Spring is on it's way.

Wow! Here it is Sunday again. So much happens every day and we go home thoroughly exhausted. There is just a lot to learn about the history of Nauvoo and the information about the sites we serve in. But it's all good :0)

Monday we were in the Family Living Center. It’s a barnlike building where someone can learn all about skills that the pioneers used when they were here in Nauvoo.  We teach about spinning yarn, baking bread, dipping candles, weaving, making rope, pottery and barrel making.  That particular Monday I made bread that we baked in a brick bustle oven.  Scott was one of the ones who helped build the fire.  It took forever to mix up and knead that much dough.  But in the end I had 8 pretty nice looking loaves of great tasting bread.  It’s just such a long process. I can’t imagine being a pioneer mom and doing that a couple of times a week.  I also taught about spinning wool and candle making.  This is why we have so much to learn!

Our Pday is on Wednesday right now and it's really like a Saturday at home.  It's the day we try to get caught up on life.  This week though we drove down to Quincy and went to the History Museum and learned about how the Quincy residents took in the Mormon refugees as they were fleeing Missouri in 1839-1840.  They provided food, shelter, clothing and often times jobs to the saints.  The town of 1600 people took in over 6,000 people in a three month period.  It's a fascinating story and heart warming to learn about the people who took care of the saints instead of persecuting them.

On Wednesday night we had Mission Training Meeting.  Pres. Lusvardi is an amazing man.  He has a way of teaching that pulls everyone in and leaves everyone wanting more.  He told us about his recent meeting in Salt Lake with members of the Twelve and how there’s just such a sense of urgency and positive energy for the future.  He wanted to convey to us that there is so much that we need to be doing and the temple should play a major role in that.  There will be fewer churches built and more temples, and changes that will allow us more time in the temple.

I spent a little bit of time over at Pioneer Pastimes this week.  It’s a place that has about 15 different pioneer games for the kids to try out.  Kids just come and go as they like and can do the activities in any order.  Scott and I were assigned to be the assistant site coordinators  so I thought I’d better learn a bit about it.  It’s actually just like a big cub scout pack meeting on steroids :0)

I've thought a bit about what I've already learned here in two weeks and the things that I always want to remember:

• The beauty of the Nauvoo Temple, at sunrise and sunset especially. It has been closed since we arrived but will open back up this week so we are excited to go.
• The kindness and helpfulness of the other missionaries is amazing. 
• Everyone has a life story to tell; some heartbreak and lots of triumphs.
• I need to repent, be more humble and step up my game.
• The spring flowers are beautiful, especially the white and pink magnolia trees.
• On my walk through Nauvoo State park I have seen squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, red cardinals and woodpeckers.
• The spirit of Nauvoo is hard to put into words, but touches my heart.

Have a grateful day!

The white magnolia tree outside our back door.

It's not hard to see the temple from anywhere in Nauvoo
right now since the trees haven't leafed out yet.

Scott's practicing his barrel making skills
at the Family Living Center.

Preparing to make rope.

Getting ready to make 8 loaves of bread in a massive bowl...
yes, wearing gloves and a beautiful hair net :0)

The fireplace with the side brick oven where I baked the bread.

The bread was actually edible.

The wagon ride around old Nauvoo.