For a Few.....Enduring to the End.....

                                                                       .....Means Just That

      This week begins the mass exodus of missionaries as they have dutifully served their time.  It is a bittersweet moment as the service they have rendered and the joy they have received is conflicted by sadness of leaving and the anticipation of returning to their homes and families.  Emotions are running high.  Some have counted their last days to the minute while others contain their thoughts.  And then their are a few who are focused on their tasks at hand......enduring to the end with the same gusto they more than likely started with.
     Monday we said good-bye to our fellow missionaries and new found friends, the Van Horns.

The last two months we have worked with them closely and learned to love them for their honest,   forthright and dedicated efforts as missionaries.    They are now on their way to Washington where they will begin life anew.  What we learned from them and their friendship will stay with us forever.  They worked as hard the last day on their mission as I am sure they did on the first. 

     Even though they were packed and ready to go they showed for work ready to go....as usual.  Without any hesitation they worked hard and thoroughly....putting up with my constant reminders that it was fine...they could go....we will be fine.  Nope....Elder Van Horn would have nothing of it and continued lifting those joists as we put them into place....sore back and all.  His is indeed a man among men.  Meanwhile, back in Housing Sister Van Horn had stayed extra hours orienting a new missionary couple.  She had delayed their departure, much to Elder Van Horn's glee, to complete her task....more time to get those joists in place he exclaimed....and we did it.  Elder Hawkins counted the minutes remaining with each joist.  At the end we Elder Van Horn saw the joists raised and we all were excited to see him on his way!!

     We will miss them and wish them well!! 

     The Clouds of Uncertainty and Despair......

                                ......Hang Over Nauvoo

     It was Saturday afternoon at the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant that we first heard the news.  Due to Elder Wayment's run in with horses the Church Missionary Department called on Saturday, and with out further comment, told the mission that all further activities involving animals were shut down pending a "risk management" review of the incident and the overall  safety of the program.  Even though rides were scheduled and visitors ticketed all activity ceased.  

     What this meant was that not only were the Carriage Ride, Wagon Ride, and Ox Ride silent but the Nauvoo rumor mill began to scream in disbelief.  With the discontinuation of the Hand Cart experience many had begun to speculate on the longevity of the horses and oxen as a form of entertainment and activity.  Conversations turned to speculation and disbelief.  It was as though another part of the Nauvoo experience was going dark.

     I like many, was saddened and questioning......this was an important part of our experience here and we had ridden the wagons and heard the stories of those early Saints here.  What would become of them.....would their stories be washed away with no way to tell them....after all there are many, many stories that are only told by those who know and love them.

     So we now wait and wonder.....and listen to the rumor mill.  We hope the Missionary department will quickly come to the conclusion that these animals are a vital part of Nauvoo and their evaluation of  it will lead them to their continuation of this program.

     White Gloves and All.....

        ......Sister Gibson Stands Willing to Help All!!

       Sister Gibson is always busy in FM and her job tasks vary from day to day depending on the need.  During any given week she can help with the artifacts, housing, cleaning, organizing, sorting out things, harassing the other FM employees, and it is all done with a smile.  Everyone loves her...especially when they ask her to do something.  Her willing and helpful attitude is a ray of sunshine.
     So when Candelight came to town to shoot some scenes for an upcoming movie that follows Emma after the martyrdom and the exodus from Nauvoo they needed help from FM.  Seems that the rebuilt Red Brick Store is too cluttered with every day merchandise they asked if they could shoot some scenes in Lyon Drug which has nothing but old stuff....nothing new here....not even the missionaries.  It would be portrayed as the Red Brick Store in the movie.  Jordan, the FM Director, had originally planned to do the supervision but was called away to tend to some urgent business at the barn....(and I don't think he was horse'n around.)  He went to Sister Gibson, told her to get her white gloves and get down to the shoot at Lyon Drug.
     They wanted to move some things around so Sister Gibson took pictures of the way things were so she could put them back and then sat around and watched as the movie was filmed.  So there she sat in the background watching as the scenes played out several times before they were thought to be good.
     That's Sister Gibson.....always in the background adding to the beauty of life!!

     

    He Walks.....He Talks....He Smiles.....

