Trip To Nauvoo

We finally arrived. Yesterday morning we got up at two o'clock in the morning with the idea that we would be on the road by three o'clock and we would see if we couldn't make it to Lincoln or  Omaha, Nebraska by late afternoon. Well, we didn't get away until 3:30 a.m. which wasn't too bad. However, when we got to Evenston, Wyoming, it was snowing and the freeway was closed due to a big accident about 23 miles east of Evenston. It wasn't until 7:30 a.m. that we were able to leave Evenston. From there we were able to make good time even though we had some light snow off and on until we got to Cheyenne. After that we had clear skies, but it was cold. 

We decided to drive on to Omaha arriving there about 10:00 p.m. After being up for 20 hours and driving across two states, we were ready for a good nights rest.

Handcart statue at Winter Quarters

 Friday morning following breakfast, we started out again. I had served part of my mission in Omaha. So, I wanted to stop at Winter Quarters to see the new visitors center and temple. Ann had ever been there before, so we stopped there for a brief tour and visit. Julie Hamilton, the missionary daughter of our stake president, is assigned to Winter Quarters and we thought we may have a chance to see her. However, she was transferred to a different location this morning so we missed her.

Winter Quarters Cemetery, statue of
parents at their child's grave site

From Winter Quarters, we drove on across Iowa where I also served during my mission arriving at Nauvoo about 4:00 p.m. When we left Winter Quarters, we called the mission office to let them know where we were and when we expected to arrive. The mission secretary made an appointment for to meet with the mission president and his wife at 4:30 p.m.

When we arrived, we had to change from our travel clothes into our missionary (Sunday dress) clothes for our interview and to get processed in.

Our visit with President and Sister Gilliland was a very pleasant experience. They seem to be great people and we will enjoy serving with them.

Some of the 66 missionaries traveling here didn't make it today because of bad weather but are expected tomorrow. They are some who drove across Interstate 70.