Rendezvous

Tonight we performed in another Rendezvous production. I have been having trouble remembering my line. It certainly isn't rocket science stuff.  I only have one sentence, during the Nauvoo militia scene where we are going to go out and fight the mobs. I carry a rifle and my big black hat.  (I look like a Mennonite). But with all the action around  and trying to come in with my words  at the right time, I always forget some part of the sentence.
Tonight, Elder Rawlings suggested that I put the paper with my line written on, in my hat. It is on a paper about 2 inches by 8 1/2 inches. When we enter the stage we are wearing our hats.  We then take them off and hold them.  I was sweating a lot (worrying about my line, I guess), and I took my hat off and came time for my line, I couldn't find my paper, but it was ok. I remembered my line ok. We then have to put our hats on and march out as we are singing.  When I put my hat on I suddenly found my paper. I  found it draped over my bald head stuck to my sweat.
When I took my hat off and through my part I had this paper stuck to my head.  No wonder people looked at me strange.
(Boy, I don't think I'm going to make it as an actor. Maybe they will have a three stooges part, or something)

verified evidence of Book of Mormon

Today we served in the Stoddard Tinsmith shop and in the Wilford Woodruff Home.  A beautiful day the first day to hit 80 degrees and clear all day.  After so many days of cold rain and wind, it was wonderful.
In addition to the beauty of the day in Old Nauvoo, we were talking to the Bishop of the Nauvoo 1st Ward about the Book of Mormon and he had me look up a you tube video produced by BYU professors of religion. This was so fascinating that I wanted to have all of you look it up.  If any one tries to tell you that Joseph Smith either made up the Book of Mormon story, or whatever, this is one more evidence, that points up the fact that it won't be long before the irrefutable evidence is so plentiful that no one will be able to deny it's truthfulness.
Look up you tube: Nahom - Book Of Mormon Evidence.  In the first minute of the video they will show a map, with Lehi's proposed route.  At the place where they think was the Valley of Lemuel,  Mom and I, when we went to Israel, stayed at a Marriott resort at Elat which is exactly across the Red Sea from this location.  Kristen and Steve, you may remember the photos I took looking across the Red Sea, and me telling you that that distant sea shore was where we think Lehi went.
He also told me of new discoveries that non LDS archeologists are making here in the central and northern states that are uncovering what they call the "Hopewell" indians, which date from 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. They are finding ore smelters, metal breast plates, swords, Egyptian script writings and many things just as they are mentioned in the Book of Mormon.  Prior to this we all were thinking that the Book of Mormon was centered in Central America, but the evidence is now shifting to this area (which incidentally, is what Joseph Smith was saying all along.).  And it is coming from non-LDS researchers.

Civil War battle reenactment

On Friday and Saturday, April, 26, and 27 we were selected to attend a Civil War celebration in Keokuk, Iowa with 8 other missionaries with "Nauvoo on the Road".  We take a trailer filled with displays representing Old Nauvoo.  We had a rope making booth ( the three strands of the rope machine above in front of Sis. Ririe and Abraham Lincoln), a brick making booth, pioneer games, bread making and candle making booths.  It was well attended and we saw some that came to our booths, come to Nauvoo itself today per our invitation at the re-enactment.  We did get rained out on Saturday afternoon.

  






 

Magnolia petals covering our driveway and patio!  Beautiful almost as thick as snow.

Craig in his Stage costume...a little musical called Rendezvous

We have 2 huge magnolia trees in front of our home...(Little basement apartment) and a beautiful grassy field in front the size of two soccer fields...in fact I can see our grandkids playing soccer and having a blast!

Magnolias are amazing!  Huge blossoms and the leaves come out later!

Home Sweet Home!  We love it here!...We are the basement apartment.

Sunday afternoon after serving in the Brickyard after church...Had a great experience today!

Inside of our apartment...Lots of floor space and a couch that pulls out...So you are welcome to come visit!!

