And So Nauvoo...

The first Friday morning of every month we hold a farewell Breakfast for all the missionaries that are going home that month.

This past month some of our most wonderful missionaries went home--both our Doctor (Doctor Gabler and his wife) and Rus' 1st Counselor (Elder Barlow and his wife) were among them. Maybe it was because we were in denial, but we totally forgot about the breakfast. Elder Barlow called us about 10 minutes after it had started to see if something was wrong! Luckily, we were just accross the street, so we hurried over. This is what it looked like when we got there!

They had a table all reserved for us--which made it even more obvious that we weren't there. But we chose to sit with some of our missionaries instead. Some of you may recognize the Lofgreens from the Mesa Temple (she is in the purple sweater and he has suspenders).

We switched tables in order to visit with more of our missionaries toward the end of the breakfast. You might notice another of the Mesa Temple missionaries at this table: The Bartons are right about in the middle--she is wearing a red jacket and he is in site clothes.

They had those leaving sitting at the head table. The ones on the right are the Barlows and sitting next to them are the Gablers. The Gablers were the mission Doctor for our mission in Ohio, so it was especially nice that they were here when we came. Elder Barlow basically ran the mission for us until we got our feet on the ground. He left last week and we have already found several things he did that we haven't quite picked up yet! Oh how we miss them both!

There were so many good people leaving-it really left a whole in our missionary force.

Sister Register just takes it upon herself to go around gathering up the trash. That's one of the things that is so nice and different from our other mission--these Senior Missionaries always look for things they can do and just do them, without having to be assigned.

After the meal all the going home missionaries do a little skit or song. It's pretty corney, but sad to see them all up there and know it's the last time they will all be together.

When their skit is over, they all come down and join us in singing "Farewell Nauvoo" Which is a song that is sung in rendezvous when the saints are having to leave--but is pretty applicable to our missionaries going home--see if you don't think so: (notice, I don't have a picture of that--I was too busy bawling! Not very dignified for a mission President's wife--but then--what do they expect!)

"And so Nauvoo, I say farewell to you.

With numb and aching heart...one last adieu

As through our tears, we look to homes beyond,

Could ever we be fond of one, as you?

One cardinal's song, One sunset's glow

One Nauvoo dawn. One silhouette of woods on snow.

From templed hill--Faint echoes ring

Where prophets walked and talked with God,

Their memories linger.

And so we go, and hide our aching heart,

No one will see our tears, when we depart,

This home we leave will shelter memories clear

Of all that we hold dear--in old Nauvoo.

Farewell, Nauvvo...Farewell, Nauvvo."

I have to admit, I thought it was touching the first month we sang it--but then we had only been here two weeks. This last time, I couldn't get all the way through it. Nauvoo has a way of growing on us!

The Exodus

Isn't this a neat picture? No, I didn't take it! This is actually a "pre-exodus" picture. We chose a couple to represent Brigham Young and his wife and this is the carriage they rode in. This picture is of the teamsters driving the carriage to the Family Living Center to pick up 'Brigham'. Traditionally, the teamsters would come to the mission home and pick up the Mission President and his wife to take them to the Family Living Center, but it would have required the teamsters to start their day an hour earlier and would have set us apart--so we just told them to do what was easiest and we could get ourselves to the Family Living Center.

And here we are! We made it, all by ourselves! Doesn't he look good as a pioneer?

Everyone gathered at the Family Living center for all sorts of pastries and rolls and milk and juice. Those who didn't already have a name tag (an ancestor they were representing on the walk) picked one up here, so that everyone who walked represented someone who had lived in Nauvoo.

You can see the name tag, here. I walked for my Great Great Grandmother, Eliza Collins Hunsaker. She was in her early 30s when they crossed the river on the ice--in late February. They had 6 children, the oldest, Mary, was 10. She had the responsibility of all their livestock! The youngest was a baby. Our ancestor, Allen Collins Hunsaker, was about 6.

This Sister with me is Sister Daybell. She is in charge of the sewing room and everything that goes with it. She made my pioneer dress that I'm wearing.

After the eating and greeting, the program began with all of us singing "I'll go where you want me to go". That was followed by a reading. Then we got on our coats and rain gear and headed out!

THE Exodus--February 4th 2012

Isn't this a neat picture? No, I didn't take it! This is actually a "pre-exodus" picture. We chose a couple to represent Brigham Young and his wife and this is the carriage they rode in. This picture is of the teamsters driving the carriage to the Family Living Center to pick up 'Brigham'. Traditionally, the teamsters would come to the mission home and pick up the Mission President and his wife to take them to the Family Living Center, but it would have required the teamsters to start their day an hour earlier and would have set us apart--so we just told them to do what was easiest and we could get ourselves to the Family Living Center.

Here we are, at the Family Living Center--we didn't even get lost! Doesn't he look good as a pioneer? Everyone gathered at the Family Living center for all sorts of pastries and rolls and milk and juice. Those who didn't already have a name tag (an ancestor they were representing on the walk) picked one up here, so that everyone who walked represented someone who had lived in Nauvoo.

You can see the name tag, here. I walked for my Great Great Grandmother, Eliza Collins Hunsaker. She was in her early 30s when they crossed the river on the ice--in late February. They had 6 children, the oldest, Mary, was 10. She had the responsibility of all their livestock! The youngest was a baby. Our ancestor, Allen Collins Hunsaker, was about 6.

This Sister with me is Sister Daybell. She is in charge of the sewing room and everything that goes with it. She made my pioneer dress that I'm wearing.

After Breakfast we sang "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go", had a short program and then went outside to line up. The "Nauvoo Legion was first. I think Rus is the third one you can see from the right. As you can see it was a wet day--luckily it wasn't too cold and the rain was just a mist until the very end.

After the Legion came the flags. There was a flag being held from each of the nations that the saints, who left Nauvoo, were originally from. I'm on the far left, carrying the Swiss flag. The rest of the "walking" company came after the flags--there were about 300 participants this year. Each of them with a name around their necks, representing one of the Nauvoo Pioneers.

Following the "walkers" were the carriages and wagons. This front one carried the couple representing Brigham Young and his wife. The wagons just had teamsters in them and at the end was a big wagon/carriage with all the people in it who couldn't walk that far.

When we got to the end of Parley Street the Legion turned to face the Kiosk that has listed on it those who died on the trail to SLC. There is a flag poll there as well. There was then a closing program and we all pledged allegiance to the Flag.

And here we are--at the end of the trail. Wet, but happy!