There is No Joy in Old Nauvoo......
         ....Rendezvous was Just Struck Out!!

     Monday was an unusual time for a training meeting but with President Hall being out of town for the rest of the week it was a necessary change.  It all started out with the frivolity of President Hughes being presented his "Presidential Tie" by outgoing President McCoy.  President Hall moved slowly to the podium and what happened next was a bombshell that would leave a crater the size of Texas.  He started out explaining that he had just received two letters from the missionary department.  A hush and uneasy quietness fell.  Lately, anything from the missionary department is not good news.  "One is somewhat of a hopeful nature and the other is bad news".  Forgetting "somewhat hopeful" we immediately braced for the worst...the horses would be gone and Nauvoo would never be the same.  "The hopeful message is that they are still reviewing the horses".  My mind jumped ahead and fully expected the bad news to be he had been notified of his successor to the presidency in January and his time was coming to an end.

    The news was far more stunning  than anything we had expected...Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo would be discontinued and the final performance would be November 30th.  Audible gasps and groans filled the room and stun silence followed by a mumbling that started to roar....until he spoke again.
     While there were no audible threats of lynching the missionary department (just a whimsical pun)
it has become the topic of conversation in every venue every day.  The speculation is rampant.  Truth is that since we have been here there have been so many rumors about Rendezvous and it being re-written.  It has been a part of Nauvoo for over thirty years.  But the harsh truth is that it really is time to move on.  What that means we really don't know.  When Elder Zwick was here he made a unique and significant comment that was hammered home to the missionaries.  "The performances are not the most important part here. We have far greater callings for us  to perform.  The Lord is in charge and whatever callings we are asked we will do."
       Crazily we move on as our beloved director has still kept putting us in new roles, doing new parts, and frustrating us further.  Onward we go....Willingly because we have to.  So Thursday we stood on the stage and performed the circle dance with the McLoed's with a very....very...brief review by them.  Adding to the mayhem, Sister Finlinson, our new cast manager wants to re-do all the cast pictures for the organizational board that we no longer use anyway.  Onward....ever onward!!

     He was a Plumber....He is Now a Carpenter....
        ...and He Has Always Been My Cousin!!

    

     Last week we received another FM couple who, after the usual FM dog and pony show, were ready to be assigned.  The Archibald's, who come from Idaho are a wonderful addition to our FM group and Sister Archibald  was assigned to work with the grounds.  Elder Archibald who had been a life long plumber and recently retired from BYU-Idaho expected to be assigned to our FM plumber, Darrell.  Instead he was assigned to work with me in carpentry even though he really doesn't have a lot of experience.  While I am sure he is a little disappointed his attitude didn't reflect it.  He has jumped right in and is willing to do anything...he has such a happy positive attitude.
     He soon began asking the standard questions and our conversations took the usual course.....until he asked if I had any relatives who were here in Nauvoo.  I told him of Joseph Stallings, my 2nd Great Grandfather...and then it got interesting.  His great grandmother Archibald had married a Stallings.  Probably not any relation......my line went through Eden.  Then I remembered Elizabeth Alice Barnes who was Joseph Stallings fourth wife.  Circumstances dictated that she live away from the rest of the family in North Ogden.  After several years, and a couple of children later, she took the older children and traveled to Lewisville, Id where she lived and died.
     So when I asked him if the family lived near Lewisville he lit up with a smile and he said that was where his grandmother was from.  The only name I could readily remember was Don Carlos Stallings.  That was his Great Grandfather and so I found a cousin from the Stallings line.  I gave him my book to read and it filled in a lot of information he did not know.  I'm sure we will swap some stories over the next few months.

 Vicenzo Di Francesco........
                 His Handwritten Testimony.....
                  .....Hidden in My Mission Memories
 

