A Nauvoo Baptism......

       

     It was a wonderful whirlwind week as Brian and Stephanie arrived with Elle, Liam, Mazi, and Brian's parents' Vince and Carol Ann and our grandson Jaustin.  They arrived here on Wednesday afternoon with screams of joy and hugs of love  from Grandma and soon they found their way down to  the Schenck house to check on Grandpa's work and give him the hugs and love treatment.  It was great!!  After hanging out at the apartment we made our way down to Keokuk and the Baymont Inn, got them checked in, and went to dinner at Pizza Hut and then it was back to Nauvoo for "Sunset" practice.  That night they learned about bed bugs......

     Thursday brought them back where they did some of the sites and The Carriage and Wagon Rides.

That turned out to be a not so fun event for Liam as he was extremely allergic to the horses and his eyes swelled up like lemons.  Fortunately the swelling soon subsided.....although we never did get to do the Oxen Ride.....After we completed our assignments we caught up with them and visited the "fun" sites.  They got their Nauvoo Bricks at the Bickyard, made their rope at the Family Living Center, were presented prairie diamond rings at the Blacksmith Shop.  After lunch/dinner at the Nauvoo Bakery everyone waited with great anticipation for the Rendezvous performance.  Grandpa was the Editor and Grandma the Relief Society President and it appears that everyone really enjoyed the performance.....maybe even astounded by it?  Jaustin reminded me of an earlier role I played in primary as "Brother Friendly".   (I'd hadn't given much thought to that lately....I'm glad.... it's a good memory for him, and I hope,  others).

     Friday was Liam's big day as he was baptized in the Nauvoo Stake house....Since all the good stories of baptism in the Mississippi include breaking the ice to perform the ceremony....and this wasn't possible..... it was decided to hold it in the confines of a chapel instead.  It was a good choice as Liam had figured out the river was dirty and cold when he was throwing rocks in it earlier.  It was a wonderful time with Brian performing the baptism and confirmation.  Our good friends, the Lindeburg's came and Sister Lindeburg gave Liam a Nauvoo Star and helped with the program. 

     Saturday brought the Nauvoo City Easter Egg Hunt at the fire station.  Everyone had a good time as Elle, Liam, and Mazi filled their buckets with plastic eggs loaded with candy and free ice cream cones at the Nauvoo Bakery.  After that we headed for Carthage for a visit.  In spite of the tragedy that occurred there one can always find a special spirit at the sacred site.  Elle was really touched and I am sure will have a vivid memory of her visit there.  After lunch we headed over to the Community of Christ property that borders Old Nauvoo and has the Smith family farmhouse, Mansion House, and the Red Brick Store.  While it is historically important and interesting is does not seem to have a warm and fuzzy feeling to it.  The guide, while knowledgeable and informative, seemed to lack a testimony or conviction of Joseph Smith as a prophet and would rather spend time explaining about his young son that reluctantly became the leader of the breakoff reorganized church many years later after the Saints had migrated to Salt Lake,  In fact, The Book of Mormon and the First Vision were hardly even mentioned.  We wrapped up the site visits with Lucy Mack Smith and Brigham Young homes before we had to rush off to Sunset practice.

     Easter Sunday the Webb's and Jaustin joined us for church before saying their good-byes and heading back to Chicago.  It was a great time.....wore us out.....but it was a great time.

                  ...and Easter Celebration

 The Carthage Spirit.......

                     ......Is There for All to Receive
    
     We have been to Carthage several times and there is always a special spirit.  This trip not only touched our lives but also others who were with us on the tour.  Included in our tour was a couple who you would least likely suspect the Spirit to visit.....who knew?  I assumed by their dress that they were "bikers".  The message on the woman's shirt was hard and contained an obscenity.  Hopefully, I prayed, the grandchildren wouldn't understand or even bother to read.  Through out the tour they were quiet and very respectful and seemed to be interested.  As we sat in the martyrdom room at the end of the tour the guide left us to ponder what had been explained and the tragedy that had occurred there.  Elle, my granddaughter, was moved to tears and obviously upset and touched.  And then it happened.....The woman quietly said "I came here today because my first husband's name was Joseph Smith.  I don't know what I expected but it wasn't this.  I feel something I have never felt.  My life has been a mess for a long time.  Now, all of a sudden, I feel a peaceful feeling of comfort.  I never expected or have felt this".  She then turned to here male counter part and said: "Do you feel it?" and he was quick to acknowledge the warm and peaceful feeling.    Brother Waite, our fellow missionary and tour guide, was quick to explain what she was feeling and offered her a Book of Mormon with the promise that she could find the truth to life and our purpose here.  She readily accepted.
      And there is the great truth.  There are people who are ready to listen to the message of the Restored Gospel.  We just have to be in the right place.....at the right time.....and have the Spirit bear truth through us to those people.  It is the message of our Savior that will bring us the peace and salvation that we seek.   
     The picture of Elle, Liam, and Mazi is through the hole left in the door by the ball that took the life of Hyrum Smith.


Easter......

           .....Brings the MTC Group Together
     Even though we get together once a month for a dinner it was special that we could all spend it together at the end of a busy Easter Sunday.  We had a great meal at the Lindeburg's followed by time together to talk over how thing are going for all of us.  It is special and amazing that we all come from different backgrounds and yet have such a great time with each other and grow from the experience.  Good Friends are Priceless!!

Sometimes We Just Have a Good Time....

     The weather on Easter was phenomenal.  The weeks before had started to warm up the temperatures but by Sunday it was and exceptional day and we pretty much got spring fever.  That being said we were assigned to the Dr. Calvin Pendalton Home and School.  Since it was Easter and the weather so fine it appears that most of the students (visitors) got spring fever and played hooky.  That left us with no one to teach so we took to the camera to give us a memory of the day.  Sister Gibson rang the bell and Elder Gibson gave his best "cool" impression at the sign post. While we kept our sight in view we went for a walk and talked with the other site missionaries.   What can I say.......It was spring fever!!