It's All About Patience....
....With the Patients
...Because Sometimes it's a Crazy Place
I guess it's been one of those weeks when it's full of surprises that catch me off guard If it were a baseball game we have made it to the ninth inning. We have hit it out of the park and we are rounding third heading home in a glorious victory trot. The closer we get the louder the crown roars. Then, for no particular reason, the third baseman loses focus and stretches his leg in my path and I become a cloud a swirling dust. No big deal....just an annoyance. So I drag myself up, dust myself off, rub my butt-hurt and get moving toward home. He meant no harm....just wasn't really thinking. It is, a reminder to me, that sometimes we don't realize the consequences of a simple, well meaning decision or action.
For some odd reason patience seems to be on my mind these days. Nauvoo is a reminder of the strength of patience as those early Saints were tried in much the same way Job was. The had nothing, gained seemingly everything, and then were forced to give it up and start over again. They made it across the plains with patience and fortitude. We will do the same.
So as we seemingly are pressed to go home I have decided to compile a few thoughts and preparing to leave Nauvoo.
So as we seemingly are pressed to go home I have decided to compile a few thoughts and preparing to leave Nauvoo.
You know you are a Nauvoo Missionary about to go home if:
The normal "how are you doing" (even though most don't want to know) is replaced by:
"Hey short-timer, how many more days do you have left....we will miss you"
You have more dinner invitations that days left.
You create a bucket list
You don't take a P-Day because it's more important to clean than rest or travel.
The normal "how are you doing" (even though most don't want to know) is replaced by:
"Hey short-timer, how many more days do you have left....we will miss you"
You have more dinner invitations that days left.
You create a bucket list
You don't take a P-Day because it's more important to clean than rest or travel.
If your clothes have holes or are covered in paint, glue, or grease and you don't mind. You
know that soon you will be able to wear what you want, where you want, when you want.
know that soon you will be able to wear what you want, where you want, when you want.
You can't wait to take the boxes full of Rendezvous and Site Clothes to the Nauvoo DI
You realize you haven't bought enough memorabilia but don't have time to shop for it.
or
You have found memorabilia tucked under the bed or in the closet and can't
remember even buying it.
remember even buying it.
Your grocery shopping is more of a discussion of what you don't need and how are we going
to get rid of the food we have.
to get rid of the food we have.
People tell you they will miss you so much....even though they can't remember your name.
You send a text to the Bishop asking when you are speaking in Sacrament Meeting after
your return. He can't remember who you are and doesn't answer for a week
It is more important to clean the apartment that anything else
Elder Corder can't refer to you has his District Leader
You want to make sure everyone else knows what's going on because you feel no one
else does.
It's time to make the blog private....apparently there are those who get offended and my
sarcastic humor in things I don't or do understand all that well.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished....
As the Barn Gets Finished?
I just needed one good day and we could finish the barn....just one. The weather report look promising although we have turned from constant cold and a frozen river to varying temperatures and precipitation. Tuesday was that day...finally. Trouble is our plan wasn't someone elses......It's the Nauvoo way. While sitting in the "Leads" FM meeting on Monday it was announced that Elder Nelson was going to travel with Elder Pettit to Iowa City to pick up some lumber...it seemed no one knew exactly why the only explanation was he wanted someone to ride shotgun...since the extra help wasn't really needed.
No big deal. We not until the next day, anyway. Tuesday brought the promised weather, Elder Nelson was enlisted and away we went. Elder Nelson didn't arrive as expected so we
plowed on thinking he was coming. Turns out he wasn't. Lon, our FM carpentry shop geru, reassigned him to the "mansion" to do finish work he was supposed to have done Monday. Really? You just never know sometimes. I have labored under the apparent illusion that I was scheduling the carpentry on the houses, simply by default, if for no other reason. I became aware of the situation when and I received a text from Marcus wondering why I am not checking with "my supervisor"(who is Jordon on this particular project.) I called him a indicated that we needed Elder Nelson as it was a safety issue requiring a third hand....."I'll get on it", he said.....by 11:00 Elder Nelson hadn't arrived.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), Elder Slater, the head teamster, saw our need and jumped in to lend a very much needed helping hand. He had seen the need and came to our rescue. Without his help we would have never got it done. Together with Elder Corder we completed the project. Unfortunately it came at a cost for Elder Slater as his back went "South" the next day and he could barely move and only crawl. Fortunately, with a blessing and a trip to the Nauvoo Clinic and several hours later he was standing at President Lusvardi's Media Social leading the singing. It is a special place with extraordinary blessings provided to those who serve.
