The Spirit in John Taylor.....

                           ........or the Ghost That Wasn't

     Every Wednesday morning at 8:00 we have a training meeting.  For FM it is a good thing as we get an extra hour to use "as we see fit".  (Use your imagination here as to what that might be).  We have had trainings on mission rules, procedures, who can and can't do what or what you should or shouldn't wear...depending where you are..., things that will help us in our mission work in Nauvoo, and we even teach each other about site presentations.  In the summer time becomes of the essence and so it is important we refine our presentations so we can deliver our message without causing a long wait for the next group.  Sounds like fun...can hardly wait.

     Last Wednesday the primary agenda was devoted to the artifacts that we have here in Nauvoo as well as who is allowed to touch them and when.  Each site has a book with pictures of the artifacts and a color coded logo which denotes who can touch them.  A green logo is "go" for everyone....Orange is for "missionaries", and a Red one means "HANDS OFF" unless you are specifically trained.  Sister Gibson and Sister Lee Master have that responsibility and that is why they have so much to do when it comes to cleaning and inventorying during the winter months.

     Also on the agenda was a rather unique topic. An eerie noise was disturbing sisters in the John Taylor Home.  It seems that the sisters would often hearing a baby crying....The site coordinator would make periodic checks and even heard it.  One of the oft heard lines in Nauvoo is "a rumor did fly" (comes from Rendezvous in the Noah Packard scene.....well a rumor did fly.....Was it a spirit that was haunting the old residence?   Nope.....seems there is an apartment that is attached to the back of the house and is currently being used by a young intern couple with a small baby....who knew????
Mystery is solved and life is back in order.  Sisters can sleep soundly.

A Week at the Packard House....

        ......One Pain is Replaced by Many Others!
     Things at the Noah Packard residence started rolling right along and it felt like we were getting things done..........finally!  Elder Sims and I started lifting the 2x10x16' joist into place for the upstairs floor (and bedroom ceiling).  Getting them in place  was a challenge as they had to lifted over our heads while standing on step ladders and then pushing them between the existing joists and push them up to the upstairs on an angle so they wouldn't hit the wall before we were able to drop them onto the walls we had built.  Then we followed that up with trying to fit a 16d nail gun between the joists to nail them to each other.  We followed up that little exercise by pushing and pulling the 48x97x 3/4" sheets of chip board through those same narrower openings.  Elder Sims went to work laying the floor while I started building the interior walls.  By the end of the week, and a bottle of Advil, things were looking like progress......I was sore but there was finally progress.
    But Wait....there's more.....and then.....it was decided that a portion of the  kitchen floor needed to be cut out and the floor joist cut down so when the floor was put down again it would be level.  Never mind that we had discussed the matter on many occasions and it could not been resolved at that time....."And that's the way things are here in Nauvoo...."(Line for Rendezvous which is oft quoted rather than debating the moot point).  So we will "willingly" tear out the floor that could have been torn out weeks ago.....who knew?

 A Spinning Wheel......

                                          ....Named Suzy           

     P Day this week started out with a trip top Fort Madison where Sister Lindeburg had found a spinning wheel to buy.  One of the sisters in the mission has gotten her all excited about spinning.  She wants to teach this to her grandchildren.  She found one in nearby Ft. Madison and made an appointment to be there at 10:00.  We pulled up to large building with a sign proclaiming "Saint Elizabeth Manor" over the door.  It looked more like a small hospital than a house.....turns out that was a purpose for it at one time.  The couple that lived there were in their nineties and both trundled around with walkers.  She apparently had forgotten about time or the appointment because she had to get out of bed to greet us.  The house looked more like a museum with so many interesting things.....including four spinning wheels and other unique pieces.  With tears in her eyes she parted with "Suzy" which was her favorite "wheel" and Sister Lindeburg had a new teaching tool for her grandchildren.

          ....and a Burlington Snake

     The trip to Burlington appeared, as always, to be a "short list" trip with HyVee (grocery store) and GNC (nutritional store) on the list.  Turns out the list included two nutritional stores, WalMart, and JoAnn's fabrics  so while Lindeburgs went off in search of the first one on the list I got a haircut.  In and out (less than 10 minutes) we quickly reunited with them.  The store, it seems was further than they thought.  GNC turned out to be in the Burlington Mall....RED FLAG.  As you can see the Sisters had a great time shopping. 

  Turns out the nutritional store was close to "Snake Alley" and so we stopped to pay a visit.  It's really only a short meandering street down a steep hill that someone thought would be fun to create....so they did. It did make it into the record books, however, according to the plaque.   There are a couple of houses but the street is locked off with a chain at the top.  Makes for a great walk over the old original brick surface.   What more can I say?   At least it wasn't icy!!!

     Ice Storms Bring Havoc......
     After church today we were supposed to be serving in the Print Shop...Neither one of those things happened.  Seems there was a potential for one of the famous "Ice Storms" to pass through and with that, and the safety of the missionaries in mind, all activities were cancelled.  While the ice storm never arrived it is by far better to be safe than sorry...they are treacherous! 

