February 6,7 & 8th was the Exodus Reenactment Weekend when we honor our faithful ancestors who willingly (because they had to) followed the council of a Prophet to head West after being threatened and forced out by the mobs. February 4th is the actual day that they started across the frozen Mississippi River but we started our commemoration on Friday the 6th with the Untold Stories Symposium held at the Joseph Smith Visitor's Center. My good friend Glen Hopkinson (famous LDS artist) came from Byron, Wyoming to present at the symposium and participate in a major way in other events of the weekend.

This event was probably one of the spiritual highlights of my whole mission experience. I really felt the presence of my ancestors and appreciated their sacrifice as never before.

Here is Glen with two ladies from the symposium that are great fans of his artwork!

 Saturday morning we gathered at the Family Living Center to begin the actual Exodus Reenactment. They had the biggest turn out ever! As you can see from the pictures - the place was packed for the breakfast and short program before we left to walk down Parley Street to the river. /the name badges on my chest are the names of my ancestors that I was walking in remembrance of!

Sister Nancy Schultz

 Then we all went outside to get lined up for the actual walk. It was a BEAUTIFUL and actually pretty warm - it was in the low 40s. Much warmer than it had been earlier in the week. But as you can see there was still plenty of snow on the ground.

Sister Sue Brown and Sister Colleen Jones

The men reenacting the Nauvoo Legion

Everyone lined up and ready to go 

Sister Lisa Brown

Some honored guests from Iowa Mormon Trails Association and Richardson Point. The woman on the left is Susan Sims - the Iowa Regional Public Affairs Director

Walking back I just had to stop and get this picture of the temple over my shoulder with my companion Sister Sue Brown

Sister Clark joined us in this picture. Sister Clark and her husband are in charge of the Family Genealogy Center here in Nauvoo

Elder and Sister Wright and Sister Sue Brown

Elder & sister Wright at the end of our walk by the Family Living Center

Tourism Executive Director from Keokuk, Iowa, Kirk Brandenberger, was kind enough to bring over his two luxurious vans to help transport those that were not able to make the walk. He drove them down Parley Street and back. Such a kind gesture!

Some of the single sisters had a very informal movie night in the neighborhood! Sister Thomas had quite the outfit! I couldn't resist taking her picture!

NOTE: After my last entry on February 24 all of a sudden my blog disappeared and I got a notice that it had been deleted for a spam violation! I was heartbroken. I had no idea what I had done that could possibly be in violation of any rules! I tried for a couple of hours to find out how to reinstate it and got so frustrated that I just had to leave it for a few days. Finally yesterday one of the men here in the mission helped me figure out how to submit a request to restore my site. 

This morning I received notice that blogger had reviewed my blog and reinstated it with an apology for the inconvenience.......I feel like it was an answer to my prayers. So now I will try to get caught up with the pictures I have been taking! 

January 30 it was suggested that I join a campaign to read the Book of Mormon by posting my picture reading it on Facebook!

 Another snow storm happened on February and we got more snow. I actually love living in a place that has the four seasons so beautifully displayed. I just don't like it when there is ice and it is a little scary walking on it. I don't want to fall!

A view of the temple through the snow storm

A picture of the Mail Room / Sewing Room

My companion actually likes to shovel snow! So I love her for it! Not my cup of tea for sure! Here she is clearing our sidewalk to our front door!

Go Sister Brown!

Sister Brown's car in our driveway

looking out from our driveway towards the Visitors' Center

Freezing temperatures to go with the snow! I'm still trying to get my head around 0 degrees and below!

Wow! I can't believe that it has been almost a month since I have made an entry here on my blog. What a difference a month makes on a mission like this and with the assignments I have. February was a fantastic month as I will try to show in words and pictures. I need to get back in the groove of posting more often!

Dr. Craig Dunn, a chiropractor here in Nauvoo offers a Martydom Trail history tour. I have been wanting to take it ever since I got here in Nauvoo, A group of us finally got together and did it this month. I wish I had taken more pictures, but this is the only one I have. It goes from Nauvoo to Carthage - following the trail that Joseph Smith and others took before he died. Then it goes from Carthage to Warsaw and back to Nauvoo. He calls it the Martyrdom Triangle becuase it is 18 miles each way. It was very inspiring and educational for those who like Nauvoo history!

This picture was taken for a media blitz on Facebook to encourage reading of the Book of Mormon! It is taken in the Nauvoo Visitors' Center. I love that the picture of Christ calling the Twelve Apostles is above my head!

Haven't had any new snow for awhile and it is almost all gone! Wonderful sunsets are going on almost every day lately!

looking past the Tin Shop

Such a difference a few months make in the look of Nauvoo! I love being part of the four seasons. Here are a couple of pictures of the Women's Garden.

On Wednesday, January 14th I was able to go with President & Sister Gibbons and Sister Thomas to have a get acquainted meeting with the Mayor of Quincy, Illinois - Kyle Moore. The meeting was wonderful! Afterwards Brother Gentry from the Quincy 1st Ward offered to take us on a tour of the City of Quincy. It was a fun day! Later that night Sister Thomas and I attended the Great River Economic Development Annual Meeting in Quincy. Fun day!

President & Sister Gibbons, me and Sister Thomas at the Mormon Monument in Quincy

Reading the monument

Sister Thomas by the frozen  Mississippi River