When we got back, we changed into grubbies and did yard work.  Wayne mowed the lawn while the McBrides and I weeded our flower bed and Elder McBride trimmed the grass up next to the house.  Our neighbors were out visiting so we all decided to take a walk down Parley Street to the River.  It was a beautiful evening and we enjoyed each other's company.  Elder and Sister Pearce, Sister Allen (Elder Allen has back trouble and couldn't walk that far) and the McBrides.

We drove home from Keokuk by going up the Iowa side of the river and crossing at Fort Madison.  We stopped in Montrose and found Dave's Meat Market.  We had heard it was good meat, so Wayne went wild.

Saturday, April 30

We had a light cleaning assignment to do in the temple which included climbing the tower of the temple and getting a view from the top, and then we drove to Keokuk.  Wayne got a haircut while I got the oil changed in the car.  Then we went to a park where there was a Civil War re-enactment.  It was fun.  The guns were loud until the cannon fired.  The cannons were deafening.  There was a big crowd gathered to watch, but the playing field was big enough so that everyone could see.  

Friday, April 29

We stood on the steps of the temple for a group picture.  I took one looking the other way.  The tulips are gorgeous.  You can see the Mississippi River on the horizon.  The river is way up.  We spent the rest of the day in the temple.

Thursday, April 28

This morning, we had to be at the visitor's center at 8 for a wagon tour of old Nauvoo.  There were 5 wagons.  I went alone because Wayne had to wait for the cable guy.  It was cold.  They gave us quilts, but even that didn't stop the biting wind.  I enjoyed the ride, but decided not to spend the rest of the morning touring the sites.  I was too cold.  We spent the afternoon in the temple and then had dinner about 3 miles out of town at The Adventure Zone.  It is owned by local members.  They have also built condos out in the sticks, but they are nice and Nauvoo gets really crowded in July. 

Wednesday - April 27

We spent the full day in the temple.  In the morning, President Condie and his counselors gave us instructions and in the afternoon, we were patrons for an endowment session.  We love this place.  We are surprised by how much we love it.

This morning, we had our pictures taken and then the Riffeys gave us an orientation to the temple.  Actually, they took us on a walk-through and we realized what we are in for.  There are 4 floors and numerous doors and stations.  We hope we don't make too many mistakes.  We spent the afternoon in the temple in training.  That evening, we had a "Mix and Mingle" so that we could meet and get to know other couples.  They gave us a questionaire to fill out . . . Find someone with mismatched earrings . . . Find someone who has lived out of the country.  We asked a nice couple if they had ever lived out of the country and they said, "yes".  We asked "where"?  They said, "Guyana".  I looked at their name tags and they were the couple we replaced in Guyana.  They were called on a CES mission, but he got sick.  They went home in April and we arrived in September.  We never thought we would ever get to meet them, but the "small world" department took over.  They are here serving with us.