THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY HAVE ARRIVED....(August 24, 2014)



Thoughts for the week:

"Acceptance begins in the family.  Home should be the place where you can dare to bare; to just be yourself without worrying about being rejected."

"Your child is what will keep you holding on, when everything else is falling apart."

"It's true that money doesn't buy Happiness, but it does buy CHOCOLATE...which is kinda the same thing."

It finally happened, the summer heat and humidity finally arrived in full force.  The last few days have been in the 90's with high humidity.  My least favorite weather, next to freezing cold.  It's only suppose to last a few days and then back into the 70's.  I can't complain too much since this summer has been delightfully cool with a lot of rain to keep everything so lush and green.

Today in our Sunday School class the air-conditioner wasn't working and we really felt the heat.  Thank goodness it worked in the chapel and the R.S. room since I taught my lesson.  It was on the sealing blessings of the temple.  I felt really good about the outcome and the sisters joined in with comments and really seemed interested.  Yea!  Another lesson over, I can breath this week and enjoy being relaxed.  Our sacrament meeting was especially good today.  Three sisters spoke and they all did a wonderful job.  Sister Melton(Robin, formally from Tremonton) gave an outstanding talk on our eternal rewards and celestrial glory.  I wanted to say Amen when she finished since it was so much along the lines of my lesson.  I asked her to email me her talk because she related some excellent stories I want to keep in my file.  We are becoming such good friends.  She works at the temple twice a month and is so inspiring.  Our closing hymn in sacrament and in R.S. was so perfect for the talks and my lesson.  We sang "How Beautiful Thy Temples, Lord" Page 288 if you want to read the words.  I got a little teary eyed singing it at the end of my lesson and so did a few other sisters.

Last Monday night we had a special FHE dinner and program with all the temple missionaries.  I made a yummy new recipe for lasagna.  It turned out great!  The dinner was really nice  with salads, french bread and desserts made by all the sisters.  The program was all musical.  The choir sang, and many missionaries shared their musical talent.  They also displayed other talents like painting, handicraft works, poems and other interests the missionaries have.

Tuesday night we were so excited to have Phil Diederich stop by for a visit.  He was on business back her in the Midwest and dropped over for fresh peach pie and lots of updates on the family at home.  What a great guy he is and so thoughtful to include us in this agenda.  That's the second time he's come to see us.  Next time we hope Hugo will come with him and spend a few days visiting and seeing Old Nauvoo.  Anina you're so welcome to come also!

On Thursday it was extremely slow in the temple and so I asked if I could leave the main office where I serve on that day to do an endowment session.  I was so glad to be able to do something of service.  After getting my new name I quickly went upstairs to find out I was the only one on the 12:00 session.  I told them they didn't need to hold the session just for me but they insisted.  I was the only patron along with the witness couple who were temple missionaries.  It really was a special session and I felt fortunate to be able to help another one of my ancestors. Today in my lesson I read a quote that said we shouldn't think of doing work for the dead but think of them as living and accepting the gospel plan.  If they would have lived during the time when the gospel was on the earth they would have probably accepted it then.  Sealing powers are really coming to life for me as I continue to serve in the temple.  Another quote that keeps coming back to me is, "As members of Christ's restored church, we have the covenant responsibility to search out our ancestors and provide for them the saving ordinances of the gospel.  "They without us should not be made perfect. "And, neither can we without our dead be made perfect."

I seem to be spending a lot of time in clothing lately.  Two days this week.  I love serving there but it's so slow right now that I've read a lot of scriptures.  I'm trying to get  through the Old Testament.  Maybe by the time I come home I will have completed it.  I love lofty goals!

We went to dinner with some close friends Friday night at Angelini's in Keokuk.  Fun as usual and great food!  Rudi loves the pasta bar. He gets to order all his favorite veggies, meats, sauce, and pasta all cooked together to make a huge plate of delicious eating.  It makes enough to serve three people but he manages to finish it all by himself.

