Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019

Visitors and Nauvoo

We have had a fun week of visitors.  On Monday, we learned that Reed & Emma Turner from Raymond were on their way.  Helen Campbell told us that they were staying at her loft apartment and that she had attended school with Reed.  We had an assignment for "Priesthood Presence" on the flats from 5:30 - 6:30 on Monday evening and the first people we ran into were the Turners.  Fun visit! We were able to have a couple more quick visits with them before they left.   I'll explain what "Priesthood Presence" is.  All of the assignments for the senior site missionaries ends at 5:30 but Pres. Lusvardi has decided that the sites need to stay open until 6:30 so the Young Single Sisters manage to do that. Because of them being alone, there is a need for priesthood support and back-up if a problem develops.  Therefore, we head to the Visitor's Center and pick up a designated cellphone that the sisters can call if they need any kind of help.  The only help that was needed on the evening that we did this was assistance in unlocking a door...the "little" sister left her bike helmet inside and had already locked the door.  Some of those locks need some firm persuasion (they are ancient!)  

This week has been the final performances of the British Pageant and the Nauvoo Pageant.  David & Carol along with Tate rolled into Nauvoo on Thursday and I had planned a few things for them for that day.  Friday, they did /saw things around Nauvoo all day and attended Sunset by the Mississippi that we performed in then we all went to the British Pageant.  Saturday was also a full day of sites including Carthage then the Nauvoo Pageant.  I really have appreciated Carol's drive to see everything and it has helped me to realize that I need to see and do as much as possible because time is shortening and I'll be wishing that I could re-experience it all next summer....maybe not the heat & humidity...haha!  Pageants may be over BUT Sunset continues on for another week...then things will settle down!  

David, Carol & Tate in front of the Temple
I loved having family here ( as I do for all family that have come) because I am able to feel their appreciation / love for the spirit of Nauvoo.  It is a tangible and real thing that inspires all to do better and complain less.   The example of those early Saints is truly inspiring. 
We took a drive up the river road one evening and saw a mini-barge bringing a single container to be filled at the big elevator beside the river.  Such a cool sky and clouds !

Not sure what we were looking at....this is at the Rock Quarry for the Temple


Heber C. Kimball home....back porch that I spent 3 weeks working on last summer. 

Ox ride.

This is just a sampling of all the things that we did !  I didn't get pictures of the wagon ride, carriage ride and all the sites.  Today, we walked down the Trail of Hope and read all of the plaques.  There will be many things that I will miss about Nauvoo when we leave but coming home to family will outweigh that.  I hope that I will be able to communicate my love of Nauvoo to my family and that each will want to come and experience Nauvoo for themselves.  You really can't express the feelings of being here....it must be experienced to understand.    


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