Bentonsport, Iowa

Way back in August, when we stopped in Nauvoo to drop off Dee's tools, I saw this trailer labeled "Nauvoo on the Road." " I want to do that," I thought.  Saturday we got to go.  The Facility Management missionaries take turns going to all the festivals the little towns have.  The most popular activity with the kids was rope making. Elder Barrow helped with that. They made 76 ropes with the children.  Each child gets to keep their rope.   I did a variety of things.  I learned to weave a new way. I think it's called braid weaving or soumak weaving.  We played with the pioneer toys and gave away ginger cookies. I had the most fun talking to people about their ancestors.  I'd catch them eyeing our large map, go up to them and ask where their ancestors came from.  They could put a dot on the countries.  Germany filled up the most - this is Iowa.  Then Great Britain.  A man from the Ukraine came by.  A couple of people had French ancestors.  Two from the Netherlands.  One from Russia, and a few from the Scandinavian countries.  Czech and Sicily were also represented.  Then I would tell them about Family Search and encourage them to write their own personal history down.

 A couple of cold pioneers.

Sister Barrow weaving.

Sister Barrow weaving in the background.  Ancestor Map.

Elder Barrow ending a rope. 

It was pretty cold, a good wind was blowing off the Des Moines River.  A band played country music right behind us.  They were good, but it made it hard to talk to the visitors.  Elder Barrow and I danced a little.  Nice mission. Next week we go to Hannibal's Folk Life Festival.  I'm really looking forward to that, and I'm wearing my leggings under my skirt.