Family Arrives and...........
Sometimes we forget what we are really missing......until the "real deal" shows up. Such happened again this week as Marc, Mindy, Kessie and Molly came to visit. First thing I learned from Kessie was that I had forgotten how to give those "big Grandpa hugs". With a little time and practice and soon regained the old form. The three days provided us with a lot of time to spend and talk together and to catch up on all the things as well as show them our lives and what we were doing here in Nauvoo. Not only to help serve the other missionaries and rebuild things but also let them roam and find the spirit of Nauvoo on their own. One of the things that we have learned while we are here is that there is a special spirit and feeling of this place. Those who lived here provided the basis for it, and, if you listen carefully, you can here the spirit testify of their words, deeds, and lives. Sometimes it comes from the expected places.....the Christus Statue at the visitors center as you listen to Christ's testimony, through the scriptures, of who he was and what his role is in our lives. Maybe it will be the carriage ride that weaves through the woods and back roads of Nauvoo. The stories that are told and the peacefulness of the message seems to grasp many. Then there is Carthage...it is always a powerful experience of testimony and sacrifice as the stories of Joseph and Hyrum are told or you hear the beautiful songs performed by the Young Performing Missionaries. And maybe, just maybe, it will be in an unexpected site like the blacksmith shop. It doesn't matter when, or where, it will happen here and every visitor will be rewarded for the effort they made to get here.
It was fun for us to sing and dance for our family (and many others) on the Sunset Stage. But the real highlight started on Tuesday night. It had been a long day and we had finished by performing in the heat on the Sunset outdoor stage. Returning home Molly and Kessie gave us a big surprise when they announced that they were going to stay until after Rendezvous on Wednesday night. Originally, their schedule had them going back to Chicago Wednesday afternoon. I hope their sacrifice was rewarded....watching us in Rendezvous was special to us......I love my role as editor and I feel a special connection with the audience as I piece together the story of conversion, sacrifice, and testimony of those early saints through song, dance, and dialogue. Sister Gibson is really special in her role as Relief Society President. It was a great day and night!!
We look forward to the day that we will again be able to spend more time with all of our family members, wherever they may be.
It was announced Monday that all FM people would have the opportunity to attend a four hour class on CPR. Sister Gibson was a little less than enthusiastic to sit that long. Fortunately there were a few breaks, the usual Nauvoo FM breakfast.....donuts, milk, etc. Willingly we participated....because we had to. In the end we got to practice all the theory we learned....I was looking forward to the mouth to mouth resuscitation and CPR exercise with Sister Gibson but we ended up using the dummy instead....at the end it looked the same as in the beginning....pretty dead!
The Badge Changes.......
Our Wednesday morning training contained a new and unusual twist. One of the unique things afforded the missionaries called to Nauvoo was the emblem of the Nauvoo Temple imprinted on their badges. That all changed when President Hall announced that effective immediately (really) missionaries would no longer wear badges with the Temple Logo on it. That left all missionaries to scatter and find the few badges they had been originally issued without it....at last count there were many hundred "new....old" badges on order. There was some grumbling in the ranks....Willingly they moved forward....because they had to.
That being said it is important to know where and why this decision was made. It came from the Missionary Executive Council, chaired by Brother Oaks. You see, our message is not that of the Nauvoo Temple, although it was always a good attention getter, it is of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His name is that on which we focus....in our lives and on our badges.
We Raise the Roof (as promised) .......
....With an Artistic Touch!
In spite of missing one full day due to the CPR training we did manage to get a lot done on the trailer as we rebuilt the roof structure, added a plywood deck, and covered it with protective wrap. It was a lot of fun putting the wrap on the roof as the gun kept jamming and double shooting...but patience prevailed. The inside was again worked on as we needed to change the placement of the hand dryers and child's folding table in each of the sides. Elder Hacking, with his usual thoroughness, nailed every piece of wood again to make sure it was secure. With the temperatures rising into the high eighties it became increasingly more difficult to work in the afternoons. I am sure that working over the parking lot and the sun reflecting off the trailer it is considerably hotter. My water intake is immense and I am still feeling the effects of heat. As a team we requested that we start at 6:00 a.m. and were given the ok to do it if the forecast temperature was going to be ninety or greater.......I am sure we will use any form of loose interpretation to make sure that works.....being obedient as we are.
Elder Hacking couldn't resist drawing a picture around two vent holes which were place on the ends of the trailer. I succumb to the evil temptation to name it.....I have already asked for forgiveness....at least it is now covered up.....maybe no one saw it.
We Head to Quincy for
Lincoln Days
Saturday took us to Quincy where there was a Lincoln Days celebration. We didn't know quite what to expect. What we found was a the town square dotted with pop-ups that had different displays and interactives to learn a little about the period. The around the block carriage ride was sort of that....it went around the block half way....and then doubled back. It was enjoyable and the narrator did give us some interesting facts about the town square and city of Quincy. In my book Quincy's claim to fame is the generosity of the city to take in the Mormons as they were driven out of Missouri and give them aid, food, and shelter and help sustain them until they could get back on their feet. The politicians and townsfolk, however, are quick to point out the Lincoln/Douglas debate that was so famous in the pre-Lincoln Presidency. Lincoln lost that election but ultimately "won the war" when Douglas was done in by a split in the Democratic Party that allowed Lincoln to win the presidency. Nauvoo on the Road was also there and we talked to our fellow missionaries and shared stories of the week with each other as the event was less crowded than anticipated.
Random Thoughts...
We are finding an unexpected joy in Sunset.....not the singing and dancing but rather the people who come to see us. After the performance we go out into the audience.....I usually find a way to break the ice with "I just wanted to make sure you got your money's worth from our performance".
Since it is a free event I usually get big smiles and lots of positive feedback. From there we can talk to them about anything. Sometimes we know exactly why we are talking to them....sometimes we don't know. They may be impressed with the YPM's or the OSAM's (Old Singing/Acting Missionaries.) Sometimes it is the patriotic message or the pioneer spirit. Most times they just don't know except that they feel good!!
Everyone comes to Nauvoo for a reason.....there are no coincidences. I believe that.
Last, but not least, I made a trip to Hamilton to visit Zach Rodeffer, boy wonder dentist. He got to do what Les Cannon had wanted to do for years......one more molar down....only a few more to go.
That's nothing to look forward to.
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