Week 20 and 21: November 11--November 24, 2013

Hello again:

We have some computer issues this week so there will not be any pictures attached this time, but will include some next blog.

I'm going to start this week's blog with a quote from one of the vignettes in Rendezvous.  "Don't confuse that which is impressive with that which is important."  I think about this a lot because I think we miss a lot of important things because we try to be impressive.  Our Mission President's wife gave an example of this at Church this morning.  She said she was visiting a friend one Christmas time when some carolers came to the door.  The friend ran to the kitchen to try to find some candy canes she had put away for just such an occasion.  (A treat for the carolers.)  She looked and looked but could not find the find the candy canes and when she returned the carolers had finished singing and were leaving.  She missed the gift of their songs and was disappointed for that and also that she didn't find the candy canes in time.  In reality the carolers probably would not have been too impressed with the candy cane.   So I encourage you this Christmas season to remember that which is important vs. that which we try to be impressive with. 

Sorry to be two weeks behind again.  We have just experienced a wonderful week of Thanksgiving with the mission and a visit from Todd and Shannon and family.  On the next blog I will tell you all about our great adventures with the Ricks family.  And our best wishes go to Logan on his baptism yesterday.  We truly missed being there for your wonderful occasion.

A  couple of weeks ago we traveled to a cute community to do our grocery shopping.  It's called Cantril.  We have been there once when we first got here.  It's a Mennonite Community  with a grocery store that features all kinds of good food.  They have fresh ground spices, all kinds of homemade breads and rolls, all kinds of mixes for soup,  jello,  pudding and many other items that are packaged in plastic bags by the pound.  It reminds me of Armenia in some ways.  They still have fresh garden produce from this season that we were happy to find.   We had a yummy hamburger with fresh ground hamburger  and our first pumpkin pie of the season.  We have included some unusual pictures from the day.  On the way home we stopped at Aldies, a European  style store with Grocery carts that you have to pay a quarter  to use and then you get your quarter back when you return the cart.  The store is set up like our Winco food stores in Idaho. 

I did a lot of cooking and baking for Todd and Shannon's arrival and put it in the freezer so we don't have to spend a lot of time cooking during their visit.  I have been homesick a lot lately and can hardly wait for their visit. 

We went to eat at the Hotel Nauvoo on Saturday night (November 16th) because they close down for the winter and we will miss them.  It's a very nice place to eat.  It's one of  only a handful of successful businesses here in Nauvoo.  It's definitely a tourist town with most of the activity in the summertime. 

Sunday, the 17th of November was the day all those tornadoes hit the area.  We were in church and the thunder and pounding of the rain made me pretty scared but most of the damage was north of here.  It makes me a little nervous for the tornado season ahead of us. 

All the  missionaries were given the assignment to study about the Holy Ghost and write a paper on The Influences and Experiences we have had with the Holy Ghost.  It  caused quite some excitement as most of the Senior Missionaries have not written a paper since college days.  We had to turn them into the President for him to read.  You would have thought we were going to be graded or something.  It turned out to be a very good learning  experience for all of us.  It really brought a good spirit to the mission and sites as we gave our tours and felt the influence of the Holy Ghost as we taught.

Nauvoo is beautifully decorated for the Christmas season.  Every site is decorated and we are busy making preparations for the Christmas Walk on the 6th of Dec. There will be tables and tables of food and treats along with Christmas stories told at the sites.  Christmas carolers will be gathered around barrels with fires built in them.  And the wagon and horses will be taking people around for rides in the decorated wagons and bells that adorn every wagon.     The evening starts at the Visitor Center where we will have a Christmas tree lighting.  We have been practicing the "Light Up the Tree" song for a month.  The Nativity scene at the Visitor's Center is gorgeous.  There will also be a live Nativity Scene at the Cultural Hall that evening.  I am on the committee to decorate the food tables and surrounding areas.  David and I are in charge of one of the caroling groups.  I'll be excited to report to you about it next week. 

Hope you all had a very nice Thanksgiving  and are looking forward to the Christmas Season.  Remember to spend your time on those things that are important and memorable for good.

 We love you all and pray for your well being. 

Love,
Elder and Sister Pincock