Farewell Breakfast

Friday, Oct. 1,
The Seventies Hall had responsibility for the breakfast for October, so that means Greg and I were responsible. We had a good group come in Thursday evening and set up and decorate. We are grateful for people who volunteer! So we were all ready for Friday morning... Each of the three preparation groups had long tables full of food. You take food from your own group's table until everyone has a plate full, and then it is fair game to see what is on the other tables for seconds. There always seems to be plenty of food.

Greg conducted the meeting, and I announced all 63 people leaving. Will there be anyone left?
All of the people leaving sit at the head table, which extended three sides around the room. Tradition has it that special numbers are performed, preferably funny, by the leaving people. It went well, and we were glad for it. The only hitch was when we came in someone had eaten all the candy from several of the tables (obviously the early morning seminary students). Stealing candy and then going to Seminary must go together. We quickly re-arranged the table candies.
The clean-up was easy, thanks to so many good helpers. I ended up taking the 16 tablecloths to the RV park laundry facility and washing them. It was a nice place!

Later that day, I served at the John Taylor home, and I just love this plant outside the home. It was a nice day, so we spent some time outside while waiting for people to come. S. Robertson told me stories of their mission to Samoa. The tradition there is that if someone brings you food for a funeral or wedding or such, you must send back twice as much to them in return. They are often in debt.
I was ready to make dinner when we got home, but Greg was hungry for a hamburger and wanted to go out. Who am I to argue with that? We drove down to Dairy Queen in Hamilton and had a mini-blizzard meal deal. Not bad. Then he took sunset pictures on the way back.

Saturday, Sept. 25,
It was a cold day in Pioneer Pastimes. It is only open on Fridays and Saturdays now and we are the ones who get to do Saturday. It was 59 degrees with 80% humidity and a cool wind. I sat in the car until someone came. Greg tried not to cut off his fingers while he whittled. Elder Hills gets to be with us whenever we do Pioneer Pastimes.
In the evening, Greg took off with other Elders to go to Keokuk for Chinese food while all the sisters went to the Visitors' Center to watch the Relief Society broadcast. They announced that Barbara Smith had passed away a couple of weeks ago. I love Sister Julie Beck. Pres. Monson talked about not judging, again. Will we ever be able to accomplish that?

Here is another home for something:
Sunday, Sept. 26,
What a full day! After Sacrament meeting, we went straight to the Ashby cast practice for two hours. There will be so many less missionaries this winter that the three casts will have to become two. What a huge job for Sister Schiess, but she is very organized and positive.
Greg and I served at Sarah Granger Kimball's home from 12:30-5:00, the new regular Sunday shift. Greg had never been to this home before, and before I could even show him the tour we had two groups come, and then a man, which he took through. We had ten tours for the day, which is excellent for Sarah's home.

Monday, Sept. 27,
A beautiful day and I walked to the Seventies Hall to serve with S. Jeppeson for the first time.
Tuesday, Sept. 28,
At Tickets and Tours today, a tour guide came in, got tickets, and was asking some questions. His name tag said "Steve Perry" so I asked him if he knew Janice Kapp Perry. He said that she was his mother. I knew it.
I started dinner when I got home, but then Greg came in and said we were invited out with the Smiths and Hansons to eat at Hagy's, a dive in a nearby town. I am all for that!
We had a relaxing evening, and good company. The food wasn't too bad. The men talked finance and fishing, the women talked grandkids and sewing.
Wednesday, Sept. 29,
My first day to serve in the Print Shop. After all this time, I got scheduled for it. Yeah! Only Heber C. Kimball's home and I will have served in all the sites. It was fun to have some of the people from the tours come to see us at Rendezvous. They know us from the sites, and love to see "their" missionaries in the play.

New Camera

Friday, Sept. 24,
Greg is enjoying the new camera he bought himself for his birthday. He captured the full moon rising one evening.He went to the barn for a while today, just for the experience. He wants to do it all, and that includes being a teamster. That could be our ticket back some day, he thinks!
Here is a close-up of his bowl. Very beautiful, I think.
There is a very small "museum" in Bentonsport. It is a room full of creations of woodwork and arrowheads.
This man has spent many years finding arrowheads, and making these displays.
We served at Carthage from 11:30 until 5:00. It is a privilege to be there. I took two tours of five adults in each tour. These included a couple from England, a young man from Provo, another couple from Utah, two ladies who were friends of Jeppesons, and a grandma taking her turn without kids. Both of these tours were very spiritual. It is a joy to share the story of Carthage jail to those who come to hear it.
About 4:00 I took a tour of three adults and nine children under 9 yrs old. They were pretty good and asked questions and mostly didn't touch stuff. It took my teaching skills to keep their attention. Just as we were ending, a group of five ran up to me outside the jail and begged--with only five minutes until we closed--to see the jail. They were from Utah, and this was their only chance. So I said sure, and walked and talked fast, and they were grateful, and we ended on time.
I thought this was so funny that these were our leaders on our walk.
One sign along the Trail of Hope...........