                      ......But Don't Make Him Laugh

Elder Wayment and Elder Hall

                            

     The don't make 'em  like Elder Wayment......at least not very often.  Sunday morning the hospital in Iowa City had apparently had enough of him and released him... .broken ribs, three stints in an artery and a neck brace  Monday his wife reported he was doing very well.....in fact too well as he was driving her crazy.  Tuesday was their scheduled P Day and so it was off in the car to Cantril to see the Amish horsemen.  Wednesday it was a pizza luncheon with the teamsters after our 8:00 training meeting.  Thursday it was off to the Rodeo as he had bought tickets with the teamsters several months ago and he didn't want to miss it.  This guy is a clone for the  Ever Ready Bunny......or maybe the old Timex watch....."takes a licken' and keeps on tickin'!!

     Fortunately he is a human.....has one or two complaints.  The broken ribs are painful when he laughs and he wants someone to keep  his wife out of the house while he removes his neck brace so he   can shave....it's that important to him.

     Regardless of the here and now his neck and shoulder will still take some time to heal but I sure  wouldn't want to get in his way....The little                                                                                     guy is tough!!

      Every Good Barn Has a Red Roof.....

             ....Getting It On is a Lift(ing) Experience
                                      ..............In Old Nauvoo!!
         With the joists raised and Elder Van Horn on his way we spent the rest of the week tying the structure together in preparation for the installation of the metal roof.  One of the marvels of Nauvoo is the variety of ways we ascend to the heights.  Some times it is ladders....sometimes the creaky old wooden platform on the fork lift, and then there is the improvisation of using the skidster to hoist us upward.  Sometimes you just have to improvise....prudent or not.  Elder Hawkins gets a little dizzy when he bends over and stands up and Elder Hall usually runs the heavy equipment.  In the end I usually I am the one to go up and scale the heights to secure and fasten things.  I make my best efforts to contain Elder Hawkins but he is usually right their beside me.

     Since the teamsters are pretty much unemployed right now we can usually get one of them to help us.  Elder Cornwell  and Elder Long joined in the festivities as we put on the 2x4 framing and ultimately the roof by Friday.  Like any good FM carpentry project we always can count on some one to drop by and give us some good advice....or thoughts on our project.  In this case it was Elder Duval, one of our welders.

     

     Tall Corn and Hanging Gourds.....

                                                ....Just an Excuse for a Picture

     We have been watching all year as the corn has risen from ears to full blown stalks.  There are two crops which are planted abundantly here.....Corn and Soybeans.  The crops are rotated so what was corn might be soybeans the following year.  On some of the smaller highways it is not uncommon to have corn on both sides making it feel like you are in the "corn forest".  The corn will be left in the fields until it looks dry and withered....then it will be run thru the combines delivered to silos or storage facilities and wait until the price is right to sell it....maybe days....maybe months.  The particular hybrid corn usually grown grows tall and tastes nasty....it is used primarily in ethanol or silage.  Nice to see.....not to eat!!

     Meanwhile, in Old Nauvoo, our gardener's continue to make our area beautiful and interesting.  Such is the case of the tunnel created behind Lyon Drug.  It didn't look like much and then the gourds began sprouting and handing down.  Great for pictures.....but a pretty good head knocker if you are not careful.

      Odds at the End

     Christi came to visit this weekend.  she came in Saturday and Sunday we went to church.  I want to devote more to her visit next week but this one couldn't wait....it is absolutely hilarious!!  Even though we haven't see her for a year...it's clear....some things don't change.

   

Up at the top of Mulholland Street is a small building in front of a trailer park called Peter's Place.

     It has been dormant through most of the busy season but all of a sudden it has sprung to life.  The owner has been seriously ill and apparently his grandson has stepped in to run the place.  He tells great stories so we have made it a gathering place for the last two Mondays to get together with our MTC group and eat....sorta to help him keep the joint afloat.  In the background is a half finished mural started by missionary several years ago but he was unable to finish it before he left....shortly thereafter he died and it remains unfinished.

    

Sometimes there is much more to a picture that can be explained.  Either because the facts aren't known or maybe the story is to personal to share.  Take your pick and enjoy the picture.







 

Elder Hawkins and Elder Jones are two of FM's finest.  Their day jobs find  Elder Hawkins driving heavy equipment or on top of a roof preparing it for the steel to be applied on top and Elder Jones is the happiest guy I know in Nauvoo.....and I don't think it's because he is a plumber.
     Their night job finds them dressed as "high falooten"  door men assisting the visitors attending Rendezvous  to find seats as well as managing the doors for early exits and cast entrances.  Couldn't find two better guys!!
Better looking.....Maybe?

 

Usana Vitamins....Why are they here  When Marc worked at Usana I took them because they were very cost effective and he wanted me to be a healthy Grandpa for his children .  Now he is gone....and so are the vitamins.  Life is tough!