     It all started in 1966  but soon became tucked away in my mission photo journal.  Fast forward to 2014 when I received a phone call from Elder Semadini of the Church History Department.  He and his wife had been called to search out any information they could find prior the formation of the Italian Mission in 1967.  They were interviewing the missionaries they could find who had served in Italy as a part of the Swiss Mission.  (In May of 1965,  the Bavarian Mission where I was originally called, was dissolved. Those missionaries serving there were divided and sent to German speaking missions in Europe.  I was called to Switzerland and soon thereafter, I accepted a call to learn Italian and  serve in the Italian Zone of the Swiss Mission.
     I labored there the remainder of my mission.  The story begins in Milano where I had just been called to serve as the Zone Leader.  The work was just starting to take hold and there were very few Italian members.  I was exuberant in my call and wanting to do something special for the members I had this idea that it would be great to publish a periodical, similar to the Ensign, or at very least a newsletter that would bring the gospel to the members. I had heard the story (legend) of Vincenzo Di Francesco, who as a Protestant Minister had found a copy of the Book of Mormon in a garbage can and read it, testified to his leaders that the true gospel was contained in the book.  They strictly told him to burn it.  Eventually he was defrocked and exiled from their faith.  It intrigued me to the point that I soon found his address and wrote him a letter asking him to share his testimony for the publication.  Sometime, thereafter, I received his response in a used enveloped that had been reversed.  It was in  a beautiful calligraphy  and it was somewhat difficult to read.  I communicated my desires to my mission president to proceed with the publication.  As you can imagine that idea didn't really fly really well and I was counseled to let it wait until Salt Lake was ready to do some sort of publication when it was more practical.  I saved the letter as it was a remarkable story (at least as much as I could understand and read)  and put it in the pages of my book because of the unique story and calligraphy.  I didn't realize what I had. 
     So it sat there until 2014 when I met with the Simadeni's.  I took my writings and photo book, not knowing exactly what they were looking for.  We had a great visit and I recall it was interesting and informative to them as I related may interesting things about my mission experiences.  It was during this interview that I showed them the letter from Brother De Francesco and thought that it might be of some value to the church.  They showed some interest and I introduced me to someone in charge of the department who had me sign forms of relinquishment to the rights....I didn't think much more about it but I was glad that for whatever value it might have the church would be the one to benefit the most from it.
     Last week I received a phone message and an e-mail from the Semadini's.  They were still at their posts and they wanted to again thank me for the letter and let me know that it was on display in the Church History Library on the 1st Floor.  But wait....there's more...
     In 1989 the church had made a video for world distribution. It is called "How Rare a Possession" and highlights the impact of the Book of Mormon on the lives of Parley P. Pratt........and Vincenzo Di Francesco.  If I was aware of it, saw it, or even knew of the impact of it I can't recall.  His story had been documented in this video although much of it was through verbal remembrance rather than written word.  The letter I had filled in and added other parts of the testimony that had previously not been documented.
     Brother Di Francesco died in 1966.  It is probable that this was one of the last times  he was able to write his testimony for those generations who followed.....in a letter that I had tucked away but never forgotten......How Rare a Possession!!

It was Bootiful Nauvoo......

                           ......and it Was Cold
     Every year at Halloween the community of Nauvoo puts on a big celebration and so naturally the mission gets involved to support it.  Several weeks earlier Sister Gibson and I had been asked to work on Bootiful Nauvoo, the towns big celebration for Halloween.  We had done a myriad of tasks in preparation for the big parade that would take place on Saturday night.  Being involved in FM we can help by finding the pieces of the puzzle that would be required.  Sister Gibson arranged with grounds for some seventy five corn stalks to decorate the carriage wagon that we would use to carry the "crazy band" who would be followed by the "crazy dancers" and finally the dragon which hid a dozen a so missionaries hiding underneath it as it paraded in a zig zag fashion down Mulholland.  Sisters Murch and Muldanado were in charge.  Someone inadvertently called Sister Murch the "dragon lady"  so she had a new title.
     Meanwhile our FM buildings were turned into "Pumpkin Alley" as 500 of the orange blobs were dumped into the building to be followed by "artists" that drew all sorts of drawings on them to be carved out at the end of week.  Some of these were very intricate but as for me and Sister Gibson we confined our choices to the simple and mundane.  I did venture into a more difficult design only to find the artist had made a slight drawing error and half of the face fell off......thank heavens for toothpicks.  The following day we spent the afternoon in an other FM building helping with the popping and bagging of kettle corn.  Last year we passed out 2500 bags at the parade but ran out before the event ended.  Someone got the idea that we ought to do more.....so they purchased enough sacks for 8,000 and the sisters in charge took it as a sign they should do that many. The following day they kept production up but in the end it was limited to around 3,000.    Bless those Elders who slaved over the kettle.
     Thursday night the committee gathered to light up the wagon and decorate it.  The following Saturday we decorated the tractor complete with jaws that opened and closed.  Missing and leaving an irreplaceable gloom were the horses who had been such a spectacular part of last years parade.  Sooner or later there will be a final decision but as time passes the gloom persists and in some way hope is fading.
    

     Saturday night was the coldest night of the year....somewhere around thirty six degrees and the twenty mile and hour wind added to the chill.  That didn't deter the visitors and they lined the streets dressed in warm costumes in preparation for the big parade.  I went with two extra layers while Sister Gibson imitated the Pillsbury Dough boy with her five layers....but she was warm.  The parade lasted some thirty minutes....we were near the end and then  headed back home to take the chill off as we bundled up on our favorite (and only)  recliners.

  The Weather is Turning Cold (brrrrrr)......
     .....It Must be Time to Work Outside
                ....It's The Nauvoo Way
    

It has been nearly two months since Elder Van Horn departed.  There are times I miss the added help but for the most part I was pretty content with my situation.  So in most respects I was glad to have a companion.  Elder Archibalds willingness and cheerful attitude overshadow any lack of carpentry skills.  That's the good news.  The bad news comes as the weather is turning colder now and we are starting a project that will keep us working out of doors for probably the next six weeks.  Sure...there will be days of storminess that will dictate we work indoors but the muck and mire following the storm is no joy either.  Then again the good news is we actually have a set of plans.....but things change daily and they really aren't that helpful.  It's build as we design.
     As soon as Elder Archibald arrived we moved from our indoor job at the Economou house to the exterior of the Maxwell House where we tore the exterior siding and insulation off in preparation for putting up new Hardiboard (paintable cement composite that cuts like wood), redoing the soffit and facia, and installing new windows and exterior doors.  Each day brings a new additional task but in the end will bring the really good house into a really great house.  Fortunately the roof was replaced three years earlier....so it has a chance of remaining.  We also took the Masonite from the interior of the garage and we will be preparing the garage for bigger, better, and more windows.  Since the refrigerator that was purchased for the home doesn't fit it looks like we will be replacing the cabinets also.  That probably will be a better option in the sense that it will allow for the addition of a dishwasher.   And so the adventure continues.........

