Monday, January 31st

A Few Sights of Nauvoo

This week was a typical temple missionary work week. No sickness, storms, or temple closures. Very nice! It wasn't extremely cold either. So, what is there to report....I am pleasantly surprised by how well my body is handling this schedule. I'm not a great sleeper and when I'm not responsible to get anywhere or do anything, I let my body wake up as it will and at home that could be as late as 9 am. Now, we are out the door usually by 8 am and I'm feeling good! This is a blessing and tender mercy from my Heavenly Father. They are full days and I'm quite tired when we are done but I am feeling good! 

It is my privilege to record the names of all the people that receive their ordinances during the day. When I scan them, the other temples they have been to pop up on the screen, some as far as Brazil, England, Mexico and many other temples in Utah and other states. It's very interesting and tender to see how loved these people are and the great time and care that is being shown to them to help them on their continued journey to return to our Father.   

We started attending a dance class on Thursday nights which I think will be a very fun addition to our week. It's a Victorian era line dance instruction, so I pretend I'm one of Jane Austin's characters...it really was very fun and Dave enjoyed it too! 

Along the Mississippi during the months of January and February, the bald eagles come to feed so we have been watching as large groups of them fly down for fish and roost in the trees above the river. 

February 4th, 1846 is the day that the mass exodus of the Saints living in Nauvoo occurred so they have a re-enactment of this event with a parade of people, oxen, wagons, and militia marching down Parley Street to cross the Mississippi on ferry boats. Last night we went to a fireside where relatives of people who experienced this told their stories along with some beautiful musical numbers. It was very touching to hear all of what happened to them and how they responded. Truly, very amazing people! It inspired me to do some digging into my family history and find my Nauvoo stories, which when I find them, I'll record them here. 

As we drive back and forth to Keokuk I look out the window and see what I can see. I noticed some really unique round greenish, brown things the size of softballs under a tree. We stopped to investigate and brought one home. We took a picture and with an app it will tell you what it is. We discovered it was an Osage orange. It's inedible to humans and animals, although some squirrels will eat the seeds when it busts open. The wood of the tree is what is valuable. It is very flexible and doesn't rot so it's used for bows and wagon wheels. It's named after the Osage tribe who was famous for the finest bows. 

That's about it for this week, although I broke a tooth and it needs a crown but I stuck it back in and I'm praying for a mission miracle for it to stay in until the temple is closed in April and May and I can go to my favorite dentist (Mark- son in law) in Denver to get it fixed. It's been good for a week so far....

This is the temple model cut out. It has amazing detail.

lining up to dance

Osage orange. Exterior and interior

Eagle watching for food

Spotted something

A group at the Exodus re-enactment fireside. 

The gal in orange is our friend from Nebraska, Diane. 

She also told a story about her 4th great grandfather, Isaac Morley. 

The beautiful horses of Nauvoo

 Monday January 24, 2022

Settling In

Last Tuesday was Dave's 65th birthday! Since we're in Nauvoo, there isn't many places to celebrate so we made our own celebration and some temple friends were kind enough to come over short notice and play a game to celebrate his birthday. We have enjoyed getting to know these good people and feel grateful to be friends with them. It was a fun time. All of us had gotten up at 4 am for the 5 am temple shift but our brains still managed to function well enough. 

Wednesday we did our office/ engineer shift and the next morning Dave woke up with a fever, chills, aches and pains. The mission doctor brought over a covid test and Dave stayed home for the next two days. He tested negative twice and felt great for our Saturday shift. We are really grateful to be able to do both types of work: ministering and administering. It's a perfect balance. 

Dave has enjoyed settling into a regular routine of preventative maintenance and maintenance tasks. He has repaired a couple of vacuums, cleaned filters and replaced light bulbs. He is also setting up the audio visual system for endowment room 4 (terrestrial room) for the hearing impaired. He is in charge of the daily water analysis of the baptistry, which just for fun information, is the largest font in the whole church. It sits on the exact same footprint as the original temple and has two sets of stairs descending into it because they would do simultaneous baptisms for the dead when the ordinance was restored.

There is a man 90 years of age that is an ordinance worker here in Nauvoo. He and his wife could not have children. Several years into their marriage when they lived in Georgia, they were asked by a local leader to raise four siblings who had lost their parents. They took them on joyfully and raised them in the church. Not all remained active and his wife passed away. He realized he was getting older and would soon be joining her and wanted to give her the gift of these children being sealed to them. He asked the temple recorder what he could do to make this happen. The recorder gave the task to Sister Dewey who is the office leader. She worked through all the family records and arranged the sealing date of the children, one of which had passed away. The day of the sealing everyone was gather who could be there and the proxies of those who couldn't. Unfortunately, the sealing could not be done because the one daughter that had died had been excommunicated with out this father knowing. Now, a letter had to be written and approval from the 1st Presidency given for her work to be done. It was a very sorrowful day. But, the letter was written by sweet Sister Dewey and word came back from Salt Lake and this daughter was baptized and confirmed by proxy by her adopted father, and I got to record it and then put the date stamp on it! In fact, it was the first stamp I did as I started this mission.  Then the initiatory was done by Sister Dewey right after I stamped it and then the endowment. Now this long awaited for sealing will be done this week in the Nauvoo temple so that when this dear brother meets his wife, he will be bringing their children with him! I feel so blessed to be aware of this sweet story because I got to work in the temple office. I truly believe families are joined together forever because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Priesthood power and ordinances of the temple and even though these parents did not bring these children into the world, they certainly raised them up and will enjoy the love and association of family through the eternities. 