I don't think I left anything out of our week of activites.  We continue to love serving in the temple and enjoying our rich friendships with so many wonderful missionaries.  We love hearing from our family and friends and continue to pray for your health and happiness.

With love to all for a great week ahead.

Rudi and Kathy (Nauvoo Missionaries)

 Rudi and the Moller's in front of our favorite restaurant in Keokuk, Angelini's.  Great Italian food!

 Inside Angelini's with the Moller's, Wasum's, Gorrelle's, and  Wades's.  Great food and fun.  We'll be sad to see all of them go home in October.

 Kathy next to our tomato tree, the one we about pulled up and threw away at the first of the summer.  We get about 4 or 5 tomatoes off it each day.  Good thing we love tomatoes!

ENJOYING MIDWEST ACTIVITIES... (August 17, 2014)

Thoughts for the week:

"Know God, Know hope.  No God, No hope."

"The wounds given by a sword can be healed, But nothing can heal a wound given by words."

"Being a good person does not depend on your religion, status in life, race, skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how you treat others."

Another week in the lives of the Nauvoo Missionaries.  Every week is full of ups and downs, but mostly ups.  This week was very slow in the temple again.  We got use to all the tourists coming for pageant and now it's hard to get use to low numbers.  That's the biggest down this week.  We pray for more patrons everyday.  Two thirds of the temple missionaries will be leaving to go home the end of October which will require more of us missionaries staying but I'll miss them so much.  They've become such dear friends after spending a year with them.

Last Monday we spent the day in Amana, Iowa.  It's about 21/2 hours from Nauvoo.  It was so fun seeing these small German villages.  Each village has unique shops to stop and see and stroll through.  We enjoyed eating lunch at a German restaurant and having authentic German food.  Rudi was in his element.  Elfriede they even had potato balls.  We went with six other couples and got to know them better.  The day was long but we so enjoy seeing and tasting as much of the Midwest as we can.

We had the opportunity to help clean the temple Wednesday night after our shift.  We were there from eight until nine thirty.  Rudi and I have never vacuumed so much carpet in our life's.  The time went by fast and we gained a new appreciation for the many hours spent keeping our beautiful temple in top notch condition.  It was a long day but well worth the effort.

Thursday afternoon, after we served in the temple, we went to Montrose to the Watermelon Festival.  What a Hoot!  I thought I'd seen all the tattoos I could stand the week before at the Corn Festival, but it seemed like everyone but us missionaries had one or more tattoos somewhere on their bodies.  I guess we just don't fit into the carnival atmosphere.  We try really hard to support as many of the surrounding area activities.  It's one way to show the non-mormons that we care and want them to come to Nauvoo and see our sights.  Hopefully we're doing some good, and are good ambassadors for the church. Oh well, its somewhere to go and something fun to do with other missionaries.

I spent four of my five days this week serving as a coordinator throughout the temple.  I did get to be on line on Tuesday and really enjoyed brushing up on my initiatory, name issue and helping at the veil.  I don't seem to get to do that often enough lately.  I still have only seen the new film once and look forward to following on a session soon so I can see it again.  I'm never going to get all the endowments done for my ancestors at this rate.  Hopefully I'll get more time being a patron during the winter months like last year.

We just got back from Canton.  It was their branch conference today, so the chapel was packed with stake people.  Our branch president spoke and did an excellent job.  We love that man a lot and appreciate his six years of continued service to this little  branch.  Next week I teach R.S. and that means extra studying this week.  I love teaching but always worry about if there will be enough participation.  I'm always over prepared just in case.

I guess school is starting this week at home.  Good luck to my wonderful grandchildren in their academic and extra curricular endeavors.  Have a great week and remember to try your hardest, that's all that's expected of you.

Well time to go eat dinner with the Garrett's.  They are from Florida and invited us to a turkey dinner.  Sounds yummy!  I'm taking the dessert, homemade peach pie.  Somehow my pie has gotten around and I seem to take it somewhere every week.  Good thing it's something Rudi likes.  I made a whole pie for him.  Here comes the 30 pounds!

