Mother giving a tour with Sister Stevens know her James & Paul? This is in the Family Living Center she is making bread in the Bessel oven.

Dad and Mom at the Seventies Hall this is where we have Preparations Meeting every day.
Great, Great, Great Grandfather James Madison Flake was one of the seventies his name is on the roll on the second floor.







This is Mom checking out the Buds. it freezing but she has to check it out.













We are in the Culture Hall studying our part for Noah and Sophia in the production.

Chap. 3 ARRIVAL - BEAUTIFUL NAUVOO!

I wanted to put in just one picture of the miserable storm we were in across Iowa. You can see 1 car in the median, there were many that afternoon. I wish I would have gotten the big rigs that jack knifed. The snow quickly turned to ice after it fell. It was so scary!



The the next day was beautiful and clear. Such a big difference!

The fresh white snow was marvelous to drive through after the storm was over!!!!!!



Our hearts jumped with anticipation and excitement as this big sign came into view.
Yippey!!!! We have arrived!!!!

We have the privilege of living in the John Taylor Home. You can see the show home in the front and we live in a small apartment in the back. There are two doors that go directly into the show home from our house. They are locked and we have to mind our manners, because we can hear the tours going on, and that means they can hear us also. We don't have to worry much because we are usually not home when the tours are being given. One day the people that lived here before us were home when a tour was being given. She was upstairs in the bedroom. Someone asked the tour guide, what is behind that door, and she said "I am, it's my bedroom". Maybe I'll get a chance to say that before we leave. I can't wait to serve in the John Taylor site home.

The weather is very unpredictable here. Our first full day was a bright clear spring day, temperature about 35 degrees, the next morning we got up and there was snow all over the ground, as you see in the picture. The very next day we awoke to thunder, lightning and rain. It was so fun. However most missionaries say it's not always that much fun!!! Our little tree will tell the story of our seasons, so watch for it again.


The view of the Mississippi was delightful right after the rain. This was taken just before sundown. We were not able to view the sunset that evening.

We captured the praire fire demonstration vividly. They allow 1 acre in the flats to grow praire grass just like in they would have found in the 1800's. Then once a year they burn it just like what would have happened in the 1800's naturally. In many journals there is recorded that the grass is taller than most men.



As you can see here, even today it is quite tall.




The Nauvoo Firemen are ready for any problems. You can see a small bit of the back burn that was done just before, we hardly knew it from where we were.




Elder Bitner who is in charge of the grounds in Nauvoo, was in charge of the burn. He came to Nauvoo the same time we did. He and his wife are fun people.


Elder Bitner walked about 1/4 of the way around the acre,and lit the fire with his torch as he walked.


Soon the blaze was high and so hot we had to move way back! The Temple was still peeking through the flames at this point.



It burned extremely fast and the flames got so high we could no longer see the Temple in the background.



Within seconds the fire moved and left the charred, blackened and burned grass.



Literally, from start to finish it was no more than 5 minutes, the back burn and the burn. Then the Temple was in view again with just a little smoke.

And before we could turn around, the smoke had nearly dissipated and the Temple was again in full view. The praire winds pushed these fires so fast I can't imagine anyone being able to outrun one. But this charred grass brought the buffalo back to the areas because it signaled new young growth and breathed life to the inhabitants, mostly Indians and pioneers in the area, with their meat for food, fat for candles and coats for warmth. Most of the early settlers wasted nothing! I want to be a wise steward over the things I use daily that a loving Heavenly Father has provided!

Chapter 2 Our Trek to Nauvoo

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When we left the MTC we drove through Provo Canyon. It was another beautiful and clear day. The view of Bridal Veil Falls in the winter was very different than we had ever seen.



Deer Creek Reservoir near Heber, Utah was buried in snow. It was gorgeous!




Just a ways inside the border of Wyoming we stopped for gas and looked up and saw these cute little mountain goats.



I was really excited because they are the one thing we did not get to see in Yellowstone Park last summer.

Next we drove on to Martin's Cove in Wyoming. We are standing by one of three statues in memory of the the 3 boys that helped the one of the handcart companies
cross the Sweetwater River. This statue is the boys carrying an older man across the cold cold water, sparing him from getting completely wet.



