Take his Yoke

What an amazing Week!  I have to be careful with that comment, because I think I might repeat it way too many times.  This week though has had lots of special moments.  Friday morning we had the farewell breakfast for those missionaries going home.  Never seen a place set up so fast for an activity, or cleaned up so fast at the end.  Magical what about 300 missionaries can do together!  The Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith family is having their family reunion this week in Nauvoo and Elder Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve is here.  Yesterday afternoon was a special closed meeting for all of the missionaries and we were able to hear him speak.  What a treasure to hear the words of an Apostle of the Lord.  To hear his testimony of Jesus Christ and love of the Gospel.  To top it off, when he finished and they started to take him out the side door, instead he detoured down and came out to shake hands with us as he was leaving.  Elder Spradlin and I both had the opportunity to be with him, listen to his counsel and to shake hands with him.  When I realized that we were going to get too, my eyes just started filling with joy.


Today I worked in the Post Office and Dry Goods store.  Letters were expensive to send at 6 cents for up to 30 miles, and a quarter for up to 400 miles.  They were charged by the page, so you made that paper count for sure!

Take Christ's Yoke  The burden is light, because we become stronger as we become more like Christ.  We will pass through the trials and will become stronger as we leave behind the things in life that would weigh us down.  So much to learn in everything around us! 

We heard Vocal Point perform on Thursday night, then when we were on duty in the Visitor's Center on Friday  they came in to ask if they could warm up in one of the theaters.  Oh yes, excited!  No problem from me letting them use one of the stages, thinking  I would get to peak in and listen.  They were fine with that, but then we kept having visitors come in - something about being a missionary and serving.  

One of the neat parts of working in the homes in the central part of Nauvoo is walking out and hearing the band and getting to watch the Young Performing Missionaries.  Leap Frog Anyone?

This is one of my favorite quotes I have read here.  I think if everyone would apply it - we could change the world.

So Many Sites

Welcome to the Lucy Mack Smith Home!

 The children's room upstairs,  super cute teacup set

 The cooking area in the main room.  You can see the bustle oven right behind me.

 The alcove for Lucy Mack Smiith

Out back for the smoke house and area for making lye soap
Everyone talks about the steep stairs going to the upstairs living area in the Lucy Mack Smith home, but if you ever look down to the basement where we are supposed to go in case of a tornado, it outdoes any I have ever seen in a home.  Looks more straight up and down like a ladder.

Each day we switch to a different site, so we are getting to know many of the homes and areas of Nauvoo.  Lucy Mack Smith was a very strong woman who stood up in defense of the gospel and her family.  She stood up for what was right, and didn't care who was doing the asking!  She lived in this home for four years close to the end of her life.
Saturday evening we were able to borrow bicycles and go riding through the town which was a fantaastic end to a very busy week, although each day is so full and busy it is hard to keep your head from spinning.  I love one of the things we were taught last week in training meeting.  Nauvoo is about growth and change and we are here to help. Hard to imagine still being in a place where over 250 people are here, all of us because of our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with the desire to serve and help others.  Makes for a great place to be!  There are so many things to learn, trying to apply some of that learning in my life.
This morning I got to work with a crew in the gardens, pulling weeds and mulching.  It was hot, hard and exhausting.  I think I was the youngest one out there and left with great admiration for the women I worked with.  Had a great time, and worked!  Luckily afterwards I was able to come home for a shower,  dose of Benadryl and a nap.

After our bike ride on Saturday, Harold went to get the mail, then called asking me to grab the camera quick.  We headed up and got these amazing shots of the Temple.  Then afterwards we went into the town and got frozen custard.  Have I mentioned that life here is pretty fantastic?

Yes, I know they are sidewise, but I can't get the computer to let me switch their directions on here!  They are turned straight up before I put them on the blog.

We have to figure in advance when we are able to fit in the temple, with programs to be in four nights out of the week, then our schedules in the sites, it stays very busy.