Samuel Williams Home

We started working on the Samuel Williams home windows a few weeks ago.  We were supposed to scrape the paint and then repaint them.  Well, I took one of the storm windows off because it needed some repair using wood epoxy.  

Jared decided they should all be taken off and repainted.  Then we should scrape the window frames and repaint them as well.  This particular window frame needed some repair using wood epoxy.  I did this one all on my own.  Can you tell where the rotten wood was?

We finished working on these windows on Thursday.  Sister Odum gets frustrated sometimes and this in the result.  Then she has to go back and scrape off the paint that doesn't belong.  I just laughed when I saw this. 
With this particular job, I not only used wood epoxy to fix something all on my own, but I also glazed about 20 different spots on the windows.  I know Jared did the same on some of the uppers.  We didn't have to do the uppers.  That's his job!
On a side note.  While we were working there on Thursday morning, there were some bees that started to get a little aggravated.  One particular bee wouldn't leave me alone.  When I was finally free from it, then it went after Sister Odum.  It never stung us, but sure was bothersome.  Sister Dixon came out of the house with some wasp killer and took them down a notch.

The Exodus Continues

As promised, three more couples left us this week.  

We met the Julanders not long after we arrived in Nauvoo.  They were our leaders of the Red Cast last year for Sunset By the Mississippi.  They spent a few months serving in Carthage being site coordinators there.

When they returned, he became the second counselor in the mission/site presidency.  She worked a lot in the sewing room.  They both sang and he played the guitar most every time we had some kind of meal/social.  Such good people. They have served other missions.  One was in Ghana. 

Elder Lee and Sister Ann Nash are from Alaska.  She was afraid to serve a mission as she didn't want to serve in a big city.  She  surely got her wish!  She gives an amazing tour.  Just ask Evelyn. They too, served in Carthage. 

When things closed down, he came to work at FM as a welder.  I think he would preferred to stay a site missionary, but working in FM kept them here.  She worked on grounds with FM and I know it wore her out.  They are on their way back home and will finally get to see their daughter who was serving at the same time they were.

The Robertsons.  How we love them!  Sister Robertson worked in the office so when the mass exodus in April happened, she was essential.  

He began working in FM as an assistant handyman.  My sweetheart sure will miss him!  He did so many items on the work order list.  He has an interesting sense of humor.  He always kept me laughing.  They too, were on the Red Cast last summer so we had the chance to get to know them early on.  Next time we drive across the country, Laramie, Wyoming will definitely be a stop.

The Departures Begin

Beginning with the Wadleys and Flanders, couples began going home as they are finishing their mission.

On Wednesday night we heard from three more couples who are going home.  It began with the Quirls.

Elder Quirl is the vet so they are teamsters.  He gave us his take on what he's learned from the horses.  

1. They are willing to work and listen to the master's voice.

2. The are in tune with cues and promptings and 100% obedient

3. The work beautifully as companions.  They combine efforts.

4.  They're attentive to what's ahead. They don't worry about the past.

5.  When the work is heavy, the trail arduous, they work together.

Sister Quirl was our mission secretary for the last 11 months.  She's a good, down-to-earth sisters whom I've come to love very much.  We enjoy visiting when I visit her office.

Sister Jensen also worked in the scheduling office.  Such a good person.  She quietly takes care of business.  Elder Jensen worked in the Blacksmith shop and made a lot of little horseshoes.  This spring he started working with FM.  He took on the job of painting all the wagons and carriages.  He did an amazing job on all of them.  One day when I visited him to drop off paint and other supplies at the barn, he surprised me by giving me a necklace and earrings that he made in the blacksmith shop.  I had seen sisters wearing horseshoe earrings and wondered where they got them.  I was very overwhelmed that I held back my tears.  If it would have been appropriate, I would have hugged him!

The Warners moved into the condos last fall and we got to know them.  She is an amazing pianist.  She and I worked together with the music for the Christmas Walk.  I was so thankful for her willingness to learn and play all those pieces.  She worked in the office as the finance missionary.

The Warners worked with us one day in the Orson Hyde home on the day when we found out that a lot of the seniors were being sent home.  Elder Warner worked a lot with Elder Munoa in making videos.  Unfortunately, Salt Lake didn't want those videos online.  We had a few game nights with them as well as a meal or two.  What a fun loving couple!  They will be missed just as the other couples who left us.

Goodbye Tom

Tom spent almost two months with us.  He loved working at FM with us.  Some days with his dad and other days with me.  He even had a few days where Elder Brown was his supervisor.

Sanding pickets was a job he could easily do.  On this day we found him sitting in the easy chair while sanding.

Elders Bowman and Barney with Tom.

He got to have a ride in the surrey.  I haven't been able to do that.  When's my turn?

The young sisters especially loved him.  They made a point to say hi and call out to him.  He was particularly popular when he brought freeze pops around to all those working the grounds.

The Aveys brought him some delicious peanut butter cookies.

On his last day, Jordan came into the carpentry shop and we gathered his friends as well as the YSMs around while he was presented with his flag.  I think he would have liked to stay longer but we only asked for two months so that's what we stayed with.

It was a taste of what this mission would be like for him.

The Final Picket

All week we worked on painting pickets for the Smith Family cemetery fence.  

Sister Odum and I had to go back and re-sand them.  We looked at each and every one of them and sanded off the "fuzzies."  It was a long process, but with it being in the 90's outside, we were glad to be in the air conditioned shop.

We needed to paint the routered part of the picket before setting them up on tables and sending them to the paint booth where they were sprayed and then brushed.

We who work in the paint shop were so thankful for the young sister missionaries who came and helped.  We would be doing this for weeks and months if it weren't for these amazing sisters.

Here is the final picket to have its grooves painted.  

Hurrah for that!

Elder Munoa Concert

What a beautiful night it was for Elder Munoa to put on a concert for us.

The entire week was horribly hot but Saturday was a wonderful relief.

We, as senior missionaries, gathered at the end of Parley street for a concert given by Elder Munoa.  

He and Elder Greg Draney composed some beautiful music together.  Draney writes some amazing poetry and Munoa puts it to music.

Most of the music is centered around Nauvoo or the people who once lived here.  Some of the pieces were very touching to me.  At the end of his concert, Sister Munoa had some words for us.  She says she hears these songs in her home a lot so they are like old friends.  She was thankful that we found them to be wonderful as well.  It was a tender moment for her.  

I'm in awe of the talent of this man and Greg Draney.

A Door Sweep?

There was some rotten wood on the door frame as well as the door of the Brigham Young outhouse.  When Elder Robertson went to take off the door, he found this.

I've heard of a door sweep, but this is a little ridiculous.  

A new door was built and Tom primed and painted it all by himself.  We didn't re-attach that particular sweep.