Hannibal, Missouri Service Project

We had an interesting assignment this past week. On Tuesday, the stake president in Hannibal, Missouri (home of Mark Twain) called our mission president, President Gilliland and requested help on Wednesday to remove tree limbs and fallen trees. A week ago they had some very strong winds which had blown over trees and broken large limbs and tree tops, many of which had fallen on cars and homes causing a great deal of damage.


Since the storm, the city and various volunteer groups including the Hannibal Stake has been working on cleaning up the trees and limbs. The Hannibal Stake has taken on the responsibility of a community service project of continuing to assisting those in need of help.



On Wednesday, the missionaries who have been assigned to Facilities Management as well as those who had been assigned to serve in FM for the day (which included Ann) along with several of the young sister missionaries met at the Visitors Center following our weekly 8:00 a.m. mission training meeting. At nine o'clock we loaded about 40 of us into four mission vans, and a truck with chain saws and other needed equipment and set out for Hannibal which is about an hour and a half south of Nauvoo.

Elder Monney of our group

Fred hauling limb to curb for pick up

Peonie

Upon arriving in Hannibal about 10:30 we drove directly to the new Hannibal Stake Center where we met with President Rand who was coordinating the service project. We were divided into four groups (mostly by van) given a list of those who had requested help along with their address. A man in each van was assigned to be responsible for operating a chain saw and provided with the needed safety equipment. Each person also received a yellow Mormon Helping Hands vest to wear.


All groups were to meet back at the stake center at 3:30 to return our vests, turn in our list of contacts indicating what was accomplished at each of our stops and turn in our saws and equipment to the FM truck. President Gililland told President Rand that we had to leave by 3:30 so that those of us who had to perform in the Sunset by the Mississippi show would have time to get home, clean up and be ready for the show.

Peonie

We were able to accomplish quite a bit. Many of the homes and places we went include shut- ins and elderly people.