Happy Birthday to Greg

Sept. 17, Friday,
Greg and I walk most mornings. It has been cooler the last couple of weeks so that I even wear a jacket at 6:30 a.m. Everything is still beautiful. I served with S. Eskelsen for the first time on a one-to-one basis, and it was interesting. It was a quiet morning at the bakery, so she told me about her three children, one a rebel with long hair and tattoos, another gay, and another twice divorced. I must say, I am so grateful for children who are trying the best they can to live good lives, who have testimonies, and are on the path heading in the right direction, with grandchildren being taught the gospel. My prayers are with them always.

Sept. 18, Saturday,
We had a lovely day at Pioneer Pastimes, with about 70 degrees all day, and cloudy. We had 47 people come through during the day, and some stayed for a long time. Before anyone came, I even left for a few minutes and checked out the garage sale at the Catholic School, and found a couple of books to buy. (E. Hills stayed with Greg, so we were obeying the rules!)
I love these trumpet flowers.
Sunday, Sept. 19,
It was a very full day. I met Elder and Sister Wells from Tacoma, who knew Uncle Dudley and Uncle Clyde, and Calls. We sat by them in Sacrament Meeting, held in the Visitors' Center because a large group took over the church for a meeting.
One of our speakers was Elder Craig Zwick of the Seventy. He said, "You have been expanded in capacity and spirit to do this service." I think he is right. S. Zwick said we are being instruments in the Lord's hands to do his work, even as angels.
After Sacrament was the big announcement that X, Y, and Z casts will now be rearranged into only two casts, called Ashby and Snow, for the winter, because of the low number of missionaries. This is a first. The Ashby cast (us) will begin on Oct. 11, performing three times a week. Sounds like fun!
We served at Lyon Drug for 3 1/4 hours and then prepared for District Meeting at our house. I served lemon cake, to begin Greg's birthday week.

Monday, Tuesday
Only two tours the whole day in the Seventies Hall. I am getting good at crocheting hats for humanitarian, and am getting through the Book of Mormon quickly.
Drebots have gone home now, so we do all the "Peter and Abigail" scenes now until the Ashby cast starts.

Wednesday, Sept. 22,
Another very full day:
Family Living Center shift, change and go to the school to volunteer at the kindergarten, home to pick up our neighbors, the Mursets and head to the dive, Hageys, for all-you-can-eat chicken night. We enjoy the Mursets, they are fun people.
Home in time to go to our last quilt group meeting at Siddoway's, then head over to the Visitors' Center at 8:30 for the talk by Buddy Youngren on Joseph and Emma. He talked very well for 1 1/4 hours. His view: Joseph lived on knowledge and his priority was building Zion.
Emma lived on faith, and her priority was family. But they did love each other very much.

September 23, 2010, Thursday, Happy Birthday finally to Greg!
He has celebrated all week every time he has had a piece of leftover lemon cake from Sunday. He wanted to go to Bentonsport, because he finished the shawl:

and Betty had finished firing one of his pots. She was pleased with the gift of the shawl, and Greg was pleased to give it to her. And the pot is beautiful.
We had the blue plate special lunch at Bonaparte. Why isn't the plate blue? The food was yummy.

He treated himself all day with licorice, chocolate milk, and an Amish strawberry rhubarb pie to bring home. Later in the evening, Jeppesons came over for ice cream to help us celebrate. We had a good day.

One Week in September

September 10, Friday,
My goal was to clean out the closet in the Seventies Hall today. S/Hill stood by for moral support. I ended up with two full boxes of stuff I had NRI come and get, vacuum parts, light bulbs (none of which we could use) old cleaning supplies, etc. Way back in the corner under the stairs was a PILE of tootsie roll wrappers the mice had left after they had eaten the tootsie rolls. I guess the bag hanging from a nail was not as safe as S/Kirkman thought! I cleaned it all out and now we can find what we need to use for cleaning, and it looks and smells much better. New rule: No Food Left Overnight in the Seventies Hall!

