WONDERFUL GENERAL CONFERENCE (October 5, 2014)

Thoughts for the week:

"Life is short, SMILE while you still have teeth."

"If you are not willing to learn, No one can help you.  If you are determined to learn, No one can stop you."

"Unless we lose ourselves in service to others there is little purpose to our own lives."  Pres. Thomas S. Monson

We feel so spiritually feed.  General Conference seems to come just in time to fill our spiritual buckets.  We marvel at the topics that seem to answer so many of our needs.  I was especially impressed with the number of stories with analogies like Elder Ballard's comparison of the old Zion ship.  These brethren and sisters are so inspired to teach us the gospel in such understandable messages.  I also love that the brethren can speak in their native tongues and have it translated for them.  I'm sure they are really relieved to have that pressure off them.  As always I loved the music.  Being able to listen to the priesthood session was interesting and enjoyable.  Another great improvement the brethren have incorporated.  Hope you all were able to find the time to listen.  We're so thankful that we are temple missionaries because the site missionaries had to still work the sites during all the sessions.  Once again we are the spoiled missionaries!

This week seemed to move along quickly.  I got to enjoy going on a session Thursday which is always a highlight since I have so many names to get through endowments.  I went to the family search center again this week and continue to find more and more names.  My grandpa Thomas still bothers me a lot.  For some reason his sealing to my grandma is being held by my nephews daughter in reserve.  Scot Halladay check with Athena and try and have it unreserved so I can get that sealing done.  Sorry to call you out but I can't touch it unless Athena releases it.  Thanks, and tell her keep up the good work in doing family search.  She's only 15 and involved all ready.

We got our winter schedules and it looks like we will be having a lot of later sessions and closed during the middle part of the day because of lower attendance.  We'll see how this new schedule works.  Pres. McArthur is all about meeting the needs of the patrons.  Like Rudi keeps reminding me, we're on a mission and we work whatever hours we're assigned.  Missions are suppose to be a sacrifice not a convenience.

Today we had dinner with our good friends the Crockett's from Orem.  What super nice people and very  accommodating.  Their granddaughter passed away this week from cerebral palsy at the age of 21.  They will be flying home on Wednesday for the funeral and then back again for just two weeks to finish up their mission.  Very dedicated servants and wonderful missionaries.  I can't believe they still wanted us to come with so much on their minds and hearts.  We definitely intend to keep in touch with them when we get home.  He worked in the Provo School District office.  I remember him from my days at Provo High.

Yesterday in between conference sessions I had the bug to cook.  I made two batches of caramels, and lasagna.  I love to cook and try new recipes.  I'm excited to try some of the new recipes on my cousins Stan and Janet Call and my brothers who will be here this week.  I'm so excited to see them and catch up on all the news.  Donna and Ken Biberston arrive the next week.  Sure hope I have time to fit in the temple.  I love being busy and planning activities.  The weather should be perfect while they are here.  The colors are starting to show on the trees so my favorite time of year is bursting forth.  Fall is the start of the good eating season and runs through the first of the year. That means lots of yummy apple and pumpkin recipes and soups with hot bread.  Am I making you all hungry?  Head to Nauvoo and I'd love to feed you!

Tomorrow on our P-day we are going to Kalona which is a German Amish town.  We enjoy going around and checking out all the fun and cozy communities.  The drive, which is about 2 hours away will be beautiful with the fall foliage starting to show.  It's almost as beautiful as the East coast and good old Utah.  Everywhere is special this time of year.  I'll report next week in my email about it.

By the way Rudi is feeling a lot better.  He did have one more bout on Friday but not sure if it's kidney stones.  Maybe just the meanness coming out!  Not really, just a saying I use when I don't know what's really wrong.

Last night Rudi went up to the Catholic Taco Dinner and got take out.  Another way of supporting our neighbors.  Great tacos that we enjoyed while watching the  priesthood session.  So many fund raisers back here.  I don't remember hearing about other religions fund raisers at home.  Maybe its because we attend so many of our own church functions and also because we are such a minority here.

