Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018

It has been a great week !  We have done alot of work in our different areas and feel like we have accomplished a few things.  My focus this past week has been getting the apartments ready for the temple missionaries to go into as they will be returning this upcoming week with the temple re-opening on the 18th.  The apartments needed some wall patching and painting touch-ups done.  Jim has been working on fences....surprise !!    We have had some cold weather but no more snow.

I'm going to show you something that we did on Nov. 29.  It was the old-fashion Christmas evening in Carthage and lots of the missionaries went over to the Visitors Center and then were divided into small groups and we walked around the central square carolling.  It was interesting.  As we came back into the Visitors Center we had our picture taken along with Elder & Sister Howard from Wyoming.

As we walked along, we saw some fun things.....one was this HUGE display of toy trains.  It was pretty amazing and the kids were loving it!

These were only a couple of them....there were at least 8 to 10 running on different tables inside of the museum.  We stopped and wandered through the museum and then went on our way!!

 Our mission had put together a bunch of quilt tops (while we were at home ) and so we set up several on Thursday and got alot of them tied. President Lusvardi wants to give them away as gifts to visitors that he has come here. This shows Jim and Sis. Hall (from Cardston) working on one.  We will be doing more this week, as well.

I cut the service elders hair when they need  it (and they ask me to).  I had just finished cutting Elder Bundy's hair.  I was hoping to get a picture of him as well but that was a "no go" !

We went down into our basement and found some little Christmas trees that other missionaries had left so we brought them up and checked out the lights and they all worked!   I couldn't choose just one so we put them all up....in different corners of the room .  We are getting into the Christmas spirit!!

Last night, we attended the Fire Dept. annual Souper Supper fundraiser.  The fire chief works as the head mechanic for FM and we want to become more supportive and visible in the community.  After that, we went to the St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church for a performance of The Messiah.  It was an enjoyable evening.  The chorus was a majority of the missionaries and the conductor was also a member of the Church. The orchestra had several local members in it , as well.  There really is alot of talent here in Nauvoo

This picture shows the family of the fire chief as they approached Santa.  It was held in the fire hall.

 This shows the inside of this old, ornate Catholic church.  It sits just down the street from the temple.

Every week brings new experiences that we are grateful to have.  Our thoughts are never very far away from our family and loved ones at home but we are so grateful to be here and of service.   Have a good week knowing that you are loved.