Odds.....at the End
    

 

     Monday I received a phone message from our old friend Boyd Deans.  I tried several times to call him as my worst fears intensified.  I fully expected him to bear some bad news about Margaret Taylor, whom I have such a special place in my heart for.  Finally we were connected and to my relief I found out they were here in Nauvoo.  I rushed to the Visitors Center and soon Sister Gibson joined us.  Boyd and Joanne had served here in 2006 and we had talked to them before we came.  During the next two days we renewed our association and listened to them reminisce as well as tell them about our adventure here.  It was a welcome visit as we shared our time together.

    

    




One final update and Elder Wayment.  He is up and running.  The collar is gone and he is pretty much good to go.  He and his wife were there helping us with the decorations of the crazy wagon and he joined the crazy people to boot.  That wasn't enough so he showed up to help with tractor decorations.

   
    

    

     Part of the community effort to prepare for Bootiful Nauvoo has the few merchants than line Mulholland Drive (the main drag through town) with some decorations.  They started a new tradition this year with each business putting out a stuffed character representing their particular business.  The bank put up a masked man the Nauvoo Clinic a doctor looking character.  Not to be outdone our FM group put up their rendition of an FM Super Guy.  He stood their proudly with his puffed out chest and macho look.  A rain and wind storm required some emergency procedures and in the end he looked more in character.... like a seventy year old missionary.
   
   
   
   
   
   

We are now in the last gasps of fall.  The calendar may say it runs until December but here in Nauvoo the leaves have been changing for a few weeks and soon they will be gone leaving barren branches to take their place.  Temperatures are now below freezing for lows on a regular basis and the highs are hovering in the forties.  After suffering through the cold and wind of Bootiful Nauvoo you would think we would have had enough fun.  I guess we still need a little more fun and so  the starkly yellow leaves that fell like rain from the tree (or maybe were thrown) provided one more adventure that we just couldn't pass up.

Old Nauvoo Christmas Walk 2017....
     ....It will be Something to Remember!

     Our seemingly hectic days took a turn (for the worse) Wednesday October 21 when President Gordon, the President's 1st Counselor,  pulled us into his office and announced we have been called (assigned) to Chairmen  the 2017 Nauvoo Christmas Walk......our 1st thought.....what are you thinking?!!!  Our 2nd thought...."you're kidding"  Of course that was followed by the simplified explanation that you don't have to worry...you will pick a couple of other couples to help and they will be in charge of their committees and they will do the work....(Third thought....we'd better choose wisely!!!)  It's going to be a lot of worry, work, and stress!  Two sites are involved...The Visitors Center and Main Street Old Nauvoo and there are at least sixteen subcommittees.  Sure...they provided us with books that were put together with information from last years Christmas Walk...the only thing I saw of it was manning the parking barricades and risking my life telling fellow missionaries...."Thou Shalt Not Pass". We quickly went to pray for guidance and inspiration which we followed by submitting names for leaders of the Sites and Visitor Center Committees...and we met Monday for approval(President Hall likes to have his hands on everything).  That night we met for the first time and decided on the heads of events.  President Hall had a busy week and it wasn't until Friday afternoon that we received approval for most of the names.....remember I said..."Most" (That's a line from Rendezvous)

    During our meeting with the Presidency we were also asked to correct some problems that occurred last year...simplify a couple of the events, use all the missionaries,  and don't let it turn into a competitive event when choosing missionaries to be on committees......As it has been noted before....Can Anyone Heard Cats? 

     After reading the provided books and meeting with Elder and Sister Johnson2 (we have 4 Johnson's and they are designated with a number), who did this last year, but they are leaving in a week, we understood exactly where and why the guidance came as they related some of the things that needed to be improved upon.
    As of Saturday.....it has become a patience building exercise mired in frustration of unanswerable questions and a myriad of clarifications to the same questions and assignments.

                                            ......And So the Journey  Begins....
     

Sister Alderton Goes...Rendezvous Rolls......

          If the Curtain Gets Pulled!

     Our long time stage manager, prompter, and curtain puller, Sister Alderton, finished her service last week.  Sister Hipple gave Elder Hawkins the assignment....no training....just a book with all the instructions.  Now not to be critical...but realistic....everyone knows men have no interest in following directions.....even if they are pictures.  With any parts and pieces project they simply start relying on their own manly instincts, skills, and talents....before, in frustration, reverting back to the written word.  Elder Hawkins was certainly not the exception. 

So here's what happened:

     After our opening number, Welcome, all the missionaries leave the hall and the curtain is supposed to remain open so the editor, George, and Agatha, can perform their roles on the stage.

