Short Post

This is one of our favorite Al Rounds paintings of Nauvoo. Heber C. Kimball's home is in the foreground.
Our little home, the Winslow Farr Home, is in the background :0)

This week was very busy in the office and I will be elated when the two secretaries, who have been out of town, return this week!  The mission office work was meant for four secretaries, not two :0)  Scott and I had to teach Priesthood and Relief Society on Sunday so we spent most of our free time preparing for that.  Teaching a lesson based on any Dallin H. Oaks talk is a challenge, and this one was no different…Truth and The Plan from the October General Conference.  We read it numerous times, listened to it, broke it down into bite sized pieces and tried to make it applicable.  It literally took all week for us to figure it out!  We did a lot of praying and trying to listen to the spirit.  In the end we were very blessed and both of our lessons went well.

On Saturday night we had the opportunity to attend a performance of a portion of Handel’s Messiah.  It was held at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, which is next to the temple.  I was amazed at how wonderful the Nauvoo orchestra was.  For a small community orchestra, it was great.  The choir consisted of members of the community and missionaries.  The Messiah is a beautiful piece of music and the orchestra and choir certainly did it justice. It was a wonderful performance.

So, what have I learned this week?  Well, I have learned that when you are engaged in the Lord’s work, He will give you the strength, knowledge and guidance to accomplish anything He asks.  And that’s the gospel truth! I have seen it in other missionaries and I have experienced it this week.

Merry Christmas!!!

Handel's Messiah
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral

Scott, Elder Corder and Elder Bingham
went on a little Nauvoo field trip last week.
These stones were from the original Nauvoo Temple
that were excavated when the temple was rebuilt in 2002.

Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. and the Nauvoo-Colusa Grain Elevator
are located on the northwest edge of Nauvoo, along the Mississippi River. 
Locally grown crops, such as corn and soy beans, are brought here and
then loaded on barges to be exported.

Note the barge on the river. Scott was
fascinated by all of this :0)