We dropped by the barn on Thursday as Raymond was over shoeing the horses. He thought the structure was a little flimsy.....hardly. Elder Butt chimed in that it would really be nice if someone could line the inside with plywood. It was then thought that we might even consider air-conditioning and a heater. So is the Barn really done or is that a figment of my imagination?
Raymond, the Ferrier for the mission, who was the primary instigator of the barn lean-to addition gave me permission to take his picture and the Lehi (the horse) wanted equal exposure....as if his big backside wasn't enough. What a whiner......it's the view the teamsters are most familiar with.
Dancing on the Cultural Hall Floor...
Our Special Memory....With Friends
When Elder Finlinson suckered us into doing the Quadrille a few months ago I had no idea that it would ultimately lead to a dance on the Cultural Hall floor. Once hatched in November the idea grew into a passion. Probably because I really didn't think it would be possible. Patiently we talked and thought about it and finally the reality became apparent....it was an idea who time had come.
Over the weeks of our dancing we had usually averaged about 16-20 people. As Rendezvous died out we thought we would get more people involved....we didn't. Our first concern was that it would even be permissible. That was quickly answered with a resounding yes....but no food or drink was allowed on the floor. Elder Finlinson and I decided on March 2 and we announced it to all in t February. Our numbers had started to diminish since there wasn't much to do in Nauvoo in the evening except Monday night (Family Home Evening), Tuesday Night was Tatting, molding clay houses, and hopscotch(not really), Wednesday Night was Family History Night, Thursday was the weekly sociable. Since the Temple was only open for evening sessions on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday folks had to make a choice and it wasn't usually the Quadrille on Friday night. Still we plowed along.
We figured all we needed was 10 or 12 to pull it off, told everyone who wanted to come to bring some finger food for the Green Room and let's dance. The 10 or 12 we hoped for blossomed into over sixty.....and away we went. Elder Orme playing familiar upbeat tunes on his accordion, Sister Nielsen2 lining people up in front of the window that viewed the temple to take their picture, and cell phones galore taking pictures....except mine. I was too busy having fun dancing. (No I was abducted by an alien and a clone put in my place) It was a fantastic night with those who could doing the quadrille, those who couldn't trying, and Elder Finlinson winging it as he went trying to teach. All in all we were having a great time. Intermittently we danced waltz's, the Bunny Hop, and a wild Hokey Pokey.
We concluded with talking and commiserating about the evening and what brought us together and then cleaned the place up, went home, and crashed. It was a long day and bed look really good at nine o'clock....of coursed we didn't see it until much later.
You send a text to the Bishop asking when you are speaking in Sacrament Meeting after
your return. He can't remember who you are and doesn't answer for a week
It is more important to clean the apartment that anything else
Elder Corder can't refer to you has his District Leader
You want to make sure everyone else knows what's going on because you feel no one
else does.
It's time to make the blog private....apparently there are those who get offended and my
sarcastic humor in things I don't or do understand all that well.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished....
As the Barn Gets Finished?
I just needed one good day and we could finish the barn....just one. The weather report look promising although we have turned from constant cold and a frozen river to varying temperatures and precipitation. Tuesday was that day...finally. Trouble is our plan wasn't someone elses......It's the Nauvoo way. While sitting in the "Leads" FM meeting on Monday it was announced that Elder Nelson was going to travel with Elder Pettit to Iowa City to pick up some lumber...it seemed no one knew exactly why the only explanation was he wanted someone to ride shotgun...since the extra help wasn't really needed.
No big deal. We not until the next day, anyway. Tuesday brought the promised weather, Elder Nelson was enlisted and away we went. Elder Nelson didn't arrive as expected so we
plowed on thinking he was coming. Turns out he wasn't. Lon, our FM carpentry shop geru, reassigned him to the "mansion" to do finish work he was supposed to have done Monday. Really? You just never know sometimes. I have labored under the apparent illusion that I was scheduling the carpentry on the houses, simply by default, if for no other reason. I became aware of the situation when and I received a text from Marcus wondering why I am not checking with "my supervisor"(who is Jordon on this particular project.) I called him a indicated that we needed Elder Nelson as it was a safety issue requiring a third hand....."I'll get on it", he said.....by 11:00 Elder Nelson hadn't arrived.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), Elder Slater, the head teamster, saw our need and jumped in to lend a very much needed helping hand. He had seen the need and came to our rescue. Without his help we would have never got it done. Together with Elder Corder we completed the project. Unfortunately it came at a cost for Elder Slater as his back went "South" the next day and he could barely move and only crawl. Fortunately, with a blessing and a trip to the Nauvoo Clinic and several hours later he was standing at President Lusvardi's Media Social leading the singing. It is a special place with extraordinary blessings provided to those who serve.