It's still lush and green in Nauvoo and still no unbearable temperatures.  Hope Utah weather is delightful and the dog days of summer are pleasant.

Have a great week!  We love you all and pray for your protection and good health.  Oh, by the way the man I wrote about last week in my email passed away peaceful last Sunday afternoon after I sent the email.  Prayers are really answered and quickly in his behalf.  He only suffered two days and then his prayer was answered.  What a great example of living your best with a wonderful attitude right to the very end.  He will be so missed but always remembered.

With love to all,

Rudi and Kathy (Having a wonderful mission)

Rudi and I in front of a cottage in Amana, Iowa.  A P-day activity.

 A rocking chair big enough for the whole family in Amana. It was pretty funny seeing us get out of that rocker.

 Gayle Gorrell and I shopping in Amana.  What a fun day.

A copper insect at a shop we stopped at along the way.  Kind of ugly but interesting!

 Anne Hawks and I at a Christmas store in Amana.  Her and her husband are our shift coordinators on Friday morning at the temple.  They live in Nauvoo and are a lot of fun to be around.

Marie Bassett and I at the copper store.  Everything was made out of copper.

 Lenor Prince and Paula Peterson at the copper store.  These sisters are in our P-day group.

   
Rudi browsing the copper store.  Fun to look at but all I could think about is how would we get them home.  Maybe we could be like Paul and Linda Bingham and rent a trailor!

All the temple missionaries saying goodby to the Durrants last Sunday night.  I think almost everyone was there.  They are dearly loved and will be missed.

 George and Susan Durrant in front of their home in Nauvoo.  Great couple!  I won't forget them.

  A surprise visit from my cousin Jim Owen and his daughter Katie from Wyoming.  Jim is my cousin Barbara Wood Owen's husband.  What a surprise to have them come to our front door.  Short visit since they were on their way back to Wyoming.

Rudi and I enjoying the Watermelon Festival in Montrose, Iowa last Thursday.  There's a different festival almost every week around here.  Love the Midwest spirit of having fun.

 Some the missionaries we met at the festival.  Gorrell's, Willis's, and the Moller's who went with us.  It's good for the communities to see us supporting their festivals.  We really are friendly happy Mormons!




 With David Moller at the festival.  Moller's and us do a lot together and love every minute.  Hope they move to Utah Valley when they get home from their mission.

JUST ANOTHER BUSY FUN WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY (August 10, 2014)

 



Thought for the week:

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly worn out and screaming, "Woo Hoo, What a ride."

"Sometimes being HOPEFUL is the only way out."

"Moving on is a process; moving forward is a choice.  There's a slight difference between the two.  Moving on is letting things happen; moving forward is making things happen."

Hello Family and Friends.
This week is opposite from last week.  The pageant ending and so did the high numbers of temple attendance.  It didn't gradually slow down, it just went completely dead.  I loved being busy and seeing so many people attend the temple.  I wish this wasn't a destination temple.  It would be wonderful to be busy everyday.

I did get a wonderful surprise on Tuesday.  I had just come out of the initiatory booth and who should come up to me but Ilene Bingham.  It was so great to see her.  I've always wanted someone to greet me in the temple like that.  We then went out in the hall and meet with Robert.  He was like a kid on Christmas morning when he saw me.  I think they were so shocked to run into me at the temple and find me being quiet. We quickly called Rudi to meet us in the lobby.  How good it was to visit for a few minutes and meet three of their children and their spouses.  I just love Robert and his great attitude, and Ilene is already an angel in my eyes.  They were in Nauvoo having a family reunion.  So glad I got to accidentally see them and give them hugs.  Love to see more relatives here in Nauvoo, anytime!

As I mentioned in the pictures we went to another Midwest activity.  We live surrounded by corn so we thought it was only fitting to attend a corn festival.  Small town but fun.  Reminded me of all our carnivals in Utah County in the summer, but with a ton of free corn!  All the residents get together before the festival and shuck it on the Main Street.  Then they steam it in a big container that gets it steam from an old steam driven tractor.  Very interesting!

