Our Days in Nauvoo August 17th - 23rd 2014

Hi Family and Friends,

Sunday, August 17 – We had a great day in Ottumwa.  Books on tape sure save us going and coming though.  Church was good and we had dinner with Clive and Linda Parcell after.  We were barged on the way home from church.  We were on the bridge with President and Sister MacArthur (temple president and matron) and it was their first experience being barged.  Personally I think if you have to stop and wait awhile you shouldn't have to pay to get through, but no one has asked my opinion.  

 

Monday, August 18 – Quiet, but good day at the temple.  We were the 2^nd followers on the 12:00 session and there weren’t very many in the session so we were patrons.  I’m getting my family names done so I'm not complaining.  We had our large group FHE tonight.  It was a program, talent display and meal.  Our apartment building (4 couples) was in charge of the menu and we had a lasagna dinner.  When I walked into the stake center they had lots of round tables set up, reminding me of the first week we were here – 4 months ago today!  I couldn't help but think back about that day.  We each stood and introduced ourselves, and as I looked around, I thought that I would never get to know all the people that were there and then each meal they would mix us up and it was so uncomfortable to get to know new people each time.  Tonight as I looked around at each table, I couldn’t help but feel so overwhelmed at the love we feel for each of these wonderful people.  We have become the very best of friends and it will be so sad to have this beautiful experience end.  When it was time to leave home and come out here, I just didn’t think about leaving because it was too sad.  That is how I am feeling now about leaving here.  I’m just not going to think about it yet.  Sister Tanner came up after and gave me a hug.  She is a sister that was really quite intimidating to me at the first but is the most wonderful lady ever.  We will really miss this daily association with these wonderful, wonderful friends. 

Tuesday, August 19 - I was going to go to the family history center this morning but didn’t get going early enough so I worked on family history at home.  I thought I could find a few answers on my own but mostly just ended up with more questions.  I am planning on getting there in the morning when they open at 9:00.  The temple was slow.  We were supposed to follow again and ended up being the witness couple.  Elder Epperson’s parents were in the session behind ours and Dad and I both had breaks after, so we were able to meet and visit with them in the Celestial Room.  He is one of the Elders serving in our Ottumwa ward.  That was fun. I was a sealing patron first thing and Brother Slack was the sealer.  He always leaves us with a thought and it was a good one today – from President Hinckley.  “Those who wait beyond the veil for the ordinances of the gospel, are in desperate circumstances analogous to the handcart pioneers. . .Those who labor in the temples of the Lord are their rescuers.”  I love this thought.

             

Wednesday, August 20 – I spent the morning at the family search center and came home frustrated.  The sister there to help me had me clicking in lots of places and I had no idea what I was doing.  She of course, knew what she was doing, but not me.  I came home confused but having decided that I need to come up with a system to write things down in an organized binder, so I guess some good came of the morning.  We had a good day at the temple.  We were to be 2^nd followers again but not enough patrons came so we were patrons again.  I was also an initiatory patron.  They added a 7:00 session for one of the site missionary groups so we were there until 9:20. 

             

Thursday, August 21 – It was quiet at the temple.  We led the 9:00 session.  We have been in a session every day this week and 3 of the days last week.  Worked on a family history chart so I can record and keep track of what I’m finding.  I am anxious to find a few hours to work on things again.  They had a hail storm at home with hail the size of quarters.  Did some damage to peoples crops and gardens.

Friday, August 22 - We went with several of our Friday P-Day friends to Springfield IL.  We visited Lincoln’s tomb, museum, and his home.  It was a 3 hour trip over and then back.  The museum was wonderful – lots of wax figures that were incredible.  They had lots of large rooms depicting different times in Lincoln’s life from childhood to his death but photographs were not allowed.  My favorite was the room representing when his body was laying in state.  There was such a reverent feeling in that room.  We walked several blocks to his home and it reminded me a lot of the homes in Nauvoo but a lot of the furnishings in his home were actually his.  We didn't get all of the museum visited before we had to leave and that was a disappointment.  Hopefully someday we can come back this way.

Lincoln Museum

With the Robison's and the Greene's (and a young Abe Lincoln)

 Lincoln's Tomb - inside and outside

 There was also a man dressed as Lincoln that walked around the area of his home telling about Lincoln's life. He was impressive. 

Saturday, August 23 – We were guides at the temple today for a cute couple.  He is from Korea and she is from Missouri.  They met at BYU and he is a convert of a little over a year and is still in the process of learning English.  We went to the Nauvoo Hotel for dinner with the Kukuk’s and then visited at their apartment for a while after.  It was another good day.

             

Going back to President Hinckley's quote -  "Those who labor" are each of us who make time to go to the temple and do temple work.  Try to fit this wonderful work into your schedules.  You and your families will be blessed.    

We love you all and miss everyone.  Life is good here and we are happy.

Love, Mom and Dad / Grandpa and Grandma / Elder and Sister Hall