Nauvoo Week 26 (6 - 12 June 2016)

Nauvoo Week 26 (6 – 12 June 2016)

Well, this week end we hit our half way point of our mission…time is really flying!  We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Nauvoo and have learned so much about our ancestors and history of the Church.  We feel so blessed to have been called to this beautiful city and surrounding areas.  We look forward to the visit of Paul, Kellie, Hallie, Maddie, Bryant and Kenzie this next week.

On Monday, our Preparation Day, we went to Burlington IA to do some shopping, watch a movie and eat dinner.  It was a fun trip and we really enjoyed our time.

On Tuesday, we had a Baptistry Coordinator training session with the Temple Presidency and established some of the policies for the upcoming summer months.  Following the training we served as Baptistry coordinators; the evening was steady with people and families.  It appears next week we will start getting busier on Tuesday nights.  Most mornings the Baptistry is really busy with busloads of youth arriving to do baptisms but then visiting the sites, pageants, etc. in the evening.

On Thursday, we served in the morning at the Temple, and then did some household chores.  That evening we attended the “Sunset on the Mississippi” production followed by the BYU Folk Dancers program.  Both of these were great and high energy.  The folk dancers were over the top with their talents and abilities, it was so hot, humid and there were so many bugs flying in the stage lights that it was a wonder they could concentrate on their dances.  They were fantastic; they are performing here and around the surrounding cities from 7-18 June.

On Friday, we again served in the Temple in the morning, did some shopping then attended the second program for the BYU Folk Dancers.  The numbers were different, but again, they were spectacular!

Saturday we spoke with Jeffrey; he had gone by our home to make sure everything was in order and did a few tasks for us while he was there.  We also sang to him “Happy Birthday” as it is his birthday tomorrow (40^th), but he is leaving for Las Vegas, NV early in the morning.  We then served in the Temple in the afternoon and evening. 

On Sunday, we went to Church in Mount Pleasant; this week we picked up Elder & Sister Struelling (they are also assigned to attend church in the branch).  We presented the Primary Music Time and had fun with the kids “fishing” for a song.  Following the block meetings we (senior missionaries) had been invited to the parents of the Branch President (Brother & Sister Sanchez) for lunch.  He is from Guatemala and she is from El Salvador.  They both love their home countries and try to visit them every year.  We ate chicken, beans, rice, chips, salsa and some wonderful lemonade and a watermelon juice.  We had made a Texas sheet cake for dessert-we had a wonderful time with them.

Happy Birthday to Jeffrey Thomas Shaw, we are so proud of him, we asked him how it felt to be “40” and he said that it doesn’t bother him a bit.  We wish you many more happy years.

We love each of you and thank you again for your faithfulness, love and support.  We are proud to be your parents and are glad to Lord had enough confidence in us to send you to us.  We love you and look forward to our family growing (Scott & Malia) in the next couple of weeks and in your upcoming visits to beautiful Nauvoo.  Please take good care of yourselves and know that we miss you dearly but also know that the Lord is blessing you more than we could if we were there.

Love,

Mom & Dad/Nana & Papa/Elder & Sister Shaw