Today being Sunday we just got home from the Canton Branch.  Rudi gave a really good lesson on Charity. We had both of our newly baptized couples there.  There was a lot of comments and discussion.  We are getting to know and love these people more each week.  It's going to be hard to stop coming when the winter weather sets in.  In R.S. we had a lesson on  raising our children in the gospel.  It was excellent.  These people really participate and help the teacher out.  Rudi and I both commented how much more we get involved in this little branch than we did at home.  I guess that's what it's like living in the mission field. Everyone is used so much more!

We received an email from our dear friends the Holland's who were temple missionaries here in Nauvoo.  They went home early because he was suffering from a second bout of cancer.  They left in January hoping to return to their oncologist in Texas and be able to win again with his fight with cancer.  His wife has informed us that he only has a short time to live.  At first we were all praying for his recovery back to health.  But now because he is suffering terribly she wants us to pray for his return home to his Father in Heaven and be relived of his suffering.  They are the perfect example of an attitude of gratitude.  They have been through so much and have always found a reason to be grateful.  My first thought for the week was taken from one of her emails.  What an outstanding couple!  He will be sorely missed but his wife says he is looking forward to his new chapter with his Heavenly Father, instead of thinking about all he will miss being here.  What a lesson we can all learn from their life and trials.

Once again we are so thankful for the opportunity we have been given to serve in Nauvoo.  Each week we look forward to more wonderful adventures and experiences in the temple.  Can't ask for anything better!

Continue to be grateful for your blessings, I know we are.  Have a great week.  Thanks for being such great examples to us.
With love always,

Rudi and Kathy (Nauvoo Missionaries)

Dinner at the Nauvoo Hotel to celebrate Judy Moller's birthday.  Sorry its so blurry, once again I didn't take the picture.

 Of course, eating again but loving it!

 The birthday girl getting way too excited!  Crazy Judy!  Love her!

Greg and Gayle Gorrell.  So much fun to all be together.

 Our neighbors across the street, Lindholms.  The best people from Texas.

 Glen and Anne Hawks from Nauvoo.  They're the shift coordinators on Friday at the temple.  They were invited because we all love them so much.

 Rudi, grazing the buffet at the party.  Lots of good food, especially the cat fish.  Rudi's choice not mine.

Greg and David out in front of the hotel before dinner.  Probably calculating how much its going to cost them.

  All of us during dinner.  Lesley is on the left in front.  Her husband was out of town on family business.

 Rudi and I at the Corn Festival in Iowa.  That's how they cook 2,000 lbs. of chicken.  It looks like the salmon fry in Payson.  Great chicken along with all the corn you can eat.  Rudi couldn't get enough!

 Still eating more and more corn.  Just cause it's free he went to town.  His kind of party.

 

 Some of the missionaries we met up with at the festival.  It was held in West Point Iowa just outside of Fort Madison.  The Roger's are on the left and next to them the Gorrells.

 



PAGEANT ENDS...WELCOME TO AUGUST!!! (August 4, 2014)

Thoughts for the week:

"The church is NOT a place where perfect people gather to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings.  The church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father."

"Your greatest test is when you are able to Bless Someone Else while you are going through Your Own Storm."

"Even our tears are silent prayers when we seek for comfort in God's loving arms."

I'm a day late and a dollar short as they say with this email.  Life just got way too busy on Sunday so Monday will have to do.