I can't promise this will be the last time I speak of the cold but I will say this and then try to focus on all the other things. We can't seem to feel warm. I wear many layers in the temple and feel a draft everywhere, that's probably why all the windows are being replaced this spring. I'm sure it will make a huge difference in the temperature of the temple. Our apartment, although very nice is drafty as well. Our fingers and toes are always very cold. I'm sorry to say this makes me grumpy and my bones ache. It makes me reflect on the pioneers often and what they had to endure without any of the creature comforts we have of indoor plumbing and heating and being able to cook with electricity. The temperature is regularly single digits and we stay inside much of our off time from the temple. We anticipate with eagerness the changing of seasons so we'll be able to get out and enjoy this wonderful, beautiful place! 

These are the Werrets, Alan and Brenda. 

We travel 3 hours together to our branch every Sunday.  

They are a wonderful couple.  

We made a snow dragon to celebrates Dave's birthday!

Beautiful full moon above the temple

Dave's first batch of 13 grain bread on the mission

Thankfully, negative covid tests

 Sunday, January 16 2022

To Breathe or Not to Breathe....(that is the question)

This week was quite a bit slower in time intensity. We've had a few missionaries get sick with covid so they canceled ordinance work on our Tuesday 5 am shift. We did get to work Wednesday morning, Thursday evening and Friday morning. Although, a storm was coming in, so Friday they let all the "distant living" workers get home and all the temple missionaries assisted in an own endowment sister who came from Montana. They closed the temple Saturday for the storm as well but the temple missionaries assisted another own endowment brother coming from Iowa, an 8 hour drive away. Each of these own endowments had the temple all to themselves and the few family that came with them. We were able to be the officiators for both sessions. The Lord truly does minister to the "one". 

We have been assigned a branch to attend on Sundays which is 1.5 hours away. We drive in with another temple missionary couple who are really delightful to be with. The drive is lovely, the branch is very friendly. There is a sister in the branch that would always make sack lunches for the visiting missionaries to take with them on the road. She passed away a few years ago but her daughter asked us if she could do that for us in her mother's memory and we of course said yes! She packed us a delicious lunch today. We feel very loved already from this branch.

Thursday, we got a call from the temple, President Anderson. He called to ask Dave if he was alright with adding more temple shifts to his schedule because they felt like they had enough engineers working. Dave was very excited to be able to that. So, Tuesday we both have temple shifts from 5am to 9 am, Wednesday, we'll do office and engineer from 8 am to 2pm. Thursday we have temple shifts from noon to 6pm. Friday shifts from 8 am to 2pm and Saturday, office and engineer from 8 am to 2pm. 

In the same phone call he told me that my mask wasn't acceptable and that they would need me to stay home until the covid spike in the area settled down. Who knows how long that would be! I was so sad! I understand they need to follow state laws and temple department criteria but I didn't come on a mission to sit in the apartment so I really struggled with the frustration of governments controlling our life in such a personal way. Dave offered to give me a blessing....and after some time to humble myself I realized that I would rather be uncomfortable trying to breathe in the temple than not be in the temple at all. So, I wear an acceptable mask and breathe the best I can. It really is just fine. It's amazing what you can do with attitude adjustments...and priesthood blessings....

We haven't done much exploring of Nauvoo yet because of the cold temperatures but we did get to have dinner out on Saturday in the only eating place open in Nauvoo with our friends from Omaha, The Coffmans, and play a few games after.  

We had time to play the "Guess Who" game we made for our kids for Christmas this year. It is very fun!

Now those are a bunch of beautiful faces if I do say so myself!

This is the William Weeks' home here in Nauvoo. Both Dave and I are related to him down our lines.

One of the many pictures of the Nauvoo temple that will be taken this year. We still can't believe we are here!

Things are pretty cold here but it makes it beautiful...

Especially after a storm. On our way to church this morning, the sun was shining and all the trees looked like they had glitter sprinkled on them. It was so magical! We didn't get a picture of it though. 

So lovely!

 

Sunday, January 9th 2022

Two and a Half weeks Travel, Training and Tenderness.

