The Best Surprise Ever!

At the "Love locks" by the locks in Keokuk.

 April 25, 2022

Sitting at home on Friday night, contemplating the week and trying to get up off of the couch and head to bed when, at about 10:15, there was a knock on my door. I thought it was strange to have a knock that late but before I could get up, there was another knock. When I answered the door, I was surprised and beyond excited to see Kendra and Clark standing there! So much joy and happiness in that one moment and the weekend to follow! They are here until Monday and we are enjoying every second of it!  Since we were already scheduled to go to Costco to get the tires replaced, they rode along with us. We then stopped at Dutchmans, then at the Memorial to the Saints and the Exodus in Montrose. We were "trained" there - like being barged on the Mississippi only we were out looking at the memorial and a train stopped and blocked the road out. Haha. Clark loved it because it gave him more time to play on the amazing playground sets that were there. He also loved the train whistle blowing from a distance but it was really loud when it was right by us. When the caboose was almost there, I told him that he should wave at the engineer and maybe he'd blow the horn for him. He ran and hid because he did not want the horn to blow again because "it's too loud!" We then went to Fat Jimmy's for dinner, then to Red Front for ice cream. It was a fun, rewarding day!

Friday it was made official that I am moving back to gardens/grounds. I will not be assigned a specific garden to care for like last year but will be working with Sisters Coffman and Rasmussen 2.0 - we have two Sister Rasmussen's hence the 2.0 haha. I'm going to be trained in mowing the lawns and will be doing that also. I've heard that it is a very jarring, bumpy and hard-on-the-body job. They are short on interns and seasonal helpers this year so mowing goes to the missionaries to do. It'll be interesting, that's for sure. 

Learning that I will for sure be going back to grounds was a bittersweet for me. I love  the sisters that I work with in Conservation and will miss working with them on a daily basis. I am excited to get my hands dirty in the gardens and to play in the dirt again.

Today during the Sacrament, I noticed that as the Sacrament was being passed, that the Missionaries all sat a little taller as the tokens of the Sacrament were passed to them. Yes, I'm sure most of it was so that the Elder passing the Sacrament could get by easier, but the thought hit me that we should sit a little taller as this sacred ordinance is taking place. We should reverence and show respect to our Savior's sacrifice to us as we renew our covenants with Him. It was just a passing thought, but I wanted to share it with you. It had an impact on me.

I don't know how I forgot to mention this in last week's letter but the first wave of Young Sister Missionaries have arrived and it is wonderful to see them and feel their love and excitement! I haven't had a chance to spend time with them, but them just being here adds greatly to the mission! Next week, the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries (NPM) arrive and things just continue to get better and better here in Nauvoo!

As I leave Conservation, I thought I'd post a few things that I love/don't love so much about it.

*I love the Sisterhood that exists in Conservation and how the Sisters welcomed me in, loved me, hugged me when I was down, encouraged me when I needed it and always believed in me.

*I love that we could find laughter and joy in the midst of cleaning some pretty yucky places.

*I will not miss cleaning up mouse droppings, sticky traps and dead bugs. Lots and lots of dead bugs and some live ones also.

*I love that I was able to help decorate the historic sites, the VC and the Mission home for Christmas. This was a fun and special way to celebrate the Christmas holidays. In January, I was able to help take them down.

*I will miss the sacredness of cleaning the Historic Sites and the artifacts. Cleaning took on new meaning when we cleaned those sites.

*I will not miss the tons of laundry that we do but I will miss the conversation that takes place as we fold said laundry.

*I will miss our daily devotionals and prayer. These have been sacred to me.

*I won't miss but maybe I will, the hours spent cleaning ceilings and walls, vacuuming floors, couches, chairs and sometimes bed mattresses, dusting  furniture and moving it (some of it's pretty heavy!), wiping down cupboards, cleaning light fixtures, wiping down blinds and window sills, putting mattress pads on bunk beds (brings me reminders of how I had a love/hate relationship with my kids bunk beds!), and a whole lot of other cleaning.

*I will miss the fun conversation we had as we wrapped plastic wear in napkins for the Mission dinners and then decorated the tables for those dinners or breakfasts.

*All in all, these last seven months that I've been blessed to be in Conservation have flown by and I'm grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve there. It has been a pleasure to be a "Guardian of Sacred Places" and I will miss it. 

Making a bucket in the FLC (Family Living Center)

with Sister Williams.

The finished bucket.

Clark making a rope. Sister Macfarlane in the 

background.

Clark cutting the rope.

His brick from the Visitor Center. He loves it!

The temple from the Montrose side of the Mississippi.

