Foreign missions and lots of snow

Our apartment (ground floor)

The natives say they've never seen it snow so often as this year.  Even the missionary branch canceled church. We did have the Mensels and the Flanders come for dinner - that wasn't cancelled. 

Monday morning, Jason came to help Elder Barrow get out of our driveway. 

 Monday I walked to the sewing room because the road were so snowy.   It is only two blocks.  I had a really good day, finishing both sleeves of the pre-fab dress I started on Friday.  Sister Hayhurst brought her bonnet she'd made in for us to see.  A lady in town has been giving lessons on making bonnets.  I have enough projects, and this one was expensive and time consuming, so I passed, but isn't it beautiful.

Some sisters are creating bonnets.

This is Sister Hayhurst's lovey bonnet. 

Monday after sewing Elder Barrow and I went on a sleigh ride.

Hitching up

Over the River

We aren't too good at taking selfies. 

Tuesday I served with Sister Baker at Brigham Young's house.  Sister Baker told me about her mission in Ghana. We only had one tour, a man from Fairfax County!  He had been in Nauvoo for a few days, and we were one of the last places he came, so we chatted with him about what he'd learned.  He said mostly he'd grown in appreciation of the sacrifices the saints made throughout this period of church history.

The council room is my favorite room in the mission.  

We also do Riser boot shop.  I can demonstrate how to make a boot. 

I walked home and took some photos.

This photo shows the three types of houses in Nauvoo in the 1840s.  Far left is a log cabin. In the middle is a brick home, and the frame home on the right.  There were 1500 log homes, 650 framed, and 350 brick homes.  Most brick homes were not real big, and often had a shop on the main floor with an apartment above.  

Our house is in the woods on the right. 

I caught Sister Archibald skiing!

Tuesday night we had Family Search training.  This training has been outstanding. This week Sister Hatch from the Des Moines Iowa Mission helped us organize our cleaning up of our records before we start doing more research.  Following her plan I immediately discovered I'd missed a couple who were ready to be sealed.

Wednesday's sewing didn't go so well.  I sewed an apron and couldn't get the skirt to match the waist.  But with the help of Sister Warner it got finished by the end of the day.  We went to the temple Wednesday before Mission Training.   Mission training was sad.  The Halls had to leave for serious health reasons. The one hard thing about this mission is that we have to say good-bye to our friends. And it's especially sad when it's for health reasons.

Thursday I was in the Print Shop with Sister Rollins.  She served in the Philipines as a mission nurse and told me some of her experiences there.  She and her husband have also lived in Lumberton, NC! We had 3 tours, one right before closing, which happens fairly often.

Going to press. 

Judging by my expression I must be reading the comics. 

Friday I was back in the Bakery with Sister Childers, who had served in Russia.  She graciously let me do all the tours.  The last tour was a mom with two sweet little children.  The littlest one had been very somber until I gave him a ginger cookie.  That brought a big smile.  I do miss my grandchildren. 

 A beautiful lace goat hair  shawl from Russia

The bakery.

Friday night our MTC group met for a game night.  An MTC group is the people who came out about the same time as you did.  Like I mentioned, saying good-bye to friends is the hard part of this mission.  So if you have a group who won't leave until you do, it helps.

Setting up for Murder - telephone-charades

It snowed again Friday night, and got very windy and cold, so we stayed home on Saturday, even though it was Eagle Days in Keokuk.  Hopefully next year.