It is a Week of Thanksgiving.....
                     ......We are all Bigger 
                               ....For the Experience!!

    

   

 

     It's Thanksgiving Week.  It doesn't seem like it, however.,  For Most of the missionaries there is no hubbub....no high anxiety getting the feast ready for the family.  It's a scheduled work day here and we are expected to perform our tasks as assigned.  While we are very mindful of those absent we are  aware of and enjoy our friendships here with those we serve with.  They are wonderful people and their testimonies and stories are a strength to us.  We sing of doing hard things....Willingly.  And we do them....Willingly (sometimes grumpily....but always willingly).  Here's and example:  Tuesday we gathered the troops and took several truckloads of platforms we thought were going to be used in the Live Nativity in the visitors center.  It was hard, back braking work.  Once accomplished we went back to work....a little more tired and sore than usual.  Turns out they didn't want them.  So Wednesday I asked several of the Elders to join me in the fun and frivolity of moving them back out.
Old and young were asked.....Not a one complained or mumbled.  An hour later the platforms and the move were history.

  Here in Nauvoo we do not celebrate the week one day.  It stretches over many.  Wednesday started with the FM luncheon where all the FM employees, their families, and missionaries joined together at the Pageant building  to warm up for the big event on Thursday.  That worked out well because the Temple Missionaries hosted another gala there on Thursday night.  That worked out well and the tables were already set up from the FM luncheon.  Friday, Sister Corder, our FM secretary took to planning another feast for the FM missionaries.....with games...That was worth the price of admission.   Sunday was another feast at District Reporting meeting where we had steak and all the fixin's before we took off for the "Light the Tree" practice in the Visitors Center.

     Philosophically it kind of reminds me of Sister Gibson's birthday....it isn't a special day...not even a special week.....it is a monthly celebration from beginning to end!!

     All in all it was a great week....although we do miss our family and friends back home.  We continually pray for them and their well being.

Whether a Horse....or a Tractor....
        .....The Nauvoo Carriage Ride is Special

  It wasn't the same....but it was certainly worth the ride.  The horses are still retired but our FM District was given a unique opportunity to participate in a carriage ride through the back roads of Nauvoo....behind a Deere....John Deere Tractor.  Elder Slater, the head teamster, and our former neighbor was kind enough to narrate the experience and share with stories of those early saints who played a role in the building of Joseph's City.  Their lives, stories and sacrifices are a remembrance of these stalwart and faithful members.

     As he so aptly pointed out...without the Carriage Ride who will tell these stories that testify of these people?  It is unique to Nauvoo where these stories of average every day people are told.  Their sacrifices, their struggles, as well  their accomplishments.  Elder Slater started by telling the early story of his grandfather up until his arrival in Nauvoo.  His story abruptly ended there...why?  It is quite simple.....he didn't keep a journal and the details of his later life are lost. 

     So for all of you who are my descendants take heart.   Even though I didn't keep a journal I have written a good portion of my life story.  Grandma, on the other hand has a blank page to  on...all she needs is a grandchild to provide her with a tape recorder and ask her questions.  He past is a mystery and worth unfolding.  Be sure and ask her about the apple orchard near the house....she will surely blush!!

  Nauvoo is a Place of Miracles...Again

     

The difference between life and death is the beat of the heart.  In Elder Jones case it was a matter of minutes.....maybe even seconds.  Wednesday at our FM luncheon Elder Jones wasn't his usual jovial self but he was there eating the meal with us at 1:00.  He knew something wasn't right but plowed stubbornly plowed on.  At three o'clock he called his wife saying he was ill.  Sensing something more she called President Hughes to go over and check on him.  As he entered the door Elder Jones was already engaged in a 911 phone call....he was having a heart attack.  This wasn't new to him as he had already been through it before and had three stints already in place.  The ambulance soon arrived and he was hurried off to Burlington.  Seconds....literally after passing through the doors he was in full arrest.  Oddly enough the cardiologist was not supposed to be there...but he was.  They rushed him into an OR....four times he went into arrest.....four times he was revived.  A stint was placed in the artery to open it.  He came home the following day.  There are medical miracles....and there are Nauvoo miracles.
      Sister Huffaker went to the first, of a newly formed exercise class, in the stake center.  Speed walking(which is probably more of a term than an actuality) around the carpeted gym(yes they still have it here) she caught a foot, fell awkwardly on here shoulder.  It was diagnosed as a full blown fracture that would require a whole new shoulder and a release from her mission to recuperate. A day and priesthood blessing later...it was a serious fracture that could be repaired with a plate a screw and a few weeks recovery.  
     It's an amazing place here with all the "old folks" serving on the Lords errand.  He does watch over us here!!

