Dear family and friends, no I have not dropped off the face of the earth. Just been caught up in the daily stuff and trying to keep up. I am still using one crutch, which is a huge improvement over two. Still, I am kind of slow at doing the most mundane everyday tasks. The eagles have gone. The pelicans are back. Our magnolia tree has outdone itself this year. Wish I could figure out again how to show you a picture. We have had some wonderful experiences with visiting general authorities.

Elder Richard Hinckley, son of Pres. & Sister Hinckley came and spoke to us. Sister Ludwig spoke first. She told of her grandson who was given a CTR ring and said it was "specialer" than a diamond. Pres. Ludwig told of a time when he was Stake Pres. down in Arizona and then Elder Hinckley was coming to speak. They had crammed thousands of youth into the Stake center. They received a call that Elder Hinckley was sick and may not be able to come then a call that he was coming. This happened twice, but Elder Hinckley came and gave a wonderful fireside to the youth. He said he could not disappoint the young people.

Sister Hinckley took a few minutes talking about her ancestor Joseph Young that was here in Nauvoo, and the miracles that occur in family history work. Then Elder Hinckley suggested that we all stand up and stretch before he started speaking. We did and he said we sounded like a great big bowl of Rice Crispies. After giving some great training, he told of a time when his mother was asked what she had done to contribute to a happy marriage. Her answer was " I lowered my expectations." It's a funny answer, but maybe one we all should think about when things are not going quite like we hoped. He also mentioned that he thought the health requirements for senior missionaries were too strict. He said " If you have a pulse and can recognize yourself when you look in the mirror in the morning, we need you."

A week later Elder Holland came and spoke to us. After talking a little about Sec. 121 - 123 of the D&C, he told us some statistics. Currently we have 3900 senior missions serving. we need 6500. He told us of a sign on Pres. Hinckleys desk "DOn't QuIT" with the first two and last two letters in red. Do It! and Don't quit! good advise. He also said that Apostle are to go forth and bear witness and all missionaries are apostle's the difference is the capital A and the small a. Well, I've got to get to my site. We have been really busy the last few weeks, just a preparation for the crazy summer months that are coming fast. Love you all. Hope you are all preparing to serve a mission in the future. God Bless you with His very choicest blessings.

Some of you may remember Elder & Sister Dove and their Downs syndrome son. They are only here for a year because they didn't know how their son would do. He has been amazing. They spoke in church Sunday because they will be leaving soon. I understood very little of what young Elder Dove said, but there was no mistaking the spirit with which he spoke. Very touching. He performed in our variety show. It was a number from "High School Musical" He danced without inhibitions and would come to the mike and say things which we couldn't understand, but with great enthusiasm. He loved it when the Young Performing Missionaries were here, and they were great with him. He really loves the Prophet Joseph Smith and kept thinking he would come. I'm not certain he ever really understood that the actor that played Joseph in the pageant was not him, but anyway he was really happy while he was here. One day this fall, young Elder Dove was blowing leaves in the women's garden. He was cleaning around the statue of Joseph and Emma. After he had cleaned all around Joseph, he turned off the leaf blower and wrapped his arms around Joseph. Then he cleaned around Emma, turned off the blower and again embraced the statue of Joseph. The simple faith and capacity to love of this dear young man has touched our hearts this entire year. What a privilege it has been to have him in our midst.

In our combined meeting on Sunday our teacher, Elder McMinn played a video of the stakes of Zion that have come into being since the restoration. Of course it started our very slowly. One Stake in Nauvoo and then gradually some in Utah. The Spirit of God was playing in the background softly and kind of slow. Gradually it sped up, the first stake out of Utah was in Hawaii then South America started going then Canada, it was all kind of slow with a light flashing for each new stake and then a red dot to show where it was. As the dates flashing at the bottom got closer to the present, they started coming faster and faster until large areas were flashing all at once and several areas were all red. The music got louder and faster and at the end it was like a huge lightening storm. It was very exciting. Then Elder McMinn had one of the missionaries read "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

There were few dry eyes by the end of the video and maybe none at the end of "The Standard of Truth. What a thrill is to be part of such a great work. We are so grateful to be here in Nauvoo. We miss you all, especially at this time of year, but we pray for the Lord's choicest blessings to be with you and that you may feel the joy that comes from living the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is true and the greatest thing in our lives. Love you all!!!!

