This week was crazy with the six month missionaries (25 couples) leaving on Sunday.
We began with a big dinner and testimony meeting Monday evening that had everyone in tears. We have gotten to know some great people and we will miss seeing them daily in the temple.
Our fun party favor.
We were sitting at Table #18 - the last one!
The festive table decorations were fun and made for a fun time.
Food was assigned out and everyone contributed to the feast. It was anything pumpkin for dessert.
There were three serving tables set up. Left: Ruth Emang, Annette Hurst, Gail Hansen. Middle: Calleen Hall.
The prayer was given, lines formed, and away we went getting delicious food on our plates.
It took about 18 minutes for 132 of us to go through the line.
The
missionary choir that was put together several months ago sang, “Take Time To
Be Holy.” It was beautiful and so
well done. They also sang, “Each
Life That Touches Us For Good,” as an intermediate hymn, and then, “This Little
Town,” from Rendezvous In Old Nauvoo.
Sister Thompson was on the keyboard and Sister Kathie Brown played the violin during the intermediate hymn, which was a special arrangement by Sister Beer.
It
was time for testimonies after the meal and President Irion said it was
different than a Fast and Testimony Meeting since we had just eaten, and with
the help of others came up with “Feast and Testimony.” Those leaving the end of this week were
the ones who spoke. They all had stories to tell about their coming on their
mission and so many of them echoed some of our very feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Testimonies were born for about two
hours with Sister and President Irion ending the meeting. In total, we were there 3 ½ hours.
We took lots of pictures of our fellow workers.
Nolan and Diane Birt, our "baptistry buddies."
Bill and Merle Adams from Arizona.
Georgia Anderson
Jim and Jeanie Anderson
Alan and Sharee Bird and Bill and Virginia Meadows
Kathie and Dennis Brown
Jim and Lynn Clark
Sydney and Bruce Cline. Ken and Peggy Humphreys from Arizona. Mary Beth Dean is taking the picture and Dottie Cole is looking on her phone.
Darlene and Keith Despain
Sister and Brother Dewey, is an assistant recorder.
John Emang, engineer.
Jim Sears taking picture, Bob Hurst laughing, Denna and Ron Schnackenberg, and Merle and Bill Adams.
Martin and Gail Hansen
Michael and Susan Hatch from Arizona.
Kent and Sue Ann Thompson.
John and Cindee Morrison.
Elaine LeDuc, Barbara, Susan Callister
David and RuthAnn Smith (Presidency Counselor and Assistant to the Matron)
Rick and Chris Marshall. He is the temple recorder.
Everyone was giving good-bye hugs throughout the week and leaving sweet messages or such in the mail boxes.
From Boyce and Barbara Sorensen, their grandson drew this picture.
The crowning experience of the week was the two special endowment sessions for all of us temple missionaries. There were too many for one session, so we were broken up into two sessions, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday. Our temple president and matron, President and Sister Irion officiated the session and his counselor, President Smith and Sister Smith were second follows to help with the huge group. What a neat time to be together in the temple! The spirit was so strong and we all felt the love of our Savior in things that cannot be spoken. This experience reminded me of what the Nephites felt when Jesus came to them after his resurrection and prayed for them in 3 Nephi 17:17. "And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man . . . . so great and marvelous things as we . . . saw and heard." It is an experience that will be treasured in our hearts.
Our shifts in the temple were great with several opportunities to participate in ordinances for our family file names. My research continues to lead me to more waiting for the gospel and we are having a great time making the ordinances available for them.
Friday, I was in the baptistry for about an hour. We had a young couple come in. They were so very polite and enjoyed their experience. We learned from them that he just signed on with the Green Bay Packers. He is a defensive line backer, #45, and his last name is Biegel. Guess we will have to pay attention to the team and see if we can watch him play.
Last night was the annual Boo-tiful Nauvoo Pumpkin Walk. For two blocks the street was lined with carved pumpkins on both sides, totaling 500. Activities started just after lunch time and continued throughout the evening. We worked our shift until 7 p.m., then strolled the street admiring the intricately carved pumpkins. The merchants were all open for evening activity and business.
Sister Yoacum, an ordinance worker and she also works in the temple laundry, had a street taco stand. Boy, the tacos were delicious and we enjoyed eating them, especially since we don't get a lot of Mexican food out here anyway.
Bob found himself a new honey . . . . . .
Looks a lot like me!
Sister Yoacum, an ordinance worker and she also works in the temple laundry, had a street taco stand. Boy, the tacos were delicious and we enjoyed eating them, especially since we don't get a lot of Mexican food out here anyway.
Left to right: Sister Adams, Sister and Brother Elkins, and Sister Yoacum.
We stopped in the Fudge Factory for a free caramel sample. Yum, it was delicious!
Sister Nelson, Assistant to the Matron and Barbara.
The temple recorder, Brother Marshall, has an outstanding voice and sang from the balcony of the Wilford Woodruff Hotel, several songs from "Phantom of the Opera." Wow, he was so good and it was amazing to hear him! We took pictures and enjoyed visiting with other temple workers and locals we know.
