Nauvoo Week 41 (19 - 25 September 2016)

Nauvoo Week 41 (19 – 25 September 2016)

Last Sunday after our meetings in Mt. Pleasant branch we left to go to Rock Island Arsenal.  Tom needed a new military I.D. now that he will be 65 and can go on Tricare for life.  We then headed for Dyersville, Iowa where the movie “Field of Dreams” was filmed. 

We watched the movie beforehand.  We also watched a segment on what it was like as they filmed it.  That particular summer it was extremely hot without much rain.  Many of the farmers lost their corn crop because of the heat.  But because they needed the corn for the movie they watered it and it produced a good field of corn.  They talked about all of the bugs they encountered which all of you and us can testify to as you came to visit!  They talked about the lightning storms and clouds that would appear.  They also talked about the fog that would set in at times.  They especially talked about how hot and humid it was, something else we can attest to. We were worried that they might have already cut the corn down, because they have already been cutting fields down around here.

When we got there it was so pretty and green and so well kept.  The little white house is still there, but someone lives in it so we couldn’t go inside.  We took a baseball to throw around, and Tom wrote on it the date we were there as a keepsake.  We took a lot of pictures, as we disappeared into the cornfield!  Dad bought a baseball hat to remember it by.  It was a fun little trip of about 400 miles.  It was still in our Temple district so we did not have to get permission to go.  Some of our senior couples travel three hours to get to the Branch they are assigned to every Sunday.  We had a great time.

On Wednesday our 1:30 meeting was about those in our group who are converts-there were about 22 who are converts (in the traditional sense).  We have two new couples who have come. One is the engineer and his wife, who is the McBride’s, and the other couple is the Brohem’s.  Those that told their conversion stories which was about four, all were converted in 1978.  We will probably here more of the stories this Wednesday.  I am always so grateful to have been born in the Church and hope if I were not that I would have recognized the truth when I heard it.  We are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives.

On Thursday, we went with Elder & Sister Robb (UT) to a store called Iron and Lace.  It is a very popular store and most all of the senior missionaries have been there.  A couple named Bill and Betty Printy own the store and their house is attached to it. 

Betty is the potter and has been doing this for 40 years. She uses the Queen Anne’s Lace wild flower.  This flower is a white delicate flower and is very prevalent in this area.  Each piece has its own flower pressed into the clay, which burns away, leaving the unique impression of the blossom.  Her husband does the blacksmith work, and uses early American forge and tools.  He makes kitchen tools, pot hangers, wine racks, and other things.  I bought a pottery piece of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and it is beautiful.  Each piece is unique.  She makes bowls trays, ornaments, vases, and more.  It was in a fun little town with a very beautiful river running through it.

We taped the Women’s Conference and we watched it on Sunday.  We understand that Kellie, Hallie, and Maddie got to go to the conference center.  There were some great messages given and we look forward to watching general conference this coming Sunday.  We love the Lord; he has blessed our family so much. 

We are grateful that we have been able to share Nauvoo with you.  This mission is amazing and we feel so blessed to be able to serve here.  We love and miss all of you, and know that the Lord has showered blessings on all of you.

Love,

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