Missionary Moments. 9-27-15

I have such a strong testimony of the Lord's promise in D&C 84:85, which I read this week in studying Preach My Gospel.

"Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man." --D&C 84:85

Late Tuesday night a member of the mission presidency called and asked if I would help at the 7:30 am missionary training meeting with a role play on missionary response to the question: why were the saints persecuted and driven out of Nauvoo?

I was too tired to think and didn't have any ideas. The next morning I pled with the Lord to bring to my mind and lips the things I should say. Literally a minute or two before my presentation I was flooded with an insight I had never before considered. With the Lord's help I was able to share it with conviction and power.

Happy Fall! 9-27-15

Greetings!  Happy Fall!  I'm still in the same place by myself, but it won't be long until I get moved into a house closer to the sites. In the meantime, I'm really enjoying where I am. 

The main things that have happened this week are repeated small experiences that make me marvel. I have such a strong conviction that missionary work is absolutely the Lord's work, and as He said, "Behold, I will hasten my work in its time."  D&C 88:73. He is the One hastening it. I am just privileged to be a small part of it and witness daily miracles as He does His work. 

We have so many choice missionaries going home. I love them and will really miss them. It truly feels like Zion here. 

Pioneer Puzzles Break. 9-20-15

Pioneer Puzzles

After careful consideration I have decided to put Pioneer Puzzles on hold for now. After all, I want save a few surprises for when you come to Nauvoo!  However, I will continue to include interesting things that are going on here. Thank you for participating!

Here's my adorable 1-week-old grandson Henry Kay Katschke getting to know his 9-month-old cousin Lucy Ipson who came to visit him with her mother Aunt Andrea!  The only thing puzzling about him is how he could be so cute!  

Missionary Moments. 9-20-15

On the outside it may appear that as site missionaries we are merely tour guides. But Nauvoo is so much more than a tourist attraction where we explain how to make a horseshoe or a red brick.  Every single site is designed with key messages where we relate the things in the site to principles of the gospel - in just a sentence or two - power statements. 

It is such a joy to testify of Jesus Christ in such meaningful ways!  One Episcopalian couple that visited here from Indiana said with tears glistening in their eyes, "The most powerful part of Nauvoo is going to site after site and experiencing the love and powerful conviction of the missionaries. They have sacrificed so much to be here and they know what they are saying is true."

A missionary told me yesterday that she asked her 9-year-old granddaughter what was her favorite thing about Nauvoo. She thought the response would be Pioneer Pasttimes, making a rope, or getting a cookie or horseshoe. But her granddaughter replied: "There is a part of God that flows out of the missionaries and lands on you. You feel special and loved."  That's how Nauvoo makes me feel too. 

Quincy Rescue. 9-20-15

We toured the Quincy Historic Museum, which has a whole room telling about how the 1,600 people who lived in Quincy in the late 1830s took in about 5,000 Mormons who were expelled from Missouri in the dead of winter. They housed and sheltered them and gave them employment for several months until they were able to travel to Nauvoo. It is a very touching story that most people don't know about. 

Here is the monument where the Saints crossed the frozen Mississippi River into Quincy. 

Along the Mississippi 9-20-15

Hi Everyone. The weather here is so pleasant and beautiful. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. I haven't really taken a P-Day for about 3 weeks because there is just so much to do. This week however, I went to Quincy, IL with 3 single sisters. Here we are across the street from the Mississippi River. You just might call us Chicks on the River!

Answer to Pioneer Puzzle #19

ANSWER TO PIONEER PUZZLE #19

Hair Wreath
A beautiful wreath made out of human hair. It was a fine art in the 1800s. They used the hair combings or cut hair to make the wreaths.