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.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
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
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Hard to believe we have been here one month already. This six month mission is going very fast. There are so many wonderful things about living in Nauvoo, but the best is of course, serving at the temple. The spirit in the Nauvoo Temple unique. Those we serve with are top notch people who come from 31 different temples and bring with them years of experience. We feel so humble to be here and rub shoulders with these good people. We have met Brother & Sister Perez who worked with Keith & Diane Kap in Florida.
Our son, Cory and his wife, Paige both served part of their missions in Nauvoo 30 years ago, so it has been fun to see the places where they spent time. Cory gave tours at what was then the "temple site" and now the beautiful temple stands. We have been assigned to attend a ward in Galesburg which is a 1 1/2 hour drive. Cory also served some of his mission in Galesburg, so it has been fun being there.
During July/August when the pagent is going, the temple gets very busy. Many tourists come to the temple. Bus loads of youth come to the baptistry. The youth of the church are certainly on the right path! It's exciting to see people we know. We were surprised to see Ryan Cook here last week. I don't think it was a mere coincidence to see him. Lots of stars had to line up for him to be in the exact spot Nolan & I just happened to be at that particular time that night in the temple. He was just passing through on his way elsewhere.
Our apartment is very near the temple in an area called "The Flats". This is where the missionaries live. When President Hinckley announced the Nauvoo Temple would be built, he said it would be the first temple built with donations, rather than church funds. He invited all who would like to donate to do so. The temple was built with funds leftover. President Hinckley wanted to use that money for something tied to the temple so it was used to build these lovely apartments for temple missionaries. They are built to look like the houses from that time period and are surrounded by the restored homes, etc. They fit right in with the surroundings. We can walk to the "sites" from our apartment. It's just an amazing place, to live and walk where Joseph Smith and those early saints lived and walked. It's a little overwhelming at times. And they have everything we need in them and just the right size...we can clean it in 30 on our P-day!
Getting this blog up & going has really tested my technology skills, so I've done about all I can do for this post. If there are errors, just ignore them please. Hopefully I'll get better at it. Just want you to know how we love our mission. We are very busy, lots of things to see and do outside the temple. We have FHE group, break the fast dinner group, P-day group, flower planting group, baptistry group, touring group, ward assignment group!!! We love it all.
The experiences we are having have strengthened my testimony. I have learned much more of Joseph Smith. I know he saw and talked with God and Jesus Christ. I know he was taught and prepared by God. I know he restored the gospel to the earth. He endured so much and still did not deny what he heard and saw. I am so grateful for him. President Irion, our Nauvoo Temple President, has a quote on his desk that reads: "If you have a question about Joseph Smith seeing God and Jesus Christ...ask God, He was there."
Love from Beautiful Nauvoo
Our son, Cory and his wife, Paige both served part of their missions in Nauvoo 30 years ago, so it has been fun to see the places where they spent time. Cory gave tours at what was then the "temple site" and now the beautiful temple stands. We have been assigned to attend a ward in Galesburg which is a 1 1/2 hour drive. Cory also served some of his mission in Galesburg, so it has been fun being there.
During July/August when the pagent is going, the temple gets very busy. Many tourists come to the temple. Bus loads of youth come to the baptistry. The youth of the church are certainly on the right path! It's exciting to see people we know. We were surprised to see Ryan Cook here last week. I don't think it was a mere coincidence to see him. Lots of stars had to line up for him to be in the exact spot Nolan & I just happened to be at that particular time that night in the temple. He was just passing through on his way elsewhere.
Our apartment is very near the temple in an area called "The Flats". This is where the missionaries live. When President Hinckley announced the Nauvoo Temple would be built, he said it would be the first temple built with donations, rather than church funds. He invited all who would like to donate to do so. The temple was built with funds leftover. President Hinckley wanted to use that money for something tied to the temple so it was used to build these lovely apartments for temple missionaries. They are built to look like the houses from that time period and are surrounded by the restored homes, etc. They fit right in with the surroundings. We can walk to the "sites" from our apartment. It's just an amazing place, to live and walk where Joseph Smith and those early saints lived and walked. It's a little overwhelming at times. And they have everything we need in them and just the right size...we can clean it in 30 on our P-day!
Getting this blog up & going has really tested my technology skills, so I've done about all I can do for this post. If there are errors, just ignore them please. Hopefully I'll get better at it. Just want you to know how we love our mission. We are very busy, lots of things to see and do outside the temple. We have FHE group, break the fast dinner group, P-day group, flower planting group, baptistry group, touring group, ward assignment group!!! We love it all.
The experiences we are having have strengthened my testimony. I have learned much more of Joseph Smith. I know he saw and talked with God and Jesus Christ. I know he was taught and prepared by God. I know he restored the gospel to the earth. He endured so much and still did not deny what he heard and saw. I am so grateful for him. President Irion, our Nauvoo Temple President, has a quote on his desk that reads: "If you have a question about Joseph Smith seeing God and Jesus Christ...ask God, He was there."
Love from Beautiful Nauvoo
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Finally our first post!
Well, I finally figured out how to set up this blog. We have been here for three wonderful busy weeks. Driving into Nauvoo was smazing as we drove around the bend, up the hill and right before us the beautiful Nauvoo temple came into view. It was breathtaking! I don't have the words to describe my feelings as I thought of those saints who sacrificed so much. And now, even after three weeks, I feel the same every time we see the temple.
We live in a lovely apartment on what is called the "Flats", just down the hill from the temple. They are apartments built when the temple was built for the temple missionaries to live in. They are mingled in with the historic sites. It's great, we can walk around the neighborhood and visit the sites.
We serve in the temple five days a week. Our P-day is Friday. On Sunday, we are assigned a ward in Galesburg to attend. We drive one and a half hours there. Serving in that beautiful, historic temple is, of course, the best part of being here. We serve with some wonderful people.
We have memorable experiences everyday. We will share some of those on this blog, but I want to make sure the blog works first. So this is kind of a test.
Until next post...
We live in a lovely apartment on what is called the "Flats", just down the hill from the temple. They are apartments built when the temple was built for the temple missionaries to live in. They are mingled in with the historic sites. It's great, we can walk around the neighborhood and visit the sites.
We serve in the temple five days a week. Our P-day is Friday. On Sunday, we are assigned a ward in Galesburg to attend. We drive one and a half hours there. Serving in that beautiful, historic temple is, of course, the best part of being here. We serve with some wonderful people.
We have memorable experiences everyday. We will share some of those on this blog, but I want to make sure the blog works first. So this is kind of a test.
Until next post...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)