It's Halfway from
          The Beginning....

                                                 ......and Halfway to the End
         What Have We Learned...
                                 and What lies Ahead?

     June 19th marked our official half way mark in our call to serve here in Nauvoo.  So it's fitting we take a look back at the past as well as look forward to the future.  Upon our arrival here I was assigned to FM which was, of course, the reason we desired and were called to the Illinois Nauvoo Mission.  The surprise came when Sister Gibson was called to serve in Conservation Department of FM.  She has become a light and shining beacon as she serves and takes care of artifacts, missionaries, FM staff, and Elder Gibson.  It would be difficult to see her in any other role. 

     I, on the other hand, seem to be often discontent as I labor on FM projects.  While I enjoy the physical side of building and caring for Old Nauvoo I am constantly frustrated with those things that occur in management, fellow missionaries, and projects.  It has led me to respond to the oft asked question: "How long do you have left" to which I reply, " several more months.........if I last that long"  It is not my point to labor on these details and feelings.  Overcoming and dealing with these feelings is my challenge. 

     What I have found is that my real joy(and maybe even my purpose):

     Is bringing happiness and a the spirit of Nauvoo to those who visit.  Rendezvous offers me that opportunity as the editor  I am the "glue" that links the various vignettes together as we tell of the importance of the Book of Mormon in the lives of those who are willing to read it as well as telling of the strength and sacrifice of the saints as they were forced out of their beautiful city after their leader and prophet, Joseph Smith, was martyred in Carthage along with his brother Hyrum.  I hope they feel and are touched by the spirit and sacrifice of this special place. 

     There are other nights that we are members of the cast singing and performing our other parts in Sunset on the Mississippi or Rendezvous......It is more fun than I ever imagined....then again my expected "fun barometer" was never loaded with expectations.  The laughs, the cheers, the applause, and general appreciation raise my spirits each time.....who would have thought  that??  Someone recently commented that I was a "ham"...........who knew?

     On those rare opportunities that we serve in the  sites I have found joy.   Having the opportunity to talk to those who come and not only explain the strength and commitment of those who lived here and weave their stories into practical gospel applications is amazing.  I love to teach.....especially those young souls who I love so much.  If it weren't for the long periods of time during much of the off season I would be so grateful to be able to serve in these sites and testify of our Savior and of those principles of the gospel that allow our lives to become to rich.

     Serving with Sister Gibson has been everything I had hoped for.  I believe it has been an amazing experience for both of us and it has made us better and closer to each other and the Lord for it.  What a blessing!

     What lies ahead in the coming months is more opportunities for us to become better at what we are doing and continue to grow in spirit and testimony while we serve here together as well as be able to spread the gospel message to those who are seeking it.  We constantly feel the prayers of those we have left behind and hope our prayers are felt wherever they are needed.  We still have a little spring in our step and we carry the torch forward!!  I am sure I will endure to the end.......
                                                                                                               .....well pretty sure!!

Sister Gibson and......

                     ......The Magical Zucchini Prank

     One of the tender mercies (for some) that are allowed here is that if there is a little plot of ground and the missionaries so desire they can plant a small garden.....like tomatoes or such.  Some of our neighbors are ecstatic about the possibilities....some, like me, really don't care.  So when the other night we were visiting with the Lindeburgs and Sister Lindeburg began carrying on about how great the soil was and how fast things grow I listened patiently....that not being enough she paraded us out to show us this little bitty leaf emerging from the ground....the seed had only been there a couple of days, not being a gardener I assume that's pretty impressive.  It's been a week or so since and we were shopping when Sister Gibson brought over a little zucchini and suggested we put it by the sprout.  Before she could change her mind I had the little sucker in the basket and soon Sister Gibson placed it under the plant.  Wow....one week and a zucchini.  I've got to call the FM gardeners and tell them to remove the plant before we are inundated with the little veggies.    Folks.....it's just another Nauvoo Miracle....they happens here all the time!

     Sister Gibson leads the Way.......

          ......As Cooler Heads Prevail at Sunset!!

     It is getting hot and humid here.  The performances at Sunset are punctuated with new and unique ways to keep cool.  Sister Gibson has found a little spray bottle with a fan attached that she puts to use by spraying her face.  She must have thought I was really "hot" one evening as she turned it loose on me.  Can't beat that little woman.....she takes such good care of me.  Of course if I sprayed her it would certainly be another story and a completely different reaction.....go figure

     The Ugly Duckling......

