Disclaimer: between Jerry and Jeremy we have 1,677 photos of our trip to Missouri/Illinois. I would love to share all of them, but that being impossible (and tedious for everyone involved) I present the following:
We were all SO excited for our trip to Nauvoo this summer! Early on July 4th, we made our way to the airport in Phoenix to board a plane bound for St. Louis, Missouri, where we would meet Nana and Papa and begin our amazing 8-day vacation. A huge thank you to them for making it possible for the trip to even happen! We were so blessed to spend those action-packed, testimony-building days with you.
After we settled in to our hotel in St. Louis, we took the train to the famous arch, the "Gateway to the West." It was fascinating to learn how it was built, and very cool to ride the zig-zagging elevator to the top (minus Nana for her fear of heights and Papa for his love of Nana).
From the top looking over the Mississippi river:
I'll admit it. I got a little queasy, but it was thrilling to take in the view.
Waiting for the teeny, tiny elevator car to ride back down:
What a great place!
We thought it would be super neat to watch the fireworks while sitting under the arch, so we claimed a spot on the grass to hang out until they began. But goodness! We think we know "heat" living in Arizona, but man was it miserable in the record heat and humidity of Missouri. We have a new appreciation for our desert.
The fireworks were stunning and we really enjoyed ourselves until we realized that there were many thousands of people and just one little train station. Before the grand finale, we gathered our stuff and booked it to the train. It was scary crowded, with police lines, reports of violence, and just thousands of hot, angry, frustrated people. We were finally packed, sardine-style, into a train car and took off. After taking a breath, and getting to know our fellow sardines (mostly black people), we had a great time on the long ride back to the hotel. The best part was the spontaneous chorus of Kum-ba-yah. What an experience!
Early the next morning, Papa, Jeremy, and Spencer took the missionaries out to breakfast. One of the Elders from our ward was serving in St. Louis and Jeremy got the chance to check in with him.
Jeremy, Elder Jerred Ashley and his companions.
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