Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019

Snow, snow and more snow!!

  That is about what has happened this week.  We received  13 inches last weekend and Friday night, we received another six while today we have gotten another inch or two.   It took most of last weekend to dig out and clear the roads..but there is ALOT of ice under foot and that has caused many problems.  On Monday, there were 4 people who took spills on the ice within the FM compound....Jim being one.  He was hurting but otherwise is fine.  He made a trip to chiropractor...Dr. Dave and was helped alot.  Lon Simpson (head woodshop carpenter) fell hard on his artifical hip and was out of work for a day.  The other two were also carpenters and they were like Jim.   Elder Tom Hall fell on Sat. while he was operating snow plow equipment ....he is from Cardston and they received their call to Nauvoo the same time that we did but were able to come in December because they did not need to get a visa as they are both dual citizens.  They, originally, were called for the 12 months but had decided to extend their mission till June.  Anyway, he experienced a great deal of pain from his fall and finally, on Monday, they went into emergency at the Fort Madison hospital.  After some tests, the doctor determined that there was a large mass on one of his kidneys that was likely cancerous so they sent him immediately to Burlington for further tests.  The doctor said that it was likely divine intervention because it may not have manifested itself for awhile longer.  In Burlinton, they decided to send them to Iowa City for more extensive testing and found that it was cancerous and had actually spread to his bone and there was some indication that there was a spot on his lung.  It was determined that they would head home immediately and "fight the battle" on home ground.  It was a real shock and our hearts and prayers are with them.   Their son, Jeff, from Bismark, North Dakota drove down with his truck and helped them get packed and on the road.  This picture shows them receiving their flag from Jordan on Thursday before they headed off.  We will miss them tremendously.  Elder Hall ran the mechanic shop and took care of the fleet vehicles.  I'm not sure who will take his place.  Sister Hall worked in Conservation, which is the area that takes care of the historic sites as well as working in the sewing room.   There were many tears and hugs all around.

 Yesterday, was Bald Eagle Days in Keokuk, Iowa.  This is where we go to get our groceries.  It is a 15 minute drive south along the Mississippi River and then across a bridge which takes you into Iowa.  It is a big event in this little place!!  They have all kinds of displays and seminars set up in an indoor mall that is virtually empty...only a movie theater and Dollar General occupants.  Nauvoo on the Road set up a display.  We were not needed to man that display but we went and visited and saw the other displays.   The movie theater had a seminar about the Bald Eagle.  It was really interesting and I learned alot.  They then had a live Eagle to see as well as a Barn Owl and a Ptarmigan Falcon.  These were from a place near St. Louis Missouri that reminded me of the Bird of Prey center in Coaldale.  They take injured birds and doctor them and release them back into the wild, if possible.  The ones that cannot be released because their injuries would prevent them from being able to survive are kept there and they use them to display and educate people about them. 

This owl is named Pearl and I learned that owls have exceptional hearing.   They hear their prey (mice and rats) moving and that they are silent flyers.  That is how they can catch them.  You cannot hear them flap their wings.....interesting.

The Ptarmigan Falcon reaches speeds of 320 mph as it dives for its prey.

Finally, the Bald Eagle uses the Mississippi River corridor for its migration .  They will return to the same nest year after year and build it up....some of the nests are 6 feet by 9 feet.  The one that Jim is standing beside is not that big...it is a wee little one.

They are interesting and will live between 20 and 30 years.  The one that they had with them had his wing broken as a youngster and it has healed but doesn't function so he has remained with them ever since.  His name is Patriot.   The Bald Eagle is the national symbol for the United States.

I told you about my change of assignment last week and my first house to help get cleaned out and ready was the Halls.  My heart ached for them as they truly had to leave some things behind in the hurry to get packed and back home to Canada.  They had been in contact with their family doctor in Cardston and he had set up an appointment for them with a specialist this next week.  They had to stop and get all of the test results from the different hospitals to take with them.  It reminded me of the early Saints and their departure from this place and the heartache that accompanied that.  This experience of serving in Nauvoo has broadened my understanding and perspective of those who lived here and left a part of their heart here when they left.  You can feel the sacredness of that sacrifice on our behalf....those who follow.

Hope this finds all of you well and happy....we feel like we are suppose to be here and are finding satisfaction in our daily endeavors.  We love you....have a good week!