Thought for the week:
"Parenthood sharpens your math skills because you spend all night calculating how much sleep you'll get if you fall asleep right NOW."
"I went for a run but came back after two minutes because I forgot something. I forgot I'm out of shape and can't run more than two minutes."
"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF YOU!
We hope you all had a wonderful day at church and with your loved ones. We certainly had a great busy day. We started off with a very spiritual sacrament meeting. President Gibbons and his wife, the new site mission president spoke, with the site mission choir singing three beautiful numbers. We then had a Sunday School class with all the new temple missionaries and the winter temple missionaries. We now number 120. The R.S. room was packed. Our president then introduced the new program we'll all be doing starting next Sunday. We will all be assigned to different wards and branches throughout the Illinois stakes that are assigned to the Nauvoo Temple District. Some of us will be traveling as far as 2 to 3 hours away each Sunday. I think we're all excited but a little nervous about where our assignment will be. We had our choice how far we would be willing to travel. Some of our missionaries are near 80 and probably might choose to stay closer to Nauvoo. Rudi and I just turned our request form in to our neighbor who is a counselor in the temple presidency and stated we'd go wherever we are needed most. Giant step but very willing to serve wherever. We'll find out in the next few days where are assignment will be. We can't except callings in the wards or branches but we are to help wherever the bishop or branch president needs us. We can only serve in this capacity on Sundays since our first responsibility is to the temple. It should be fun and challenging. Hopeful we will be able to motivate and encourage people to attend the temple and for some to prepare to go to the temple. Tonight I have a choir practice in the Assembly Hall at the temple for two performances we have this week during our training with the new missionaries. So excited to be able to sing in that special sacred place in the temple. Salt Lake has to give permission for any groups or meetings to be held in there.
Today all of the winter missionaries of which we are a part hosted two couples for Easter dinner. What a choice experience to meet and get to know these new couples. We fixed all the food since they just arrived on Friday and have barely unpacked or had time to grocery shop. We hosted the Ricks from Rexburg Idaho, and the Grovers from New Port Beach. Such kind and fun people to get to know. I served all my families favorite Easter foods. They really enjoyed it all. I had ham, loaded baked potato casserole, strawberry and spinach salad, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, hot homemade rolls, and a coconut cake for dessert. I cooked most of the day yesterday to prepare as much as I could ahead. They filled the void of not being able to be with our family.
Starting last Monday the temple has been closed for two weeks for maintenance. Rudi still worked everyday but I really relaxed and caught up on needed projects around the cottage. Friday when the new missionaries arrived we put a few basic groceries in their apartments that morning. We then greeted them at the arrival center in the afternoon. All the winter missionaries hosted two new couples. We showed them their apartments and took them around the area to get familiar with their surroundings. We hosted the Fairchilds from Denver Colorado, (They know Uncle John in the Denver Temple) and the Nelsons from Genola, Utah. Later that evening we took them for a Mexican dinner in Hamilton. They were very delightful and grateful for the dinner. Its really fun to get to know them on a more casual bases.
Last night we had a welcome dinner at the stake center for all 120 of us missionaries. We all were assigned tables with two new missionary couples and two winter couples. We hate being called the OLD missionaries even if we are, we prefer being called the winter missionaries. We sat next to the Lees from the San Francisco area, and the Slacks from Manti, Utah. Another delightful experience. Rudi keeps telling me that everyone is so kind and loving its making him have to work harder at being Mister Nice Guy all the time (not that he isn't). It's good for all of us to be kinder and gentler with everyone we come in contact with. We also meet the Crockets from Utah Valley (Chari, yes she is darling and so very kind and personable). I already knew Bro. Crocket from when he worked in the Provo School Distract office. Troy and Kristin, your friends from your old ward in Highland, the McKenhnies, came up to me and said they knew us from seeing us at your ward on occasions. What nice people and so eager to serve and get going. I already know about 10 couples now. Oh, Wilford and Claudia, we meet the Curtis's from the Holliday area. He said he knew Wilf. His dad started A Ray Curtis company, a heating and air conditioning supplier. Lots of new people to get to know. That's what missions are all about. Kathy helped make chocolate covered strawberries which were very good.
This week is packed with tons of training meetings, lunches, dinners, and overall great experiences. Since the temple is closed to the public we will be training in the temple. A week from Monday the temple reopens and we will be running two shifts a day six days a week from then on. Thank goodness all the new missionaries have already served in temples in their hometown areas so they are set and ready to go. Now all they need to learn is the Nauvoo Temple way. Every temple is a little different and the one thing you don't want to say is, but we didn't do it that way in my home temple.
Yes, we're busy but so happy to be able to serve. This experience will always be a highlight of our lives. We still continue to love and miss you all but are so grateful for this privilege to serve in Nauvoo with so many wonderful people.
With all our love,
Rudi and Kathy
Mom and Dad
GRANDPA AND GRANDMA (We really missed our Easter Egg Hunt with our precious grandkids but there will be many years to come to be with you).
"Parenthood sharpens your math skills because you spend all night calculating how much sleep you'll get if you fall asleep right NOW."
"I went for a run but came back after two minutes because I forgot something. I forgot I'm out of shape and can't run more than two minutes."