Hope all is well at home.  We think about you all and pray for your health and happiness.  Everything we do now is a repeat from last year.  We look forward to our service in the temple and association with our fellow missionaries.  May you all be blessed with love of the gospel and for your families.

Rudi and Kathy

 Enjoying our much needed new couch.  Just in time for my twin brothers to sleep on.

Rudi's collection of black walnuts.  Tree grows in our front yard.

Results of picking black walnuts.  Black fingers and hands.  We've tried about 10 suggested cures to remove the stain.  No success, he is now a marked man!  Not so pretty in the temple.  He needs to wear white gloves.

Crazy fungus or growth of some kind on a tree next door.  Kind of beautiful, just strange looking.

 The cast from pageant this summer.  Outstanding young men and women who are called on a three month mission to perform in Nauvoo.

BE GRATEFUL IN ALL THINGS... (September 28, 2014)

Thoughts for the week:

"Gratitude turns a meal into a feast and drudgery into delight."

"We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is.  How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?"

"It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God.  But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding."

All the quotes were taken from Pres. Uchtdorf's talk in April General Conference.

Today I taught R.S. in Canton and the subject was Pres. Uchtdorf's talk on Gratitude.  I was so impressed with that talk and the sisters seemed to love it also.  He has a way of telling stories and relating to the members of the church in a warm and fuzzy way.  Rudi especially loves him because he's German.

It was fast and testimony meeting in our branch today.  We get about 45 minutes for bearing of testimonies.  With such a small branch you'd think that everyone almost would have to bear their testimony to take up all that time, but only about 8 people bore their testimonies.  The time fly by so quickly with no time not used.  These people have such strong testimonies and love to be involved that they never waste a minute when it comes to expressing their love of the gospel.  Great examples!

After we got home I hosted two couples for the Break the Fast dinner.  We had the McKechnie's and Andelin's.  I made a big pot of Market Street Clam Chowder and garlic bread.  They brought the salad and dessert.  Yummy food and good conversation.  So fun to get to know the missionaries over a dinner.  I love to entertain and have people over.  During the dinner Rudi started to feel sick to his stomach and had a terrible pain in his back and side.  He excused himself to lay down.  That is so unlike Rudi to be sick or even complain of not feeling well.  Our guests left shortly after and I checked on him to find that the pain was worse and he started to throw up.  He thinks he might be passing a kidney stone.  He's passed them before so he knows the pain involved.  Right now he is trying to rest, but we may be making a trip to the emergency room very soon.

I'll write as long as I can.  Yesterday we went with a group to an Amish dinner near  Benetonsport Iowa.  It was so interesting and an eye opener to their life style.  Such a simple life without electricity and modern devices.  They don't drive cars or any motorized vehicles like tractors.  We went for a buggy ride down the road and felt like we'd taken a giant step back in history.  They had eight children that were adorable and very well behaved.  They have two sets of twins and the mother and father were twins also. (Not twins of each other's but they were born twins). The mother fixed a wonderful roast beef dinner with all the trimmings.  For dessert she made fresh peach pie and blackberry pie.  It was delicious!  They are so friendly and kind to everyone.  Their children were so helpful and responsible.  They each had their job with the dinner and didn't need to be reminded what they should be doing or where they need to be.  The oldest was 15 down to a baby.  So impressed!  A wonderful outing and great way to spend a warm sunny afternoon.

This week in the temple we had some big sessions of saints from England.  Love their accents and sweet dispositions.  They tell us a lot of bus tours will start coming through Nauvoo for the fall foliage.  The trees are starting to change colors, so it's getting more like fall everyday.

Today marks our one year mark from when we left Orem for our mission.  Actually we starting serving in the temple on the 1st of October but we left on the Sunday morning after the Women's Conference the night before.  So many tender memories of that Sunday morning when we left.  So many tears were shed by our family but we feel so blessed to have made the right decision to serve The Lord.  Ellie called me yesterday to tell me they were going to the Women's Conference in S.L.C. at the Conference Center.  We were together last year in S.L.C. enjoying it together.  Rudi and I watched it last night and were so inspired by the talks and beautiful music.  Anything from home is like music to our ears.  Can't wait to watch General Conference next week.  We get it a hour later than Utah.  Just grateful we get it.

