Lots to Do!

April 25, 2014

We have been in Nauvoo a week today, can you believe?

The first day we checked in and then went home to our new little house to unpack.  Being that Sherrie came with me we put her to work packing in "stuff", unpacking "stuff", hooking up electronics, trying to hook up internet, which didn't work, etc. She was tremendous help and then she and I made the rounds to as many places as we could before she flew out on Monday morning. 

We are quite enjoying the house. If any of you Nielson's remember Grandma Nielson/Hansen's house in Preston, this one was build about the same era. It has two bedrooms, a tiny bath, living room, kitchen with a breakfast nook, a back utilities area, and a back porch which we use as a place to set up the ironing board.  We will spend a lot of time ironing in this mission, mainly our site pioneer dresses. The house has been newly painted and is fairly up to date tho' and quite comfortable with a nice gas furnace/air conditioning system.

We have been practicing every night for the program "Rendezvous" which is a play with stories about people here who are going on with their lives when they suddenly have to get ready to leave Nauvoo in February rather than April as they had planned.  Tonight the women from our cast, also started  practicing the "Sunset" program. It is a variety show with a lighter feel to it.

Yesterday was the first day we actually had assignments at the sites.  I was at the Visitors Center.  The season is pretty slow for a while  now because Spring break is over. It is a good chance for us to get things in our heads and get prepared for the onslaught of tourists coming soon.

Today I was at the "Scovill Bakery".  Our message there besides teaching about the bakery utensils, ovens, etc. was to tell how Lucius Scovill had a testimony of our Heavenly Fathers plan for us to be together again eternally with Him and our families. He had lost his wife in child birth giving birth to twin girls, then a bit later he lost a 14 yr. old son to pneumonia. The temple and it ordinances must have given him  much hope.  His desire to be with the body of the church and the prophet surpassed everything. He cried great tears when after being driven out of Nauvoo, leaving the graves of his family, getting as far as Far West,  he was there called to leave on a mission to England. He had to leave his remaining motherless children in the care of friends and travel far away.

There is much more to the story.  I will let you find the rest out for yourself since it is time to go to bed. We are very tired all the time lately.  Tomorrow I am assigned to serve at the Brigham Young Home.

G'Night.