Times, they are a changing!

March 27, 2022

First off - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our sweet Tessa. She turns 1 today! It's been hard watching her grow up over Marco Polo and not being able to hug and snuggle her but I am so grateful for Marco Polo that has allowed us to watch her grow as we have served here in Nauvoo!  

What a week!!! It started off last  Sunday evening with a celebration of the 180th Anniversary of the organization of Relief Society. We had a special program that was sort of a re-enactment of the organization. It was a special evening. We all wore our period clothing. Doug and I performed in a triple-quartet singing "The Spirit of God," which was sung at the first RS meeting. I am so thankful for this great organization, which started with 20 members and now has millions of members worldwide! It's a reminder to me that from small and simple ideas - let's sew shirts for the temple workers - great things can happen! 

Tuesday night at training we were told that all missionaries will now be giving tours on Sundays.  We are short on missionaries so it's all hands on deck. If I can learn one or two sites and give those tours every week, I'll be good but if I have to learn a new tour every week, I'm not so sure about that. That's a lot to learn each week, along with our FM duties, training meeting, Women of Faith, Lucy Mack Smith, etc. We work hard in FM and we are tired, some days exhausted, when we get home. That being said, I know we will have heavenly help - I will need it to remember it all! We had 3 1/2 hours of training today at the Family Living Center and that's a lot to take in and remember. This old brain doesn't remember like it used to!!! There are nine different stations in the FLC to learn - spinning, bread making, candle dipping, looms, brick making, wagon packing, pottery, barrel making and rope making. It's my hope and prayer that we are assigned to work there each Sunday. Stay tuned for more details to come on that.

Tuesday I served in Lucy's home again and we didn't have any guests come. I know that will be changing soon as more and more people are coming to Nauvoo. I also had a wonderful time doing "Women of Faith" Thursday evening. I only have a few more times to do it before it's turned back over to the YSMs. Tomorrow I'll be giving a special Women of Faith presentation for a group from South Africa! Nauvoo is truly worldwide!

Wednesday evening we attended the Nauvoo Temple for the last time for two months. It's closed again for repairs. I will miss being in that beautiful, sacred building each week. 

Saturday we had the opportunity to go with several other mission couples to Independence, Liberty and Far West. We rode up in a mission van with E/S Levesque and E/S Virgin and we had a lot of fun! In Independence, we toured the Visitor's Center and saw the Temple Lot. Many of the Saints lived in Independence when they were driven out of Kirtland. They were not there very long before they were driven out to other areas in Missouri. At Liberty, we visited the Liberty Jail replica that Joseph, Hyrum and others were held in for many months. This is where D&C 121, 122, 123 were received. I love these sections. I have turned to them often when I'm struggling through a trial. I love D&C 121:7-8. It reads, "My son (daughter), peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." Then we are reminded in 122 that our Savior has suffered all that we can suffer and more. In verse 8 we read, "The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" He has felt every pain we feel, every heartache, every sadness. He suffered so that we can repent and be made clean through His atonement. I don't fully understand and comprehend all of this, but I do know that I am grateful and thankful for His sacrifice for me. 

We are so excited! Next week our friends, Blaine and Diane, arrive to serve here in Nauvoo! Also, next month the YSMs will start arriving!!! We've been busy in Conservation cleaning homes and getting them ready for all of the new missionaries!

Also, two more of our 2021 YPMs are engaged!! Nate Hart and Jenna Urry, we are so happy and excited for you!!! I love these Nauvoo couples!!!

Life on the mission is always challenging, fun, learning, growing and ever changing but we love serving here and are so grateful for the opportunity to serve

 here in beautiful, albeit cold, Nauvoo!

Goodbye E/S Hokanson. We've been blessed to

serve together on the Community Outreach Committee.

Doug working on the forge in the blacksmith shop

We cleaned the Bistro this week. This is where

the YPMs hang out when they are not doing a show.

It was fun to see their names. I miss these kids.

Doug getting into his dump truck

The next few pictures are of a front tongue assembly

for a wagon that Doug rebuilt.

How many Conservation Sisters does it take to clean a

light fixture? At least two when it's heavy glass and held on by chains.

I forgot to take pictures at our FLC training until the end. 

Sister Dalton and I worked together to build this bucket.

Pics from the Independence VC

Liberty Jail

Some of the cornerstones at Far West

My view from work the other day.