As the editor, I enter stage right(see how I am acclimating to these show biz terms?) somewhat distracted before noticing the audience.  I do my greeting as usual, get interrupted by Agatha coming in and head up on stage....then...and only then....do I realized the curtains have been closed.  No problem I will just push the curtain aside and tell him to pull it.....Not so fast.  To my amazement, horror, surprise....I find all of the missionaries for the next number already lined up and ready to go for the Noah vignette.  (Seems one of the elders saw the curtain pulled, and not listening to the dialogue that was going on, ushered the cast in an prepared them to start.....one scene to early).  With that I retreat off the stairs to the floor where we muddle through the scene....I only missed a couple of things.

     Things are a little jumbled during the next two scenes but in the third scene the wheels really come off and I get bedazzled and distracted finally making it to his cue line to open the curtains for the Relief Society segment.  The cue is a story I am only supposed to start telling before being interrupted by the Relief Society President (Sister Gibson) as other sisters come in to the meeting from the back.  Curtains don't open....story goes on....curtains still don't open....sisters are now filling the aisles and have no where to go as the curtain blocks the way.  Finally I end the story abruptly, turn around, cup my hands over my mouth and scream the cue line back stage....finally the curtains open.

     We had a second show and things went almost flawlessly.  The next day Elder Hawkins enters the lunch room, apologizes for the errors, explains his newness and lack of training, before proudly announcing that the second show went a lot better.....When he followed the prompters book and paid attention.    "And that's the way things are here in Nauvoo.....and most folks get along just fine"

                              ..........Another Rendezvous line!

It's a Dirty Job....

    .....And I am Doing It.......

               Willingly....Because I Want To

     When you spend the whole week doing sheetrock there really isn't much to write about.  It was a real plus that I was given Emmitt Skog to help for a couple of days as I moved onto hanging 5/8" sheetrock on a nine foot ceiling.  Emmit is the son of one of the FM employees and has just returned from a mission to Ghana.  He is a good worker and together we were able to get the sheetrock hung and I spent the rest of the week taping and mudding as he was pulled of to another job to help the painters.  I am almost getting used to working alone as I have found a new friend in Pandora.
     All that being said things changed a little on Saturday as I got a text and was told that the new elder who arrived last week, even though his skills are plumbing, would be assigned to help me  unless there was a need for him to help with the plumbers.  At this point any help is certainly appreciated.  Then again I can see that he would certainly like to find needs helping the plumbers rather than dabbling in the mud and grime of sheetrock.  The same text also directed a change to the Maxwell house.  I had torn off a section of siding to see what was underneath....it was plywood.  After waiting a week  the new plan is to cover the plywood with protective wrap and wait.  Good thing I didn't get to tearing it out down to the insulation  on three sides.....we thus avoided the Nauvoo way......this time

There's Always Time For A Goodtime....


                                        ....in Old Nauvoo

     As our stress level has flown off the chart as we grasp the enormity of the Christmas Walk and all the preparations for it Sister Gibson was first in line to help with the test run of the Kettle Corn we will be brewing for Bootiful Nauvoo that takes place the end of the week.  While I was engrossed in spreading sheetrock mud on the walls and my clothes she and her cohorts took time to do the arduous job of taste testing.  Then the Hula Hoop was broken out and the games began.  The reason for all this practice is that almost all of those who were here last year and participated in Bootiful Nauvoo are gone.  Their memory lingers(sort of)....but their experience is definitely missed.  She had a great time showing off those hip movements.  Just wish she had brought some of the test popcorn home for me to sample.  At least we got to sample it the next day as the sample bags had been thrown in a garbage can and left in the break room for the rest of us to try.  We believed it was good stuff and ate it anyway.....and it was!!

Odds....at the End      

 




Sister Gibson has risen to the challenge and taken a few pictures of her world.  The great mouse hunt continues in Conservation.  Trouble is those little critters aren't going down easy.  The particular strain of Conservation Mice are Super Mouse Like and are apparently able to carry off the sticky paper they get stuck on.  Sister Schmitt has apparently overcome some of her fears, however, as he proudly displays one of the unlucky ones.

    

    


Then there is the story of the adventurous squirrel.  It wasn't too long ago that I returned from work and found Elder Lindeburg sitting in his car gazing at my truck.  He explained that there was a squirrel that ran across the patio and climbed up the tire in the truck.   He wasn't to be found but one day I saw the little critter do the same act.  I am not sure what he was doing....it probably wasn't up to any good but that ended sadly as we discovered him near the wheel....somewhat flattened.  We could  have had squirrel stew but we passed on the opportunity.
     You will notice the trend here.....Sister Gibson is taking the pictures while others of us hold the ghoulish evidence of lost lives....Then again I remember those Armadillo's and I'm sure if they ever saw this they would get a good laugh.


 

It is a tradition that on your birthday you are dressed up in a silly costume while the entire FM group sings a sad rendition of happy birthday.  If you are fortunate to be in the inner circle (the office staff) they take you out for your birthday.  Barrant, our fearless It man, suffered such a fate recently.  Unfortunately he left town for a week after his birthday and the office staff couldn't wait for him to return so they headed off to his favorite lunch spot without him....they did think of him, however, as they blew up a picture and set in on a chair.  Sister Smith and Sister Schmitt surrounded him and made jokes about his nose.

