Reflection

I was serving in Carthage today, and as we were leaving at 4:30 PM if you look out the window of the visitors center at just the perfect spot, you get the reflections from the paintings of Joseph and Hyrum so they appear in the summer house doorway or jail window. It only works when the sun is at this angle. Its kind of eerie, startling, but sacred. Its better in real life.

Wanted to share with someone who would appreciate it.

Love

Sister Long

Carthage

Dear Family and Friends,

Today is Karen's birthday.  Happy Birthday Kare Bear!  She was and is such a special Christmas present.  We're appreciative of all the hard work she and James do to keep up our place while we are on our mission.

Christmas was different but good here in the mission field. It was a humbling feeling to serve together in John Taylor's home on Christmas Eve. We realized that he only spent one Christmas there before heading west.  He had so little and when he and his family finally had a beautiful home, they willingly left it behind to find peace and a place to build up the church. They only lived there 10 months.

John Taylor Home

John Taylor was editor of the newspaper and an apostle in the Church. He was wounded in the mob attack on Carthage Jail but went on to become the third president of the Church.

LOCATION: Main Street 

This email is late for a good reason. We have been called to serve at Carthage for the next 4 months. 

The assignment was announced this morning in Zone meetings and we were asked to not say anything until after the announcement. We received our call on Christmas Eve right after Church. You could have driven a bus through our dropped mouths. We will be serving with another missionary couple. (the Ercanbracks) Elder Long was told he will be back for the busy months to hopefully drive the horses.  I say hopefully because the horses aren't back yet even though rumor says they will be soon.  We all know how rumor is. Anyway, we are excited, humbled, and a myriad of other emotions. We feel it an honor to testify of Joseph and Hyrum and the work they accomplished to bring us back to the Savior.

We will move to Carthage and probably keep our house here too.  That is to be determined. We would love to have you come and visit Carthage and of course Nauvoo.  We are so overwhelmed by this opportunity and would love to share our experience with each of you personally.

The Lord answers prayers.  We know He will direct us in this adventure as He has in all of our life's adventures.

Carthage Jail

We wish you a late Merry Christmas and a Grand New Year.

Elder and Sister Long 

Merry CHRISTmas!

Dear Family and Friends,

This is a glorious time of the year.  Everyone is full of light. As missionaries of the Savior, it is awesome to look down and see the name tag with both your name and Jesus Christ's name. There is a scared feeling to know who you are representing.  You cannot do or say things that will tarnish His name.  It's interesting to watch the people you meet when you are out and about shopping or whatever.  Some look away while others are happy to greet you.  We try to be as friendly and positive as we can so they will know we are not threatening. There are still strong feelings about the church in this area and we hope to in some way cheer and bless others. This week as well as every last week in the month, little towns have "the end of the month meals".  Some families run out of money to eat the last week of the month so area organizations sponsor 1 meal each night during the week. The LDS church joins this effort.  We have the assignment this week of making a cake.  Not a big service for us but with the efforts of others, families will have food.  Big things come from small things when efforts are joined.

There are not a lot of tours right now but there are some. We appreciate each guest. It's fun to share Nauvoo and right now the sites are decorated so gaily for Christmas. Simple yet cheerful. So many missionaries are working to get humanitarian items ready for Christmas delivery. I have been making quilts and crocheting. I have not crocheted since Primary and that is about where my skill level is, so I'm hoping that whoever gets my scarf will feel the intent of my heart and not look at the mistakes. It is a scarf of love. I am not planning to do more, not a new found hobby.

We have been working hard on genealogy, especially Elder Long.  We did sealings in the temple on Saturday night. What a perfect way to give to others! The interesting aspect of this gift, as well as all gifts given, is that you actually receive more than you give.

We love you all and want you to know the best gift we can give this year to you is our service. We love the Lord and are so blessed to be missionaries for Him. We know He lives and loves each of us. Not just as a whole but individually. He loves you and knows you by name. He knows your heart and your goodness.

