Nauvoo continues to be amazing. We are watching more visitors come to the area. The temple baptistry continues to get busier with groups of youth coming from all over. We had a group of 150 come from Oklahoma. They were having this trip for their youth conference. The whole stake presidency accompanied them and some of the bishops. We visited with the stake president about how they plan for such a trip. They do local youth conferences for 3 years then every fourth year they take the youth to Nauvoo and to the temple. They were very prepared and had a great experience. We were thrilled to be a part of it.
One of the fun things to watch here are the lily pads growing in the river. They get bigger every day and in some areas they go nearly half way across the river. They tell us that soon they will bloom with a big yellow flower. We also see many turtles near the edge of the river sunning themselves on logs. The fireflies have also made an appearance. I am determined to get a video of them. Elder Birt laughs at me outside at night with my phone taking videos of fireflies.
We enjoyed a great trip to Hannibal, Missouri on our Pday. Saw Mark Twain's boyhood home, Becky Thatcher's home and all things Mark Twain. Took a boat ride down the Mississippi on the "Mark Twain ". Saw the island Tom & Huck spent time on. We enjoyed ice cream at Becky Thatcher's Ice Cream Parlour. A fun day spent with great missionary friends.
Tonight we just returned from a fireside for all the Nauvoo Missionaries with Liz Lemon Swindle showcasing some of her artwork of Joseph. She spoke about her journey with her art. Very powerful speech. She talked of how Nauvoo has a feeling that she has only felt one other place, Jerusalem. We were certainly fed spiritually. There are so many good things happening here, it's a little overwhelming at times to take it all in. We feel so blessed and humbled to be here.
Another great week in Nauvoo!
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Iowa and The Amish/by Brother Birt
The PDay group we belong to, went on a field trip to Kalona, Iowa, on Friday. It is one of the sites that are recommended we go to during our stay here. There is a large group of Amish and Mennonites in that area. We took a tour with a tour guide and went to their chocolate factory, store, bakery, buggy shop, and ate in one of their homes. It was great and very educational. The Amish are the most simple. They generally do not have electricity and do not use cars. They dress with long dresses, long sleeve shirts and keep their heads covered. Their buggies have brakes and lights and are nice looking. The horses are in good shape and well taken care of. The meal we had was delicious and very well prepared. It was done by a nice older lady and her granddaughter. We loved it! It consisted of tapioca, salad, roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, mixed vegetables and pie. The granddaughter served each item, one at a time, we would pass it around the table, then she would start the next item at the end of the table and the proper way was to pass it to the next person weather you took any or not. I liked that organized method. Then for seconds, she did it the same way. We started at one end on one side and it went around the table with every person handling the bowl.
On Saturday night, the three couples in our building decided we should drive down to Quincy for a steak for Father's Day. One of the couples have a van, so he drove us down to Texas Roadhouse and we each had a steak. First steak in six weeks! It was good. The other couples were the Earls from Perry (Brigham City temple) and the Schnackenbergs from Craig Colorado (Vernal temple). We went there then went to Sam's Club to shop together. They are some of favorite missionaries that are serving here with us. We decided that this was a Father's Day that we will always remember.
Last Sunday we went down to the trail of hope presentation the Young Performing Missionaries do every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. It takes place on the same place the pioneers lined up their wagons to cross the Mississippi. Every few yards along the trail, they have a performer read a journal account of the pioneers or in some cases sing a song. It is done with lanterns and burning torches. Funny, they had to tell the people not to touch the torches because they were real fire and would burn. They said they had incidences of people touching the torch to see if it was real. It was very spiritual. On the way back we saw a ton of fireflies. There are a lot of bugs here.
The rest of our week was rather routine. Monday we work in the baptistery until 1 pm. Tuesday we work the morning shift from 7:15 am until 1 pm. Wednesday we work the afternoon shift from 3:15 pm until 9 pm. Thursday the same shift as Wednesday. Friday is our P-Day. Saturday we work from 6:15 am until 1 pm. Then on Sunday we go to Galesburg to church. Galesburg is about 80 miles from Nauvoo. On county and state roads it takes us an hour and a half each way. So we spend 6 to 6 and a half hours for church on Sunday. We love our schedule, and our favorite thing to do here is work in the temple. Things are great and we are so blessed.
On Saturday night, the three couples in our building decided we should drive down to Quincy for a steak for Father's Day. One of the couples have a van, so he drove us down to Texas Roadhouse and we each had a steak. First steak in six weeks! It was good. The other couples were the Earls from Perry (Brigham City temple) and the Schnackenbergs from Craig Colorado (Vernal temple). We went there then went to Sam's Club to shop together. They are some of favorite missionaries that are serving here with us. We decided that this was a Father's Day that we will always remember.
Last Sunday we went down to the trail of hope presentation the Young Performing Missionaries do every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. It takes place on the same place the pioneers lined up their wagons to cross the Mississippi. Every few yards along the trail, they have a performer read a journal account of the pioneers or in some cases sing a song. It is done with lanterns and burning torches. Funny, they had to tell the people not to touch the torches because they were real fire and would burn. They said they had incidences of people touching the torch to see if it was real. It was very spiritual. On the way back we saw a ton of fireflies. There are a lot of bugs here.
