I'm baaackk!

Last week was nearly a wipeout for us in the mission. As we came to work last Monday we learned that one of our Elders had been sent home on Saturday. When we found out who, I just started bawling. I don't know, you just kind of get attached to these young missionaries. We love this Elder and he was actually scheduled to finish his mission on 29 April. Yes, three weeks away, but he is gone.

Then we are sitting in the office on Wednesday and the Pres. walks in with an Elder and he sits down and we learn that they are just there to pick up his itinerary. He is on his way home. He has only been in the mission since the end of January, so we are not sure what the circumstances are.

On Friday morning at 7:30, Dad gets a call from the Pres. Would he be available to drive an Elder to Nauvoo that day. Whew! Another one being sent home. He actually left from California and his mom moved to Nauvoo while he was gone. So he comes into the office about 9am and has an interview with the Pres. and is told he is headed home. So Dad and Elder Bouy took him to his apartment and he got packed and they left about 2:30. Got to Nauvoo about 6 and dropped him off. They said it was a very somber drive out. So they got a room at the Nauvoo Inn and spent the night and then went to the Land and Records Office on Saturday, took a carriage ride, and generally had some down time to enjoy Nauvoo a little. They came back on Saturday evening.

These releases really shook the whole mission up, because about 8 missionaries in one area have been very disobedient. Some were brand new Elders and were just being taught that this is what we do on the mission. The two that were sent home were very charismatic leaders and then there were a lot of followers. Finally one stood up and reported that things were not right. Thankfully. We do not know the whole story and maybe never will, which is fine, but it has sure been hard on us seniors. But eight of the eleven zones were affected. Missionaries moved and companionahips switched out. You would not believe what a process it is.

This is Elder Fackrell. He is the young man who came into the office two days a week for two years. He had driven some missionaries over for meetings and it was good to see him again. He is quite the computer wizard. Like all the young people now. We would save all of our computer questions for Tuesday and Thursday and Elder Fackrell would teach us what to do. Yes, he never did it for us. He would walk us through the process.

Friday was kind of a happy day after Dad and Elder Bouy left. This is Elder Smith and Eckern who came into the office that afternoon with their Title of Liberty written out on an old white shirt and at the bottom all of the Elders and Sisters in their district had signed it. See that look on Elder Eckern? He is a wonderful Elder. Asked Elder Snow what "exact obedience" was. He wants to be that kind of an Elder. And he really is.

This was our walk Sunday evening. Can you see that tree with the brown up and down the left side? Well, that goes all around the back of the tree and a hugh part of the tree broke off with the storm that blew through here a week ago. Did I tell you that it also blew out the back window of one of the cars parked at the stake center just below us? Yea, it was a storm that blew through for about 15 minutes and made us a little more aware of what a tornado could be like.

The tree fell on the corner of the house. There was wood lying all over the ground and a couple of lower level windows broken out. And guess what we did at church on Sunday? We had a tornado drill. Yes, the classroom bell rang for a long time and we all went out in the hallway and stood against the outside wall of the hallway. Ours is one of the churches in the round, so people were walking by looking for their kids and then standing against the walls. First time we have ever experienced a tornado drill!

Sister Stutz and I had planned to go to the 'free' one act play about Beatrix Potter on Saturday. So that is why Dad took Elder Bouy with him to Nauvoo, since I said I had a date at 2pm and could not be late! The play was a one person doing all the acting kind. She was delightful. We learned some more about Miss Potter and loved it all. We had Sister Bouy with us too. Afterward we went to an antique store and then to Clinton's Drug Store. Can you read the plaque out in front in the sidewalk?

I mixed my pics up again. This is Sister Stutz and I at the Trails Museum.

Someone please remove this pic. The one below.

Here we are in Clinton's with our yummy strawberry-banana and peach smoothies. Oh yes, my test results say I an not allergic to strawberries! Yea!

This is Sister Stutz outside having a brain freeze! There was a paper posted in the store that said if you are having a brain freeze to press your tongue on the top of your mouth and if that doesn't work to press your thumb to the top of your mouth. Didn't do much good for her though. She looks like she just had a good time sucking her thumb. We had a fun afternoon.

Such is the life of the missionaries.

Loves and hugs to all and we miss you everyday.