It's pictures like this that make me wish I had a better camera.

"Trained". Do you think the wind is blowing much?

This has been me lately. Ugh!

Out to lunch with the girls! I love these sisters!

L-R Sisters Wood, me, Heward, Cluff, Peterson

We stopped here on the way back from our lunch. Many of the

sisters had never been here before. This is a bridge that was 

built over the ditch that the early pioneers built to drain the swamps

in Nauvoo. The bridge was built after the Saints left Nauvoo.

Sign by the bridge.

Farewell E/S McDougal.

Happy Easter

 

April 18, 2022

Hello my friends and family!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter as you celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ! 

Whoever said that Sunday is a day of rest doesn't serve in the Illinois Historic Sites Mission! Haha! I had to be at the VC (Visitor's Center) for song practice at 7:20, church from 8:00-10:00, then I served at Lucy's home with Sister Wood from noon-5:00 while Doug was trained in how to serve at Pioneer Pastimes. After that, we had dinner, prepared for and then attended a mission devotional from 7-8:00. In between those times, we visited with family and watched Marco Polos of the grandchildren enjoying their Easter Celebrations.

Doug and I sang our duet in Sacrament Meeting and it went very well. Thank you for your prayers! They were felt and appreciated. I sent a Marco Polo to our kids from a rehearsal and Eleena said she kept wondering how her alto mother was hitting those high notes - prayers and practice! I love the message of the song that we sang and I'd like to share the words with you:

They heard his voice; they saw his face

The promised Savior come to earth in days long past

They saw him heal the sick and cause the lame to stand

They watched as wind and waves were stilled at his command

And though I did not see him calm the raging seas

His hand has calmed my troubled heart

And I believe

They heard his voice; they saw his face

They heard his teachings of forgiveness, love and faith

He blessed their little ones; he taught them how to pray;

He fed the multitudes who hungered by the way

And though I did not taste the bread he bade them eat

His word is manna to my soul

And I believe

They saw him scourged and mocked to scorn

They heard the angry crowd, they saw him crowned with thorns

They watched him bend beneath our burden in the streets

They saw the bitter nails that pierced his hands and feet

And though I was not there to watch with them at Calvary

My spirit weeps

I have not seen

Yet I believe

They heard his voice; they saw his face

The risen Jesus, crowned with vict’ry o’er the grave

And though I did not see his triumph over death

Though I did not see him draw immortal breath

I know he lived and died and lives again for me

My faith is sure

I have not seen

Yet I believe

We know that Jesus was seen by Mary Magdalene, by the apostles, the Book of Mormon shares his visit to the Nephites and to the Americas after His resurrection. He appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and then again in Kirtland. Although I have not seen Him, I do know that he lives. I have seen and heard too many things for me to doubt that he lives. I have felt His comfort and peace that can come only through Him and his atoning sacrifice for me. I love Him and I try hard to live so that I am worthy of His sacrifice and love for me.

In other news of the week, Diane, Colleen and Scott came out for the week and we were able to spend some time with them. It was so fun to have family here again and to be able to share our beautiful Nauvoo with them! We spent several afternoons and evenings with them, ate way too much and totally enjoyed their company! Thanks for coming to see us!!! Blaine and Diane, aka E/S Anderson, also came with us to several of the outings that we did. It's great having friends who are more like family serving here with us. 

Saturday Doug and I traveled to Costco in Iowa City (2 hours away) to get new tires for the car. They had the tires but couldn't install them so we have to go back next Saturday. Boo! On the way home, we drove the road that the Saints took when they left Nauvoo, after they landed across the Mississippi in Montrose. We drove to what we think is Sugar Creek, where the Saints camped in the freezing cold. It's a beautiful area but the wind was blowing and it was cold. As I thought of the Saints camped here, in the cold, with very little to keep them warm, my heart again turned to my ancestors and their faith and love for the Savior. I am grateful for them.

I love you, my dear friends and family.

“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29

I love this thought. It was hanging on one of the fridges

in a house that we were cleaning.

So many beautiful sunsets here in Nauvoo!

The group eating at Mi Caminos in Hamilton.

Another favorite spot to eat out.

After visiting Fat Jimmy's for dinner. This is one of the

missionaries favorite places to visit and we've attended many

farewell dinners here as missionaries have left.

L-R Elder Anderson, Diane, Doug and me, Colleen & Scott

Sister Diane Anderson is taking the picture.

The Magnolia trees are beautiful!

This is the Motel 3 1/2. I have no idea who came up with that

name but they've been working on them pretty much since

we arrived and they are almost finished. We in Conservation will 

 be cleaning them - 21 units - soon.

