Barrow's Illinois Nauvoo FM Mission: Last two weeks of January

Another two week post. This is getting to be the norm, isn't it. The fact is, it's winter and things are slow. Saturday we had a nice light fluffy, snow and everyone got out and shoveled. Then it rained at night, and then froze. So we woke up Sunday to a sheet of ice everywhere. We went to the mission branch instead of Burlington. The sites closed on Martin Luther King day and the next day because of the ice. When sites close, most of FM stay home as well. A few went in to work on various projects, but we didn't. We did have our district dinner and meeting on Monday, despite the ice.

Wednesday we had our first historic site training - formerly known as mission training. Sister Rizely is co-director. She taught us a PMG lesson about companionship evaluation. She adapted it to our situation, since we are married to our companions. President Rizley gave us a really interesting history lesson. I hope that continues.

Publishing House - a warehouse on Water Street

1840 Book of Mormon

He told us the history of the publishing of the 1840 edition of the Book of Mormon - accomplished in the poverty of the Saints.

Thursday I woke up sick. I stayed home Thursday and Friday. Mostly I slept. By Saturday night I was feeling almost good again, which was a good thing because we were assigned to talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday. We spoke on fast offering and tithing - not the most stimulating subjects.

Sunday was Ann's birthday and the whole family actually got on Facetime at the same time. We were invited to dinners at the Flanders, and then attended the Exodus fireside. Different missionaries shared stories about their ancestors who had lived in Nauvoo. Many of the stories were about the trials they faced in Nauvoo, but Dee actually told the story of David Cluff's tools. A man came and offered to make him a new set of tools. "I can't pay you." "We will discuss that later." For three weeks the man created a new set of tools for him. As he was preparing to leave David expressed concern that he still couldn't pay him. " We can settle up the next time you see me. " David's young son, Benjamin, watched the man walk down the road, but looked away for a second. When he looked back there was no man. Benjamin is Dee's great, great grandfather. He recorded this story in the Cluff family history.

The Story Tellers

Elder Barrow relates the story his great great grandfather told.

Monday night the FM sisters gave the departing FM missionaries a Hamburger Dinner going away party. The Schmidts leave next - then us! The next day the Prettymans leave, and finally the Howards. That takes us through March. A big part of a Nauvoo mission is welcoming new missionaries and saying good-bye to departing missionaries. It's gotten easier to say good-bye because these missionaries I will probably see again - maybe even soon.

And there is always plenty of food.

Sister Schmidt tells one of her humorous stories

Howards, Schmidts, Barrows, and Prettymans on the hot seat.

Thursday Sister Bailey was sick. We had another dinner, this time with the Cornwells, Jensens, and Greens. The Cornwells came out with us, and so are leaving the same day as we are. Sister Cornwell had some stored food she wanted to eat before we left, so invited us to help out. Always glad to serve.

Friday the annual Untold Stories of Nauvoo conference began. We didn't go last year, but this year there were some presentations we wanted to see.

Over 300,000 artifacts found at the Samuel Smith site.

Saturday morning we began the day by cleaning the Stake Center. Next was the Exodus Commemoration, remembering the pioneers who were forced to leave their City of Joseph and head out to the wilderness, where they would be able to build their community hopefully undisturbed by anyone.