It is raining in Nauvoo today. It has been raining all day. It is a good thing for all the plants and the corn, but the visitors are having a hard time not getting wet. When you come to Nauvoo be sure to bring umbrellas for your crew because although the temperatures are usually comfortable there will be lots of wetness to dodge. The historical sites open at 9 am everyday even Sunday. We go to church and then are off to host at the sites. I guess I may have told you that before.
At the beginning of the month our schedules rotated. Each of the three senior missionary performing casts, rotate days of the week on which they perform Rendezvous, and Sunset. Last month our preparation day and one of our (meaning my companion and I) performance days were on the same day. This month the evening of our preparation day is free. Since this is the case we are going to travel to some of the other places of interest in the area.
Tuesday last we drove down to Springfield, Il. where Abraham Lincoln was raised. There we saw the great interpretive museum, where we spent several hours. We could have stayed a while longer but the place closes down at 5 pm. We went out a few blocks away to the "neighborhood" where Lincolns home is, walking around the houses because they too were closed. During the day time the houses have tours much like we have here in Nauvoo.
Oh, the temple bell is ringing. For several weeks I thought the bell I heard was on one of the several churches that dot the streets in this tiny town. Then someone finally told me that the bell is in the tower of the temple. It rings on the hour.
Well, on with my story. After leaving Lincoln's "neighborhood" we went to find the Lincoln Memorial at the cemetery. We arrived just in time for checking out the men and women dressed in 1860's dress, and to watch as a troop of Union Soldiers retired the flag for the evening. They came complete with black powder rifles, bugler and drummer boy. Very moving!! Before the ceremony two of those dressed in costumes were out behind the monument giving a narration about the assassination and funeral of Pres. Lincoln. The day was very much worth the 2 1/2 hr. drive.
Our trip home late Tues. night was kind of scarey for we drove into a terrible thunder storm.
This next week when Tues. rolls around we will take off down to Hannibal to see what we can learn about Mark Twain. Not quite so far but almost.
This week I have been assigned to the Pendelton Log School, The Seventys Hall, (which was the first MTC), the Bakery, the Post Office, (where you can learn about crosswriting your letters to save paper), the John Taylor Home, and the Heber C. Kimball home (today).
I walked to the HCKH today a distance of about 3/4 mi. It was a lovely walk in my pioneer dress with my crocheting on my back; not too hot, no wind, and cloudy. The wagon pulled by "Nip and Tuck" passed me on the first round about town. At 3 pm when I was due to walk home it was pouring buckets and guess who had not grabbed her umbrella. Luckily my dear companion was thinking of me. She called saying she had asked Sister Hatch, who was also off shift and headed home, to pick me up.
The great grandson of Heber C. Kimball, Dr.J. Golden Kimball, came to Nauvoo in 1959, wanting to buy his great grandfather's house to restore it and use it as a summer home. So many people came to the door wanting a tour as they were working on it that he approached the church with the idea that maybe there was enough interest in the history of the place and what went on here that it would merit a restoration. The Nauvoo Restoration Inc.was formed and the work began leading to the wonderful interesting and inspiring place it is now.
We feel that the restoration is an answer to Wilford Woodruff's prayer when upon selling his beautiful new brick home for only $675. and joining the exodus west he penned these words: I was in Nauvoo on 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 to 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." People are now remembering.
No comments:
Post a Comment