Each week we have some new experiences here in the mission. I encountered stinging nettle for the first time in my life as I
was attempting to put bungee cords over our garbage can lid to keep the
raccoons out at night. I brushed my hand up against a tall plant
that was growing next to it and immediately felt the terrible stinging. All to
protect our trash from those dang raccoons!
On pday, which was Monday, we drove down to Hannibal, Mo. which is
a little over an hour away. Scott was in heaven as we learned all about
Mark Twain. We took a trolley around the town to kind of get an
overview. Then we went to the boyhood home of Mark Twain and learned
all about him, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. There were seven
small museums which were a part of the self-guided tour that we did. On the
trolley ride we went out to the Mark Twain Cave Campground, which is where we had stayed as a family when we came to visit in both 2002 and 2012. It
brought back some fun memories, but mostly memories of masses of mosquitos!
On Thursday I served in the Wilford Woodruff home. It
was the first time I had ever even been inside the home. I kind of
had an indifferent attitude towards him before, he always seemed so
stern. But as I spent some time learning more about him I came to
understand just a little bit about the kind of man he was. I admire
his total dedication to the Lord and willingness to do whatever was asked of
him. He was a meticulous journal keeper and testified that he could
listen to a sermon given by the Prophet Joseph, go home and the Lord would help
him remember it word for word to write it down. So that’s why we have such
great records of the preaching of the prophet. Wilford Woodruff was
the Church Historian and I am grateful that he recorded so much of what
happened here in Nauvoo. This is a quote from his journal that I
shared with the guests and on more than one occasion the spirit bore testimony
that what we are doing here in Nauvoo right now is a fulfillment of Wilford Woodruff’s desires…
“I was in Nauvoo on the 26th of May, 1846,
for the last time, and left the city of the Saints feeling that most likely I
was taking a final farewell of Nauvoo for this life. I looked upon
the temple and city as they receded from view and asked the Lord to remember the
sacrifices of His Saints.” ---Wilford Woodruff
Each time I get the chance to serve in one of the Church President's homes, I gain such a greater appreciation for their prophetic calling and the work that they were able to accomplish as the Lord's servants. One of the many tender mercies of Nauvoo life.
 |
| The mighty Mississippi. |
 |
| On our trolley ride through town. |
 |
| Mark Twain statue in Hannibal, Mo. |
 |
| The beginnings of the corn field near the Sarah Granger Kimball home. |
 |
| We had three calves born just two hours before this picture was taken. |
Sometimes the Young Performing Missionaries stop
by at Pioneer Pastimes and do a little performance for
the visitors. Here's a clip...
When we serve at Pioneer Pastimes the Nauvoo Brass Band
comes to play for the visitors and do a little parade with the kids.
Here's just an example. Unfortunately there was only one family
at Pioneer Pastimes during that time when the band came.
Usually there are at least a dozen kids in the parade.
No comments:
Post a Comment