Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019

Our computer did a Windows update this week and I have been unable to access my printer and my phone from it now.....sooooo.....that means that there will be no pictures until I get some help figuring it out.  Hopefully that will happen tomorrow when I talk to the "tech" guy at FM (Barant)   

I can still give you a run-down of our week.   Monday...I usually do an inspection of the service elder's apartment but since we had moved them out of their house into a smaller place on Friday, they begged off because they hadn't had enough time to get settled.  I did tell them that I would be in on Thursday irregardless so when Thursday came and they again tried to beg off, I just smiled and said, "We'll see"  I waited until I knew that they would be all home soon and I took Elder Paxman with me and we spent an hour helping them organize and get things in shape.  They get easily overwhelmed with things and just a little bit of help gets them "on the roll"....haha!   Kind of like when I would help my kids clean their rooms and organize things as they were growing up !! 

On Wednesday, we had zone conference in the morning which was great.  We have been learning to invite and promise as we interact with people so we did some scenarios and it was a fun way to share and learn some things.  That evening, we went over to Fort Madison with Elder and Sister Schmitt to serve at the month-end meal that is put on for the unfortunate people.  Different denominations take turns providing a meal during the last week of each month for those people who have run out of money and need some help.  We have helped with this before and it is really a good experience.  Most of the people are very grateful and it is interesting to visit with them.  The thought went through my mind " Ooh...appreciate what you have as you (all of us) have soooo much!"   Life is sooo easy where we live (in Alberta) ---as hard as you may think it is---we have seen much harder out here.  I have also come to realize that we really don't need as much as we may think that we do in order to be happy.  It really is NOT about possessions !

We have had our District meeting today and I'll try to show you our district if I can get my pictures to load up from my phone.  As well, our deer are coming back from wherever they went during the really cold weather.... we see them out of out window from our kitchen table.   The ice on the river is breaking up and a really stiff west wind has blown in so it is piling the ice up along the shore.  I don't think that spring is here yet but we have lost the ice and snow as it rained most of the day on Saturday.   Both Jim & I (as well as several other missionaries) have gotten ourselves a sinus infection this past week so we went over to the walk-in clinic in Carthage yesterday and saw a PA (physican assistant---next thing to a doctor) and got some antibiotic for each of us. We are starting feel better.  I had an ear ache for 3 days and Jim had a headache (surprise!!)   We are very grateful for the Canadian system of healthcare.  It cost us $110 each to just be seen.....then there was the cost of the prescriptions!  Good thing that we had some 80% off coupons that we used!!  We didn't want to go through the ER and the hassle of submitting to the insurance company!  Crazy...I know!

Really....we are doing well and loving our time here in Nauvoo.  It has a unique atmosphere and spirit here that you will not find anywhere else.  There is literally so much to see and do ....and....it is all free once to you get here.  Please come.....we would love to see you !!

Jim helping to clean / move fixtures in the Post Office....getting it ready to paint and spring clean.  Left - Right:  Elder Bundy (service elder who works with Jim alot)  Jenn Franklin (employee over Conservation)  Sis. Schmidt   Jim
 Elder Garrison's  last day at FM as a service missionary.  On Monday he has been hired as an employee in the mechanic department.  He drives from Burlington every morning and then goes back each afternoon to his second job at Menard's .  He is really an awesome young man.

Our district:  L - R   Elder & Sis. Williams   Elder Mecham (vet for the horses)  Paxmans  Elder & Sis. Craner (our district leaders)


Same picture without Sis. Williams and including Sis. Mecham.  We meet the last Sunday of each month for a district dinner/reporting meeting.   This is an interesting group.  We are all very different yet get along well.  That's the beauty of a mission....people you probably would never have a chance to associate with and learn about become great friends!!

 Jim just randomly decided to show you a picture of his priethood class in the Quincy 2nd ward.   This ward has ALOT of doctors in it....there is a good size hospital in Quincy which also takes lots of resident doctors who are training in different specialities. 



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