    What a Blessing.....

     With the holidays behind us we march forth into the new year.  The days are now passing faster as we continue to adapt to the mission and it's operation.  We received an in-home visit from President and Sister Hall on Friday.  They make it a point to visit all the missionaries and become a little more acquainted with them.  They wanted to make sure we were happy.  I did hold my tongue about the miniscule vanity cabinet (surprisingly) as it still remains an irritant.  Sister Gibson has it on her agenda to take it up with the director of the FM when I get her a picture.  The highlight of the evening was a blessing on the home by President Hall.  Their visit and love for us was much appreciated.

     Each day that passes we are grateful for our time and assignments in Nauvoo.  There is a poignancy about the winter months.  We are more mindful of the hardships that were present here for the Saints in their day to day lives but is the memory of their forced exodus in winter's deep grasp that is the most telling.  Standing at the Trail of Hope and looking across the river causes a lot of pondering as to their commitment and willingness to follow the directions of a prophet. 

     Many had come from foreign lands to a new and promising country.  They had built their city from a swamp, fought off disease and hardship of building their town which was growing daily with new convert arrivals. They sacrificed and banded together to help one another.  Slowly, like a brewing storm, the clouds of darkness began to cloud their sunny lives, gathering together into a storm of darkness and destruction that would destroy everything they had come here for......except their faith.  That is what brought them here....and that is what powered them forward into the unknown wilderness while following their prophets vision of a better and brighter future. 

     We will be re-enacting that difficult day on February 4th which will be the exact day 171 years ago that the Saints began their journey west.  We will be preparing for that event during the month and look forward to it with great anticipation.

Noah Packard House....

       It's like a Dance Two Steps Forward.....

                                               .....One Step Back

     In the beginning of the Packard House project I was extremely frustrated with the "Nauvoo" way of doing things.  Since that time I have learned to cope with it slightly better and my frustration level has declined to the point I am only frustrated.  That means two things.....I have learned to cope with it better and I am a little bit more aware of some of the problems that arise in a project such as the Packard House.  I am also learning and re-learning that my opinion isn't the only one....in fact it is generally only my opinion and it really doesn't count for much....and that's ok.  The lack a plan and leadership in implementing the project continues.  Eventually everything seems to get where I thought it would be....or at least hoped.  Take for example the ceiling in the main floor bedroom.  The first directive was to tear off the existing sheet rock and leave the lath and plaster.  It was a dirty and filthy job.  A few days later the directive became....let's (that means me) strip the plaster off the ceiling but leave the lath...it was a dirty and filthy job.  There was a lot of plaster between the lath boards and so it was decided that it needed to be cleaned and scraped out before it would be sheet rocked over (that's me again.....getting really dirty and filthy...not to worry).   It required a breathing mask and safety glasses than continually fogged up a left me seeing little.   The next day it is decided to tear down the lath since we now have to level the ceiling (which everyone knew was a mess from looking at it).  Elder Sims...feeling my pain grabbed some hoes and we tore it all down.  And to think it could have all be done at one time.....INCONCEIVABLE.
      Since the beginning it has been know that there was a severe fire at sometime and there was considerable damage to the structure in the basement.  We shored up timbers to help with this.  As we have progressed in the demolition of upstairs we have found a considerable amount of fire damage and burnt wood.  It was scary what the condition of the ceiling joists in the bedroom ended up looking like when we had everything stripped away.  Two were cracked almost clear through and two had severe fire damage.  And then things STOPPED making sense.  The severely damaged and scabbed together boards had no other fire damage around them.  It now appears that the fire down stairs was severe and did considerable damage but not being able to find or afford good wood....the old burned and charred wood was used again wherever it would fit.  It's a mess.  We will solve the problem with the ceiling/floor as we will be strengthening them with 2x10's that will be above and below the existing (if Elder Sims figured correctly) and we will now have level and smooth floor and ceiling....WaaaaaLaaaaaa.
     In the Nauvoo tradition, however, progress has brought retrogression.  The plumbers and electricians who have been diligently working by our sides, even though there is a constantly changing  plan or finished framing in place, are now having to go back and tear out what was mis-directedly placed and wait until the framing is completed.....like should have been done in the first place.  I think we ought to give this dance a name........any suggestions?

Inventory Continues......and a Rocking Legend

                               ....quietly retires from Nauvoo

     Sister Gibson continues working to complete the inventory and cleaning.  It will go on for several weeks.  One of the stops along the way was the John Taylor home.  Here she shows off her handiwork cleaning a hickory cane that would have been similar to the one  John Taylor used to ward off the guns of the impending cowards who murdered Joseph and Hyrum Smith while incarcerated in Carthage.  He was severely wounded and from that time on he would require the use of a cane. Prior to that the cane he used may have been more for style than substance.