Two recliners...mama bear and papa bear...Ha Ha!

Bedroom, laundry room and bath...cozy!  

This is a sample of how missionaries live here in Nauvoo...Those who are in historic homes deal with lots of steep stairs and small spaces...so we feel we have the best of all worlds...lovely view and surroundings...with privacy and just on the east edge of old  Nauvoo...we live on Parley street which is historic in itself....It is so great to learn to live with less....we have all we need of temporal things...It is very freeing to not have stuff!  I bet the missionaries (young single missionaries) totally get it....everything they own fits in two suitcases.  We had our young sister missionaries arrive last week and they are so fun..They bring energy and spirit!  They are so disciplined...and so sweet!  In a few weeks we get the Young performing missionaries and soon the Pageant folks come to town...our ward will be about 600 by then..Whew!  Craig and I have been asked to teach a Sunday school lesson each...his on the 19th of May and mine on the 26th!  Yikes...they rotate teaching all around the missionaries...I'm teaching the Plan of Salvation and Craig is teaching about the establishment of the Kirtland temple.... We are a little nervous about teaching a SS class of 400 missionaries...who it seems to us could all be general authorities...Spiritual giants!  So we are growing each day and studying alot...feel so humble to be serving here.  We feel the strength of our children's prayers in our behalf ...Thank you and we love you so much.....in fact I have tears puddling in my eyes as I type.. Love you all!

Serving at the Heber C. Kimball

          Sunday, Craig and I served together at the Heber C. Kimball home.  This was the first property restored in old Nauvoo.  It was actually purchased by J. Leroy Kimball, the great grandson of Heber.  He was doing this in honor of his great grandfather, but as he was working to restore it, people would drop by and ask to see it...there was great interest in old historic sites, so he contacted the church and that was  the beginning of the restoration of Nauvoo...around 1962!  We love the feeling of serving where people lived and walked through these rooms.  The Kimballs only lived in this beautiful home 4 months when they were forced out in the winter of 1846....They sold their home for 675.00....a pittance of what is was worth....left it in new condition,( because Brigham Young said in honor of Joseph they should leave things in the best condition) even with furniture..they couldn't take much in a 3x11 wagon....so, it was with great sacrifice that they went forth into the unknown, by faith....We can learn so much from those who knew real sacrifice....what would I do?   Heber was lucky, as most just closed the door and walked away from their beautiful Nauvoo, not getting a penny for their property and work.  What a marvelous heritage we have of faithful saints in Nauvoo!

The Blacksmith Shop

      Today I was assigned to work with Elder Ward.  This is his third mission to Nauvoo.  He is the site leader for the blacksmith shop.  He was a" blacksmith" in his early years, making things on his farm in Malad, Idaho, growing up many years ago.  He is a very spiritual man. Today we had a nonmember come through on a tour who was not very receptive, but was quite pensive as we bore testimony  and challenged those in the tour to put themselves in the place of these early saints as they were literally pushed into the Mississippi river in summer of 1846, with only the clothes on their backs with the taunting from the mobs that they could get back on land alive, and would be left alone, if they rejected their membership in the Church.  If not, they had to continue across the river never to return or they would be killed. What would you do?  Elder Ward then said: I know what you would do.  You would do the same thing that I would do!  Because you like I, KNOW  that Joseph Smith WAS A PROPHET OF GOD, and that God also knows that, and you would get in the skiffs that were ferrying the survivors of the "battle of Nauvoo to Montrose and an unknown future, but with complete trust in God and His unseen angels for protection.
My, how we love this sacred place.  This is truly the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

   
Yesterday we went to a little town north of Nauvoo called Niota, where the Mississippi was flooding and threatening homes.   It was very cold and raining.  We made sand bags to be placed on the levee that was holding back the River.

Some of the missionaries helping make sandbags

The Mississippi going over its banks toward the town

a flooded road