Merry CHRISTmas,

Elder and Sister Long

Halfway

Dear Family and Friends,

We hit our halfway point! Yes, we have 9 months left on our mission. It has gone fast and slow. That seems like an oxymoron and probably is but some days go by very slowly and yet the weeks fly by.




We have had marvelous experiences and learned a great deal but at the same time, sometimes it would be so comforting just to give some hugs, share laughs, and see the mountains.  For now, we'll make the most of our time as missionaries of our Savior.  Our testimonies have grown more than anything else. We love the Lord, Joseph Smith, the other prophets and saints, and the Book of Mormon. We know prayers are answered and the Lord looks over His missionaries.

Yesterday, my sister Sue invited me to try "Marco Polo", an app for video messaging. It is quite fun! I invited many people to try the app but realized that it is more for grandkids than everyone.  I really don't like video selfies but enjoy seeing my grandkids in action. Just this morning I was able to watch Katie's little Briggs laugh.  I enjoyed Mackayla singing her solo for the Christmas program, seeing Broox, Cooper, Jason, and Billy's little Travis as he slept. Thanks Sue.  This is a fabulous blessing.

We have not had many tours in the sites, but the few we do have are precious. The stories in all the places are inspiring and even just sitting in the sites brings an appreciation for the sacrifices of the early Saints. We do keep busy. There's plenty of research, humanitarian projects, genealogy, journals, and personal projects. I like to draw.  Elder Long and the teamsters are exercising the horses, giving oxen rides and tours, and keeping the barn stuff in repair. It's been cold lately but that is true for many of you.  The cold here is distinctly different from the low humidity Utah climate that we are used to and the wind over the Mississippi puts a bite in it. The good news is that after the 21st of December, the days will start gaining light and spring will come, but for now bundle up.

Christmas here is simple. Not all the shopping rush and glitter. It is wonderful to focus more on Christ and family.  We love you all and hope you are enjoying the Holidays but remembering Christ in your celebrations.

We love you!

Sister and Elder Long 

The Power of Christmas Carols

Dear Family and Friends,

It's been an exciting week filled with lots of "Goin' ons". The Tree Lighting celebration was well attended.  I saw many missionaries from the Des Moines Mission with investigators.  It was festive but still had a great message about Christmas and Christ's birth and was well received.  Since we were over the storytelling in the sites, I'd like to share one of those stories:

 In St. George, Utah in 1869, there lived a man named John M. McFarlane. He had many jobs including being a judge, but his true love was music. For Christmas that year he was asked by Erastus Snow to write a special song for the program. He recruited help from his friend Charles Walker. Brother Walker wrote the lyrics and gave them to John.  John just couldn't think of music to match. Time was running out and he didn't know what to do. One night while asleep, John heard the words and melody of a song he knew was fitting. He said it was as if angels were singing it to him. He woke up, asked his wife to hold the lantern, and  penned the words and music.  That song was ”Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains."  

 

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnZYTc-iiJI

The next day he was afraid his friend would be offended that he hadn't used the words that he had written. Charles was not offended but instead was touched by the carol.  John McFarlane never thought his song would go beyond St. George. It is now sung all over the word by many Christian Churches  in many languages.  The Carols have great messages and background stories. I suggest you find some of them and read them with your families.

There's always an activity or dinner here in Nauvoo. I think to keep us from being homesick. I do love serving and being with such great people.  Most of all I love the temple.  Such a privilege to be so close. What a marvelous structure to have been built in the 1840's.   A true consecration to the Lord from a humble, faithful people. (Yes, I know this is a copy but it's still the same size and design)

Have happy memory filled holidays with your loved ones.

Love,

Sister and Elder Long

PS Bob wouldn't want me to mention this but he should do the emails, right? It's his birthday on Wednesday December 6th. It would be fun for him to get emails or texts. Thanks!

Happy Birthday to Elder Bob Long (12.6.2017)