     One of the many emotional stories told here in Nauvoo has been John Taylor's grit and determination.  Unable to bear the tears and heartache of his young son he returned to Nauvoo in spite of the danger from the mobs that had forced the Mormon's out and retrieve a wooden horse he had made for the child.  Many of the missionaries have told this story but according to the Church historical department, this, and some other stories, lack historical evidence and are cataloged more as family legends.  They may be true....and then again....maybe not quite so true.  An effort is always being made to be correct and so the wooden horse story will only be told with what is factual...as a family legend....not as a factual story.

Suspenders are in Iowa but.....

              ...Do we really need a Horse Collar? 

     Our P Day on Saturday took us back to Cantril, IA.  The object was to get a pair of genuine leather suspenders for the Editor in Rendezvous.  The nearest place we can find them is a harness shop that is a little past Cantril in  Milton, IA that is run by the Amish.  It is called Countryside Manufacturing.   Lee Roy is the proprietor and in truth he reminded me more of a leprechaun than an Amish businessman.  We would have loved to have a picture to show you but the Amish do not prefer to be photographed...respecting their culture, we didn't.  The suspenders are a sideline and their main business is providing leather goods for horses and farm animals. We also purchased some delicious homemade chocolate/caramel/and peanut candies made by Lee Roy's mom.  He carefully explained the process to us.  And then  Sister Gibson found a horse collar that was a perfect fit for me and was ready to buy it.  I was ok with that but stopped short of letting her by reins so it is still hanging on the wall in Cantril. 

     While we were inside the shop, that by the way, is free from the clutter of electrical lights and is heated by wood burning stoves we noticed a couple of the horse and buggies the Amish are so recognized for parked nearby.  They do allow themselves the "luxury" of a full enclosed carriage in the winter I noticed, however.
     Stopping by Dutchman Store in Cantril and I replenished by supply of twisted butter pretzels like use to be available at Cabela's. The Lindeburg's purchased a tenderloin that didn't look all the appetizing until it was cooked and prepared and we shared it with them for our Sunday dinner at our house.  Sister Gibson made the rolls and her special frog-eye salad.

 
Rendezvous in ol' Nauvoo.......

    The Editor came to life again Thursday night.  While the role may appear to be difficult and daunting it is delightful to me to be able to be engaged with the audience as I try and narrate the storyline.  We are committed to providing a quality experience to the audience and there is always a question this time of the year if there will even one.  Here in Nauvoo and audience of one is as good as one hundred and the show goes on.  Thursday we had and audience of three.  Mom, Pop, and their eleven year old son.  One of the cast members asked me if it was easier or harder with few people.  I thought about it......it really didn't matter....the message was the same.  I was actually more concerned for them as they sat on the front row (three feet away)...what did they think?  I sure had their attention.  They did seem to enjoy it, however.

The End.......

                                .....and the Beginning

     It is now the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017.  It seems like so long ago that the spark of inspiration ignited a desire to serve a mission.  Nauvoo became the dream.  Patience became a virtue.  August became the reality that it would happen.  December 28th marks our first hundred days as missionaries.  We have passed the sadness and loneliness of being away from our families and missing the many traditions we have established in the past and yet at the same time we rejoice at our being here in this sacred place surrounded by new friends and fellow missionaries.  In December we lost our titles as "Newbies" as a new couple, the Jones' arrived on December 4th.  Hardly "Newbies", however.  They had served here fifteen months ago and were back for another round.  The official "Newbies" arrived on December 21 when the Duvall's and Daine's arrived. I wonder if we looked that shell shocked? 

     We are in a lull right as no more new missionaries will arrive until March....and then the annual deluge begins anew.  By May we will have added some 40 new couples, several single sisters, the nine young sisters who were assigned to outbound missions, and soon thereafter, the young performing missionaries, who carry the entertainment load for the summer will arrive.  Our assignments will increase as we will not only perform in Rendezvous but also Sunset on the Mississippi...two performances a night at least four nights a week.  All this with the cold temperatures of Winter giving way to the humid heat of Summer..... Sounds fun!

     We are involved in our assignments at FM daily and just like anything else here in Nauvoo you never know exactly what to expect.  We are extremely grateful to be here amongst our fellow missionaries and we learn so much from them that strengthens our testimonies.  It is not a "Pollyanna" world where every thing is roses but there is a special feeling that exists and we feel blessed to be here.  It is indeed Joseph's City and you cannot go far without feeling his influence or presence.  He was indeed a prophet who restored the gospel and plan of happiness that is the way for us to return to his divine presence.  Learning of his life, sacrifices, and testimony as well as his fellow Saints is a strength to us.  Sharing the blessings of the restored gospel with those who come is truly a blessing and a challenge. 

Partners in Grime.........

