Wow, it has been a while since I updated our blog. Either we are busy or having too much fun, or both.
 So since I last wrote, we have begun our apartment tours in earnest. These young elders and sisters are truly remarkable. They are so kind and spiritual. Even when we are making appointments to come and check out their apartments, they are, like (I hate that phrase, but it fit in this instance), "thank you so much, we look forward to seeing you." It constantly amazes me how kind and good they are. It has actually been fun to visit them and get to know them on a more personal level. We have found some things that need to be fixed and or replaced, and some unsafe environments, so we really feel like we are doing a great service, as well as getting them to clean their places.
 On January 12th we visited the housing of the missionaries in Liberty, Missouri. When we finished it was time to go home anyway, so we decided to take a tour of the Historic Liberty Jail. It has been at least 20 years since we were here. That is the above picture. It was a great experience. The jail was originally built in 1833. It 2 foot thick log interior walls, with loose rocks in between, then 2 foot thick stone outside walls. The jail cell is 14' x 14' x 6 ft tall. It has 2 very small window, I wouldn't even call them that, and they were facing North and South so they never actually let sunlight in. They were imprisoned from Dec. 1st ,1838 to April 6th
1839 of the following year. It was an extremely cold winter. The original jail was later torn down and a house was built on the site. The church acquired the property in 1939. Then in 1963 they partially reconstructed the jail and built the visitors center around it. The floor is the original floor and some of the stonework on the outside is thought to be original.
 Some of the most difficult times of Joseph Smith's life were spent in the jail, not just the conditions, which were horrible, but he knew how much the Saints, and his own family were suffering in Missouri. Through his trials he wrote some of the most beautiful and poignant scriptures, comprising Doctrine and Covenants sections 121,122, and 123.
  While we were there, I really felt the spirit of that Sacred place. Joseph learned so much about himself and his relationship to God there. It is a very special place.
  This is getting a little long, so I will close for now. I will update in a couple of days, because I have some more spiritual experiences to share with you.

  The above black and white picture was taken in 1888. One of the men in the picture measured the jail, and it was from those measurements that the church was able to reconstruct it so accurately.
 
 WE LOVE OUR MISSION !!!