"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF YOU!
We hope you all had a wonderful day at church and with your loved ones. We certainly had a great busy day. We started off with a very spiritual sacrament meeting. President Gibbons and his wife, the new site mission president spoke, with the site mission choir singing three beautiful numbers. We then had a Sunday School class with all the new temple missionaries and the winter temple missionaries. We now number 120. The R.S. room was packed. Our president then introduced the new program we'll all be doing starting next Sunday. We will all be assigned to different wards and branches throughout the Illinois stakes that are assigned to the Nauvoo Temple District. Some of us will be traveling as far as 2 to 3 hours away each Sunday. I think we're all excited but a little nervous about where our assignment will be. We had our choice how far we would be willing to travel. Some of our missionaries are near 80 and probably might choose to stay closer to Nauvoo. Rudi and I just turned our request form in to our neighbor who is a counselor in the temple presidency and stated we'd go wherever we are needed most. Giant step but very willing to serve wherever. We'll find out in the next few days where are assignment will be. We can't except callings in the wards or branches but we are to help wherever the bishop or branch president needs us. We can only serve in this capacity on Sundays since our first responsibility is to the temple. It should be fun and challenging. Hopeful we will be able to motivate and encourage people to attend the temple and for some to prepare to go to the temple. Tonight I have a choir practice in the Assembly Hall at the temple for two performances we have this week during our training with the new missionaries. So excited to be able to sing in that special sacred place in the temple. Salt Lake has to give permission for any groups or meetings to be held in there.
Today all of the winter missionaries of which we are a part hosted two couples for Easter dinner. What a choice experience to meet and get to know these new couples. We fixed all the food since they just arrived on Friday and have barely unpacked or had time to grocery shop. We hosted the Ricks from Rexburg Idaho, and the Grovers from New Port Beach. Such kind and fun people to get to know. I served all my families favorite Easter foods. They really enjoyed it all. I had ham, loaded baked potato casserole, strawberry and spinach salad, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, hot homemade rolls, and a coconut cake for dessert. I cooked most of the day yesterday to prepare as much as I could ahead. They filled the void of not being able to be with our family.
Starting last Monday the temple has been closed for two weeks for maintenance. Rudi still worked everyday but I really relaxed and caught up on needed projects around the cottage. Friday when the new missionaries arrived we put a few basic groceries in their apartments that morning. We then greeted them at the arrival center in the afternoon. All the winter missionaries hosted two new couples. We showed them their apartments and took them around the area to get familiar with their surroundings. We hosted the Fairchilds from Denver Colorado, (They know Uncle John in the Denver Temple) and the Nelsons from Genola, Utah. Later that evening we took them for a Mexican dinner in Hamilton. They were very delightful and grateful for the dinner. Its really fun to get to know them on a more casual bases.
Last night we had a welcome dinner at the stake center for all 120 of us missionaries. We all were assigned tables with two new missionary couples and two winter couples. We hate being called the OLD missionaries even if we are, we prefer being called the winter missionaries. We sat next to the Lees from the San Francisco area, and the Slacks from Manti, Utah. Another delightful experience. Rudi keeps telling me that everyone is so kind and loving its making him have to work harder at being Mister Nice Guy all the time (not that he isn't). It's good for all of us to be kinder and gentler with everyone we come in contact with. We also meet the Crockets from Utah Valley (Chari, yes she is darling and so very kind and personable). I already knew Bro. Crocket from when he worked in the Provo School Distract office. Troy and Kristin, your friends from your old ward in Highland, the McKenhnies, came up to me and said they knew us from seeing us at your ward on occasions. What nice people and so eager to serve and get going. I already know about 10 couples now. Oh, Wilford and Claudia, we meet the Curtis's from the Holliday area. He said he knew Wilf. His dad started A Ray Curtis company, a heating and air conditioning supplier. Lots of new people to get to know. That's what missions are all about. Kathy helped make chocolate covered strawberries which were very good.
This week is packed with tons of training meetings, lunches, dinners, and overall great experiences. Since the temple is closed to the public we will be training in the temple. A week from Monday the temple reopens and we will be running two shifts a day six days a week from then on. Thank goodness all the new missionaries have already served in temples in their hometown areas so they are set and ready to go. Now all they need to learn is the Nauvoo Temple way. Every temple is a little different and the one thing you don't want to say is, but we didn't do it that way in my home temple.
Yes, we're busy but so happy to be able to serve. This experience will always be a highlight of our lives. We still continue to love and miss you all but are so grateful for this privilege to serve in Nauvoo with so many wonderful people.
With all our love,
Rudi and Kathy
Mom and Dad
GRANDPA AND GRANDMA (We really missed our Easter Egg Hunt with our precious grandkids but there will be many years to come to be with you).
Mexican restaurant with our host couples the Fairchilds and the Nelsons.
Bro. and Sister Fairchild in their new apartment with the welcome balloon we gave them.
Bro. and Sister Nelson also with balloon and fruit basket we put together.
Bro. and Sister McKechnie and Bro. and Sister Crockett.
Easter Dinner couples we hosted. Bro. and Sister Ricks and Bro. and Sister Grover, in front of our cottage.
Around our dinner table for Easter Dinner.
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