                                   .....Having a Good Time

     The Noah Packard (aka Schenk and "The Doctors") house appears to be a monumental endeavor of gi-hugeous proportions that often screams "What are you thinking.....why are you doing this?"  Each day I learn a new facet that elicits a "really?!!!" comment from me.  The construction techniques and "fixes" are things I have never seen or imagined....or would even personally consider doing...but around here the by-word phrase is "Willingly...because we have to!"  Our efforts succeed because of my new friend and work partner, Elder Sims.  He was in our MTC group and hails from Furth, Idaho.  It was his request that took me from the cabinetry/carpentry shop into the world of carpentry.  This is his third mission to Nauvoo and he knows pretty much all of the current FM employees and is often referred to as "Bob" rather than Elder Sims.  He was a self employed  HVAC contractor and ran a very successful operation in Furth and was respected and trusted by all.  This allowed him to sell his business and retire at 50 and work on rental units and other construction projects helping his friends there. 

     The Packard house is a perfect fit for his creative skills in shoring up old dilapidated and fire charred timbers and structure repairs that appear to be questionable at best.  If there is a way he is usually the one who finds it and leads us on.  His faith in the project far outweighs my skepticism but once the solution is decided we dive in and complete the task.  One of our "dirty" tasks was removing lath and nails from the charred timbers in the cellar and shoring them with new lumber and putting 6x6 timbers and metal supports underneath in order to keep the structure sound.

     After the cellar project we moved on to creating a new ceiling in the existing additions while working around parts of the existing roof that we were told not to tear out.  This went great until it was discovered that part of the existing roof line with 100 year old 2x6's (really 2" by 6")  hung below the new dimensional lumber (2x6 is now 1 1/2x 5 1/2).  There was not enough space to safely use a circular saw to cut the old out so I tried several other types of saws that were not effective in the extremely hard and dry lumber.  In the end I resorted to a claw hammer and chipped away for over a day at cutting them down to size. 

Eagles Soar and Ice Packs Roar......

     Marilyn and Sister Lee Master were down by the river where they discovered massive ice chunks that had been driven ashore by the winds as the ice on the Mississippi and Lake Cooper began to break up during a thaw.  It was impressive to say the least to see the size and thickness of the blocks of ice.  Then there was sighting of the bald eagles that are now appearing in more numbers along the shores of the river.  It is an annual occurrence that will have many of the large majestic birds dotting the shoreline.  I don't know what the birds thought but she sure looks appetizing to me!!

It's the Annual Counting of the Artifacts....

     At the beginning of the new year the annual inventorying and counting of the artifacts in Nauvoo begins.  This responsibility falls to the lovely ladies of conservation and so Marilyn and Sister Lee Master  begin visiting the sites with their log books and computers and are assigned the responsibility of finding and cleaning them.  An artifact is a rather loose term used to denote anything of older and historical value.  So many of the things that are on display and in the sites in Nauvoo are not from Nauvoo but are of the Nauvoo period.  They are valuable and so they need to be checked on and cleaned.  While some may be touched and handled by the missionaries there are a few that can also be handled by the general public.  There are also those which cannot be touch by anyone except the conservation people who have been taught and trained on how to deal with them.  They are to only be touched with "white gloves" on and very carefully at that.  It scares Sister Gibson to even think about it.  She is the perfect person for the job.  While doing the inventory of the Heber C. Kimball home she took opportunity to stand next to his portrait.  During the Nauvoo years there were many, many sisters that were under the impression that it was necessary to be sealed to one of the church leaders in order to attain the Celestial Kingdom.  There are many, many women sealed to him....and I am not sure he is aware of all of them.  I sure hope he doesn't have his eye on mine.

New Years in Old Nauvoo......

     New Years Eve is a missionary extravaganza that starts at 7:00 and ends at 9:30....WoooooopTeeeeeeDo.  Sister Gibson had the assignment of getting the tables and chairs set up so we were there at 5:00.  The assignment took 30 minutes.  Rather than sit around we retreated to the apartment....waited  a while......drove around and took I-phone pictures of a couple of the more spectacular sights in Nauvoo then went back to the missionary gala at the pageant site and waited thirty minutes for it to start.  Almost all the missionaries showed up....now that's a surprise....what else is there to do in Nauvoo on New Years Eve???  We had a great time with plenty....and I mean....plenty to eat.  There was a program with lots of laughs and the whole shebang ended with the three casts (Emma Hale, Lucy Mack, and Sara Granger) competing "Minute to Win It".....we didn't.
We were in bed and crashed by 10:30........HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Lyon Drug Will Deliver a Treat.....

                   ....But None Were Delivered Today

     New Years Day was, of course, on Sunday but that didn't deter the zeal of the missionaries to serve in their sites,  While it may not have been our choice...we did it "Willingly...because we want to"  (Actually we were assigned ).  We had never served in the Lyon Drug so we were excited to see what the history and purpose of the drug store was.  Windsor Lyon and his Wife Sylvia Sessions were the proprietors.  He was a botanical druggist and used herbs and botanicals for the purpose of healing.  There are so many different things to see (but not touch).  The druggist was also able to pull teeth so there is a tooth extractor.  A pill maker was also of great interest.  The main message of the store is to bear testimony of the strength of eternal bonds and the knowledge, through a prophet (Joseph Smith) that little children are indeed special and if they pass away early in their lives their is a celestial place for them.  Perhaps it is because they did some valiant act in the pre-existence and their only need was to gain a body.  Such was the case with the Lyon's as they lost three children while they lived and served in Nauvoo.

