Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016 – Training Meeting, J&W Tour the Jail, Wasp Nest, Sunset by the Mississippi show

This morning’s training meeting was awesome as usual but today we had a surprise. We have a new 2^nd Counselor in the Mission Presidency. Elder Hyte was released and our new counselor is Elder Robert C Trythall, from Ephraim UT. Elder & Sis. Hyte won’t be going home until the end of November so Elder Hyte could have served a while longer. We don’t know the reason for his early release for sure but a few months ago he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and he will be having surgery next week. After his surgery Elder & Sis. Hyte plan to finish their full mission term.

Last Sunday, we had a mission-wide fast for Elder Hyte as well as for three other missionaries with cancer or serious health issues.  Sis. Johnson and I come to know and love Elder & Sis. Hyte very well because they are in our “Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo” cast. We pray for Elder Hyte’s complete recovery.

After our training meeting we went to FM (Facilities Maintenance) for supplies and parts, etc. Richard, the horticulturalist, took us inside one of FM’s greenhouses to show us the propagation of the Coleus plants. The staff has already started preparing for next year’s spring planting. They are preparing the cuttings to stimulate root growth and putting them in small propagation trays. They literally need tens of thousands of plants prepared by next spring. During the fall and winter, Sis. Johnson and I will probably be helping in the greenhouses too.

When we returned from Nauvoo, Sis. Johnson and I went to work on the grounds. Sis. Johnson cleaned and watered. I went to The Bushnell House and mowed the lawns there.  While we worked, Jacob & Wendy and family took the tour of the Carthage Jail. 

Sis. Johnson was trimming the flower beds and all of a sudden was surrounded by a swarm of wasps.  She had disturbed a large wasp nest.  These were burrowing wasps so their nest was underground six inches beneath the flower bed. The entrance was very small, only an inch in diameter.  

I used my wasp jet spray on them and eliminated the nest.  When I opened the hole up wide I was shocked to discover a chamber the size of a football! The nest had four layers and they were all full of brood/larva.  I’ve never seen such a large wasp nest in my life. I’m glad Sis. Johnson found it and I was able to eliminate it before any of the guests got hurt.

 

This evening Jacob & Wendy and family came and watched Sis. Johnson and I perform at “Sunset by the Mississippi.” We were so very happy to have them some and watch us perform. We are enjoying the visit of our family. The time is sure flying by fast. Tonight’s show was our second to the last of the season. We will perform in “Sunset” for the last time this coming Saturday evening.