Well it's time to close and get to choir practice if Rudi is well enough for me to go.  I love singing in the choir mainly because we have so much fun just being together.  None of us have great voices anymore but enjoy trying and laughing.

Have a wonderful week.  I'll update you on Rudi as soon as we find anything out.  We love you all and appreciate your love and kindness to us.

Rudi and Kathy

 Picture taken during the Nauvoo Pageant.  It's so neat to see the reflection of the temple.  Pretty spectacular, a double temple.

 The McKechnie's and Sister Andelin, missionaries who ate dinner at our home today for the Break the Fast.  This picture was taken at the hot dog roast last week.  Bro. Andelin wasn't at the roast but at our home today for dinner.  Fun people and great to get to know better.

Still not enough pictures of the temple.  Notice the beautiful blue skies.  Enjoying the wonderful weather!

Love this picture between the flowers around the temple.

Rudi hard at work fixing and adjusting the lights outside the temple.  He loves his job!  Way too high up for me.

My geraniums love the cooler weather and frequent rain stroms.  Wish fall could last until April!

 Rudi's part time job!  Raking up the black walnut balls.  They are about the size of a tennis ball but much heavier.  If they hit you on the head it hurts.  You know Rudi,  Mr. Clean and Organized!

Riding in an Amish carriage.  Yes we had a driver, but they won't let us take their picture, so he took the picture.

In the farmers backyard where we ate dinner.  We had an Amish dinner with about 30 other missionaries yesterday.  Super nice people and very accommodating people.

 Most of the missionaries who gathered at the Amish home for dinner and a carriage ride.

LOVE THESE NAUVOO TEMPLE MISSIONARIES!!! (September 21, 2014)

Thoughts for the week:

"Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world."

"Happiness is found when you stop comparing yourself to other people."

"You make me laugh when I'm not even in the mood to smile."

Another beautiful week in Nauvoo!  I keep thinking the weather is bond to change and turn cold, but not yet.  We stay within the 70's during the day and down to the 40's and 50's at night.  Perfect for me!

Last Monday night we had a big hot dog roast with all the temple missionaries.  They had the cutest program with some of the missionaries reading cowboy poems and other funny poems. We also sang songs around the campfire. We always have fun with the missionaries.

This week I found out that during that last week in October when some of the general authorities will be here, along with a  mission president seminary during the same time, I'll be the endowment coordinator that will be responsible for their special session.  Yes, I'm nervous already!  They are planning on 56 going on the 5:00 session.  Our endowment rooms only hold 48 seats.  We might be breaking fire code!  It's going to be so exciting to be able to help these special men and their wives.

This week Rudi got to take some German patrons through the veil.  I think he's the only person in the temple that speaks good German.  He really enjoyed the experience.  He's done it a few times since we've been here.

Friday night we went with the Todd's to Burlington to eat crab.  They call us their crab friends.

Saturday night we had our last dinner out with our neighbors on Hotchkiss. We went to a new Italian restaurant.  Yummy food!  We will definitely be going back there again.  Of course we had to stop at Grandpa's Ice Cream on the way home.  I swear the temple missionaries keep that place running.  So, so, so good!!!

Saturday is my only day to be on line in the temple. I spent two hours in initiatory.  I was part of two sisters receiving their own endowments.  It always makes me feel warm and fuzzy when they cry and feel the special spirit.  I usually join them with tears of my own.  All the ordinances are wonderful but I especially feel the spirit so strong in the initiatory part of the endowment.  Both sisters were preparing to go on missions.

Today in Canton, the branch president called Rudi and I into his office to thank us for our fast offering donation.  These little branches are struggling so much that anything helps a lot.  What a sweet man he is.
We also wished our two sister missionaries off.  Their missions are over in one week.  They are two senior sisters who serve in three or four branches.  Today we had so many full time missionaries in Canton.  The elders were there, two older sister missionaries and two younger missionaries from Nauvoo.  There was also a site missionary who came out with the young sister missionaries.  The Glassett's weren't there today.  They went to Peoria to attend their grandkids sacrament meeting program.  Tonight I have choir practice and then a fireside with Pres. Nelson from the temple presidency.  It's always something.  I feel especially tired today and hope I can stay awake for the fireside.  He'll be speaking about the Nauvoo Temple.  He was stake president when it was built.  Sounds really interesting.  So many knowledgeable people in Nauvoo who have researched a lot about the temple.