     Looking at the pictures you can see the monumental task ahead of Sister's Gibson and Lee Master.  Every one of those bottles and trinkets has to be taken down, turned over to find the correlating number to the catalog, dusted and returned to the EXACT spot it was on the shelf....Talk about "micro-management."   Who needs sheep when you have the Lyon Drug to count??

 Some Things Need no Explanation.......

           .............When your day starts at 5:15 a.m.

     Sister Gibson is having a great time in Conservation.  When she is not taking care of the missionary housing and accounting for all the pots and pans she is busy in her kingdom where there are endless rows of housing furnishings that are constantly being brought in and sent out depending on the missionaries needs. 

     Added to that is the responsibilities of the sites and all the work that goes into cleaning and counting of the artifacts that are in many cases original pieces that were crafted and used during the 1840's when the Saints were here.  This month has been especially busy.  It started out with the FM director wanting to  re-organize the sites, bring the "DO NOT TOUCH" pictures and descriptions up to date, and move things around to protect them.  There are always a lot of questions...but the answer is usually NO.  Then there are more questions.....finally last week the annual visit from the "artifact's specialist" took place......and with it more changes.

     Emily spent four days here and toured the sites with the FM director , Mission President, and the Conservation Team (Sister's Lee Master and Gibson) they talked about the artifacts and the dialogue that we present in the sites to explain things.  As always...there will be changes.  The most refreshing part, however, is that many of the items that were previously on the "Do Not Touch" list have been removed and this will allow the missionaries and visitors to have a more hands on experience and hopefully make their visit here more memorable.

Rendezvous with Sara Granger Cast.......

  

A Picture is Sometimes Worth a

                                                  Thousand Words

Sister Lowe, our ever patient and loving director, sent us a picture she took of our cast performing a couple of weeks ago.  I am not sure that she had a hidden message here, but for my part I found it hysterical.  As you can see we sometimes "play" to a less than full house.  But the show goes on.  One of our cast's played to one lone soul who didn't laugh and barely applauded....such is life.  Anyway, back to the picture....this is our opening number "Welcome to Nauvoo".  The object here is to focus on and connect to the "crowd" and greet them.   Judging from the picture it appears a few of us are a little distracted.....Focusing is difficult at this age.....President Hall refers to it as "Herding Cats"........and so the adventure continues.

It's Party Time......

     All of the missionaries were invited to President and Sister Hall's home for an open house.  To keep the numbers in proportion we were invited by our Rendezvous Cast.  It is a lovely home and we all had a great time talking and socializing.  We did learn that the Hall's have a grandson serving in the Taichung, Taiwan mission where are grandson Easton is serving.  His name is Elder Call and he has been their since October.  We are so proud of our missionaries, Easton and Kessie, who is serving in Wisconsin.   Their testimonies are a strength and source of immeasurable pride to us.  We love them so much and we continue to pray for them and ask the Lord's blessings to be with them and strengthen them.  Of course, then, we also pray continually for our entire family.  We miss and love them so much.

The Noah Packard House

      It occurred to me that I haven't said much about my current assignments in FM.  About two weeks ago I was asked to help the carpenters (those who do just about everything) with some of their projects.  During one of my "lulls" in the cabinet shop I worked with Elder Sims doing the demo work on what was known as "The Doctor's House" or the Shank House....it has now been discovered to be the "Noah and Sophia Packard" house (of who we characterize in a vignette in Rendezvous).

Apparently he liked the way I swung the demo hammer and asked the Assistant Director if I could work with him.  Long story short....

     The goal is to provide an up to date residence, presumably for the on-site doctor, while somehow burying and trying to preserve the integrity of the old Packard house.  Under the direction of Marcus Allyn (Assistant to the FM director) we are charging  forward working around the poor construction of the previous additions, significant damage from a previous fire, evidence of termite infestation, and trying to shore up and support floors and ceilings.  Add into this the efforts to preserve a house that will be covered up and buried in the new construction....it is somewhat of a dilemma.  It is not my place to question and it would be a stretch to say I would do it the way we are directed (or if I would do something totally different like just restore the house and forget trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.  There are those who know more the reason why.  We are obedient and follow the directions we are given.  It would be nice, however, to have some sort of plan so we didn't constantly have to ask what we can do and what we can't do.  Tearing off plaster, leaving lath, and then covering it with sheet rock is a unique approach.  It will undoubtably look great when the remodeling is complete. 

The Tradition Continues.....