Raymond, the Ferrier for the mission, who was the primary instigator of the barn lean-to addition gave me permission to take his picture and the Lehi (the horse) wanted equal exposure....as if his big backside wasn't enough. What a whiner......it's the view the teamsters are most familiar with.
Our Special Memory....With Friends
When Elder Finlinson suckered us into doing the Quadrille a few months ago I had no idea that it would ultimately lead to a dance on the Cultural Hall floor. Once hatched in November the idea grew into a passion. Probably because I really didn't think it would be possible. Patiently we talked and thought about it and finally the reality became apparent....it was an idea who time had come.
Over the weeks of our dancing we had usually averaged about 16-20 people. As Rendezvous died out we thought we would get more people involved....we didn't. Our first concern was that it would even be permissible. That was quickly answered with a resounding yes....but no food or drink was allowed on the floor. Elder Finlinson and I decided on March 2 and we announced it to all in t February. Our numbers had started to diminish since there wasn't much to do in Nauvoo in the evening except Monday night (Family Home Evening), Tuesday Night was Tatting, molding clay houses, and hopscotch(not really), Wednesday Night was Family History Night, Thursday was the weekly sociable. Since the Temple was only open for evening sessions on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday folks had to make a choice and it wasn't usually the Quadrille on Friday night. Still we plowed along.
We figured all we needed was 10 or 12 to pull it off, told everyone who wanted to come to bring some finger food for the Green Room and let's dance. The 10 or 12 we hoped for blossomed into over sixty.....and away we went. Elder Orme playing familiar upbeat tunes on his accordion, Sister Nielsen2 lining people up in front of the window that viewed the temple to take their picture, and cell phones galore taking pictures....except mine. I was too busy having fun dancing. (No I was abducted by an alien and a clone put in my place) It was a fantastic night with those who could doing the quadrille, those who couldn't trying, and Elder Finlinson winging it as he went trying to teach. All in all we were having a great time. Intermittently we danced waltz's, the Bunny Hop, and a wild Hokey Pokey.
We concluded with talking and commiserating about the evening and what brought us together and then cleaned the place up, went home, and crashed. It was a long day and bed look really good at nine o'clock....of coursed we didn't see it until much later.
Who is Faster Than A Speeding Bullet,
Not Near as Powerful as a Locomotive,
Can Turn Chaos into Semi-Organization,
And Still Have Enough Energy for
Breakfast in Fort Madison?
The answer to that is the Brigham Young District. As an intricate part of the Pettit Zone of the Illinois Nauvoo Mission we swarmed into the stake center like bee's in a snowstorm, scrambling to find implements of cleaning to hurriedly fulfill a cleaning assignment that has more people assigned(at least 30) than tasks to complete. Even though our district doesn't use this building since they are outbound, they show up willingly and on time. All this is done in some sort of record time (usually 30-40 minutes) since some things are cleaned multiple times....not because of a sloppy job.....but to keep looking busy until others start leaving. With that said, I say; "They came, they cleaned, and they departed. " We will be back next week doing the same thing.
*Disclaimer: There were no missionaries overworked in the fury of this assignment. (Although most needed a nap to recover.)
While everyone else retired to their homes the Brigham Young District made a quick clothes change and headed to Ft. Madison for breakfast at the Fort Colony Restaurant which had previously been approved for good eating by myself and Elder Corder on Wednesday. One of the blessings of during this time in our lives has been this district. We are one in spirit and purpose and we have a unique time together as we are able to share their stories about missionary work. I mean "real" missionary work where they have an opportunity on their outbound assignments to actually involve themselves in their wards and branches and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people. They are not only the match lighters, like our site missionaries, they are the fuel that can take a small flame and help turn it into a roaring fire. Of course the spirit is the true converter and we should never lose sight of that but these "seasoned" missionaries are special in our lives for their service. They are making a difference in lives on a weekly basis.
Someone once told Sister Hall2 when she first arrived and was announced as a new FM missionary; "Oh, a groundskeeper. You are not part of the Country Club" Whether in jest or actuality she was hurt. I think with time that feeling is passing. To that thoughtless sister I have an observation and comment taught us in our ward at home by a loving bishop; We are not a "Country Club" for Saints. We are a hospital for sinners" Enough said there.
