It's what we do

While many of the missionary couples here are trying to get in whatever experiences and sightseeing they want before leaving in  month or so, Russ and I continue to make an effort to get better acquainted with local residents. It is such a privilege to have 18 months to spend here whereas most missionaries serving in Nauvoo will leave after 6 months. From what we understand, this is a very sought-after mission so they limit most missionaries' time in order to give more people the opportunity to serve here. As an engineer, Russ spends nearly all of his time in the temple doing physical things. We walk to and from the temple every day (about 1/2 mile) and almost never use the elevator (there are 19 steps up to our apartment and 97 steps from the sidewalk to the 4th floor of the temple where I start and end each day- then go up and down throughout the day). It would be wonderful if all that effort showed, but it doesn't. Neither of us is really gaining any weight but neither of us is losing either. So it's a nice opportunity when we can do something requiring physical exertion that is a helpful service to someone. Awhile ago, Russ and I helped repair some posts in an old barn. This week we returned there to help pour a concrete floor. Russ and I had been screeding the concrete just before I took a shovelful of excess to put elsewhere and the 83 year old dad of the barn owner took over my end of the screed. We enjoyed the work and were amazed at how quickly it went.

Then we were able to go to the home of one of the women who works in the temple laundry to help do yard work. You can't see me in this picture because I'm the photographer! You can't see Russ because my timing was bad. He's behind the boy in the middle of the picture as he trims the edge of bushes next to the house. The woman with the electric hedge-trimmer is the temple laundress. Her husband is in the wheelchair. The others are their 2 sons.

My parents spent most of their lives providing service to others. Russ has chosen to follow the "family tradition" with me. Our children do the same, including John whom we informally adopted into our family. It is a really satisfying feeling to belong to such a group of people. Now that we have been sealed for eternity in the temple, we have the opportunity to be with them a very, very long time!