How the time can fly ! ! !

    Tomorrow September 9, 2015 marks one third of our mission completed.  I can't even realize we have been serving for 6 months.   We just keep learning. . .  The sites have slowed down as far as guests and we have learned  "sometimes it is more tiring to do nothing, than be extremely busy, because you can't rest from it. . . . . . . . . ."   Our hours are shorter now, basically 10 am to 5 pm.   Makes it easier to get to Rendezvous at 6:30 pm.    We have time to get to know our companions, what a special treat it is.

    The Young Sisters have a baptism coming up, September 23.   A woman in her 30's.   She is married with a young son, 7.   Elder Horlacher had given them a tour in the blacksmith shop and they have included him, us, in part of the excitement.   Her husband had been a member of the LDS Church since he was a boy but had become inactive.   He hadn't been to Nauvoo since a boy, and the family was trying to find something to do, when he remembered Old Nauvoo.   They came and fell in love with Nauvoo as well as the missionaries.   They are here going through the sites every chance they get and have been to 4 of the Rendezvous.   They have invited us to dinner on the 25th.    It is so cute to see the excitement they have.   It is interesting to me that many of the people who live right here, have heard of Nauvoo, but don't have any idea about what it is or what is here.   Her mother knew about the mormons and has a great dislike for them.   If they would just learn about us with a open heart they would find we are not so bad, ha, that we just want to follow Jesus Christ.   This family just moved to Carthage so they can be in the Nauvoo Ward.  Their son was child of the week at school and for his favorite song he chose "I Am a Child of God".   It is so fun to be a part of someone coming into the church.

     I have been thinking a lot about service lately and how important it is to give and even to receive.   In Matthew 6: 3-4 it says "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seethe in secret himself  shall reward thee openly."

      Pres. Thomas S. Monson said, "Loving service anonymously given may be unknown to man - but the gift and the giver are known to God.   Of this truth I testify."      I also testify that blessings truly come when we are in the service of our fellow men, for we are in the service of our Father in Heaven.   He needs each of us to help him in caring for each other.   I once heard, he only has you and I to send to do his work as he is not here to do it himself.   When you think of it like that you can't help but feel it a privilege to give service to each other.    We love you all so very much.