Week 20 Highlights

Greetings from Nauvoo – it’s September already and we are enjoying our temple assignments more and more. This week we were assigned to a couple as she went through the temple for the first time in preparation for their wedding the next day. In this situation, we spend quite a bit of time with them - from greeting them at the front door, to getting them all ready and in the places they need to be, at the time they need to be there, all the way to seeing them out of the temple when they leave. Her mom, dad and sister were here in addition to her fiancé. It was great getting to know them as they spent this happy time in the temple. The next day, we were happy to find that we were again assigned to them as they arrived to be married, so again we were able to spend quite a bit of time with them in the temple. By the time they left, we felt we really knew them and their family and were very happy for them. It’s not very often we get to work with the same people twice. They are in the Chicago Temple District, but they wanted to be married in Nauvoo, and we were sure glad they did. What a great place to work.

About the time our happily married couple left the temple after their wedding, we found that there were three sisters who only spoke Spanish, and we were needed to help them. We really enjoy doing this, and realized that Mom and I are the only two on our Saturday shift who can do it in Spanish. What a great day! And as we left that night, we heard that there will be several more Spanish-speaking patrons coming next week. We look forward to that. Even though the temple continues to be slow, there is still plenty to do and we haven’t had to cancel any sessions.

This week was the last of our “Small Group” dinners. This month’s dinner was at Elder and Sister Call’s home. They actually had lived here in Nauvoo for several years before they were called on a mission. They wanted to serve a Nauvoo Temple mission, but were told that because they lived in Nauvoo, they would not be called to serve here. They were disap- pointed, but wanted to serve a mission anyway. When their call arrived, they were surprised and thrilled that they were to serve 18 months in the Nauvoo Mission. So here they are, still living in their home, serving as Nauvoo Missionaries. They’re loving it! Joining us for the evening were Elder and Sister Nysetvold from Houston, Texas. (Originally from Canada) and Elder and Sister Evans from Mesa, Arizona. As always, the food was great (Pie for dissert) and we had a fun time after dinner. Elder Call brought out a game they had just bought, called the Un-Game. (Yes, the same Un-Game). Fortunately, as it turns out, the game quickly deteriorated into a fun time. The fact that it was our last “Small Group” dinner is another reminder for us that we don’t have much time left here.

In our mailbox this week we found a photo that was taken at last month’s Temple Missionary Luau. Here’s a copy of it. Elder James drew the background and Elder Nysetvold was the photographer. Actually, Elder James is quite an artist and has made some amazing sketches while he has been here. In addition, he is putting together a DVD that contains bits and pieces of his videos from all of the programs that have performed here in Nauvoo this past summer, along with a lot of photos that have been taken. He is going to give the DVD to all of the Temple Missionaries in October. We are looking forward to seeing it.

As it turns out, we didn’t get to go to the Tri-State Rodeo this past week as planned. The only evening we would have been able to go was our P-day; Thursday. However, instead we stayed home and watched the rain for most of the day and into the evening. Actually, it was a nice, relaxing day.

Well, that pretty well covers it for this past week. We hope everyone is doing well and again we want to thank you for all you do for us.

All is well.

Love,
Mom & Dad / Granny & Grandpa