     Saturday was one of the last days  the fall festivals in the towns in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois are held.  There was one in Hannibal and Nauvoo on the Road was going to be there so we went to see what we might have otherwise missed out on.  Turns out this one was more like a giant street fair and the main street was crowded beyond belief.  The bright spot in the adventure was running into Mark Twain and Becky Thatcher and a charming lady who tried desperately to sell me a dulcimer even though I tried really hard to explain I had no musical talent.  That went by the boards when she pointed to numbers that provided all necessary.
   Nontheless I still don't own a dulcimer.

     

It's Harvest Time in Nauvoo....
       ......Combines Cut and Sift...Trucks Roll....
                     And  .........Wildlife Scrambles!!!

    

     There are those who think that Nauvoo is  a quiet little town that sleepily sits on the banks of the Mississippi.  That's probably a pretty fair statement except for a couple of times during the year.  The throngs who flock here during the summer months and especially during the Pageant, who numbered over 50,000, change the whole demeanor of the city.  They flood the streets both in town and Old Nauvoo without paying much attention to what is going on around them...intent on enjoying the moment.

     Fast forward to October.  It's harvest time.  The corn and soybeans have been sitting in the fields awaiting the time they are ready to be harvested.  The streets rumble as large trucks full of crops roar down Mulholland Drive through Nauvoo and onto  the streets in Old Nauvoo finally arriving at the grain storage facility on the banks of the Mississippi.  They are loud and overpowering on the small streets.  They are now coming in waves and sometimes are backed up blocks waiting to unload.
     What was now tunnels of corn have now become vast fields of stubble and the immensity of the farm land again reveals itself.  Soon these will be tilled under and the land will remain dormant until spring and the process will repeat itself.  As for the many animals that have come to call these places home must  now scramble to find refuge and prepare for winter.

Sometimes... A Mouse in the FM House......
       .....Can be a  Laughing Matter!
    

     Mice seeking refuge from the corn harvest best not try to find safety in FM's conservation area.  The sister's do not use traps but rather "sticky paper" that traps the little critters as they innocently scamper across. So the scenario is set....and so the story begins....
     Sister Murch was recently called to be in charge of the mail room and Missionary D. I.  So her first order of business is to clean out many contributions that have been cluttering the D.I.  In order to do this she needs some boxes and goes down to Conservation to get some from Sister Gibson and Sister Schmitt who have been discussing their terrifying fear of mice for sometime now.....the stage is set....Sister Gibson goes to the back and finds some boxes and also discovers a trapped mouse in one.  Not having anything to do with it she takes her boxes and asks Sister Schmitt to grab the one with the mouse in it.  It doesn't take long for her to discover it and the screaming begins....Sister Gibson and Sister Murch are now busting a gut over her reaction....ultimately she grabs a dustpan a dispatches the little guy to mouse heaven.....Even though they don't have a mouse problem in the apartment I understand Elder Schmitt has taken away all her dustpans.

Rendezvous at the Cultural Hall....
         ....Leads to some Falls...and
                              Another Nauvoo  Miracle!!
    

Let's face it.....older people are a little less agile than they used to be.  For example.....it was only the night before that Sister Spradlin, one of our "younger and more agile missionaries" had missed a step coming down from the stage at Rendezvous and taken a tumble that left her shaken, bruised, and sore.    Bruised and beaten she left the second show early to recuperate.
     The next night  it is Sister Shumway who falls victim.  The previous Sunday she had me on a bench pulling down "buckeye's" and we were having a great time.  She is nearly eighty and even though she is methodical in her steps she is still pretty active.  We had just finished our opening "Welcome to Nauvoo" number and she had exited the rear door and was returning to the front of the Cultural Hall.  Earlier in the day the grounds crew had been working on "felling" the big tree at the front and had clearly marked the walkway with red caution tape defining the boundaries of the danger.  While avoiding the caution tape she failed to see the cone that it was attached to....ran right over it...and did a literal face plant.  She lay their flat, face down  not moving....and the panic ensued.  Soon she responded....she said she was fine...no need to panic....she was just embarrassed.  We sat her in a chair....but when she tried to get up...she couldn't support herself.  We carried her to the front of the building....covered her in blankets....gave her a Priesthood blessing and did our best to humor her while we convinced her we needed to call an ambulance.  She soon relented....Willingly because she had to.  Meanwhile, the show is going on....missionaries scrambling to do their parts and then returning to see how she is doing.  Soon she was on her way to the Ft. Madison hospital.  Even though he had done a full face plant on concrete there was absolutely no damage to her face...it is still as lovely as ever.  The diagnosis at Ft. Madison was a cracked patella (kneecap) and a sprained wrist.  They sent her home with an immobilized knee to heal.  Everyone was grateful.....it could have and should have been worse.  And now the rest of the story.....
     After our visit to Kolana we stopped by to give her a sweet treat and see how she was doing.  She answered the door with a smile....no brace....no hobble....no limp.  The hospital had called and told her they could find no sign of the fracture.  There was hardly even a bruise on her knees.  Even though she fill hard and caught herself with her hands.....there wasn't even a scratch.....She did a face plant on the concrete.....no bruises, scrapes, abrasions, or black eyes.  Angels were there....she was blessed and protected!!.....another Nauvoo miracle!!
     I often ask why is one granted a miracle and another not?  We chose to come here and experience life...it's ups and downs, joys and pains, highs and lows.  While I am not sure we fully understood the consequences of that choice....we did choose to follow the Savior and his plan.  We always need to remember that and trust that our experiences are there to help us become what God intended.  We are his children and he does love us!!

