110815

...and another week comes to an end.  We had a whirlwind week this past week.  We were notified early in the week that we could move but not until a couple of items were taken care of so we can start dragging stuff over.  We'll be living a couple of blocks closer to the temple but in a single, ground level apartment.  This will be good for Mom's knees and we won't hafta cart groceries up stairs anymore.  So, besides doing all of that, this was the summer missionaries last week here in Nauvoo so we had lots of things to do and say goodbye to all of our friends that we have made close friendships with.  So many friends, so little time to talk, laugh, weep!  Lots of tears shed this week.

We had a final Family Home Evening last Monday night with a big get together dinner and testimony meeting afterwards.  It was quite an experience.

All of the missionaries enjoying their "last" meal together in the cultural hall.

These are the Chapmans.  After we got to talking a bit, we realized that we had been in the same ward back in 1990 to 93.  We haven't seen each other since then.  A nice reunion, of sorts.  They will be here for a year.  They've bought a fixer-upper here in Nauvoo as a project.

Sister the Glutz, Bro/Sis Salden (our co-teachers in Burlington Ward) and Bro Kirkham Smith from Sacramento.  All have gone home as summer missionaries.

Bro/Sis Jacobsen in the back (they were our neighbors) and the Drostes who live not too far from here.  He's a dairy farmer by profession.  Interesting conversations about cows.

Elder Brown, who has been serving a mission here in Nauvoo.  He left for his old home and end of his mission recently.  Elder Roundy, a friend of ours and another one of the summer missionaries that has left for the summer.  

At the end of the evening, we received gifts for serving here the last few months.  A special print by a local artist, the program, and a Cardinal.  The bird is a local celebrity here.  We don't see them very often but they are beautiful.

We also received our limited run, Nauvoo, handmade, custom brick.

See, and it's just for us!  Not sure if we'll get one next year or not but we got one this year.  Cool, huh?

It has been a really wonderful experience to have been associated with the summer missionaries.  There was so much talent, experience, and reverence amongst these missionaries that it was just a pleasure to "walk among them".   Just think, we get to do it again in a few months, if we survive the winter!

We were driving around the "Flats" tonight and looking at all of the empty apartment complexes that used to have missionary couples in them.  Now they are just dark and deserted.  It's going to be a long winter.  But, with all of the new missionaries coming in, it's going to be interesting, also.

So, we're moving this week, hopefully.  More on that coming in the near future...