Elder Z stands by the ward photographs in the Sullivan meetinghouse — old photos taken in Sullivan or at the temple in St. Louis, when the ward was larger than it is now. The small black-and-white photo shows President Spencer W. Kimball as a young missionary in Sullivan, sometime between 1914 and 1916.
Our last month as missionaries here was as busy as any. George’s multiple myeloma returned, so he was rushed to Baptist Hospital in St. Louis several times. Elder Z had previously transported him for chemo and radiation, and finally we took his wife up to visit him in this impressive hospital a number of times. We walked a couple of miles inside the hospital to get our exercise without heat or humidity.
Of course we admired the views in every direction from the upper floors. That is how we got our closest look at the famous St. Louis arch:
As of November, George is doing well. We pray every day for him, and for each of the other members. It takes the service of each one to keep that ward in operation. It seems mighty difficult to see even the most valiant of the leaders and members so challenged in their health and fitness: three struggling to stay in remission from cancer, one from a kidney surgery, others from back surgeries — many from car and motorcycle accidents. We have not felt it appropriate to share many photos here, but we will never forget a single one of those we visited and drove to doctor appointments:
Because we were serving in Missouri, we were able to drive to nearby Eureka for Katya and Omar’s wedding reception after their temple marriage. Katya is one of Elder Z’s nieces, a college student with great ambitions. Beautiful celebration… We got to help resupply the delicious refreshment tables and sign their guestbook puzzle:
We will miss our weekly trips nineteen miles (half an hour) into the woods to pick up one or another of the Holleys, and then continuing another thirty to sixty minutes northeast to Washington or St. Louis for appointments. The steep hills and quick curves, especially in the early morning darkness, kept us alert for dashing deer and cars out of nowhere. If Elder Z spotted a turtle, he tried to stop and move it across the roadway. The quantity and diversity of roadkill was astonishing (compared to our desert home): armadillo, raccoon, possum, squirrel, snake, bird, deer, and a dozen other possibilities.
The skeleton motorcycle-mailbox was a welcome landmark on this long route, and the procession of flowers seemed endless. (Click on the smaller photos for a larger view.) We will never forget the beauty and bounty of the Missouri countryside!
Apparently there are nine separate Jesse James (“America’s first celebrity criminal”) museums in the midwest — one was right along I-44, where we drove regularly. We especially loved the Sullivan parking for Electrolysis Only. “Violators will be plucked.”
Jerry– who is over 90– luxuriating in assisted living, was one of our regular stops in the nearby town of Saint Clair. He still drives, but wasn’t comfortable going all the way to the meetinghouse any more. He gifted Elder Z with an actual trilobite fossil, done up as a tie tack. We will definitely not be forgetting Jerry!
Serving as senior missionaries is all about loving and serving people. We felt very needed, worked hard every day, and finished our assignment full of memories and miles, people and places. We look forward to serving again!
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