A nice reminder on those hard days!

I love serving with Sister Price! She is so fun and we laugh

a lot!!!  She kept closing her eyes so she opened

them really wide! 

Spring has sprung, 18-months, and a few Nauvoo miracles

 April 10, 2022

Signs of spring are all around us - from the new calves being born, the daffodils in bloom, the tulips coming up, the magnolia trees blooming and the wagons being put out on display. People are coming back and it's been fun to watch! I was able to watch a calf being born the other day. That was pretty exciting and amazing! We gave a lot of tours at Lucy's this week - we had 34 people come through but the next day they had 75. We're slowly getting prepared for the summer rush and we are excited to see everyone come back!

With all the fun things happening, winter reared her head again and we had temps in the 20s and snow flurries this week. Please winter, you've outstayed your welcome and it's time to let spring take over! 

We have been busy getting the homes ready for the new senior missionaries - we welcomed 7 new couples this week - along with the homes for the YSMs that start coming in on Wednesday! We are so excited to have them here again! Before long the NPMs will return and that will be the icing on the cake! Then the pageant and oh, I'm getting excited for that!

As you've probably noticed from my last few letters, things have been tough for me and the mission with the changes happening. Well, this week in training, President Dalton showed us the training that he will be doing with the YSMs when they arrive. It was about arrows pointing in and arrows pointing out. The drawing he used had a picture of a missionary with arrows pointing in toward them and each arrow represented an "I" - "I'm too tired to do that," "I don't like the way that is being done," "I don't want to do that," you get the idea. The other figure was of a missionary with the arrows pointed out - "Lord, what would you have me do?", "How can I serve others today?" "This is the Lord's work, not mine."  I really needed to hear that - my arrows have definitely been pointing in the last little while and I really needed an attitude adjustment. I am so thankful for that lesson and it truly does make a difference! When I start having my own personal pity party, I remind myself that I need my arrows pointing out and then I do something about that. It really has made a big difference in my attitude and in the joy that I am finding again in serving here. Which direction are your arrows pointing?

One of the senior couples that we welcomed this week is Blaine and Diane Anderson - E/S Anderson. It's going to be a challenge to call them that. We have been friends for years - Doug even longer that I have been. We are excited to serve with them, along with all the new missionaries.

We are looking forward to having Scott, Colleen and Diane (Doug's sisters and Colleen's husband) visit this week! It's always great when family comes!

A small Nauvoo miracle this week - E/S Richins, a new couple, who also are in our district, were arriving on Wednesday. We (Conservation) went in to do a quick spruce up and noticed that mice had been in the home so it took us longer to clean it than we had anticipated. I felt prompted to check my email and I'd received an email saying that they were arriving at 9:15, earlier than the anticipated 10-Noon. It was 9:15 when I saw the email so we hurried and finished and loaded the last of the cleaning supplies into the van as they pulled in. We were able to help them unload their car and welcome them to Nauvoo since no one else from our district was able to make it because of tours, work, etc.

It's hard to believe but today is our 18-month mark and we would be heading home Tuesday if we hadn't extended. Even with all the ups and downs, I am so thankful that we extended.

Can we talk about it being all or nothing? We haven't had a district/zone or mission activity for a while so we now have four in three days. Crazy! Friday we had an FM party to celebrate the completion of the construction part of a big project - the Motel 3 1/2 - that has been being worked on since we arrived. Then, we had a mission waffle dinner. Saturday night we had a potluck district meeting and today we have a Zone potluck dinner. No wonder my pants are fitting a little tight! Haha

Another Nauvoo miracle this morning. It is rare that I have Gluten Free bread at home because it's almost $6 a loaf. We received a phone call this morning and  they needed six slices of gluten free bread for the Sacrament and did we have any. We looked and we had exactly six slices. It's a good thing that I didn't have that sandwich I was going to have the other day. It's a small thing but I choose to see the Lord's hand in it. 

 

Today we are being trained in how to do Virtual Tours (VT). At first, my arrows were pointed in and I was not happy about doing VT. I'm trying hard to point my arrows outward and be excited to learn something new and have new opportunities to get out of my comfort zone.

This scripture has been on my mind a lot this week - 

...I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and angels round about you, to bear you up.  D&C 84:88

I have felt His help many times on this mission and there have been many times that angels have been round about me and have carried me. I know that whatever is asked of us, we will be able to do it - with the help of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Him, all things are possible! I bear testimony of that.

I hope you all have an amazing week as we learn of Christ and prepare for Easter next Sunday. Also, if you could add us to your prayers - Doug and I are singing next Sunday and can use lots of prayers and another Nauvoo miracle! Thanks! 