Well, let's see where to begin...on Dec 28th we determined we would make our way to Nauvoo bad roads or not. We loaded up our car and U-Haul trailer and left Bountiful around 11:30 am. The first leg of the journey we planned to stay in Denver at our daughter's home. The roads were amazingly clear except for a few spots in Wyoming which made for slow going but we didn't hit any bad weather. The car and trailer handled beautifully and we felt like we were in a bubble of safety the whole way. 11 hours later we had safely arrived to Annie's home. What a tender mercy and answer to many prayers!  We love this family!(sadly, no picture)  We left Colorado around 9 am for our next leg of the journey to Lincoln Nebraska. When we lived there several years prior we fell in love with the Morris family. Spencer and Nellie and their four children. We adopted each other! 

They needed help with finishing their basement and we had wanted to do that and now was as good a time as any other.  Nine hours later we arrived safely. Dave and Spenny worked long days and got done the important things like the wall, doors, wiring, canned lights, duct work, carpet and sheet rock. We had a great New Year's Eve celebration with them ringing in the new year at 10 pm! We love this family! 

Sunday, January 2nd, after church, we visited with our dear Jude and her friend Duane 

and then made our way to Blair, Nebraska to stay with more dear friends, Jim and Kris Evans. They fed us and we played games, talked and slept. We left the next day around noon. (sadly, no picture)

We arrived in Nauvoo, Monday about 6 pm without incident and were warmly greeted by our host couple the Smedleys and other dear friends from Nebraska, Perry and Diane Coffman who are also serving a mission in Nauvoo only with the Facilities Management group. They helped us unload the trailer and car and fed us a lovely dinner. We feel like we have been assisted and surrounded by angels all along our journey! Tuesday we unpacked and met with the temple Presidency and the new temple missionaries. There are 5 new couples. 

Wednesday we spent the whole day, 9 am to 5 pm in the temple participating in all the ordinances and going up and down the five flights of stairs trying to get familiar with the building layout. I must say I had a difficult time knowing what direction I was facing and felt pretty confused a great deal of the time. We were set apart and I don't believe I have ever had such a powerful blessing pronounced upon me! It was amazing and Dave's was just as powerful! 

Thursday, 8am to 6 pm, was more training and passing off ordinances. We both passed, Whew! My mesh mask is a bit of concern since it really doesn't function as a mask but is merely a show of social conformity to having my face covered. The Presidency is mulling it over but I truly cannot attempt to breathe out of a thick mask for 6 to 7 hours a day. Church medical was alerted and I told them about my airway so I'm hopeful that will be the end of it. I had another long training day. I have the assignment of helping in the temple office. It's mainly recording ordinances so I was worried about nothing. I think it will be a very nice thing to have the variety of ordinance work and office work. We didn't get home til 6 pm and then had a temple group dinner that evening. Dave has the assignment of assistant temple engineer. He will be doing that every day except Tuesday, when he gets to be an ordinance worker. The engineer's job can be slow as they kind of are on call to fix anything that needs repair, while doing preventative maintenance. Thursday was a slow day for him. 

Friday, 8 am to 3 pm,  I did some ordinance work and Dave shoveled and cleared the ice buildup off the temple parking lot for most of the day by hand and shovel. It was very unsafe and he is the type of person that if something isn't getting done and it's dangerous, he will fix it even if it isn't his responsibility.  Fortunately, it wasn't as cold Friday as it had been for the last few days. 

Saturday was supposed to be an office day for me but I had a temple shift instead, there was some confusion with the schedule makers, which was fine. Around 10 am it was discovered that the city water main had frozen in the water tower which is right next to the temple and then broken so the temple had no water. We had to finish up what we could and then they had to close the temple and everyone went home. Pretty disappointing to people who had traveled hours to get there and then not get to do what they had planned....the office had to call many people hoping to let them know before they were on the road and reschedule their appointments.  

Our home for the next 12 months. It is very nice!

  Musings: I will be quite candid with my feelings but hopefully even if I say negative things, it will be understood that I am "all in" this experience and "all in" the Gospel! This is a record, and we truly learn more from the hard times than the good times. That being said...

It was a long drive but it was nice to have such pleasant stops along the way. I miss my bathtub already and our apartment has only a shower so that is one sacrifice I will feel intensely. Driving into Nauvoo knowing we will be here for a year is really unbelievable and we feel the privilege of being here but it is SO cold right now, I felt like my eyeballs were being frozen open and because of the no bathtub situation I'm not able to warm up. We can't just hunker down and stay inside because we have things to do and people counting on us, so I am feeling a sacrifice there of being in charge of my time and energy. I do have to say that I have been amazed at my energy levels with "going and doing" and consistently rising earlier than I ever make myself at home. I even walk up the stairs in the temple, occasionally as well as down! The setting up of the apartment has been more of a challenge for me this time, finding places for things and then remembering where I put them and wanting them somewhere else. The intense temple training, the cold and the moving in put me in a frazzled state for a few days but we know we are being prayed for and watched over and I now feel calm, peaceful, curious and willing to give and these sacrifices are small in comparison to what we have received and will continue receive as the days, weeks and months go by.