WE LOVE AMERICA - MISSOURI

When we crossed into Missouri from Kansas, we noticed on the map that we were near Joplin, the city that was so devastated by a tornado this last March. We decided to check it out. We were absolutely amazed and saddened as we could see how much was lost by so many people. We could easily see the path torn by the tornado. We were happy, however, to note that much of the debris had been cleaned up and there were a few men out working to restore the area. It was in the early evening when we were there.




This is just one example of the devastation.

After driving around this area of destruction, we were awestruck with how powerful that storm really was. Whole neighborhoods were just wiped off the map, as if a giant broom had swept indiscriminately across the land. A high school was in ruins with only the auditorium portion still standing. The local hospital was like an empty shell, with broken, vacant windows and a few curtains fluttering forlornly in the breeze. Trees had been stripped clean and were just showing a valiant effort at growing again with leaves on the few remaining branches. Objects, metal and plastic were still lodged and crushed into the tree branches. Sobered, we drove on to Springfield for the night.

The next morning, we decided to cross Missouri and see the Lake of the Ozarks. It is a large man-made lake created when private investors built a dam over the Osage River. It was probably the last privately constructed dam in the country. The lake is similar to our Lake Powell, with many little inlets, bays and arms where people have built vacation homes, docks and marinas. There are public areas for fishing and picnicking. There was a grand old lodge on the lake that is now an information center. It was built in Oregon, taken apart and numbered and rebuilt on a bluff overlooking the lake. It is a beautiful structure, now preserved. This picture was taken from the lodge looking out on the expansive and beautiful lake.




After this gorgeous sight, we headed for St. Louis. We noticed on the map a little town called Hermann, about 30 miles off the freeway and wondered if it might have been settled by German immigrants. Curiosity aroused, we took a side trip to find out. We were delighted to find that it was a very picturesque town, right on the banks of the Missouri River, and, indeed, it had German roots. The immigrants who settled here thought the area reminded them of the Rhine River Valley with the large Missouri River flowing between lush hills. They planted vineyards and started a wine industry. However, Prohibition put an end to this flourishing and successful endeavor and they went out of business and the town withered.

In 1969 the winery was begun anew and there are lovely vineyards again and the people take great pride in making their little town neat and beautiful and once again are producing award winning wine. (We did not taste test it, although they offered us the chance.) We were also excited to find they had a German restaurant with authentic dishes where we ate that evening. It was one of the best German meals we've ever had, complete with sauerkraut, red cabbage, schnitzel and wurst.




We posed on the display outside the winery and also examined the vineyards nearby, tasting a couple of gently purloined grapes (only two of them so as not to be guilty of harming the crop.)



Lovely looking but the flavor wasn't anything special, but reportedly they make a good wine!

This is the broad and beautiful Missouri River near Hermann. Indeed it looks like the Rhine.

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After the wonderful and tasty supper, we drove on to St.Louis for the night and stayed there for the weekend to watch General Conference. We were able to watch it on our little laptop, right in our room, and rest and enjoy this wonderful opportunity. We marvel that the technology is so readily available to us to enjoy the words of the prophets and leaders just as well as sitting in our family room at home. Truly we are blessed.