Tami and family arrived in Gillette, Wyoming yesterday.  It took much longer for them to get there because of the trailer they were pulling.  So thankful they arrived safely. Wishing them success and happiness in their new adventure.

Best close and get on to choir practice.  Loving our experience here in Nauvoo.  So grateful to so many people for their love and support of us.  Have a wonderful week and enjoy all this great weather, it'll soon be winter and cold!!!

With love to all,

Rudi and Kathy

 Happy Birthday Brody!  This cute guy will be 5 on September 24th.  Have a great birthday and keep up that adorable smile!

 He huffed and he puffed and he blew out all the candles.

 Happy Anniversary to Jeff and Tiffini on September 27th.  What a beautiful family.  Wish I could be there to watch the kids so you could go  party and celebrate.

Rudi and I at the temple missionary hot dog roast.  So much fun and tons of food as usual.

Rudi and Judy Moller roasting hot dogs.

Rudi enjoying a crab dinner this week.  Yes, he ate way to much crab but loved every minute.

 Kathy also loves crab.  I get tired of trying to dig out the meat.  I don't have patience so I didn't eat that much.  Rudi threw me a few pieces of crab to keep me happy.

Donna and Lynn Todd, our crab buddies.  They love it a lot also.  So much fun to be with them.

More pictures of us eating!  Sorry, but our diversion is going out to eat with friends.  These people are our neighbors on Hotchkiss Street where we live.  At the end of October we will be the only temple missionaries left on our street.  We'll be so lonely.

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR!!! (September 14, 2014)

Thought for the week:

"God allows all things to happen.  Some will be revealed to us, some won't.  We need not to seek nor understand those reasons, but to have faith in His wisdom."

" A smile is the shortest prayer of gratitude we can offer God."

"You don't have to look over your shoulder when you know God has your back."

"Keep your words sweet, you never know when you might have to eat them."

As I said in the beginning of my email, change is in the air.  This week has definitely stated the beginning of fall and way cooler temperatures.  It feel so good but very crisp in the mornings and way cooler at night.  I'm loving it!  Today it's raining so Rudi is stuck in the cottage and wishing he could ride his bike.  Maybe later on today it will clear up.

Yesterday was so busy that I didn't have five minutes to get this email out.  So today being our P-day is when I'm home with extra time.  Yesterday was the normal seven hours of travel and church time in Canton.  We always enjoy being with those special people in the branch.  They welcome us and make us feel so needed and wanted.  I'll miss them when our assignment is over in October.  After we got home from Canton I hosted to other couples for dinner.  I'd made a huge lasagna the week before and froze it so I wanted to have some friends over for dinner.  So much fun visiting and sharing memories of Nauvoo with them.  After dinner we had our choir picture taken on the temple steps for a journal the temple presidency is making for all the missionaries.  From there we went to choir practice and then straight to a Sociable at the Visitors Center to hear Bro. Dunn speak on the martyrdom.  He called it the C.S.I. of the Carthage Jail.  It was very interesting and brought out a lot of facts that were over looked in the actual investigation.  Bro. Dunn is a church historian that owns Nauvoo Tour and Travel.  We went last spring on his guided tour of Liberty Jail and other sights around  the area.  By the time we got home we were exhausted and ready to rest.  Sunday is by far our busiest day.  What happened to the day of rest?

Last Monday Rudi and I spent time in the Family Search Center finding more ancestors who need their work done.  Poor Rudi just can't make any headway into his German ancestry.  On the other hand I found many more names.  I've already had a lot of baptisms, confirmations, initiatory, and endowments done this week.  Soon I'll be able to have them all sealed together.  It's so satisfying doing the work and knowing that they are my own blood relatives.  I think I've got the bug for genealogy.  Since it's slow in the temple we are allowed to do our own endowment work.  I get in about two sessions a week.  We also went to the Land and Records Office here in Nauvoo and I found ten ancestors who lived here in Nauvoo, and eventually left with the exodus in 1846.  We also had our fan chart made into a larger print.  I'm going to frame it to help me remember Nauvoo and all my ancestors who gave so much so I could have the gospel in my life.

