Tom’s Visit

Tom showed up at our place on July 3rd with Andrew and Samila.  He has had some good adventures since he showed up.  

First of all, the teamsters have taken him in and even let him drive the horse team.  They go out of their way to say hello to him and ask about his day.

Knee high by the 4th of July?  It was much higher.  Obviously!

There were a few Sisters who were sad that they couldn’t hear Tom’s farewell testimony last night. Therefore we stopped at their home today so they could hear it. 

Scraping the paint off of the rotten Orson Hyde barn wood.  It was a several day job and Tom helped Sister Odum, Jared and I a lot.

We took an adventure to Bentonsport.

This is what the barn looked like before we began scraping.

He got here just in time to serve food at the YSM 4th of July picnic.

Tom loves to sit outside and watch the trains and barges.  We can see them from the top of the hill where we live.  On this day, he was sitting outside with his mac & cheese in hand.

On this day we were in a hot, sweaty, Adam-Ondi-Ahman.

With all the possible things he was able to do for the two months he was here, painting is his favorite.  Well, favorite, next to going on the mail run with Sister Odum.

We took a walk together when he first got here and we went through the gourd tunnell.

It's a pretty cool place to walk through.

Scraping in the heat of the sun.

Painting the bulkhead doors behind the John Taylor apartment.

We found this sycamore leaf outside our door.  

In the Lyon Drug garden, there are melon planted as well as sorghum.  It is unbelievable how tall it is.

Last Monday morning we stopped by the Flanders to say good-bye and give them a "Hurrah for Israel" shout.

We went back this week and walked through the gourd tunnel again.

We visited some burial mounds with a lot of other people.

Picking up a dead bat at the Visitor's Center.

He enjoyed going to church with us in Hannibal.

WE had dinner at the Willyerd's home to say good-bye to the Flanders.

The two Toms.  Tom Pleshek and Tom Gibbons.  We will miss them and Hannibal will miss them as they are moving next month.

The corn in early August was really, really tall.

The finished product!  He did a great job.  He is quite a good helper when it comes to painting.

The gourds have grown so much in the weeks since we last visited.

We went to Kohl's and Tom bought himself some new Sunday clothing.  New shirt, pants, tie and even a new undershirt.

I believe this gourd is probably as tall as he is.

He may not be a full-time missionary, but he surely has served in the same capacity as we are.

This guy has an amazing testimony of the Savior!

He made friends with so many of the senior missionaries as well as the YSMs.  I am amazed how so many people made him feel welcome.

We've spent the last 35 years with Tom and have accepted him for all he is and isn't.  We have loved him and taken care of him.  It is so wonderful to have others see his wonderful spirit as well.  Tonight the YSMs had the opportunity to have the violin concert that we experience a few weeks ago.  Prior to the start of the concert, Tom was able to bear his testimony and say good bye to those beautiful souls who love him.  He bore a powerful witness and spoke of his love for them.  I think it is the first time I wasn't nervous about what he was going to say.  He did great!  I wish the late comers could have heard him.  But that's their loss for being late.

He has really enjoyed being here and working with all the missionaries.  I'm glad we could give him this opportunity.