The wind was blowing very hard and it was sooooooo cold. I just can't imagine these boys getting into the wet cold Sweetwater River, over and over and over again!

It is heart wrenching the suffering that the Saints endured here with no warm truck or warm home or enough food or even enough coats or blankets. This young man had not only the child you can see, but an infant in the other arm. These 3 scenes we depicted from journal entries.


This is a very tender historic site for me. As I look across the area where the Martin Handcart company was camped in the cove of the mountain, I know that Heavenly Father was there to bear them up under their burdens. The song "I Feel My Savior's Love" kept ringing in my mind.



This is the Sweetwater River, very near the sight where the Saints crossed. And it probaby was very icy like this also.

This is Elder and Sister Speiderman. When we were introduced to them, they immediately asked if we knew an Elder Flake who served a mission in New Zealand. They were so excited to tell us they knew someday they would be able to meet his parents and tell us what a fine young man he was.



These are our good friends Wes and Sharon Moore. They are serving in Martin's Cove. They helped us find out that 2 of our ancesters were among the rescuers Pres. Brigham Young sent from Salt Lake when he heard that there were still 2 handcart companies on the plains. Chauncy Webb was in the first group and Edward Milo Webb was in the second group sent out. They were saviors to those people!!!!

To be continued!! We will get to Nauvoo next and then we will be caught up.

Chapter 1 We're Missionaries * From home to MTC.

Being ready to leave for our mission on time to leave was in large part due to my sewing savior, Wendie Jarman. She made all three, 8 yard dresses, her words, "I truly felt I was on the Lord's errand". Thank you is not enough!!!


Not only did Wendie sew for me but 4 others, however I do not have their pictures.
They are: Daughters: Amy Jo, Jen, and Shelley and my baby sis, Barbra. Without all their help I would not have achieved the words "well prepared", which they wrote on the top of our checksheet when we went for approval of our period clothing in the Nauvoo Sewing Room. Again, thank you is not enough!!! I pray a little more was added to each of their mansions on high.


We left just 36 hours beyond our goal, pretty good for the fact that we were packing for 18 months not just a week vacation.



This is view we had as we traveled north on I-15 on 2-16-08. It was beautiful, clear, and especially important the roads were good.



We have never traveled this road in winter, it was a wonderful change!




We stayed the week-end with cousin, Monte Shelley and his wife Elona. They were gracious enough to let us crash her 60th birthday. Her whole family surprised her. We enjoyed the day. After everyone was gone, she turned her attention to Elder Flake's new suit pants that were too long. We finished them just in time to get to the MTC.


Elder and Sister Flake at the sign in front of the MTC.


Our MTC group that was going to Historical Visitor Centers. 1st Row L to R. Sisters Flake, Evans, Lee Johnson, Burley Johnson, Faulkner. Top row L to R Brothers Evans, Lee Johnson, Burley Johnson. Elder Flake was at the Dentist that morning. That's another story, but not right now.


All of the senior missionaries that entered the MTC on Feb. 18, 2008. Don't know all of their names. :(



Pinning on our names badges by the famous map where everyone points to their mission. We did something a little different!




One of our classrooms.

One of our sections was taught by a relative of Lucy Hannah White, wife of William Jordan who settled Snowflake. She is the woman with the baby in the statue in Snowflake. Elder and Sister White. Also the MTC President was Jospeh Boone, also a relative.



As we walked from our dorm to the cafeteria and classrooms everyday I was amazed that the little pansy flower petals would pop up through the snow. This picture was taken after the snow had mostly melted. Adversity in the cold did not stop them from bringing beauty to the world!!!!



"The Bathroom" A tradition our boys established, sending home a picture of the bathroom. Here is to all the memories.....!!!



Dad just finished checking us out at the MTC office.




Then we put our sign on the door Building 2M Jacob Hamblin Dorm Room 157.




"We have left for our mission." You RM's remember that exhilarating feeling of excitement, suspense, and anticipation.



Driving away, the MTC flags waving good bye, until next time. (They were waving feverishly until I snapped the shot.) We left the MTC on Feb 26, 2008.

To be continued!!!!