                           ....The Christmas Eve Movie

     When things in our lives change.....we adapt.  Ever since the kids were young we have taken in a movie on Christmas Eve (back then it was to get out of the house that Sister Gibson had spotlessly cleaned). Our missionaries, Kessie and Easton, probably missed out but the rest of the family, even though split, made it happen.  We went with the Beechers, Hughes, and Lindeburgs and saw Rogue One (the one most of the adults would  like to have seen).  The Texas Gibson's went to Sing and the Utah Gibson's went to Moana.  It was the same and it was different.

A Mouse in the House......

                                             .....How Sweet it Is!

     Elder Lindeburg dropped by  and sent Sister Gibson into a tailspin as he proudly showed her (from a distance) a mouse he had corralled in his house.  As he proceeded to hand her the little critter she was extremely relieved to see it was a chocolate treat that the Lindeburgs make and pass out to friends.  1 large chocolate kiss, two large chocolate chips,  a maraschino cherry with a stem dipped in chocolate, and two frosting dabs bring the little guy to life.  Fortunately, this is the only mouse we have seen......let's hope it stays that way.

Sunday in the Family Living Center

     The week began with our assignment to serve in the Family Living Center on the site.  The Center is comprised of several stations that tell of some of the skills and activities that would have been used and practiced by the residents of Nauvoo.  It is pretty much a show and tell site where visitors can actually see demonstrations of skills and trades that would have taken place during the period.  When there are few visitors, like our Sunday, then it is not near as exciting to be there.  But then, being who we are we did manage to investigate and Sister Gibson got right into rope making.  She made an eight foot rope and using skills that would have put any of my scouts to shame cut them into smaller pieces and whipped the ends so they wouldn't fray.  Those little ropes now adorn our Christmas tree in the apartment.  The barrel making demonstration is fascinating but it provide more of a picture opportunity rather than perfecting a skill.

Old Habits Die Slowly........

                     ....So Tree Making Lives On!!

     I can't exactly say the "Devil made me do it"!  But when my grand-daughter(s) called and wanted an instructional lesson on tree building I couldn't help myself and started plotting on how I could make trees in our tiny apartment.  It became quite a challenge to round up the necessary tools and supplies...we are still missing the cinnamon sugar shaker that helps in the production of a successful tree.  There isn't a lot of time to do these since we are both involved in our daily activities...not to mention that it is hard to drive around and find where people live.  We decided to keep it small and only do those who came with us in our MTC group.  Our first batch was three trees which we delivered in the Gibson tradition of being fresh out of the oven.  The results were predictable...the reports came back that they had only lasted twenty-four hours and no one would admit to eating the most.

   

         And Molly Leads the Charge........

Trail of Hope...The View to Montrose...

                                                                                 ......High +6.....Low -8

     After our quick (4hrs) shopping trip to Keokuk I dropped everyone off (no one else wanted to go) and I went down to the end of the "Trail of Hope" to look at the frozen wasteland of water between Nauvoo and Montrose.  This is not the view the Saints who were forced to leave Nauvoo faced would have seen.  The dam in Keokuk has  made a lake of where the crossing took place but the emptiness and bareness would have been the same and initially the river was not frozen over.  Only eleven wagons crossed on the ferry that first day.   I was alone in the cold as I pondered the effort and resolve that it would have taken for them to make this giant and was overwhelmed by the commitment required.  It was all I could do to hold the selfie stick for the picture.

      Jump ahead to December 18, 2016 there is 2" of snow on the ground and the temperature is 0.

All church meetings have been cancelled  and sites are closed today (Thank Heavens).  Need I say more? 

A New Village Arises......

     We made a stop at the Allyn House, a gift and souvenir shop on Mullholland (Nauvoo's Main Street)

I started spending money immediately when I found some reproductions of paintings by Al Rounds which thought would be great for the Apartment.  There is one in particular that I had wanted to get over the years that depicts a single woman pulling a handcart in the frozen wasteland of Wyoming.  It reminded me of Mary Carmichael Kelly (third great aunt) who was a part of the Martin Company. 

    Rounding the corner with a handful of pictures I ran into small replications of buildings here in Old Nauvoo.  I just couldn't resist myself.  Well, I could a little...I only bought the ones that we had visited so far.  So I am sure that by the end of the mission we will have bought the whole set.  Adding to the set were some small trees we pick up a WalMart.  I can envision bigger and better things for next year.  Maybe a wagon train on tracks?  Remote controlled handcarts?

And a Tree is Decorated....

    We have pretty much completed the decorations on our gi-hugious 4' tall Christmas tree.  We keep adding the daily items from the Advent Decorations hand painted by our lovely grand daughters Molly and Elle.  The G on the top is a gift from the Texas Gibson's. I'm sure Eric hand picked it along with the other gifts that were sent.  The cards and letters were appreciated.  Thank you Kristin!  I love the picture as it makes it look like a real tall tree.  It is a bright spot in our home as we are missing the this time of year with our family.  I hope they understand the importance of this sacrifice.  We love them all.  They are all so special.