It took me a minute to figure out what this picture was.

It's one of our horses being shoed. It gives you an 

idea of how large they are. 

This is a cool example of historic brick vs new. This is

the Hatch home here in Nauvoo - the original and

an addition. Notice the foundation also.

This popped up in my Facebook memories and I had to share it.

This was our first year, 2005, being in the Pageant. My boys

are so little and now they are taller than me. So many fun memories

from all of our times in Nauvoo.

Saying our "Hurrah for Israel" for E/S King. She is my

gluten-free buddy. We always made sure we brought something

that the other could eat. I'll miss her sweet smile and friendship.

I'll miss Elder King's amazing voice.

At our waffle dinner just a few days after E/S Anderson arrived. 

More beautiful Nauvoo pics

Following the wagon

Lots of baby calves.

Sometimes, change is hard!

April 3, 2022

Monday night they burned the Prairie Grass. It was amazing how fast it burned. I've always wanted to see the demonstration when they burn it but last year, compliments of Covid, no one was allowed there. It was freaking cold and I was shivering so much it was hard to hold the camera but it was worth it!

I was asked the other day how I'm adjusting to the new Site President. Changes are hard and we've had a lot of them with our new Site President.  This week in training, he announced that the IC program is no longer in effect. This is the Incident Command program that Doug worked so hard on. Doug has trained many of the missionaries in this program and how to use it. It's been a blessing to the mission. Anyway, he made the change without consulting with Doug at all.  Doug was surprised by the change as were many of the missionaries.

So many of the changes have been frustrating and I've found myself being very negative. Well, Saturday after the Women's Session of General Conference, I talked with Sister Peterson and we decided that we need to be more positive so we are going to help each other stay positive. I really am trying and I know I can be a lot better! Why is it so much easier to be negative that it is to be positive? 

I have a thought hanging on my fridge that says, 

When obedience ceases to be an irritant 

and becomes our quest, in that moment 

God will endow us with power.

        Ezra Taft Benson

I loved President Nelson's 5 ways to maintain spiritual momentum that he spoke about in Conference today. 

I'm glad that I get to repent daily and try again to become a better person.

Before our Community Outreach program was stopped, we had already purchased a lot of fleece to make blankets with. This week, we delivered a lot of them to a place in Carthage that helps families in need. It was a great feeling knowing that we played a small part in making someone's life a little better and warmer. 

We had 20 visitors at Lucy's home this Thursday while I served there!!! It was fun giving tours. With Spring breaks happening, the town is bustling! I ran into a couple from Oakley, Jane Davis and her husband,  that we knew when we lived up that way. It was fun to see them and visit briefly. I hope that I run into them again before they leave. It's always fun seeing those I know.

This week I did two "Women of Faith" vignettes. We did a special one on Monday afternoon for a group from South Africa! As I've said before, Nauvoo is now seen worldwide with the virtual tours we do! I also participated in the regular Thursday night one. The next ones I do will be April 21 and 28. I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to tell the story of Relief Society each time I do this!

Sister Wood, me and Sister Smith

Friday night we had E/S Hokanson over for dinner before they left Saturday morning. Goodbyes are hard and they happen a lot here in the mission.

Saturday evening we gathered together as Sisters to watch the Women's session of General Conference. My daughter, Rochelle, was in the choir that sang in that session. It was fun seeing her on the big screen and pointing her out to my fellow Sister missionaries. After, we gathered in the Bistro for refreshments and visiting. We were fed spiritually and physically that evening. 

In Conservation, we continue cleaning homes and sprucing them up, getting them ready for the new missionaries that will be coming! Doug is still working on getting the wagons all ready for the summer rush, along with hauling gravel for driveway repairs and parking lots.

Even with all of the changes going on, I am so thankful that I get to serve here in Nauvoo. I still have to pinch myself to remind myself that I am serving my dream mission.

I am so thankful for the past two days, that we were able to listen to our prophet and apostles give us instruction and guidance that will help us draw closer to our Heavenly Father and help us stay strong during these final days. Also, 17 temples were announced and one of those was in Cleveland, Ohio, where Eleena served her mission! She is beyond excited!!!

Life is good and the hard times draw us closer to our Savior. I love Him!   I love each of you! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for us. They mean a lot! 

Celebrating Sister Cluff's birthday at Queso's, which is one

of my favorite restaurants in Burlington.

I served with Sister Neve at Lucy's this week.

The prairie grass fire burn - the before and after.

This is what the Conservation Room looks like after

cleaning a newly acquired home that all of the bedding was left at.

Five bedrooms makes for a lot of laundry!