       On to Sheetrock....off to Tear Out.....
            ....Back to Sheetrock
    

 




   The Economou house is moving along.....slowly....but moving.  I puttered along continuing to hang the sheetrock....5/8" (extra heavy) as opposed to 1/2" lightweight.   I'm not bragging or complaining but some days it's amazing how much effort I have to put in to accomplish so little.  It sure isn't like the "good old days"
       Our electrician, Ben, is doing his best to keep up with all the little electrical issues that pop up. Elder Jensen, his newly assigned missionary,  is back from his health problems and return trip to Utah to attend his mother-in-law's funeral but has been marshalled into service to help with the foundation on the Engle house. 
 




It's Maxwell Time in Nauvoo......
 

     We are still waiting for the engineer's report on the McConkie house we have decided to open up a new project....The Maxwell house (Yippppppeeeeeeee).  This is probably one of the nicest homes the missionaries have used in the past  and was usually occupied by one of the President's counselors.  Not any more.  It has been designated as the assistant FM directors home and it appears it needs some "minor" modifications and upgrading.
     The beginning list is: remodel the entire exterior including enlarge some of the existing windows, including the basement, and replace all windows, restructure the interior from a three bedroom to a two bedroom home, totally rearrange and restructure the bathroom, all new flooring and painting, insulate and sheetrock the double garage, add a bedroom and bathroom downstairs, and frame in a mechanical room.  Sadly the plan to put an addition to the house to accommodate a grand piano was rejected.  The piano will just have to be stuffed in the living room.  This is probably just the beginning because as we all have learned in Nauvoo....things change and get bigger and better.
     With the help of Elder Schmitt, our missionary handy-man,  we began tearing out all of the carpet.  Pulling out carpet, padding tack strip out of hardwood floors is not a pleasure....it is hard work.  I followed that up the following day by starting the tear out of the exterior siding to see what was under it.  Good news as it turns out to be plywood so we could side it with Hardy Board (concrete siding like we used in the Schenck house) and we wouldn't have to place additional substrate on the walls.  Hmmmmm, not so fast.... The next command was tear out a 4x8 section of the plywood on the front, side and back of the house to see what is behind that...it may need replacement insulation.  I can see where this is going...bring it on....but please hold back the winter.

Odds...at the End
    

     We knew it was going to be a big rain day on Saturday and so with opted out of the Spoon River Drive.  The Beecher's came to our rescue and invited us to go with them to Kalona.  We have enjoyed Kalona...but even more so the Amish Bakery there....you just can't beat the caramel pecan pull a-parts.  The 12" diameter plate must weigh 2 pounds....mostly caramel and pecans...but the best was yet to come.
     Working FM presents us few opportunities to really do missionary work but every once in a while we are granted a tender mercy.  For example:  As we exited from lunch we were startled with "You're a Mormon" from a group we were passing as they entered the restaurant.  As we all revealed our badges she added a new comment.."I'm surrounded" as Elder Beecher completed the circle around her and her sister.  "I used to be a Mormon", she started out.  "You still are!" her sister chimed in.  "Well, ever since I got married thirty nine years ago I haven't talked about it to my husband and we go to another church.....and read the bible.  Sister Beecher charged in and reminded her of the scripture from Ezekiel...the Stick of Judah and the Stick of Joseph would be as one.  The Bible is the stick of Judah...what is the Stick of Joseph?  As we testified that it was the Book of Mormon she listened and then wanted to know where that was found and she would take it to her Bible study class and ask about  it.  Somebody's in for a hard question.    For the next twenty minutes we talked and laughed about her involvement and memories.  Her sister stepped up and told us she hadn't been active for years since her divorce but  was very receptive that it was time for her to come back.  We handed out a pass along card and invited them to return to visit Nauvoo...Especially the sites and the Christmas Walk.  It was a great experience for us to feel the spirit of the mission.

   

The rains came in droves on Saturday as we sat around after returning from Kalona.  Then the lightning flashed and the thunder roared.  Then the phone alerts started blaring and soon thereafter, it was the tornado sirens screaming.
The last time this happened I was on stage at Rendezvous and not wanting to get stuffed into the Green Room at the Cultural Hall I sent everybody there and watched through the windows as the sirens blared and rains fell.  Soon all was past.
     It worked last time so I employed the same strategy...at least I watched and waited as the threat disappeared .  As for the other folks in the apartments...they did what they should do and ran to the Lindeburg's basement shelter.  They seemed to be having a good time.  Especially the young Sister missionaries who were trying to explain how to long on the teaching center...seems like many, including us, are having a difficulty with it.

    

 


   It was time for our monthly get together for the MTC group and so we trundled off to Keokuk to V's restaurant.  It is a great time for us to get together and talk about our mission experiences and what has been going on.  The only downside was the Friday night square dancing group went on without us....or maybe it didn't....we haven't heard back on it.
     Anyway we missed them.