Yesterday started early as all Sundays do.  We spent seven hours driving and enjoying our meetings in Canton.  Being Fast and Testimony Meeting we felt the spirit so strong in this little branch.  The people are so humble and helpful to each other there.  One sister who is an investigator and is partially deaf, bore her testimony.  It was so sincere and so tender.  She was also in our Gospel Principals class that Rudi teaches and shared a lot of her feelings about the gospel.  Our lesson was on the Word of Wisdom.  She was doing so well until she heard that we don't drink tea or coffee.  Immediately all the red flags went up.  She quickly stated that she could never give up her tea.  Thank goodness another newly baptized member quickly related have much he loved tea and how he through prayer and determination learned to do without it.  Our two young elders were also there to give her strength and encouragement.  We are so new in this conversion process.  It was wonderful to see her trying so hard to understand us and read our lips at the same time.  Hopefully she'll see the light and continue with the discussions and be baptized soon.  I was asked to help with the Young Women during the third hour.  The discussion was on mothers and daughters.  The leader hoped that I had daughters.  I was so glad I had years of training being a mother to three wonderful talented and loving daughters of my own.  I also shared my close relationship with my own mother.  For once I was fully prepared to discuss something that is dear to my heart and so easy to talk about, except you all know how teary I get when I mention my family.  I did my best and hopefully those three young women felt of my strong testimony of family and enjoying their relationship with their mothers.  All three girls gave me a big hug at the end of the lesson so I felt like maybe I touched a sensitive area of their hearts also.  Love being in Young Women again!

After we got home from Canton we hosted six people at a Break the Fast Dinner at our cottage.  We enjoyed getting to know Bro. and Sis. Hansen from Arizona and Bro. and Sis. Welker from California, along with the Glassettes from Chicago who are our partners that go to Canton with us.  I served Hawaiian Haystacks, and the other sisters brought dessert and part of the ingredients for the haystacks.  We really enjoyed getting to know these people better since we don't work with them on any shifts.  It's great to have these dinners so we can get to know all of the 120 temple missionaries on a more informal basis.  Later that night my friend Judy Moller and I hosted a informal gathering for all the winter site and temple missionaries after the sociable.  We held it at the Stake Center and it went over well.  We don't get to see the site missionaries much anymore because of our assignments throughout the temple district on Sundays.  A lot of site missionaries will be heading home in August and September.  I tried two new recipes that turned out great.  I made a Mississippi Sin Dip.  Sounds naughty doesn't it!  But it was delicious and gone quickly.  I also made a lemon Zucchini Bread.  Yummy!  Email me if you want any of these recipes.  After the Sociable and get together we got home around 9:30 so tired but happy for a wonderful day with so many wonderful people.  Now you have an idea of why the email is late.

Last week we saw the Christensen's off to go home.  They served in the Family Search Center and we got to know them really well.  The temple choir went and sang our parting song to them, Go Now In Peace.  We all shed tears but are so glad to have had a chance to get to know them.  They live in Salt Lake so I hope to see them again.

This being the last week of pageant we went and saw both the British and Nauvoo pageant.  We don't know when we'll be back to see it again.  It gets better every time I see it.  What a powerful message of the Saints and their determination to bring the gospel to the world it portrays.  I'll really miss hearing the music each night from our cottage.  We live just a block from the stage. Because this is the last week of pageant the temple got even busier if that's possible.  All the sessions were over loaded, so many patrons were doing sealing sessions and initiatory.  It's wonderful to see so many people in the temple.  I was asked to work three days in the main office last week and two days this week in clothing to help with the great demands of inputting names and getting clothing out to so many tourists who just rent clothing rather than pack it all.  I did get to be on line one day and that was nice to refresh my memory on all the parts.  Next Saturday I've been asked to help in main office again, so I'll get two days there instead of one.  I love wherever they need me.  That's what a mission is all about.  You have to be flexible and willing to serve anywhere and at any time.

The baptistry continues to be over flowing with energetic young people taking the time from their vacations to do the work of The Lord.  I'm so amazed with their dedication at such a young age.  The Church is in good hands with youth like this.  Thanks all you good parents and grandparents for raising an outstanding generation of stalwart youth.

Thursday after our service in the temple we went to Burlington to the farmers market.  It reminds me of Grandpa Call every time I go there.  He always had so much produce to give us each time we went to Layton to visit.  He also use to take produce to Salt Lake to the farmers market.  What wonderful memories I have of those two great people.  They were always giving and sharing anything they had with family and friends.  They left such a great heritage for us grandkids to follow.  I hope I'm just like them and leave my family with great memories of me.

