Getting aquainted with people and places

There are several kinds of missionaries here--first us 120 temple missionaries. Then at least that many or more site missionaries. Then young single sister missionaries who serve in the visitor's center. Then the young performing artists who just came. They're called for three months and put on performances. Then there are restoration and maintenance missionaries.

There's a lot of love here. As we see the couples taking walks and going to the temple, they're holding hands whenever possible.

On fast Sundays there's an organized "break the fast" where 3 couples are assigned to go to another couples' house for dinner and each brings part of the dinner. Yesterday we ate at the Andersons. Such interesting people. They're from Orem, Utah and used to be Uncle Clif and Aunt Peggy's home teachers! While we were there they called the Pynes so we could all chat.

The way the Andersons met is an interesting story. They met when Sister Anderson hosted an engagement dinner for Elder Anderson and his first wife, who was her good friend! The first wife had 3 children and then died in her 40's of hepatitis in Indiana. Our Sister Anderson heard about it and went to the funeral. She had been divorced from her erring husband for several years. The Spirit told her she should marry Elder Anderson. So in a few months they did marry. At that time she had two married daughters, plus they each had an 18 year old son, then each had 16 year old daughters both named Rebecca, and then each had a younger child.

Brother Anderson was a chaplain and was stationed at the Pentagon. His office was on the western outer edge of the building, but that section was being renovated on Sept. 11, 2001 when the hijacked Boeing 757 was crashed into the western side of the Pentagon, killing 189 people including five hijackers, 59 others aboard the plane, and 125 working in the building. The death toll would have been very much higher if that section of the building had been occupied at the time. Divine intervention.

We've been trying to visit a site each day and we've seen about half of them by now. We drove out to the burying grounds way outside of town where Eldon's ancestor, Henry White, was buried. We later attended a "sociable" where Susan Easton Black spoke and she said that cemetery was hallowed ground because Joseph could be counted on to preach at the funerals that were held there each Monday and Thursday. It was there he revealed the doctrine about baptism for the dead.

We drove to Keokuk where there was a Civil War celebration.

By the ox yard there is this plaque telling about Eldon's ancestors--Catherine Foutz and Sam White who settled in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

When we go over to Fort Madison to exercise we cross the bridge over the Mississippi. Occasionally we get "barged" when part of the bridge is turned sideways for boats to go through.

Each day in the preparation meeting one of the temple presidency gives us an inspirational talk. The other day President Rutowsky told a story about needing to give a talk to a group and he wanted so much to touch their hearts. He went in the celestial room and prayed about being able to touch their hearts. The answer surprised him. It was, "I will touch their hearts."

So we're enjoying the people and places here. And we're learning and loving more each day.