 

 The Christmas Nativity

                                     

One of the highlights of the beginning of the Christmas Season here in Nauvoo is the live nativity
which is performed in the Visitors Center by the missionaries.  It was well done and included singing and narration and was a great prelude to the annual Church Christmas devotional.  Rather than being only a Bible narrative it also included what was happening on the American Continent with the signs and prophecies that are included in the Book of Mormon.   Our good friends, Elder and Sister Hughes were Joseph and Mary and Elder Beecher provided a great solo with his baritone voice booming throughout the theater.  Elder Lee Master is shown portraying Nephi in his tailored leopard skin outfit.  Sister Gibson is working with his wife in the Conservation Department.

       Is there a Dentist in the house??

    .......Yes....it's Zach Roddefor..to the Rescue!!

      It's pretty much a given that while serving a "senior mission" that things are going to break down.   That being said this is apparently the year of the bad tooth. Sister Gibson put us through the test requiring urgent care just prior to our leaving for Nauvoo.  So when  a piece of tooth popped loose when eating a peanut butter sandwich it required a trip to the dentist.  There are no dentists in Nauvoo so the mission referred me to Max Roddefor, who practices in Hamilton, about 14 miles South down Highway 96.  Not to my surprise it turns out that it would require a root canal and crown.
When my scheduled appointment time arrived Max is not going to be in the office but his son Zach would be there to do the job.  As you can see....Zach is a little older than a teenager, and looks like one.  He assured me he had graduated Dental College and has plenty of experience....since August.
I guess he had to practice on someone....just as well me...after all I am on the Lord's mission ...everything should be fine.....Welllllll....so far so good, and everything looks like it is going to work out well.  Hail to our youth!
It's  Show Time................

      The Editor and Relief Society President Debut
     On December 10, 2016 the first issue of our Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo performance with  Elder and Sister Gibson making their debut performing their Editor and Relief Society President roles.  It was a mystical performance.  Sister Gibson was marvelous in her lines and he performance was fantastic.  As for the rest of the cast.......well that was what I might call very interesting...
Not only was it our debut but it also included the Hughes doing a vignette called Peter and Abagail. 
And that's when things began to fall apart...(not to spoil the plot..but things work out fine in the end.)
It took three tries to get the first take of our scene with the  Hughes... while practicing people kept interrupting and  not  being where they were supposed to. In addition  it was Elder Mortensen's 81st birthday and his eighty yearl old wife was going "all out"  preparing for the cast celebration during the performance.  Well.....she got into it to the point that she showed up very late....missed two of her lines and Sister Gibson had to stand in next to Elder Mortensen and pose as his wife in the Noah scene.  I was doing great..... rattling off my editor lines,  feeling pretty good about myself....it was much better than I expected......even got some audience response which is most times difficult to get.  I finished one of my sequences and moved to the back of the Cultural Hall in preparation for my entrance from the rear.  Sister Lowe, our patient and loving director, was immersed in problems with the back stage sound system which was causing problems for the others before they came on stage. She was so busy in fact, she didn't notice the newbie editor (me) was jumping a scene ahead and in the wrong place....even thought I was next to her.....these oversights would effectively end  the show without one of the vignettes....ooops!   I charged down the I, shooting off lines and finished the entire monologue before I even realized what had happed.  There I was sitting in a stupor...
There I sat contemplating my fate and imagining the chaos I had caused for the cast and the show.   So, I thought, I will go back and do the intro to the scene I skipped and somehow tie it into the last scene....somehow, some way......IT WORKED!!
     Things were going to be all right after all.....Nope!  The last scene before the finale is called Willingly which is very dramatic and special.  All of the men are on stage holding (fake) rifles and join in singing a very moving song.  How it happened no one really knows..... but we ended up skipping an entire verse and standing like dead lumber on the stage.  The others marched off the stage leaving me to figure out what to do with the rifle I wasn't supposed to have and  conclude the scene with the "editor's" final words...before the entire cast returns for the finale.  I fumbled through placing the rifle, gave my last and moving monologue and exited through the rear doors. Fortunately it seemed to work and the show finally ended with the cast meeting in the cast room and eating Sister Mortensen's lavish spread for Brother Mortensen's birthday.  I can hardly wait for Sister Lowe's review when we next meet.....
     Sister Lowe is indeed a Saint of the highest level and should be given a free pass for her work with all the senior "actors" here.  Patience is indeed her virtue!!!!  Some weeks are better than others....this wasn't one of the better ones.  I hope she has forgiveness in her heart for me....which I know she will.

Decorating the Tree......

               ....With Beautiful Advent Ornaments

     Around here you get a lot of surprises.  Most are of the kind you just don't want to get...say a "Golden Ticket" or maybe even a call to protect Main Street and man the barricades on The Christmas Walk.  But when we received a surprise package from our thoughtful daughter-in-law Mindy it is always a welcome surprise.  She sent us Advent Christmas Ornaments for our "small but humble" tree.  Not only that, the were hand decorated by two of our many special grandchildren, Molly and Elle.  So every day now we read the story and  put the ornament on the three.  It is always a special part of the day. 