Friday night we went to Canton to our  branch presidents sons wedding reception.  It was a long ways to go but well worth the drive to support the branch.  It was at their home.  It was so relaxing sitting on their beautiful large patio and watch the corn fields and visit with branch members.  It had just rained so the air was cool and very comfortable.  Its good to visit with them on a much more causal basis.  We feel like we got to know them a lot better.  He married a girl from Layton that he met at the "Y".  They will be returning to the "Y" to finish up this year and probably moving back to Illinois to work here.

Saturday after a busy day at the temple I spent all afternoon cooking and preparing for my Sunday activities.  I made two peach pies(one for David Moller's birthday) a loaf of banana nut bread and zucchini bread,  sauce for the Hawaiian Haystacks, cut up all the veggies, made the Mississippi Sin Dip, and tried to clean the cottage on the side.  Yes, I,m serving constantly but loving it.  Rudi does a lot of bike riding!  He'll be trim and fit when we get home and I'll be dead tried from cooking and cleaning and trying to take care of everything.  I guess I'm the Martha of the group and who knows who Rudi is for sure. He's just the easy going guy that everyone loves and depends on to fix and help set up everything.  We both have our talents and seem to get everything done.

Well that's my week and it looks like August will continue to be busy but full of joy in the journey.

We love seeing pictures of our family doing all kinds of fun activities.  Miss them so much but know they are going on without us as they should.  We hope the Diederich Bear Lake  Reunion  went well.  From pictures we got it looked like fun for all.  Thanks everyone for your emails and pictures, it makes us homesick but we feel a little part of the party.

May you all be blessed with a reason to get up and hopefully serve someone else.  We appreciate your love and support.

Rudi and Kathy (The Nauvoo Missionaries)

 Rudi and I enjoying a sunset on the Mississippi River.

 It was such a beautiful sunset.  Too bad it didn't show up as brilliant.

 Jensen and Addie at the Dutchman Store while they were here in July.  Jensen thinks he needs two ice cream cones!  Love those two!

 Callie and Addie enjoying Grandpa and Grandma's pool while we are gone.  Wish we could be there!

More fun at the pool with Caden, Logan, and Ainsley.  Don't have too much fun without us!

 Bombs away!  Everyone having fun in the pool.  It looks so inviting!  I think that's Conner, Lori's son, diving or being pushed off the diving board!

 Last night at our Sociable for the winter missionaries who will be leaving very soon to go home.  We'll miss these great friends.  Bro. and Sis. Moller and Durrant.

HAPPY BELATED 24th OF JULY IN BUSY NAUVOO (July 27, 2014)

Thoughts of the week:

"A real friend is someone who doesn't like getting wet in the rain but will accompany you when you're going through a storm."

"Remember that when you hit the bottom, you're left with no other way but up."

"My life is constantly under construction.  There's always something to improve."

"Who must you please?  People with unreasonable expectations, or God who sees your real intentions."

Another busy but wonderful week in Nauvoo.  Every Sunday when I write this email I can't believe it's Sunday again so soon.  Rudi and I are so busy at the temple and a lot of activities outside the temple.  We just returned from Canton and so our Sunday is pretty much gone.  Seven hours of sitting is a little hard but well worth it to spend time with the Canton Branch.  Rudi taught his lesson today on Service and did a great job.  Every week he gets better and more at ease.  I taught my 4th Sunday R.S. lesson on Pres. Packer's talk from April Conference on The Witness.  Very powerful, so I decided to have the sisters hear him give it on my Ipad.  Its hard to believe he could be our next prophet.  He is getting so frail, I hope he isn't in too much pain. The sisters responded really well with a lot of discussion and comments.  I rewarded them with homemade divinity to let them know that they all have a divine destination.  Pretty cheesy but it's the best I could do!  We sure love the associations we are developing with the members there.  The branch presidents son is getting married and his open house is Friday night so we plan to go to it.  Two times to Canton this week.  A lot of miles, but we love the president and want to support his family.

