We Are Still in Nauvoo!

February 24^th – March 3^rd

If a tree falls in the forest, and there's nobody around to hear, does it make a sound?

If a golfer makes a hole-in-one and no one witnesses it, did it really happen?

If we have AMAZING experiences on our mission in Nauvoo, and don’t share them with others, will we even remember?

These are philosophical questions that I have been asking myself recently. The answer to the third question has been gnawing on me for several weeks and has led me to commit to weekly (yes, WEEKLY) mission “reports.” This is an excellent way to use my extra hour each Sunday.

Bittersweet Day

 

Farewell dinner at the go-to place, El Camino Real in Hamilton, Illinois. Elders and Sisters Cornwell 1 & 2 and Williams

Today, March 3^rd, marks six-months on our mission. It has gone so fast. Every week one of us says, “What day is it? Friday?? No! It can’t be Friday already!” The weeks go fast, but they are so filled. It seems to have passed quickly, but at the same time, it feels as if we have always been here and have known these lovely missionaries our whole lives.

It is also the last day for Elder and Sister Cornwell 1 (we are Cornwell 2). Bruce's brother Gary and his adorable wife, Sharlene have been serving here in Nauvoo for the past 23 months.  After church, we snapped a few pictures, said tearful goodbyes and away they went! It has been a special blessing and privilege to serve a mission with our family!

Ice Blocks

Last Sunday we were driving home from church and noticed that to the south the Mississippi River (which has been frozen over) looked like it was moving. We drove to the end of Main Street to get a closer look and saw there was some open water in the middle of the channel and there were whitecaps. Maybe this is a sign of warmer weather? We continued around the peninsula on Water Street until we came to the west end of Parley Street where it ends at the river. This is what we saw:

 After a bit of a warming trend some of the ice had broken up and the wind had pushed huge blocks of it into piles on the shore. That was a week ago. The ice is still there but now it is colder, and the river has completely frozen again. 

 New Assignment

Bruce and I have been serving in most of the historic sites and giving tours and overviews to visitors (more on those sites bit by bit). We were assigned to be the assistant site directors of the Family Living Center where we baked bread in the brick oven, made rope, tried to spin wool, wove rugs on the floor looms, told about candle making, barrel making and pottery. It was so wonderful to serve there a couple of times each week. 

The Family Living Center assignment came to an end the first part of February when I was asked to be the mission scheduler. Sister Williams has been doing a fantastic job as the scheduler since shortly after we arrived (it was announced that she would be "temporary" scheduler. Little did I know they were waiting for me to become very familiar with the historic sites so I could be the "not-temporary" scheduler). So, back to the office for me! Sister Holt is the assistant scheduler and I am happy for help! We spent most of February training and on Monday we began in earnest as Elder and Sister Williams went off to serve in Carthage for the last six weeks of their mission.

Most Precious Gifts

Sister Allred and Elder and Sister Christensen spoke last Sunday on the topic of "Precious Gifts from God." Sister Allred reminded me that prayer is a special privilege and gift from Heavenly Father. Sister Christensen told us that every day is a precious gift. Elder Christensen says, "nothing is more precious than...a first date, gaining a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, his wife and fill in the blank. He also said, "He who says there are no gifts knows not God."

Until next week!