Same Old Maxwell House......
            ......And New Friends to Help

     It's hard to remember the anticipation of a holiday but at FM it is not forgotten with the employees.  Their perspective is far different.  We just plow on with little anticipation or thought but our focus is rather on our projects.  In the case of the Maxwell house we working outside in the cold.  It wouldn't matter if we were inside, however, there is no heat nor will their be for several weeks.  Tuesday was another one of those days that started in the teens and peaked at freezing.  Then things turned to the better as it warmed.  Thanksgiving was a perfect day to work in....except many of the missionaries hadn't understood it was a work day and they had planned on other activities.  So it was the case with Elder Archibald.  Elder Pettit, our Zone Leader, quickly volunteered.  Along with Elder Coleman who had been working with us due to the illness of his FM lead we dove in and completed the back side of the house and the following day when Elder Archibald came back, apologizing all over the place for his previous day's absence, and we finished the south side.
      On Thanksgiving while we were working away the other service elders, who had nothing to do except hang out since the FM employees were off, kept calling Elder Coleman and wanted him to return to the house....seems there was a ruckus going on and they wanted Elder Coleman to come home.  He was happy, and I mean really happy, to be where he was.   Elder Pettit heard one such conversation and had an immediate solution.  He soon got the Elders to load up the van, get a trailer attached, pick up rakes and spend the rest of the day raking leaves at the Maxwell House and the next door neighbors.....to boot.  Work solves a lot of problems.

 Odds....at the End

   

    

    

Sister Gibson is so sweet it's hard to believe that she would take President Hall's piece of pie.  It all started as she was sizing up the pie table that was loaded with and incredible selection of scrumptious  pies.  After careful consideration President Hall made his selection.  Sister Gibson stepped up and mentioned to him that was the one she wanted (not really).  After a brief discussion the pie remained with President Hall.....until guilt and Sister Gibson got the best of him. 
     He soon called Sister Gibson over and she was still working him over when he finally offered her half.
That was good enough for her.  President Hall is none the worse for the encounter.....He did it willingly or else.




     

One of the more colorful personalities at FM is Lee Noe.  He is the "king" of printing publications, signs, and whatever at FM.  A knock to his always closed door is the familiar greeting:

       "Go Away!!"

Which really means "come in if you have too."  He took the week off to be with his family but showed up at FM luncheon with his famous Turkey Hat.  It fits him perfectly and probably should wear it everyday to brighten us further.  We really do like him and his quirky ways.

  

  

 

     The Nauvoo Community Christmas Tree Lighting and Walk if thankfully Friday.  It has been a great experience.  I have employed all the cat herding techniques I have learned here in Nauvoo.  The best thing I have done is let our very qualified people do their jobs...without interference.  Friday I will find out how that worked.  But for now I busy myself with the menial tasks.  One such task was setting up the manger for the live nativity.  I enlisted the help of my new found and exceptionally over qualified service missionaries Elder Cantwell and Elder Coleman.  Together with Elder Archibald they set it up in no time flat.  Soon they found the Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh and before I knew it they were auditioning for the job in the live nativity.  I sent the picture to the Beecher's for their approval.  They seemed to think Wise Men were out of the question and they best audition for "Wise Guys".  I guess it was worth a try.... 

    

    


     There I was taking pictures at the Thanksgiving Dinner with the missionaries.  Suddenly I was looking down the barrel of Elder Searle's Nikon about to be shot.  Instinctively I rose to the ready...he froze unable to get a clear shot.  We fired simultaneously.  I guess what we got was suicide by camera.

One of the last things we wanted to see in Hannibal was the Rockcliffe Mansion.  It has thirty rooms and was built by John J. Cruikshank, Jr who had made his fortune in the lumber business.  Hannibal provided both railroads and the conduit of the Mississippi River to both receive and ship lumber.  Sister Lindeburg left an ailing Elder Lindeburg to go with us.

My guess is she went more for the visit to Sam's Club than the mansion.