The early morning walks are so great...........
and one day it was misty.
Elder Hallstrom, one of the presidents of the Seventies, spoke to us Friday morning, and then again on Sunday in Sacrament meeting. He said that he heads the Asia area with headquarters in Hong Kong. It is one of 24 areas of the church worldwide, but has one half of the earth's population. He talked about the meetings that are being held right now about "regularizing the church in China."
On Sunday, he spoke about reverence--it is a lifestyle. To have a reverent life, we need to participate in public worship, family worship, and private worship, all things with Christ in mind.
Sister Hallstrom said that the missionaries remind her of the scripture from Philemon 21: "Having confidence in thy obedience, knowing that thou wilt do more than I say". We can hope so..........
On Sunday night, the whole mission watched "The Christmas Wish", the TV movie based on Elder Siddoway's book. He has written over a dozen books so far. He is a very talented man, and we like him a lot.
I always see holes in the trees here, just right for animals to hide in. Just like in the story books! It is so fun to imagine who is living in there.
Greg loves the geese, and takes lots of pictures of them. They are always flying over.
Monday, Sept. 13,
I signed up to feed the YSMs tonight, and just last night was informed that I will be feeding one sister who is gluten intolerant, one who is allergic to any milk products, and another that cannot have any shellfish. I had planned to make chicken enchiladas, but immediately knew that I could make beef stew instead. No problem for me, thanks to Braden! It was excellent, at least all four sisters proclaimed it's excellence. We also had watermelon, and no-flour peanut butter cookies for dessert.

Tuesday, Sept. 14,
We have scaled back on a lot of the things in Nauvoo, because there are so many less people coming now. We have a few tour busses, and some families with tiny children, and some people from Australia or South Africa or Germany. There are only three carriage rides and three wagon rides each day now. At Tickets and Tours, one of the teamsters brought back some carriage tickets, and whew! as we were counting them, they reeked of horse manure! S/VanDam washed them, sprayed them with febreeze, and everything else we could think of. I am not sure the smell will ever come out. We may need to just make new tickets. I wonder how that happened, since they do not usually come back that way.
Wed. Sept 15,
While Sister Drummond and I served at Lyon Drug for six hours, we only gave two tours during the whole day. But one of them was memorable. A couple from Australia came, and he is an authority on herbs. He told us about all the plants around the building, and what they are used for. He was impressed that whoever planted them knew what they were doing. On the right is a lemon thyme that smells divine, just like lemons, and on the left is comfrey leaf, very useful in healing. I learned about the whole garden, if I could only remember all that he said.
And, this is the last picture before I got my hair cut short. I traded chicken enchiladas for a haircut from one of the sisters.
Greg loves that the cornfields are right up next to the road. There are miles where this is all you see.
Thurs, Sept. 16,
It was a nice day off. We slept in a little, went on a walk, and then went to Quincy to get the tires rotated at Sears. We shopped a little, stopped at Sam's club, and ate a good salad bar lunch (with giant cinnamon rolls) at Kelly's. We even stopped at a garage sale that we found. And, we watched this ferry at Canton. Instead of a bridge, you just get to ride the ferry. Pretty interesting......
We are going to ride on it another day.

Amana Colonies

Sept. 6, Thursday,
Myers asked us to do something with them, since their p-days will be changed to Tuesday after this. We headed out about 9:00 after his meeting (he is now assigned as counselor in the mission presidency) toward Amana. It was a just over two hours drive, with pleasant company. On the way we passed dozens of tractors, on a special trip.


The Amana colonies were originally German towns, and now have lots of tourist shopping, a woolen mill,
furniture and clock factory,
restaurants, and other shops. We didn't find anything we needed to buy, but it was fun to look. We had fun with the BIG rocking chair.
We had a lovely lunch at the Ox Yoke Inn, and later stopped at a bakery and all had a treat. Jane is my kind of girl, she loves rich gooey chocolate/coconut/fudge, etc, desserts, but to make up for that she is a picky eater with not much appetite in Nauvoo. She is fun to be around, and Elder Myers is also very pleasant.
In the evening we were drafted to be "Peter and Abigail" in Y cast, because theirs were out of town. It was different, but we did fine.

Labor Day

Sunday Sept. 5,
Labor Day Weekend is the Grape Festival in the town of Nauvoo. Thousands of people come and there are tons of activities, an auction, dances, car show, 5 K, vendors, carnival, and more. The edge of the festivities were right in back of our house. We heard late night music, and had people parking in front of our house. We have July with Pageant and thousands of people, I guess it is all right if they do it for three days. Greg took over 20 pictures of old cars, so if you want to see more, just ask him.