     As expected the roof materials didn't arrive until late in the day on Monday.  What a blessing!!

Another Nauvoo Miracle!!  And so with that little hiccup it allowed us time to do the unthinkable, unfathomable, impossible, and near miraculous......I got everyone on board to clean out the trailer.

Everything had been piled at the back of the trailer since who knows when and it was nigh on impossible to even get in there.  Instead of looking for things we would just go find someone who had it and borrow it.  The stack just got deeper and deeper.  It took us two hours to pull it all out, discard all the junk that had been put in there, organize the remaining tools, and finally take back all the extra tools and materials we found.  From there we started installing the sheet rock....we had ordered "green board" and it had been delivered a couple of weeks ago.  When we got to installing it we found it had miraculously changed color (or more than likely it wasn't ordered correctly).  At any rate we plowed on and installed what we had.  The following day we installed the roof and with that the entire exterior of the trailer was complete

                      .........Starts to Look Like a Swan

     We finally got on a roll and the sheet rock ceiling was fully installed, Elder Hacking started taping it, and we put up    plywood  on the walls and by the end of the week we installed our first FRP panels.  Even better news was that Elder Sims had been temporarily freed from the H-Vac prison and was over helping us......bad back and all we just can't slow the guy down. 
     And just for good measure......and to bring us back to the reality of Nauvoo, Marcus announced that they would be moving the trailer to the pageant site on Monday. No problem....it got new tires and is ready to roll.  It will be inconvenient for us as we have all our materials and such stored at the FM site where we have been working on it.  It's just the Nauvoo way......wait until a crisis and then figure out a way to make it more difficult.
    It's Saturday... Bishop Hill calls....

     ..........and We're of on Another Adventure

     We are always looking for somewhere to go when Saturday arrives.  We had heard about Bishop Hill which is northeast of Nauvoo.  It was a communal living group from Sweden that started the community in 1846 in Illinois by Erik Jansson who had let a large group to America in search of religious and political freedom.  Bishop Hill was named after his birthplace in Sweden.   Four years later and disillusioned follower killed him and trustees were installed to run the colony.  It is a small community and the major industry is, of course, tourism. 

     We asked the Hacking's to go with us as they will be returning home in a couple of weeks.  Sister Hacking reluctantly came as she was preparing for a visit from her son next week but was very supportive of Elder Hackings wish to go.  After all....he was still looking for a pump to decorate his garden with.  He had been looking for months but with no luck.  We were perfect in our timing as there was a music event in the park as well as the setting of a Maypole.....we missed the Maypole raising as it was to late in the day and we had to be back for Rendezvous.  The bagpipers and big band jazz sound were entertaining, however.

     We ate lunch at the Filler Up café.....full of cute sayings and signs.  Behind Sister Gibson is the advertisement for the famous Road Kill Cafe'....."You kill....We grill it"  Sounds appetizing.  There are several antique stores there....and we saw them all as Elder Hacking searched for the illusive pump.  No luck....but we saw some interesting things.

     Driving through Dallas City, a town about 25 miles from Nauvoo, on the return trip Elder Hacking, who had been sleeping the majority of the trip, says "Would you mind going around the block....I think I saw a pump"  And lo and behold there is a lady sitting in the back of her hatchback selling some junk....and in the middle of it is a pump.  Elder Hacking goes and talks to her....comes back empty handed.  He explained that the lady wanted $100 and he only wanted to pay $50.  She asked him to make an offer and he figured it wasn't worth his time.  We sent him back to at least make an offer...soon he is waving for me to come and help drag the pump to the truck..."How much did you pay?"   "Oh...she was fine with $50" replied Elder Hacking......and there it is.....once again....

another Nauvoo Miracle.

It's Not John Taylor's Horse......

     ......But Sister Gibson Makes it Look Good!
     One of the antique stores we visited in Bishop Hill had this old homemade rocking horse.  We laughed about all the controversy of the John Taylor Horse and decided we would take this picture to the FM Director, Jordan Bodily, thinking he might want to have a back up for the story.....He will undoubtedly find no humor in it as he is inundated with the controversy surrounding the Nauvoo horse.  Perhaps he might want it for a decoration in his newly remodeled office or even be inspired to give it to the Church Historical Department.