     We knew it was coming....we just didn't know when.  Well, it's here....much earlier than expected.
Elder Larry K. Hughes was announced this week in training meeting as the new counselor to President Hall.  I know it was inspiration.....I just hope the President is prepared for it.  He and his wife, Janece are some of our closest friends and we have known them since we were all called to serve together.  He has character.....and is a character.  There are none better!!
     I don't know exactly what that says for the Sarah Granger cast as we now have the two counselors to the president with us.  Either we need a lot of guidance or we have an exceptionally blessed group....I will go with the latter!!
   
   
   
   


   

The Elder Plays......

                        ......and the Missionaries Dance

     I really wanted to start this out with the title "The Grinder Plays.....and the Monkey's Dance" but that doesn't do fairness to us.  We are not entertaining others...just ourselves.  What started out last week on the Finlinson's back deck has now moved to the FM break room building...mainly because it is indoors and it was raining.  Most of last weeks group came back for more and we were joined by a some of new couples.  It is good to add new couples so we have an excuse to go back and re-learn and remember what happened last week.  Elder Orme plays a "mean" accordion and did so well that one of the elders through out a paper cup and we provided donations.....it was such a pittance that he gave the money back.  

     Speaking of our memories we have added a new adventure to Rendezvous.  It's over a month now that Sister Hipple has taken the reins of the show and things have, as expected, changed (just a little...or maybe a lot....depending on your perspective.  I am not sure exactly why...maybe the departure of missionaries on a large scale during the fall months and the subsequent smaller casts, or maybe the fear of the winter months illness' taking a toll...or maybe we are all preparing for other roles?  While the vignettes have stayed pretty much the same, with the addition of those now called upon to play them due to the departures, the smaller "one line" parts and roles are a constant merry go round with changes every night and then we have added rehearsals before the performance most nights.  Learning a line of dialogue and where and when to insert it is not an easy task for many....older folks prefer a constant....that way they can remember...like what they had for breakfast.

Most are past the point of enjoying change or a challenge....now I am not inferring all....just many.

And so the show goes on!  It is still a source of happiness and joy for me.....and I still look forward to it.

  Fifteen Yards of Concrete,

                             Sixteen People,

                                       Fifty Feet of Pipe....

                    ....Engle House Gets a  Footing

     I knew it was coming but no one had said anything about manning up so I was feeling that I was going to miss the opportunity to help with the concrete footings on the Engle house...I wasn't feeling sad....more like grateful.  That all ended with Elder Hawkins calling me and inviting me to the party..."The more the merrier" he said.  I knew from the beginning it was going to be hard work.  The concrete was conveyed via a 5" hose that needed a man on it every four to five feet to lift it as it was directed around to where the concrete was  poured.  Then it was in the trenches moving it around to get the correct grade and where it needed to be.  It was all hands on deck and took all of us five hours to complete the task.  Of course one of those hours was standing around waiting for hardened concrete to be removed from the pipes....seems like someone had neglected to clean them out the last time they were used.  The reward was pizza for everyone.....provided by FM.  They got their money's worth.

     I made the tactical error of returning to the Economou house just to check on things and I spent the remainder of the day putting in insulation....why?.....I have no idea...I was sore and tired.  Just because you are getting older you are not getting much smarter.

On the Road Again....

     ...."The Fort", Bonaparte, & Bloomington
    It started out as and adventure over in Fort Madison to visit the now vacant Iowa State Prison now known as the Fort,  that was first erected in 1839.  It sits on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River and looms as an old decaying edifice for all to see.  Years of renovation, addition, changes and the like were reflected in tour.  Our guides were former guards who knew it well and along with pointing out a little of the architectural changes were very informative as to life as a prison guard.  The history and visuals of the prison in it's heyday as well as early pictures of public executions where it is reported that up to 15,000 people came to visit.  Not my idea of a way to spend a day...but then it was early Iowa.
    We headed south after that.  Seems Sister Lindeburg had a "hot" tip on an Amish bakery "a little bit past Milton, IA.  Lunch called as we past Bonaparte so we made a quick retreat to "the Retreat" which has always been a favorite place eat.
     Returning to the road we arrived in Bloomington only to meander through the town looking for Yoder's Country Corner.  We were struck by the architecture of the county building erected on the town square.  It's unique style caught our attention so we stopped in the rain and took a picture.  After that, while still searching for the bakery we ran into an original cabin that was built by the pioneers as they traveled along Iowa on their way to Zion.
     We soon resorted to Google to find the bakery...turns out it was 7 miles past the town.  Our anticipation and expectations were only overshadowed by reality.  It was okay...but it certainly wasn't Kalona, which has become our benchmark.  There was an adjacent wood manufacturing facility which was worth the trouble.  We bought a fruit basket.   It lay flat as a board and looked like an apple...then when pulled by the stem it would transform into a basket.
      A Lesson....and a Legacy......

         .....of Unrivaled Determination and Faith
      While reading the sign of the cabin in Bloomfield I was struck with something I already knew.  Only this time is was more than knowledge...it was the Spirit testifying to me.   These pioneer saints, our forefathers, were a determined lot. They lived their lives with an unrivaled determination and a faith in God that pushed and pulled them through every circumstance and obstacle that befell them.   Their decisions weren't based on what they thought they should do but rather on what the Prophet wanted them to do.  Days never went as planned.  The Mormon exodus was fraught with obstacles on end....yet they continued.  Sickness, misery, and death accompanied them.  Yet they pushed on and at the end of the day they gave thanks to God and often would rekindle their spirits with music and dancing.
     Glory be to them and their sacrifice....Hopefully we can leave a similar legacy!