Sister Ludwig talked at our Zone Conference and reported that we have 2006 grandchildren praying for us on our mission. Her talk was about tender mercies and she told a personal story. They were mission presidents in Denver when Sept. 11 happened and 21 missionaries headed for New York were stranded at the airport. Her job was to pick them up and tend them until flights were resumed. She organized four vans to pick up them and all their luggage, but the luggage from hundreds of stranded passengers was in one basement room. They were allowing a few people at a time to go in and find their bags, but she decided they couldn't take the time to wait for hours to do that, and they would have to come back later. As they were leaving, there was some luggage on just one carousel, and one of the Elders looked, and saw that it was theirs, every bag they needed. She proclaimed that a tender mercy just for them.
Pres. Ludwig gave a great talk about charity. He also said that Nauvoo will have 104 missionaries this winter as opposed to 150 last year. The three casts of Rendezvous will be divided into two casts beginning October 11. This is a new and pioneering effort.

Monday, Sept. 6,
We began as site leaders for the Seventies Hall, with Dicksons as assistant site leaders. We conduct the preparation meetings, and take care of the hall, but our biggest job coming up is the October farewell breakfast with 63 people leaving.
I served at Family Living, and is wasn't too busy, so I cut old clothes into three inch strips for rugs, worked on the loom, and gave demos for candle making,


spinning and weaving, and bread-making.

Sept. 7,
I served in Tickets and Tours, and a couple came in for tickets. They had heavy German accents, and wanted a wagon ride, but when asked, they admitted they "liked to speak German, better than English". And it just so happened that I had found out yesterday, serving with S. Geilmann, that she speaks German! So today, it "so happened" that I knew someone who could come and speak with these lovely people. I called her and she came and went on the wagon ride with them, translating and answering questions. She was thrilled, I was happy, and so were they.

Sept. 8,
I served in the sewing room, and that is very nice and peaceful for a change. It just seems like going home almost. I made two day-caps, an apron, hemmed, and mended dresses.

Stories of Nauvoo

Sept 3, Friday,
In Family Living, after demonstrating bustle ovens to a guest of another faith: He asked, "Why didn't those Mormons stay and fight, instead of leaving again?" A good question. We discussed a few answers with ideas of fear of political unity, search for religious freedom, follow a prophet of the Lord, love of peace and Jesus Christ, and then had him fill out a yellow referral card so he could learn more. See--we do plant seeds.

Because of less people here, we now only do one show of Rendezvous each night, but on this day there were nine sad people who couldn't fit into the show, so we offered to do a second show just for them. So after the Relief Society song I quickly went home and did my hair, and picked up my cape and bonnet, so we could do "Peter and Abigail" in the second show. The group was a family bringing home their missionary son after a successful mission in Oklahoma. They were a fun audience and we had a good time doing that for them. The YSMs who were taking tickets went to their home and brought back treats for us for between the shows: drinks, icee pops, dill pickles, and a few yogurts (whatever they could find!). That was very sweet of them, "because we always have treats when we have two shows", they said.


Sept. 4, Saturday,
As I was serving in Tickets and Tours, a young man came up and wanted wagon ride tickets for his group of fifteen, and couldn't believe that they were FREE. He kept trying to pay and we explained over and over. He kept saying that nothing in life is free, I am used to paying my own way, I WILL pay. We explained that we didn't even have a cash register and then finally we just laughed at him. He asked, "Why would you do this all for free?" I said, "Because we want to share love and peace as Jesus taught." What do you think I should have said?

Young Sister Missionaries

We love the Sister Missionaries. They are full of good spirit and cheer.
Sister Reece shared a scripture with me. It was given to her by her grandfather, and it will give a scriptural answer to any question posed by anyone. 1 Nephi 13:22And then another day Sister Pulleyn shared this scripture: 2 Nephi 7:11. We as missionaries kindle fire, and we can walk in the light of that fire, and invite others to do the same.
During the month of September, the sisters have a program called "Angels in the Outfield". They practice on us Senior missionaries, giving lessons, so that they are prepared to go for the winter to another area of the United States. Then they come back here in the spring to help with the summer visitors. We also get to sign up to feed them during this month.
Here are our lasagna-eaters: S/Feltwell, S/Sorenson, S/Johnston, S/Bitter, and E/Anderson. They were fun to have over. And then we get taught every week also by another set of sisters. We are assigned a role to play, and it is hard to be indifferent or inactive around these girls! But we are trying to do our part to prepare them.