This week we found out that L. Tom Perry will be presiding over our temple worker devotional on October 26th in the Assemble Room of the temple.  We're all so excited to have an apostle here to speak to us.  We've also heard that he'll be involved in a retreat her in Nauvoo during that time so other general authorities could be involved and attending also.  We assume they will be attending endowment sessions during that time so we are gearing up for all the excitement.  I know you Salt Lake temple workers get to have this kind of excitement all the time but this is so special to us and we are thrilled to be a small part of all the activities.

I just found out this week that my two brothers will be visiting us in October.  So excited to see them and show them around our beloved Nauvoo.  Other visitors will be my cousin Stan and Janet Call, and my dear friends Ken and Donna Biberston who just got home from their mission in Zimbabwe.  October will be busy but so fun to rekindle friendships.

I've mentioned our many visits to the local events and activities.  Once again we supported the local junior high school fund raiser.  We went to their Hog Roast.  Pretty unique and the food wasn't bad.  Many of the site and temple missionaries were there also.  We really try to support as many things as possible in the community so our spirit can be felt with people outside of our faith.  Most of them are so amazed that we come to their activities but grateful for the support.  Hopefully someway we are planting seeds of the gospel in their lives.

Change is really in the air for my family.  Tami and Dan along with their precious children Callie and Brody are taking a big step this week in moving to Gillett, Wyoming.  It's with sadness in my heart that they are leaving but I have a lot of faith that it will be a move that will be good for their family and circumstances.  This is a major step for them and we wish them God's speed and pray for their protection.  If they stay close to the gospel and get involved in their ward there this transition will be much easier for them.  We plan to visit them on our way home from our mission.  They are the only ones in our immediate family that we haven't seen since we left on our mission.  We miss them terribly but look forward to April and a happy reunion.
Keep them in your hearts and prayers I know we will.  Love you all so much!

Well now that I can't see the keyboard anymore due to my tears I best close and have a good cry.  My family means the world to me and the thought of them moving is so hard on me as I know it is on them.

Have a wonderful week.  With love always.

Rudi and Kathy

 Enjoyed Sunday dinner with these great folks.  The Mollers from Rupert, Idaho, and the Gorrell's from Columbus, Ohio.  Sure going to miss them come October when their mission is over.

 Our Bambi friends.  We've watched them grow up from cute little fawns.  Love the critters that live in our yard.

 Not looking forward to scenes like this from last winter.  It's suppose to be even colder than last year if that's possible!

 Going to miss Tami and her family as they move to Gillett, Wyoming this week.  Good luck in your new adventure and be safe.

 Thinking about all the fun experiences we had during the summer with Troy's family.

 Wish summer could last all year.  Great times with Tiffini and Traci's family.

Going to miss these two cuties.  Can't wait to see you in April on our way home from our mission.  Stay safe and be happy!

IT'S STARTING TO FEEL LIKE AUTUMN IS HERE... (September 7, 2014)

Thought for the week:

"When the world walks out on you, a mother's arms remain outstretched."

"Mistakes are inevitable.  You can only grow stronger if you learn from them."

"I'd rather be rejected for who I am than be accepted by pretending to be someone I am not."

Welcome to another week in the life of a Nauvoo Missionary.  As I stated at the first of this email, it's beginning to feel like autumn.  The mornings are cooler and the evenings are so nice.  Hopefully the hot summer weather is over.  I could do this weather just fine for about 4 or 5 months.  I know, dream on, it won't last!

Our week started off with Labor Day on Monday.  Without family around we spent it like all Mondays, washing, cleaning and grocery shopping.  Since it was a holiday we threw in a movie to keep us sane.  Burlington is our go to place for entertainment and decent restaurants.  Of course, if we go to Burlington we have to stop at Grandpa's for homemade ice cream. It's the best, and butter pecan is out of this world.  I've started dreaming about it, its so good.