Those of you who saw Sunset by the Mississippi this summer will remember Sister Ora Mae May. She is a single sister and played the marimba for the walkerette routine. I like to tell you about her son. When he was 14 her husband died. Soon after this son started with the rodeo crowd and picked up the habits of chewing tobacco and drinking. He was ordained a Priest, but that was the end of his activity. He married out of the church and had several children who weren't members either. Sister May said this son, wife and children came out to Nauvoo to visit her in July. They were here the first 3 nights of the Pageant. The first night, even though it was quite rainy and coo., they stayed for the whole performance. They came the nedxt two nights also. Sister May asked her daughter-in-law at the end of her stay, how did you like Nauvoo? The lady said: "it is the first vacation that I ever went on that I cried every night and loved every minute of it. Sister May told us that the son, his wife and the children were taking the missionary lessons. The son was trying to live the word of wis dom so he could baptize his wife and children. Sister May later told us that her son had been interviewed to b e ordained an Elder. He was so excited because he was going to baptize and confirm his wife and his children.
Sister May said that she will forever be grateful for the Pageant and what it had done to bless her family. Her greatest blessing from serving this mission is that it brought her son here so that he could have his family with him in the gospel.

B-day surprise

So here I am, dusting at the Brigham Young home when I here the door open. I hear voices, but concentrate on finishing the dusting before anyone gets where they can see me. The next thing I know beautiful voices are singing Happy Birthday to you. I look up and there in the door are Lisa, w/Michael, Shanna, and Abby; and Laree, w/Emma and Johnathan. I was so overwhelmed, I could hardly contain my joy and excitement at seeing them. It was the last thing I was expecting. After giving hugs and kisses and finally calming down my thrill, I gave them the tour. Then they went to other sites, saw Grandpa some where in there; and by the time we got home at 5:00 p.m. they had a wonderful birthday dinner prepared and even a Banana Cream Pie!!! I would never expect that kind of birthday on a mission, but it was wonderful. Today we went out to dinner with dear friends E/S Toone & E/S Jones. It's been a terrific two days. Life is great, the gospel is true what more could we ask.

I havn't blogged for a while, life just seems to carry us along with few opportunities for the non-essentials. We are happy, healthy, and having the time of our lives. I wish all of you could have this opportunity some time in the future. In our prep meeting this morning they announced that there have been 29 documented baptisms from referral cards at the pageant. There may be many others that have not been traced to the pageant, but that started there. What a thrill to be part of such a wonderful work. Some days we give tours all day long and don't think any thing special has happened and then you connect with one person and know that they are feeling the spirit . What a joy that is! I do believe that anyone who comes here will not slam the door in the face of missionaries when they come to their home.

Yesterday we served at Carthage. The first time we have had that priveledge. What a joy it was to feel the wonderful spirit of that place. We have come to love the Prophet Joseph Smith as never before. What a tremendous example he is to us all. If I work the rest of my life, I could not measure up even 1/200 th of what he has done; but I hope I can know and commune with him when I leave this life.

The spirit here in Nauvoo is so wonderful. We find such joy and satisfaction each day as we serve at the various sites. The gospel brings happiness to those who live it. May you all find that joy in your lives. We love you all so much

On Thursday while I was serving in the Brigham Young home, a middle aged couple and their son came in. I was impressed with their happy nature. In fact, the son never seemed to stop smiling. The only change was in how wide the smile was. After bearing testimony and sharing some personal things with them, the son asked if he could share his story.

At the age of 17 he was diagnosed with brain cancer. The tumor was between the lobes of the brain and it was impossible to remove more than a small portion of it. Removing that portion did help his headaches, but after several more surgeries they told him there was nothing more they could do. They said he should go home and enjoy what short life he had left.

While he was still in the hospital, two men in suits came in and asked if Elder ...... (his name) was there. He said "my name is ........" One of the men said he was Elder ....... of the seventy and he had been sent there by Thomas S. Monson to give a blessing to the future Elder ....... He received the blessing and was promised he would live to serve a mission and would have good health. He was not able to serve a regular mission because he has no short term memory, even though his long term memory is perfect. He did serve a full time mission in his own area and worked in the mission office helping with the records. It has been 17 years since that diagnosis and he enjoys really good health, and I believe his smiles show his gratitude for being alive.

We all cried together as he shared his story. I was really grateful that we were not busy that day or I could not have taken time to listen. It was one of those wonderful experiences that we are blessed with occasionally. I am sooooo glad to be here.