Tribute to Aunt Nira

Dear Family and Friends,

So nice to hear from so many of you this past week.  Your emails and letters are such a boost.

This is our last week in Nauvoo before we start at Carthage next Sunday on our 4 month assignment. It will be hard not to serve with all of our friends in Nauvoo and I'll miss going to all the different sites.  Elder Long will find it difficult not to be with the horses and the teamsters each day but I think we'll be here every prep day for him to drive the horses for an hour or so. With that being said, we are also extremely thrilled about serving in Carthage. It's a privilege to testify of Joseph and the great work of our Savior.

The sites were closed this week while we listened to Pres. Monson's funeral as a mission in the Visitor's Center. It was a marvelous tribute to a man of God.  We are also going to meet in the Visitor's Center on Tuesday, to listen and watch as President Nelson becomes Prophet Nelson. We are grateful for the chance to do this.  There is a warm feeling as we gather together as a mission.

Sherman called Elder Long and as they spoke he told Elder that he was listening to the Book of Mormon each day and wants to be baptized.  Elder Long bore his testimony. It was a good phone call.  President Hall agreed that we may need to go to Iowa City to take him to church.  He's so shy that he needs our support. 

President and Sister Hall leave to go home this Wednesday.  We will very much miss them. They have had a difficult mission and done so much for Nauvoo and all of us missionaries. The new President and Sister Lusvardi will overlap for a day. It will be interesting to see how things change under our new president. Change is inevitable.  That's one thing we've learned on this mission: the only constant is change.

I'd like to end our letter this week with a tribute to my sweet Aunt Nira that passed away on January 9th.  She had no children of her own so her nieces and nephews were her kids.  She was a Christ-like person.  She never spoke unkindly of anyone. She has battled Dementia for the past few years and suffered numerous mini strokes as each took their toll, but remained sweet through it all. We look up to her and are honored to have her in our lives. We're so happy to know that she is with her husband and family again.  She loved sports and I'm sure will soon have a bowling ball and golf club in her hand.  Most importantly she can say she lived as the Savior wants us all to live and endure to the end with dignity. We all love Aunt Nira.

Nira Vay Eikrem

May you have a good week and serve those you can. That's what our Savior wants. Keep reading the Book of Mormon, at least on the days you eat.

Love,

Sister and Elder Long