A field trip down memory lane.and a 10 day fast.

So much to tell about and so many pictures!  We decided we needed a real P-day for fun and relaxation, so we headed out early Monday morning and drove through the town Elder Quincy was born in; Hannibal, Missouri, crossed the Mississippi, and visited the town of Barry, Illinois where he lived until her was 10 years old.  We spent a precious hour and a half walking around the cemetery looking for his father's grave. It was 80 degrees and very humid.  We decided we needed lunch, air conditioning and a bathroom.  We ate at the local café and were told that the library had a map of the cemetary, so while Elder Quincy called the sexton, I checked out the map and at least found out what section it was in.  We found it!  It only took a few minutes when we got to the right area!  He's the little stone next to his mother's big one. We even got back in time for a great Family Home Evening at the church!

We drove home through Quincy.

We took 3 people to the immigration office in Des Moines this week.  I go to interpret for them.  This is Alain.  He has been waiting for a year to hear about getting his family here from the Congo.  He gave his first talk in church on Sunday!

Elder Quincy helping to put a new window in at the Rodriguez' house.

Cute Vickie Owen is a member that hasn't been to church for many years.  She works at this casino in the kitchen.  She took us to lunch there last week.  Such an amazing buffet! 

Paul and Lea made us this Aftrican food.  The white stuff is something we aren't sure about yet, it tasted like rice kind of, the fish tasted good, lots of big bones, the pepper stuff was really good! 

I did the 10 cay media fast which was easy except for not being able to loom for missing people as we try to clean up the ward list, but the hardest part for me about the media fast was not being able to see pictures of the family especially since it was a busy week; Tayson turned 4, Mikey turned 35...and Eva turned 3.

We've had some pretty leaves this week.

And we've had some snow.

Elder Quincy found this exercise bike for free on Facebook.  A kind ward member took him to pick it up.  He's been enjoying being able to exercise in any weather.

A couple of Elders from Mason City came to our Family Home Evening Monday night.  They were braver than our Marshalltown Elders and tried the African food.

At our FHE we talked about the commitments and corresponding blessings the Prophet challenged us with.  Elder Espinoza made this work of art to illustrate them.

The rivers and creeks are really full around here.  We were going to visit a member who lives in the boonies and crossed this scary bridge.  We came back another way.

The School Elder Quincy attended in Barry.

Zone Conference fun.

Elder Quincy found this saw on Facebook.  He was excited to use it at the Rodriguez'.

Lots of harvesting going on around here.  They let the corn get way over ripe.  Its used for corn meal and cattle feed, and I don't know what else, so apparently its easier to process this way.

This is the homesite Elder Quincy lived at in Barry.  They had a pump on the front porch, an outhouse and no indoor plumbing.  

On the way to Missouri.

These trees in the church's backyard are really pretty.

Zone conference lunch.

Br. Kynastin sent me this picture.  His daughter remembered from 3 weeks ago that I wanted this.

Another brave Elder.

The main street in Barry.

So many beautiful clouds this time of year.

I heard the story of Paul and Lea's conversion Monday night.  A couple of missionaries were driving by and saw them stuck in the mud.  The got out to help and got covered with mud, but couldn't get their car out.  They prayed for the strength to get them out.  They still couldn't get them out. So they prayed for help.  Right away a man with a truck and tow chain showed up and helped. So that night the Kangnis said whatever church those young men belonged to they would join.  They only speak French and Mina and the Elders spoke Spanish, and some English, but a Senior Sister spoke a little French and was able to teach them.
I discovered that I use social media a lot.  Most of the time I use it to do missionary work, and I missed being able to do that, but how I missed being able to keep up with my family!  I guess what I learned from my fast is how much I love my family and how thankful I am to be able to see them on social media!  We are getting ready for winter!  Life is good in Marshalltown.