Metrolinking To the City - First Stop: Lacledes Landing

Instead of trying to drive around and find places to park in downtown St. Louis and paying to park, we took the metrolink. For $15 total, we could both ride as much as we wanted for the day. Cincinnati for SURE needs a train just like it. If they ask me, I've got great suggestions for it. Anyway, it brought us basically right to each place we wanted to go to downtown - the Arch, Union Station/Hard Rock Cafe, Busch Stadium, etc. Our first stop was the Landing - where the arch sits. Even if you've seen it in person before, it's still a pretty cool site, and you can see it from so many different places in St. Louis. -T

Metrolink Station...every city needs one

Don't you think this would look cool in our front yard?

Bird with random colors on its wings...or would it be random bird with colors on its wings?

It looks bigger in person

Closer shot of the spot of Christmas Photo Year 2

The sun got in the way!

There we go!

Next stop: The Old Courthouse

Who Says You Have to Go Out on the Sabbath on Vacation?

After a very filled day and a half, we just spent Sunday evening relaxing. We brought the crock pot (that was genius Lindsey's idea) and had a very simple but delicious Sunday dinner. Plus, Lindsey brought biscuits she made a few days prior. I wrote in my journal, worked on the blog. Lindsey napped. We ate. We talked. It was a great evening! -T

Someone besides me please tell Lindsey what an AMAZING idea this was!

Who says a reasonably priced hotel doesn't have a kitchen? Say hello to our bathroom/KITCHEN!

"Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool"

Layin' out, nappin', snorin' all cool

Dinner is served!

There Aren't Missionaries Here for Sure, but is ANYONE Living Here Anymore?

This was my last apartment on the mission, in ESL, but known as the Washington Park area. There were cars in front which suggested people still live there, but there were windows busted out and it did kind of look like no one lived there. -T

Looks pretty close to the same.

Apt #4

Like I said...I THINK people still live here.

Reality Heart Breakers

Just like when I served there, with all the fun times I had, ESL brought a lot of heartache when it came to the people. You can teach there, but the #1 thing keeping people from progressing is commitment. I was so happy when I served there, but because of an inability to commit, people couldn't progress, which led to a lot of sadness while there. In our return, I was again so happy to be there, but just like 8 to 9 years ago, it still brought much sadness, in the same, as well as in different, ways. -T

This is what 15th and Piggott used to look like...everyday, any time of day...

...this is what it looked like in our return. This is the first time EVER I haven't seen people out there. The whole city actually seemed more empty this time around.

We visited a house where an old investigator - Madge - lived when I was here. We found out from a friend living there that she passed away about year ago of a heart attack.

Maybe she'll accept the gospel on the other side?
When I left the first time about 8 1/2 years ago, Madge didn't want me to forget her, and she gave me this gift. I came back to tell her I hadn't forgotten her. I hope she still knows.

Missing from church was Sister Snipes, a favorite member from my days here.

She also gave me a gift when I left (seen here). Come to find out she is now inactive and got heavy into drugs and alcohol recently. I was told she might shoot me if I try to visit her. I took the chance anyway. Still...unfortunately, she wasn't home.
I did service at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Boys & Girls Club. I was looking it up online before our trip and found that it had been closed down about 9 months ago. It was an amazing place for youth in a troubled area. If they don't get it back up and running again soon, a scary city could turn even scarier.

2 Nephi 2:11-13 - Some things make you appreciate even moreso what you have!

I really hope they re-open this eventually.

The Pit...just down the street from our Washington Park area apartment. Home to many nights of gunfire...I slept through it more than my companions did.

In my last week on my mission, I set a goal of teaching 30 discussions. This is where we started and taught 14 in one day. It is now vacant, boarded up, and fenced off.

Breaks my heart

But the day is always better when you see the Good Year Blimp!

"Does Your Mom Know You Lived Here?"

To begin our tour of the ESL we headed to my old apartment after church. Again, missionaries no longer live there. When seeing the building Lindsey couldn't believe I lived in a place like this. It actually was kind of a cozy place. I don't know if that's because we lived behind three locked doors and metal bars, but I only didn't feel safe once in six months being there. -T

Good ol' 33rd and State!

We lived down below!
We couldn't get inside

I've been kissed more than once at this doorstep

Church in The Boog

It was a no-brainer where I wanted to go to church - East St. Louis. I recognized many faces and remembered a few names, more when I was told. I felt very humbled being there. I even got a little bit weepy a few times during the songs. Anyway, I cried when I left there back in the day, so it was inevitable that I would shed a few when I came back. -T

They still talk about when it was first built.

Despite its location, it has a pretty view.

Good good day

It's The Day We Get Ready for Sunday

In attempt to not have to go out and buy lunch or dinner on the Sabbath, we headed to the grocery store - Schnuck's - to buy some things to get us through Sunday. We possibly had too much fun in a grocery store. -T

I haven't seen this meat since I left. We used to buy this value pack all the time, so Lindsey said, "Oh let's take a picture!" And then before she snapped it she said, "Are you sure you don't want to suck in your gut?" Hence the reason this picture turned out like THIS! We saw a very big black man. The side view just doesn't do him justice.

Says Lindsey, "You can't get me in the picture or else it will focus on me! Just act like you're taking it of me and leave me out so it focuses on him!"

Later, Lindsey accidentally bumped into him and shouted, "Hey, you better apologize to me or my husband will come over here and pummel your (rear)!"

That's why picture taking was done for the day.

South City Sin?

Sure I recognized my South City area's apartment and the street names and of course Ted Drewes, but is it bad that the church didn't look at all familiar? Did I really go to church there for six months? Shouldn't it look somewhat familiar? Everything around it did...the building did not. Yikes! Of course the missionaries are gone from the apartment. After the day's festivities we headed to Ted Drewes. Ted Drewes is huge in St. Louis - it's frozen custard. When you think ice cream in St. Louis, you think Ted Drewes. -T

"I think this was my ward building..."

"...it says Webster Groves Ward, which is the ward I was in..."

"...but this doesn't look familiar at all..."

"...let's at least make one memory here I can remember!"

Good ol' January Ave. The top right window used to have a picture of the Savior in it. Also, I don't know if Lindsey moved at the last second in this picture or if she's auditioning for the next sequel for The Ring.

Apartment #4 - I once gift wrapped this door for Christmas.

Ted Drewes

In-the-street crowded!

It was worth it!