Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018

Jim's week....as promised !
  

Jim is a outdoor carpenter....which means, that he has responsibility for all of the fences (picket and split-rail) as well as picnic tables and benches.  I might add that there are literally miles of picket fence in Nauvoo so, needless to say, he sometimes dreams of picket fences...haha!   Anything that touches the ground here will rot in a few years because of the high humidity.  Therefore, repairing picket fence is an on-going project.  They have picket fence surrounds around all of the garbages and air-conditioning / gas units for each home for protection from the racoons, as well as picket surrounds around the hundreds of trees that need protection from the deer.  Here is a couple of pictures of Jim working on the fence at the Sarah Granger Kimball home (in the background) with his service elder --Elder Hixson from Oaklahoma

This bottom picture gives you an idea of the length of picket fence that they replaced....and that is only one side !!
     Next, I am going to try to explain the organization of our mission.  Of course, our mission president is Mark Lusvardi and he is responsible for all of us missionaries which includes:  senior missionaries whose assignments vary from site, FM, and teamsters, young single sister missionaries, senior single sister missionaries, Young Performing missionaries (from May - Aug.).  You can see that he probably has the most diverse set of missionaries in the Church.   Along with that, comes the challenges.  His main focus lately has been to erase the classification divisions that arise between site and FM missionaries and we feel that he is accomplishing it.  We, as FM missionaries, are now assigned a one day / week rotation in the sites.  Jim has served in the Browning Gun shop, the brickyard (3 times) and the Family Living Center.  I have served in the Family Living Center (3 times) and the Wilford Woodruff home.  We really enjoy theses days, as well.  It stretches us to learn new skills but it is really fun to meet and greet people.  Our FM group does not get supplemented by the site missionaries when we are assigned to sites so it causes some frustration on the work schedule.  In my case, the work just adjusts because there is more that one of us but in Jim's case, his project stops for the day and he has to make arrangements for Elder Hixson to be kept busy.  I'm sure that these "bugs" will be worked out in time.  Part of the problem is that so many senior missionaries are leaving without replacements coming back in.  By the end of September, we will have 20 couples gone and another 14 leave in October making a total of 34 couples!!  This really affects the site missionaries!!  So.....anyone thinking about serving a mission....APPLY!!   They are so forgiving and accomodating of all and any abilities.  We will lose 2 heavy equipment operators in Oct. and will really miss them! This next picture shows the  FM management team:

The middle picture is our FM manager:  Jordan Bodily.  He is employed by the Church to manage all of the Nauvoo Restoration operations and maintance.  It is a HUGE resposibility!  He really is a positive and supportive "boss" who we have come to appreciate alot.  He lives close to the FM compound with his wife and 5 little ones.

Left: is Marcus Allen.  He is the assistant manager (also employed by the Church).  Jim reports directly to him since he doesn't have a "boss"  I report to Jared Willyerd (head painter) who is under Marcus.  Besides these departments, he is responsible and has employees that direct: plumbing, electrical, cabinet/capentry, HVAC systems, welding & auto mechanics.  FM missionaries work in each of these areas depending on their skills and report to the employed department heads.  It is really an amazing  and diverse department !   Marcus and his father did the windows for the Nauvoo Temple.  There was an article in the Ensign this past Jan. or Feb.  about it.  He has had a sad thing in his family this summer....his wife committed suicide and left him with 2 married children and 1 single daughter. Apparently, she has struggled for several years. We attended the funeral and have tried to lighten his burden We haven't seen him much but our hearts and prayers are with him.  We have watched a video series by Elder Dale G. Renlund that talks about suicide and it was really helpful.  I would recommend it !.   Jordan is a councillor in the local ward bishopric here and has "had Marcus' back" for the past few weeks. 

Right: is Richard Hancock.  He is the assistant manager over the grounds which is a big area by itself.  He has employees under him that are responsible for : trees, mowing, planting pots (over a thousand) watering, etc.   He does all of the landscaping for the temple, Carthage and he does alot for the town.  The thousands of planter/pots are all throughout the town!  He is responsible for the upkeep of the mowers and cultivating equipment and tree- trimming trucks and stump- grinding equipment.  They have 3 big greenhouses that they keep plants going in all winter, as well.  We have great respect for the missionaries that serve in this area!   They are out in the hot, humid weather no matter what !  He has a wife and young children and serves on the Nauvoo Stake high council.

Hopefully, you can understand that although we are under Pres. Lusvardi, we report to our FM management on a daily basis and have come to love and admire them all.  We meet every morning at 7:00 am for our prayer meeting and co-orelation and then go our separate ways to accomplish much!!   We love serving here and feel that the Lord knew exactly where we could do the most good.

Have a great week....we love you all !