Last Sunday night at a special meeting for all the temple missionaries Pres. McArthur called on me out of the audience to tell about our experiences in Canton.  He really caught me off guard, but Rudi said I did great.  Surprise, surprise!  the meeting was great other than me speaking.  They had some of the cast from the pageant do a vignette about the missionaries going out into the world.  It was so good as usual!  After of course we had a social hour with FOOD.  Working on that 30 pound mission.

Monday we got together with three other small FHE groups for a bar-b-que.  Had a great time!  I took two homemade peach pies and what a hit.  They were gone so quick, you'd think they'd never tasted peach pie.  Rudi didn't even get a piece so I had to make them again on Thursday. 

Wednesday night the choir sang at the Durrant lecture.  We sang, Praise to the Man, and it really sounded good from where I was standing.  Some fun people in the choir, so I keep going even if my voice is sounding old and no breath control.  Oh well, everyone sounds the same so I don't worry too much.  We just have fun singing and being together.

No Farmers Market this week, but we still went to Burlington to see a movie and eat dinner with our neighbors the Lindholms.  Of course we had to stop at Grandpas Ice Cream on the way home.  Yummmy!

Well enough about all the activities and food eating experiences.  The Temple has been out of control busy this week.  To give you an idea of how many people are doing endowment sessions, I work in the clothing rental area on Friday morning.  We did over nine hundred dollars in rentals that morning alone.  Our shift coordinators said that over 2,000 ordinances were performed just on the morning shift alone.  That's a lot of work being done for the dead in such a small temple.  From the baptistry to the endowments, to initiatory and the sealing sessions,we were going crazy trying to get everyone where they wanted to go.  I love being busy but this is past wonderful its just plain out of this world!  We've been waiting and praying that the patrons will come and fill the temple with this special spirit of wanting to perform temple work for the dead.  Well, it's happened and it's GREAT!  We are all tired but grateful for the patrons.  We finally got to see the new film on Saturday.  I officiated and Rudi got time to be a patron on the same session.  It's so different, I'm sure it will grow on me like the other films have.  We both prefer the B film or the second film the most.  I think the new one is very futuristic in some ways.  If you haven't seen it yet you need to go to the temple and do an endowment session.  Hint, hint all my kids.  Hope you're all working on the endowments I sent home with you.  Our ancestors are waiting and getting very anxious to have their work done.  No pressure but hurry up!  When we get home I want to babysit any of my grandkids so their parents can have at least once a month temple night.  You can hold me to it!

Tonight we have a special program called, The Story Goes On, presented by the cast of the pageant.  Its outside at the stage where the pageant is performed, hope it doesn't rain.  We've had a lot a rain lately and very cool temperatures.  Love it!  On July 24th it was 75 degrees and a cool breeze at the potluck dinner.  Too bad Utah is burning up.  Move to Nauvoo to cool down.  Hope this weather lasts thru August.

We continue to love our mission but miss our family and friends so much. When do you stop missing your family all you return missionaries?  What's wrong with me?  You'd think I was a grandma or something!  Our thoughts and prayers are with you always.  Keep those emails coming!

Have a great week, especially all the Diederich's who will be in Bear Lake this week for Raspberry Days!  We"ll miss seeing you all but will return next year. 

Love to all,

Rudi and Kathy (The Nauvoo Missionaries)

 

 All 120 Temple Missionaries in front of the temple.  We are on the left side second row back. 

 Another shot of the most wonderful group of missionaries in the church.  We love them all!  We are in the middle three or four rows back.

 Great to see Ken and Becky and their boys Jon and Luke Diederich in Nauvoo.  What fun cute people they are!

 At our cottage after they got soaked at the pageant.  No Ken isn't just sweating a lot!

 So many Jex's in Nauvoo for a few days. We so enjoyed their visit and seeing so many of their family.  Hope they enjoyed the pageant!  Kristin you have a wonderful family!

Rudi enjoying our 24th of July potluck dinner with the missionaries.  We celebrate anything and everything.  We love being together. 

 Kathy with the Henderson's.  Pres. and Sis. Mc Arthur sitting behind us. 

We even had the bagpipers from Utah at our potluck to entertain us.  The city is full of music and excitement all the time. Love it!!!