: " I fear however much we revere this record as the keystone of our Restoration, we have not revered it enough."  It made me evaluate myself and my feelings for this sacred book.  There is a power in it that will guide each of us on our paths.  Sister Holland told how she loved this book and said: ".. that all investigators of truth should at least read the Title page and contemplate the statements there.  The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion because it is the most extended and definitive witness we have of the Lord, Jesus Christ."  I agree with and can add my testimony to these statements.
      Have a great week ahead and know that we think of each of you on a daily basis but are loving our time here in Nauvoo.  There really is no other place/mission like it anywhere.