Shine On

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm looking out my window at the beautiful calm Mississippi River. Gorgeous morning but crisp. It was much different over the weekend when there was a tornado warning. Wind and rain whipped the river into a froth. Yesterday waves of silt passed by, but this morning all is quiet.  

This week we received word that Sherman will be joining his family for baptism. He was older than Elder Long thought and his teenage children are attending Mutual. It's remarkable that 8 people will enter the waters of baptism because of a simple prayer in the hall of the ER.  Let your light shine; you never know who might be affected.

Crowds have picked up this week in Nauvoo. Many fall tour buses are coming. We are again having two shows each night at Rendezvous. The sites are steady which makes the days go quickly. The young sister missionaries go outbound this week. (They serve at a different place for six months while Nauvoo is less busy and come back for the spring/summer season) So we will be on longer schedules at the sites to keep them open. The horses are still not giving rides to the public so the teamsters take them out for exercise. I know the teamsters are getting anxious for some word from Salt Lake on the long range plan for the horse and oxen rides. Patience is not easy. They've been closed down since Labor Day.

This week we have our debut as Noah and Sophia Packer in Rendezvous. It's certainly not something we want to do but will because we were asked. I now understand stepping out of your comfort zone and Elder Long is way beyond that. He doesn't enjoy the lime light in the slightest degree but he does his best.

We're still riding our bikes each day. We average between 6 - 8 miles. It really feels like we're getting in shape. At least for old folks. Next spring we want to ride to Carthage, a distance of 23 miles. We are loving our bikes.

Elder Long just texted me that they are running the oxen rides today.  Hallelujah! Do a happy dance. He's working the oxen today so he's ecstatic.  

I'm serving at the Cultural Hall so I'd better go and get ready.

Love you all and remember to let your lights shine!

Sister and Elder Long