If there is one thing that is not to look forward to or doing, it is the required cleaning of the apartment. I would just as soon leave the $150 deposit and have someone else clean it. That thought is out the window because if the missionaries don't clean it then the other missionaries do. There is a two page cleaning list to check off. A pre-inspection is mandatory and you have to pull the refer, stove, and washer and dryer out to prove you have cleaned behind them. It's almost a "Gestapo" like fear that you can build up. I personally think the treasure trove of memorabilia that one loses there should be left as some sort of time capsule that can be discovered in future years. I have torn out cabinets and such here over the months I have found papers and such that date back into the early 1900's and maybe beyond.
The days following the pre-inspection are filled with the mundane takes of the check list. Items on that list include cleaning of the drapes, blinds, cabinets (inside and out), and they insist you clean the toilets...really? In the end the stress is alleviated by the work and you have done and exhausted yourself. So bring it on.....let the cleaning and packing begin. It's pretty safe to admit it now....we are in countdown mode.
All of that leads us to the Nielsen1's, who moved into the Pageant Directors house as the new tenants. Elder Nielsen, in his big gruff Swat Team voice has always insisted that his former apartment will be militarily cleaned and ready for inspection when he moves, In fact he made it known that "he" expected a large, gihugious Big Gulp when it passed the first time.
It did and Sister Gibson and her cohort, Sister Schmidt, presented him with "his" due reward.
He was proud as punch and stood tall at the award ceremony as the complimentary photo was taken......until his wife entered the room and inquired as the presentation. Sister Gibson explained that it was because Elder Nielsen1 had done such a good job cleaning. The fan was on and it wasn't pretty what hit it. Soon the reward was re-allocated to Sister Nielsen1 who, in spite of Elder Nielsen1's objections had done all the work that he had so willingly taken credit for. Elder Nielsen1 will be paying for that guffaw for a long time.
Here's More Nonsense...
We're Getting a Little Giddy
While stopping by to check with Sister Corder, our mission secretary, to find out why I was giving the prayer thought again, so soon, and get the topic, I per chanced on an opportunity to startle (scare) her. She was engrossed in a project with Jordan. Unfortunately he had seen me pass by the window but Jordan didn't. So when I leaped and screamed she sat stoic and paid little attention. Unfortunately Jordon wasn't so lucky and was visibly shaken. She told me I should be ashamed of myself and that I had best talk about repentance. I checked in with Sister Gibson and as I was returning I noticed not much had changed. I took a second shot at being "the great scarer" and it was worth the prayer thought to see her, and of course Jordon, scream and jump. Surprise was mine...saith Elder Gibson.
Not Near as Powerful as a Locomotive,
Can Turn Chaos into Semi-Organization,
And Still Have Enough Energy for
Breakfast in Fort Madison?
*Disclaimer: There were no missionaries overworked in the fury of this assignment. (Although most needed a nap to recover.)
Someone once told Sister Hall2 when she first arrived and was announced as a new FM missionary; "Oh, a groundskeeper. You are not part of the Country Club" Whether in jest or actuality she was hurt. I think with time that feeling is passing. To that thoughtless sister I have an observation and comment taught us in our ward at home by a loving bishop; We are not a "Country Club" for Saints. We are a hospital for sinners" Enough said there.
If there is one thing that is not to look forward to or doing, it is the required cleaning of the apartment. I would just as soon leave the $150 deposit and have someone else clean it. That thought is out the window because if the missionaries don't clean it then the other missionaries do. There is a two page cleaning list to check off. A pre-inspection is mandatory and you have to pull the refer, stove, and washer and dryer out to prove you have cleaned behind them. It's almost a "Gestapo" like fear that you can build up. I personally think the treasure trove of memorabilia that one loses there should be left as some sort of time capsule that can be discovered in future years. I have torn out cabinets and such here over the months I have found papers and such that date back into the early 1900's and maybe beyond.
The days following the pre-inspection are filled with the mundane takes of the check list. Items on that list include cleaning of the drapes, blinds, cabinets (inside and out), and they insist you clean the toilets...really? In the end the stress is alleviated by the work and you have done and exhausted yourself. So bring it on.....let the cleaning and packing begin. It's pretty safe to admit it now....we are in countdown mode.
Here's Some Nonsense.....
.... One Man's View of Reality
It did and Sister Gibson and her cohort, Sister Schmidt, presented him with "his" due reward.
He was proud as punch and stood tall at the award ceremony as the complimentary photo was taken......until his wife entered the room and inquired as the presentation. Sister Gibson explained that it was because Elder Nielsen1 had done such a good job cleaning. The fan was on and it wasn't pretty what hit it. Soon the reward was re-allocated to Sister Nielsen1 who, in spite of Elder Nielsen1's objections had done all the work that he had so willingly taken credit for. Elder Nielsen1 will be paying for that guffaw for a long time.
Here's More Nonsense...
We're Getting a Little Giddy
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