The Golden Ticket Wasn't.

                                                             
    ..A Ticket to Heaven

      For the last two weeks we have been spending a lot of time together trying to work up a lesson the first six chapters of Ether that would not entail the use of crayons, pencils, rocks, flashlights, glued together dishes with holes in the top or bottom, or make shift provisions (treats)we had previously used primary, Sunday School, or Youth lessons but did include something that would keep the majority of the Senior Missionaries awake.  Now that's a challenge!!! Marilyn and did a spectacular job but she assured me that this was the "last" time she was going to do something like that.  As for me everyone said I did a wonderful job and they appreciated my "interesting perspective."   I am not sure what that all meant but I felt good about the lesson....I remembered my time at teaching Gospel Essentials with fondness,  but I don't think I have ever, or will ever, teach Gospel Doctrine.  We"ll see......at least we cashed in one Golden Ticket and we are not planning on any more for a long time.

Love Around the Lamp Post......

On Thursday we traveled over to Carthage to sing Christmas Carols around the town square with 15-20 other Senior Missionaries.  It really marked the beginning of the Christmas Season for us and it also marked the beginning of the shopping season for the merchants in Carthage.  It is really quite surprising the difference between Carthage and Nauvoo,  It is surprisingly bigger with shops, stores and many different places to eat.  Nauvoo, on the other hand, only has 1 small market, a few souvenir shops, and 1 full time café that will probably shut down for a couple of months.  They had carriage rides around the square as well.

     But....as you can see, the best part of the whole caroling  experience was spending time with my sweetheart.

One of my thoughts as we prepared to serve was that we would once again have the opportunity to spend time together and grow even closer.  It has been just that!!

                .......Christmas Caroling in Carthage

Farewell to the Old........

......Good Luck to the New

   Friday night marked the last performance for Elder and Sister Blair as the Editor and the Relief Society President.  We will take over their roles starting next Saturday.  When we first got here he was known as President Blair (1st Counselor in the Mission Presidency. While he appeared to be a little on the "stuffed shirt" side.  Once he was released from the presidency, pending his release, I soon learned to love and appreciate him.  He and his wife are kind and loving people and his portrayal of the editor is one to emulate and strive to live up to.  He was kind enough to even give me his famous watch that tells the editor it is "show time".  Sister Gibson will become the new Relief Society President.  She will be quick to remind the Editor it is time for her meeting to start.  And no.....there will not be any refreshments served for the Editor.

                                                                           

    A Christmas Walk to Remember......

                         ...I'm Sorry...You are NOT the Exception                             

  

     The Christmas Walk is set up to encompass several sites with activities. While the event is in Old Nauvoo, it is meant to draw as many people from the city as well as the surrounding areas.  It is similar to Bootiful Nauvoo at Halloween but it doesn't draw as many people....no free candy but there are free cookies and horse  wagon rides.    I was asked by Elder Berry to help him with the parking and as such it was my "privilege" to stand in front of the barricaded street and direct all traffic from Main Street so the horses and carriages would have free rein on the street.  Sounds easy enough....until you realize that the message of  "Main Street being closed" hasn't been parlayed to the missionaries who were told they could park in the parking lot accessible from main street so they could go to their assigned sites and fulfill their important callings.  I did not make any new friends that night...but I did stand firm!  The retired fire chief from the Jackson Hole Airport especially found my firmness and resolve annoying.

The Trail of Hope........

                                 .....On to a New Beginning

     We often get assignments.   This last week we had assignments to clean the Stake Center on Saturday morning  (at 7:00 a.m) as well as clean the plaques along the Trail of Hope.  Sister Gibson was her best self as she cleaned away on the kitchen and left it clean with her usual thoroughness.  I was their dutifully following orders and keeping out of her way.  We will have this assignment for the remainder of the month.....along with many other missionaries from the Zone.

    I took to the trail which is about a half mile long down Parley Street that leads to the Mississippi River where the Saints crossed the river and left the United States heading into the plains.  It was a great reminder as I cleaned and read the plaques along the way which contain journal entries of those who crossed and in a small way depict the hardship that was befalling them.

   Sunday at John Taylors  

            ....Watching the Snow Fall   

     Sunday we woke up to Nauvoo's first snowstorm of the year.  It was bad enough worrying about teaching...now this?  It was about time but we just didn't expect it.  After surviving the teaching experience we moved on to our Sunday assignment which was the John Taylor home.  It had been a very sparse week for visitors here and so we really weren't expecting much if any traffic.....although it would have been nice.  I did get to shovel the walks around the site and then spent an hour or so walking around in front of the building reciting the editor lines.  I've got them down pretty well but there is still the unknown of what happens when I hit the stage...will I remember what to say when

I look into Sister Gibson's beautiful eyes and she pours out her lines to me?  For the record they are

"Meeting?......What meeting?............So it is. 

     We did get one convert couple that arrived about 4:45 and we gave them a tour and explained a little about John Taylor and his house and life here in Nauvoo.