Tuesday and Wednesday at the temple were pretty normal, slow but steady.  Wednesday night we went with Jeril and Suzanne Wilson to Keokuk for ribs.  They were yummy but the ride over wasn't fun at all.  Going through Hamilton for one mile we got a speeding ticket for $120.00. It kind of put a damper on our dinner, but Rudi just said he was contributing to Hamilton's economy.  We had a great time anyway visiting with the Wilson's.

Thursday night was so busy!  We finally got to visit the Tufuako home here in Nauvoo.  They are a couple originally from the Hawaiian islands who wanted to settle in Nauvoo.  They work in the temple and invite all the missionaries to come visit them and see their beautiful unique round house.  They are both very talented musicians and sing so well together.  We enjoyed being with them and hearing them sing and play many instruments.  We, of course, also included a dinner.  Rudi and I had to leave a little early to get back to our cottage to feed the sister missionaries.  I'd made homemade lasagna earlier and threw together a tossed salad and garlic bread.  We tried to be hungry again and really enjoyed their company.  They could only stay an hour so we ate and then had a short message from them.  I sent home a lot of leftovers and the rest of the peach pie that they loved.  The life of a missionary is kind of hectic at times.  Yes, we get tired but love all the wonderful people and memories we are making.

Friday night the Todd's, temple missionaries from Florida, invited us to go to dinner with them in Keokuk.  Once again we had an enjoyable evening with lots of laughing and telling family stories.  They also go home in October.  I think everyone is trying to get in the last dinner together with all our dear friends.  Winter is going to be a little lonely without our close friends here.  I guess I better get use to saying good-bye since I too will be leaving
Beautiful Nauvoo someday.

Saturday we just rested after the temple from such a busy eating week!

Today in Canton we found out another investigator will be baptized on September 21.  She is partially deaf but trying so hard to learn more about the gospel.  She bore her testimony again today as she did last month.  Very courageous, and a great example of strength to all of us.  In R.S. she sits so she can see the teacher and the other sisters so she can read their lips.  She is also teaching the Y.W. their motto in sign language.  She will definitely be an asset to the church and especially the Canton Branch.

Today is Break the Fast at the Todd's house.  I'm once again taking the dessert.  I don't think anyone knows I know how to cook regular food.  I decided to try a new recipe I was going to make this summer when Tiffinin and Traci's families were here.    Logan loves smores, but we ran out of time, so today I made Smores Fudge Bars.  They turned out yummy, I sure hope they all like them.  I'll make them for you Logan when I get home.  After dinner I have choir practice and then home to relax after a busy Sunday.

This coming week at the temple we start our extended hours in the evening.  The temple will now have its last session at 8:00 p.m. so we won't get through until after 10:00 p.m.  We get to work Tuesday nights late.  I'm not sure about Wednesday yet.  I'm hoping for the earlier shift.

Well family and friends that's our week in a long nutshell.  Every week is different but usually exciting.  We continue to enjoy the work in the temple and being with such wonderful missionaries.  Oh, I forgot, early Friday morning we went to the Stake Center to sing Go Now In Peace to 50 of the site missionaries who will be going home in the next two weeks.  What a tear jerker!  These people have also become close to us and will be missed so much.

Have a great week and I hope to hear from you soon.  Love your support and love for us.

Rudi and Kathy

Bro. and Sis. Tufuako playing their many homemade instruments.  Wonderful, talented couple who serve in the temple with us.

Enjoying a meal with them in their round house.  She is such a gracious woman.

Sis. Tufuako telling us about her dream to live in a round house.  They built it and continue to add special touches all the time.

She makes bread in tin cans that make the bread look like large mushrooms when they are baked.  Look closely at them on the oven.  Such wonderful bread!

Bro. and Sis. Moller enjoying the dinner we had in the round house.  So many antiques and symbolism in all her decorations.

HAPPY LABOR DAY!!! (August 31, 2014)

 

Thought for the week:

"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!

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!