Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019
A great week
The weeks have been so busy that they are literally flying by. I will give you a quick review.
MONDAY : we attended our regular prayer meeting at FM compound at 7:00 a.m. where we receive a "thought for the day" This week's theme is diligence. I always appreciate these thoughts because it elevates my thoughts for the day beyond the temporal tasks that must be attended to. Immediately after prayer meeting, Jim and I attended a mission leadership council meeting which includes all of the zone leaders and mission staff. We correlate activities and policies within the mission. In the evening, a bunch of us missionaries went over to the theater in Keokuk where they were showing a movie entitled "Overcomers" It is a Christian produced movie similar to Courageous but whose theme was about overcoming adversity and becoming better. We all enjoyed it! It was recommended by some fellow missionaries who had seen it on the weekend.
TUESDAY: we were invited to a BBQ and weiner roast by the fire pit at the end of Parley Street. There were 6 couples....not our crew that we are accustomed to ...but proved to be alot of fun. The "perk" was watching the sunset over the river as we ate...it was spectacular. The pictures really do not do it justice. This view is one that I never tire of....have I said that before...I think so...haha!
Getting to know people and learning to love them is another "perk" that I really did not expect. As we all have the same purpose here in Nauvoo, even though our responsibilities differ, there is an instant bond between us.
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| Elder Munns great cooking skills....he and his wife own a restaurant in Utah. Jim and Elder Robison looking on ( supervising..haha!) |
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| You can see the sunset in the background but it was about ten times more brilliant! |
WEDNESDAY: One of our new FM employees was moving into a house in Nauvoo (up in the Bluff Woods area) and he appealed to us in prayer meeting for help in unloading and settling the house while his wife and children were cleaning up the house in Carthage. That was a temporary dwelling until they could find something in Nauvoo. They came out to the Midwest hoping to gain employment here in Nauvoo...quite the leap of faith!! They have 6 children. Jim had 2 young single sisters helping him so he set them up with painting while he came out and helped to unload the trailer. Sis. Howard and I had 2 young sisters with us so we put them to work helping to clean the bathroom and kitchen.
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| Sis. Johnson & Sis. Baker. The young sisters LOVE to paint pickets...Lol. I forgot to take pictures of the two that were with me. |
THURSDAY: we had been invited to share supper with a temple missionary couple. Elder & Sis. Rawlingson. She did some growing up in Raymond as a teenager before moving to Utah and she recognized us as we were at the temple. She is a niece to Earl and Berl Nilsson. We really enjoyed our visit with them. Again....an instant bond!
Perhaps the funnest thing to watch happened this day. The teamsters must have felt bored but they decided to try a 6 horse hitch onto a wagon. They worked them in the big parking lot beside the Family Living Center and then used them for the rest of the day. It was pretty impressive to see these 6 Belgian horses trotting in rhythm!
FRIDAY: was designated as our Pday since we would be going and serving at Nauvoo on the Road all day Saturday. We did a temple session / got groceries / did some apartment cleaning in preparation for leaving and then went to the movies again. This time, our mission president had reserved the entire theater for us to watch the movie "The Fighting Preacher" This is a movie about the first couple to be called to be caretakers of the Joseph Smith farmstead in Palmyra after the Church bought it in 1915 (Willard & Rebecca Bean) They remained there and raised their family even though the community distrusted and hated them. The community tried to discourage and persecute them and their children. Willard Bean was the middleweight boxing champion of the world at this time and he took on any and all challengers but found that, in the end, the Savior's way of loving and acceptance won their respect and love in return. It really is a worthwhile movie to watch if you get the chance. It made me think that hatred is a powerful darkness and the tool of the adversary because that is his nature!! Hate plus hate equals more hate which grows and multiplies simply because parents hated before the children....like the eternal hatred the Lamanites had for the Nephites simply because of the prejudices that the parents spread to their children. This cycle continues for years until someone, somewhere stands courageously and refuses to hate back in return. It was inspiring to watch how the kind responses and meekness in attitude broke down the barriers of prejudice and hate.
SATURDAY: we were with Nauvoo on the Road all day. We traveled to Quinicippi Island ...it is a small island in the Mississippi river at Quincy. You get to it by crossing a small bridge that is one lane and only wide enough for the van & trailer with about 3-4 inches to spare on either side. They have preserved a small village of log cabins and they do an old fashion fair. Our booth is designed to encourage people to visit Nauvoo and experience all that it has to offer. We do children's games, make ropes, Family Search fan charts, etc. We were "bushed" at the end of the day!
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