All Good Things Come to an End..
       .....and Lead to New Beginnings

     We had decided a month or so earlier that we would work our last day and not use our allotted pack day.  President Lusvardi had long ago granted our request to leave at the first of the week rather than the end so we would have time to do our pre-planned touring of Historic Church sites and be able to be in Texas to spend time with our grandchildren (and children) in Texas.  I would like to say we awoke with a renewed vigor to enthusiastically dive into our assignments.  Truth is we were both pretty well done physically and emotionally.  We were tired, sore, achy, and just plain ready to go except there was so much still to do before we could pack and leave....but we really did want to work one last time with our fellow missionaries.

     Over the weekend the stress had built....the panic grown.....as we operated at  fever pitch  to pack boxes, clean a place to put them, re-clean where we have already cleaned.  I started pre-packing the truck...will it all fit?  We really didn't buy that much so it should be a piece of cake.....turns out it is the whole cake as everything is carefully packed in an appropriate place.  It then becomes obvious...it's time to re-pack and reorganize.  It doesn't work any better the second...or third time.  So we pack the best we can and then we start to cram the rest wherever it will fit.  We just are so glad to be leaving we will figure it out later....or not.

     Sister Gibson and the rest of the conservation crew worked on final spot cleaning of an incoming missionary couple, the Schmitt's.  It was her last hurrah with the sisters and I am sure they all had a great time.  At the end of the day it was the beginning of the end as she went to work cleaning and re-cleaning, packing and re-packing.  It was going to be perfect.

    

     Elder Corder and I finished the last of the grouting in the presidents house (not the Presidential Palace) and then took Elder Warner on a tour of the jobs we were in the middle of that he would probably end up finishing.  Surely these projects couldn't be like the Sarah Granger windows.  Nope....they are still not done...but they are started for the umpteenth time.  These are the very same windows that were the number one job when I arrived here and had been already put off for six months and needed to be done immediately.  Two years of anticipation may actually come to fruition....or not.

    

     I really think by then Elder Corder and I realized we would be parting and so I opted in on his invitation to lunch.....in Montrose.  He needed to buy meat and I hadn't been to Montrose since our Mike Foley tour.  We had a great time and eventually made it back in time to end the day finding me an old Nauvoo brick or two to take home for a remembrance.

    Farewell Elder Corder....I will miss you.  You were one of the very best parts of our mission.  God be with you always.

     

So Long.....Farewell....
                Aufwiedersehen.......Good Bye!!

   

     We had made it.  Our mission was complete.  The truck was packed to the max and fully gassed.  All that was left one more final farewell ceremony before we hit the road.   So in full blown missionary attire we presented ourselves at the FM prayer meeting to receive the coveted(?) flag and have an opportunity to share our thoughts with the group.  Sister Gibson shed farewell tears as she expressed her love for those sisters she worked with and all the missionaries she served with.  Long remembered by Rick McGregor (our dear friend from the Community of Christ) and Elder Corder will be those early morning punches she delivered to their arms to make sure they knew "she loved them?".  

     I, on the other hand, had nothing but a smile as I couldn't shed a tear, even if I tried.  I had made many new friends, shared all types of experiences, and served to the best of my ability giving it everything I was asked to do......but now it was time to go home to my family and move on to other experiences.  I am sure we will be missed for a short time but then the cycle will continue and those who replace us will serve admirably and well and then we will become a distant memory.  By November we will be totally forgotten as the last of the missionaries we know will return home.  We may even see them again at some sort of reunion.  We do hope we see our favorite service missionary, Elder Coleman.  He has been a rock to the other service missionaries as well as a great example for those of us who have been able to work with him and watch him perform his duties.  

     The FM employees, even though they have a perception that there is a never ending line of missionaries flowing on the conveyor belt of service to Nauvoo, will go on,  seemingly unchanged in their work ethics.  It is doubtful they have been or will be changed in their attitude's toward those who serve.  Sadly, even though they  realize the vast amount of knowledge and experience that comes with the missionaries they see little need to change.  As Marty once told me "Elder, when you leave I will soon forget you because there will be others to take your place".  To that I say; "I will remember you and all of the other FM employee's.  It was a unique opportunity to serve with you".

The Long Road Home Begins at

           Winter Quarters and Kanesville!!

    

    

     When we used to take family vacations it became a tradition to play Willie Nelson's version of "On the Road Again".  I couldn't get it to play on the fancy Chevrolet sound system but as soon as the pleasantries of leaving FM were over we hit the road.  We headed northwest 500 miles to Winter Quarters.  It was here that my 3rd Great Grandfather Joseph Stallings wife, Margaret Shefflin, died in the winter of 1849.  I hadn't been able to discover much about it, other than the story so I thought I might be able to get some added insight.  

         We arrived in late afternoon and we were greeted by the Director, Elder Russell.  It seems wearing missionary attire and a badge gets you a little special attention.  In fact, I might add, too much attention.  Although there were other missionaries available, Elder Russell gave us a personal tour of the center.  So what that really means is that  he was a fountain of Winter Quarters knowledge and he wanted to make sure we got to immerse ourselves under or in it for as long as it took to give it all to us or wear us out.  The latter prevailed and two hours plus we broke the spell with a change of subject.  It reminded us of the days of Elder Mortensen and the Brick Yard tour in Nauvoo.

 

   

Hoping to move on to my main reason of the visit and inquiring about Margaret Shefflin I inquired about how one goes about it.  "Well", he said, "The sister who does that is not here today... but I can give you and e-mail address"  Someday, I'll find the card again.  I mumbled as Marilyn and I left and we explored the outside for a time.  Looking at the monuments and a few of the graves that were still somewhat visible.  It was well worth the trouble as we did learn a lot about the early Saints and their trials and successes in Winter Quarters.
     Sometimes the Lord grants us a tender mercy or two.  Later that night I was playing around on the computer and the thought crossed my mind to look at Joseph Stallings since I was following his trail.  To my great amazement I noticed a picture had been submitted of Margaret.  There is still little known about her but at least we have a picture to remember her.

      The following day found us starting in Kanesville where Brigham Young was called and selected as the  second President of the Church.  Kanesville, or Council Bluffs, as it is now known was   named for Thomas Kane, who, although a non-Mormon was a great friend to the Saints.  He negotiated a treaty with the Potowonamie Indians who had been pushed their by the Federal Government years before.  His efforts led to a large community that was able to prepare others to go west.
     We had an extra hour to tour the grounds since we arrived at nine but the center didn't open until 10:00.  Even though it was a total re-construction, the Kanesville Tabernacle  was an impressive reminder to what good men can do as it was built in just 2 1/2 weeks in order to provide the Saints with a meeting house.  The attached picture is "photshopped" as I wanted to show a little of the site plus the statue of the newly called presidency of Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and Parley P. Pratt.