Our first full week

         We have been here in Nauvoo a week with most of the time in orientation. We have had several meetings with President Hall and his counselors. There seems to be a gentle unfolding and answering of questions about our service here in Nauvoo. It's all tied meaningfully to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Great care is taken by the leaders, the Presidency, the zone leaders and the district leaders in teaching us to bring souls unto Christ. All of the senior missionaries have been so welcoming. To watch these older brothers and sisters, bald and wrinkled, limping yet smiling with friendly hearts, having their  testimonies shining  through their countenances is an inspiration. Sister Hatch served in the John Taylor home and Elder Hatch served  in the Tinsmith shop for our first day in the sites. We had opportunity to teach several small groups that visited today. It has been very cold and rainy and we have not had very many visitors.
         We received our cast assignments today. There are two plays  that  we will be in, performing each show twice per week. There will be dialog to learn plus a lot of singing and dancing. It is absolutely amazing to us that all these old people, including ourselves, are actually doing this, but it is also absolutely delightful. We are excited that our MTC friends, the Finlinsons, are in our cast.
           We take our lunches with us and some evenings we have limited time for our evening meal, but tonight we were home from practice by eight o'clock. A week from Monday Darren will begin driving horses. Most days the teamsters have been getting very wet.
           Sundays begin with Sacrament Meeting at 7:50. After the block we eat dinner, then serve in the sites from 12 to 5. There are no wagon rides that day and couples serve together in the sites which is one of the few times we can serve together. Sunday evenings we have zone meetings or devotionals usually.