Odds at the End
   

    We were just sitting on the bench in front of the Post Office on Sunday.  After two days of rain it was a great day with the sun shining brightly.  Two of our favorite Senior Sisters Shumway and McNiel had wandered up from Riser Boot as they were a little board.  They saw a few buckeyes on the ground and began to scratch around when it occurred to them that there were still some on the tree.  Great presents for the Grandkids they explained.  Looking for excitement I quickly volunteered and soon found my crew as we dove into getting them off the tree.  A broom, a bench, and a lot of stretching and we had them in hand.
     After we had completed the task Elder Walker pointed out that there is a reason men live shorter lives than women....they do stupid things to impress them.  As  Sister Gibsn says in Rendezvous........"Think about it!"
(a buckeye is similar to chestnuts but it has a smooth outer shell...not the prickly kind.  And by the way...it is not to eat if you are a human!)

    There's not A lot to Say....
      ...and I don't have many Pictures to Prove it.

   

   

The week is over and as I muse over it I struggle to find pictures and thoughts that can paint a picture.  It's not that there was little that happened....it's more like it was the same thing every day.  So it is likely this will be shorter than normal and contain a lot of random ramblings....
     It's been a month since Elder Van Horn left and I have spent the majority of my time working alone....not necessarily and bad thing but it does make progress seem slower and it definitely is harder physically.  We tore out more of the floor and exposed another wall at the McConkie home and discovered more hidden damage.  A structural engineer was summoned but he was unable to make it to the house last week for his assessment.  I can hardly wait to hear......if I have any nightmares it will be that this will be a return to the Schenk house scenario.
     Meanwhile, back at the Economou house the plumbers finally finished and Friday the electrician began work.  He went to get some wire and I never saw him again.  I started framing in a doorway and temporarily laying some plywood on the floor so I didn't have to dance so much over the open floor joists.

Speaking of dancing.....It started with a phone call from Sister Orme, our fellow cast member and neighbor.  They were having a little "get together" with music and dancing on Friday with a few other couples....Sister Gibson answered the call and of course she said "we would love it".    Turns out...we did. (even though I said "What are you thinking?"!!!
   We met at the Finlinson's, who have a large deck on the back of the house, and there Elder Finlinson, who is one of my favorite off beat Elder's  explained we were going to have a"Quadrille" (a dance where four couples form a square and follow the instructions of a caller).....
If they'd called it a "square dance" I would have known what I was getting into.
    We turned out to be short a couple so he called President Gordon (one of the mission presidency counselors) and started out the conversation by asking him if he and his wife were dressed...we were having a little "get together" and wondered if he and his wife could come over.  After a long pause...and our raucous laughter in the background died down he acknowledged they were.  It may not be what you think but around here you always need to ask that question.....bed time comes early....anytime after 7:00 you better ask before you show up.  Fortunately they were coming back from dinner and arrived quickly....let the dancing begin.
    It turned out to be a lot of fun with Elder Orme plays a mean accordion and Elder Finlinson guided us through the moves. Old people tire quickly and it was over before  we knew it...plans were formed to try and do this again....I can hardly wait!!?


    

      We had to make a shopping run to Burlington.  It is really more of an excuse to go out and eat.  I needed to get a pair of gloves so we stopped at Lowes.  I sat down for a rest and was soon joined by Sister Gibson.  Apparently it had been a rougher week than I thought.  At least my dental hygiene look to be pretty good.
     On the way home I met a nice young police officer from Gulfport, Ill. who sits in the median and waits for unsuspecting drivers coming off the downhill side of the highway bridge that crosses the Mississippi.  I had seen him apply his crafty trade to those who weren't paying attention.  Now I was the guy.  He wore the cutest Bermuda shorts and was very polite.  I would have asked him for a picture but I didn't think he would appreciate it.


 

   
Conference has a way of wreaking havoc on schedules for the sites and Rendezvous.  Women's Conference and General Priesthood Meeting require that some sites, where schedules can't be adapted, are closed early so the missionaries can get to Rendezvous that must start at 5:30.  Then it's quick change time to get to the conference on time.  In the case of Priesthood meeting the Elders were fed spiritually while the sisters headed off to Sister Butt's where the were fed lavishly with a meal prepared by Sister Butt.  I'm sure there was also a lot more fun and frivolity than at the meeting the Priesthood attended.

    

 

   The one thing left to post needed to wait until about 6:30 Sunday Night (Oct 1, 2017).  That was about the time we made our way up to the temple after arriving in Nauvoo.  We marked the occasion with a selfie.
     While it didn't look like a promising night for a picture.....the longer we stayed the better it got.  We met a family from Georgia......Sometimes you are in the right place for a reason.
     They introduced us to their father who was a rancher from Weston, Id.  The next hour we listened to his many spiritual and inspirational stories about things that had happened to him and his family and their experiences.
     We walked away feeling better for the night...and I am sure he did.