"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.
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