The rest of our week was rather routine. Monday we work in the baptistery until 1 pm. Tuesday we work the morning shift from 7:15 am until 1 pm. Wednesday we work the afternoon shift from 3:15 pm until 9 pm. Thursday the same shift as Wednesday. Friday is our P-Day. Saturday we work from 6:15 am until 1 pm. Then on Sunday we go to Galesburg to church. Galesburg is about 80 miles from Nauvoo. On county and state roads it takes us an hour and a half each way. So we spend 6 to 6 and a half hours for church on Sunday. We love our schedule, and our favorite thing to do here is work in the temple. Things are great and we are so blessed.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Nauvoo Sunsets
Sunsets in Nauvoo have a little something extra special about them. Maybe it's the mighty Mississippi River or the beautiful temple, but looking at the sunset here has a spiritual feel. I love walking around the temple at sundown to get a picture at just the right angle or taking a walk down by the river to do the same. I think about those saints who lived here and walked these streets and what they went through. So much here to think about.
It's really beautiful and peaceful here. We have been trying to visit all the historical sites in the area called "The Flats", where we live. It's been fun to visit these places before the big crowds come during pageant time. It is getting a little busier each week. When we go to the Blacksmith Shop, they show how a horseshoe is made and we get a miniature horseshoe. They tell the story of the young man who gave his bride-to-be a "prairie diamond" made from a horseshoe nail and everyone gets a prairie diamond. At the brickyard, we see how they made bricks from the Mississippi River mud. Everyone gets a Nauvoo brick. There were seven brickyards when the saints were here. Nolan's great great grandfather, Thomas Steed was working in a brickyard when they came with the news that Joseph & Hyrum had been killed. Looking out our kitchen window, we can see the brickyard. We get a gingerbread cookie at the Scovil Bakery and see how bread is made at the Family Living Center. We get to make a rope and see how the saints made candles. It's really great to feel a little part of life in early Nauvoo.
We have enjoyed going to the Visitors Center and talking with the young sister missionaries there. They do such a nice job talking with the visitors who come. We've enjoyed the many shows here. There are several shows going on here all the time even before the pageant starts in July. Always lots to do and see.They have "site" senior missionaries who do tours of the historical sites and perform in the shows. Their missions are either one year or 18 months. There are many different senior couple missions here. Some of the senior brothers take care of the animals and give wagon or oxen rides. Some missionaries work on the grounds. There are so many opportunities to serve here. If you are thinking of a mission, this is an amazing place to serve, in many different capacities.
One of my favorite places to visit is Carthage. It's about 20 minutes from here. It's beautiful and peaceful there and the spirit is strong. My testimony of Joseph Smith was strengthened after being in Carthage and thinking about the events that happened there.
We enjoyed a visit from my brother, Barry and the Arnell's were here this week. It's so fun to share this wonderful place with family. We hope others will come. It's surprising how many people we see in the temple from home. People love this temple so they come from far and wide to see it and feel the spirit there. This week we saw Jared Rice & family.
I have been getting some one-on-one family history tutoring from one of the sister missionaries here, hopefully I can improve my skills in that area. She helped me find some names for the Arnell kids to do baptisms & confirmations. The temple is getting busier now that school is out for the summer. Busloads of youth come from all over for youth conferences. We have seen groups come from Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa. It's such a blessing to see these youth choosing to sacrifice time to come here to do this work. Most of them that come have researched their own family names. Wonderful to see!
Another beautiful day in Nauvoo
It's really beautiful and peaceful here. We have been trying to visit all the historical sites in the area called "The Flats", where we live. It's been fun to visit these places before the big crowds come during pageant time. It is getting a little busier each week. When we go to the Blacksmith Shop, they show how a horseshoe is made and we get a miniature horseshoe. They tell the story of the young man who gave his bride-to-be a "prairie diamond" made from a horseshoe nail and everyone gets a prairie diamond. At the brickyard, we see how they made bricks from the Mississippi River mud. Everyone gets a Nauvoo brick. There were seven brickyards when the saints were here. Nolan's great great grandfather, Thomas Steed was working in a brickyard when they came with the news that Joseph & Hyrum had been killed. Looking out our kitchen window, we can see the brickyard. We get a gingerbread cookie at the Scovil Bakery and see how bread is made at the Family Living Center. We get to make a rope and see how the saints made candles. It's really great to feel a little part of life in early Nauvoo.
We have enjoyed going to the Visitors Center and talking with the young sister missionaries there. They do such a nice job talking with the visitors who come. We've enjoyed the many shows here. There are several shows going on here all the time even before the pageant starts in July. Always lots to do and see.They have "site" senior missionaries who do tours of the historical sites and perform in the shows. Their missions are either one year or 18 months. There are many different senior couple missions here. Some of the senior brothers take care of the animals and give wagon or oxen rides. Some missionaries work on the grounds. There are so many opportunities to serve here. If you are thinking of a mission, this is an amazing place to serve, in many different capacities.
One of my favorite places to visit is Carthage. It's about 20 minutes from here. It's beautiful and peaceful there and the spirit is strong. My testimony of Joseph Smith was strengthened after being in Carthage and thinking about the events that happened there.
We enjoyed a visit from my brother, Barry and the Arnell's were here this week. It's so fun to share this wonderful place with family. We hope others will come. It's surprising how many people we see in the temple from home. People love this temple so they come from far and wide to see it and feel the spirit there. This week we saw Jared Rice & family.
I have been getting some one-on-one family history tutoring from one of the sister missionaries here, hopefully I can improve my skills in that area. She helped me find some names for the Arnell kids to do baptisms & confirmations. The temple is getting busier now that school is out for the summer. Busloads of youth come from all over for youth conferences. We have seen groups come from Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa. It's such a blessing to see these youth choosing to sacrifice time to come here to do this work. Most of them that come have researched their own family names. Wonderful to see!
Another beautiful day in Nauvoo
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