"You can only achieve your dreams when you start believing in yourself."
"Serve because you want to be useful to others, not because you want to be praised."
"I'd rather be rejected for who I am than be accepted by pretending to be
someone I am not."
Hello from Nauvoo. I can't believe how fast the week goes by. As usual it has been filled with memories and tender moments. I'll begin with last Monday. Our small FHE group which consists of the three neighbors living across the street, Hullinger's, Hall's, and Lidholmes, and us went on a service project to a place called the Linger Longer. It's a small roadside park and pavilion where the Saints arrived when they exodus Nauvoo in February 1846. It has a pavilion with pictures and brochures telling about the Pioneers and the trials they went through to arrive in that specific spot in Montrose, Iowa. It also has two picnic areas and a beautiful view of Nauvoo and the temple. Our service project was to clean up the area and water the flowers and clean the restrooms. We had a good time and didn't linger too long. We then went to Ogo's restaurant in Keokuk for dinner. Of course the food was good but sharing friendships is the best. All of these wonderful missionaries will be leaving the end of October, which makes us so sad to see them go.
This week I had the fortunate opportunity because of being slower in the office, to go on another endowment session as a patron. I took through the name of one of my ancestors who didn't have any of her work done. She is now baptised, confirmed, initiatory work done, endowed, and sealed all in one day. So glad to get that work done so she can move forward with the rest of her family. I also went on a sealing session as a patron and sealed 19 brethren, 8 sisters, and 4 couples to their families and spouses. It was a very tender session for the Truluck family. I now have all but one sister left to be endowed and sealed of all the cards I had printed. A Big thank you to my family for their help in getting so many of our ancestors on their way. It's now time to get back to the Family Search Center and research more names. By the way all of these names come from my fathers side going back through his father to the Truluck line. I feel they are truly lucky that little old Kathy Thomas Diederich decided to get interested in searching out our records. There is still so much to do but at least I've scratched the surface. I know I'm getting wordy but I do want to mention a special thing that happened while working on this line. We (I'm including Elder Miller who has helped me out so, so, so, much) found a name of Allison Hartwell Truluck. We looked everywhere for her husband but to no avail. We then decided that maybe by chance she could be a man. Low and behold up popped a wife and 11 children. I call it a mother load of luck! When I was sealing him and all his kids together the sealer questioned the name of Allison. I then related the story to him with tears in my eyes knowing that many people had probably overlooked his name because it was listed as a woman. I'm sure stranger things have happened doing genealogy but it was special to me. Those of us in the sealing session all agreed that we hope he went by AL. I hope I get to met him someday on the other side and make sure he knows how much he means to me. Between Elder Miller and myself we made sure we sourced his name with proof of our findings. Elder Miller thinks my family is a little twisted! HaHaHa
Saturday I was assigned to be in the initiatory area. While there I helped Sister Dewey, the lead temple secretary, take her nanny's name through. Her nanny had been dead for sometime but was very special to her. She had big tears streaming down her face when she got to my booth and of course it really affected me and my tears started. I could feel the spirit so strong and knew how important this was to Sister Dewey. These kind of experiences make temple work so tender. She did all of her work in one day by herself, even the baptism.
This weekend is the Grape Festival in Nauvoo. I'm sorry to say it's very disappointing. They call it the marrying of the wine and cheese together. I call it the marrying of loud rock bands and breaking the sabbath together. Every night for three nights loud bands have been playing until after midnight. I don't sleep well as it is, and they aren't helping. Wow, do I sound old or something! Anyway all of the major activities are today on Sunday. We had to detour today to get home from Canton. There was a big parade going down Mullholland Street, the Main Street through Nauvoo. Lots of people milling around and drinking and enjoying the free wine tasting. There's a big carnival set up and a car show going on that Rudi is interested in but it's Sunday! I wonder what Joseph Smith would've thought if he were here? What has become of his City Beautiful? It makes me sad to see so many people dishonoring the sabbath day. Even if they aren't of our faith, don't they still reverence the Lord's Day. I think I'm not in Utah anymore. I guess I'm just naive but I'm glad I am! I love celebrating and having fun but really on Sunday! There's a lot of work to be done right here in Nauvoo.
Tonight we have a special meeting for all the temple missionaries. We were told yesterday that the temple hours are changing again. We will now be opened Tuesday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. meaning the last session will get over at 10 p.m. Those are long hours!!! With an early morning session at 7 a.m. on Thursday and Saturday. That means that we will be working 8 to 9 hours each shift. I know some of you Salt Lake Temple workers might work those long hours but not 5 days a week. I'm tired just thinking about it! I guess they'll be going into details tonight at the meeting. We are also having a Sister Allen tell us about the making of the Nauvoo Temple windows. Her deceased husband was the builder and installer of the windows. Before that meeting I have a choir practice. Busy, busy all the time. I think I need to come home for a rest. Maybe in seven more months. Tomorrow marks our 11 month anniversary.
I once again apologize for my wordiness but I know I'll forget so much when I get home. All these tender moments will become memories that I don't want to forget so I madly write and hope you might enjoy some of my rattling on.
Have a great week and I hope your last summer holiday was special. Happy Labor Day to those of you who didn't have to labor. The temple is open tomorrow, so we labor on.
With love to all,
Rudi and Kathy (forever the Lord's servants)
Our healthy and hearty front yard plants. Thanks to all the rain.
Kathy sweeping the pavilion at the Linger Longer service project.
Rudi with Brothers Hullinger and Hall. Rudi got the fun job of playing in the water!
Our FHE group across the Mississippi River at Montrose, Iowa. Yes, we cleaned in our skirts! You got to love mission rules!
I finally got this plaque framed that Tiffini sent me. I love it and love looking at all my precious grandkids names. Thanks Tiff!
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