So we had the incredible opportunity this past week to go with our 18-year-old investigator up to Nauvoo. A priest who went out with us all the time in Hannibal drove us up, which was not only handy but also a great way to make sure that she (our investigator) was able to gain a few new friends, not only from him but from his friend in Nauvoo, too, and her family. Run on sentence? I don't care I don't have time to fix it. But the point is that it ended up helping her a lot.
Here's what we did.
First we went to the Visitor's Center and watched a movie and had a brief tour, which was informative. My favorite part was being able to see the Reflections of Christ photography exhibit, which is incredible. I also began there a day-long study of just how much Quincy has a part in Church History. The little town that it was at that time was extremely gracious to help a group of refugees numbering nearly ten times the amount of citizens in Quincy. It's crazy to think just how generous these people were back then, and it made me all the more excited to serve them.
Second, we went on a carriage-style ride in some woods north of the visitors center. There we learned and saw cool stuff, like one of the landings that unboarded people off of the riverboats, places where they filmed scenes from Legacy and other church movies, Dan Jones Hollow, a well commemorating the well maker who built the well beneath the original temple, etc.
Third, we saw the brickyard, learned how they made bricks, and got a couple souvenir bricks.
Fourth, we went to the blacksmith shop, passing by such places as the Lucy Mack Smith home, the Printshop and Post Office, and learned how wagonwheels, horse shoes, etc were made, and picked up some complimentary tiny horse shoes and prairie diamonds (rings made out of nails).
Fifth we took a little stroll down Parley Street to the Seventies Hall, Nauvoo's MTC. That was cool. In the upstairs they had a library and little pieces of things that had been found while rebuilding the town. This was Emily's favorite part, and it definitely was a pretty spiritual place.
Sixth we went to dinner at a member's home in Nauvoo. They were a great help to our investigator and very encouraging.
Seventh, we went to what is known as the Rendezvous, a little show put on by the Elderly Missionaries in Nauvoo. It really was very sweet, as they did a great job performing but also making me want to be one of them someday. I know I might not be able to remember lines well now, so I'd be terrible then, but it'd be cute to do with my future wife. Just saying.
Anyway, that's the most exciting thing of the week. Next saturday: Dena's baptism (for reals this time, yo!).
Take care!
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"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
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