RELIEF SOCIETY RE-ENACTMENT

So many opportunities here that are definitely a once in a lifetime experience.  On March the 16th, we celebrated the organization of the Relief Society.  The largest women’s organization in the world!  I was on the committee to put on this program in the official Red Brick Store that belonged to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Everyone was dressed in period costume and was taken to the store via horse drawn wagons.

 

Two of the new sisters that I really like, Srs. Maughan and Ballard.

We had to bundle up, it was quite cold.  This is March for heavens sake!

The re-enactment was very touching.  They had women representing the women that were originally there, from Emma Smith, Elizabeth Whitney, Margaret Cook, Eliza R. Snow and so forth.  Then Elder Newman was the Prophet, with Richard portraying John Taylor and Elder Knudsen as Willard Richards, acting as scribe. I will have to add pictures after Sunday’s video.  It was a very spiritual moment to think we were actually there where the Relief Society was started.  To be able to experience this history firsthand or secondhand I should say, is almost to much to really take in.  I am grateful for the opportunities to be part of something so profound. 

Then we celebrated Richard’s birthday.  He will only have one birthday here whereas, I will have two.   So we went out with our friends the Openshaws, and went to Burlington for supper.

Elder Openshaw had them bring him a sundae to celebrate.  We also went to the new Disney movie and he actually offered to buy popcorn and a drink!!

Then in Rendezvous the next night we sang to him, which he was thrilled with.

HONESTLY, I TRY………………

I have promised myself that I will blog this evening, if it kills me, and it just might.  I am exhausted, but know that I have neglected posting for some time now.  When I do that it is frustrating, because I have so much to report and some things I just forget.

We have just received 66 new missionaries in the last two days.  We have been visiting all of those in our zone and I have been giving them tours in the Brigham Young Home.  I feel a little badly, but also extremely grateful, that I am not new.  I think that you can survive that experience only once.  These people look scared speechless!  I remember how I cried for months, thinking that I would never learn what there was to learn here.  Now I am teaching new missionaries.  When did that happen? We visited a couple that lives in our tiny little barn, and she looks very distraught, it really is so small.  Brothers looking like they want nothing to do with the singing and dancing, but guess what, it comes with the territory! So, I have great empathy for these new missionaries, but I will do my best to make sure they are welcomed, taught, and supported.

Since I last posted, I have been released as the Site Leader of the Brigham Young Home.  I have been over that home for the entire time that I have been here in Nauvoo.  It is a little sad, but I will be able to continue to serve there periodically.  I have been reassigned to be the assistant site leader at Land and Records!  I love serving at this site.  We basically compile all of the records of Nauvoo and that time period and any new information, especially from computer sources, on the people who lived here in Nauvoo.  People have the opportunity to come in and burn a disc with all of the information that we have compiled. 

Membership records compiled by Susan Easton Black and her interns from BYU.

Property transactions from Hancock County 1839-1859.

Biographies and research on individuals who had a significant influence here. We have marriage records, death records, Nauvoo Legion, Mormon Battalion, the Mormon Redress Petition, Endowment records, baptism records, newspaper articles, personal histories.

I’m learning how to read maps and figure out sections of property, how far it is from Nauvoo, how much individual owned. We can tell you exactly where in Nauvoo a person lived and many people have family roots here. They are always so excited to learn of their family and go to stand on the very spot. 

Each one of these file cabinets is filled with the paperwork for individuals who lived in Nauvoo.  Sisters research them and go through books and books of material.  We then fill out a sheet and those sheets are scanned.  I have learned how to scan and put them on the computers, transferring them from the Y drive, to the C drive, and eventually to the F drive.  From there they are edited again and I then make an entirely new cover sheet for each record and it is entered into the computer and that is what is pulled up when people come in.  It is quite amazing.  I am scared, I love the research, I love working with the people, I am learning about the computer and it does scare me.  But I know the Lord will qualify me for the job.  So, see you in Land and Records!

BLESSINGS A PLENTY!!!!

First of all, I know that they say when you serve a mission, your families will be blessed, but this is above and beyond!!! Richard went to the mailbox the other day and lo and behold there was a package for us from an unknown address. He brings it home and I open it! Imagine my surprise when this is what we found………

WAIT FOR IT………………………………………………

TWO BRAND NEW I-PADS!!!!!!!HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!

ONE FOR RICHARD AND ONE FOR ME. OUR NAMES WERE EVEN STAMPED ON THE I-PAD AND THE COVERS AS WELL.

Am I in heaven or what?  I have been “complaining” because everyone and their dog here has an I-Pad. They use them in church for scriptures, hymns, talks, manuals, they are amazing.  I have kind of made it a joke, but someone has taken me seriously!  We have no idea whatsoever, who or whom, might have sent us these amazing gifts.  By the way, they are the top of the line with 65 something.

Shipped from California.  Who do we know there? No one.  Was it our children? No, I am pretty sure.  Was it my folks? No, I am pretty sure.  Was it someone here in Nauvoo?  We have no idea, if it was they are remaining anonymous.  It is frustrating for me on some level because I am one who prefers not to be indebted to anyone. (bad trait I know) How can I ever repay someone for this above and beyond kindness? I don’t know, all I do know is that I pray for them every day and that their generosity and selflessness is seen by our Father in Heaven and rewarded generously.  So if you are reading this blog and you have given us this gracious gift, I thank you with all of my heart.  I want to be like you………………………………………………….

BLESSINGS FOR SERVING A MISSION! ABSOLUTELY!

WITH SAD AND ACHING HEARTS, WE BID ADEIU………

This is a line from one of our songs in Rendezvous.  But it is also a fact of life here in Nauvoo.  We grow to love these people that we serve with so much, and then one day they are gone.  This really is like a little moment in time that is probably like no experience anywhere else in the world.  We literally spend hours and hours each day with the same group of people.  We are all here with the same purpose in mind, and all serving the Lord with all our might.  I have grown so close to so many and then one day there just aren’t there.  Nauvoo is called the revolving door, or escalator. We have a big group going home this week.  Elder Johnson (Jonny) has been one of my favorites.  He is the prompter in Rendezvous and has tried every way that he can think of to throw me off.  One night he was sitting there with big elf ears on, another a huge mustache and big eyebrows, another an arrow through his head, big glasses, devil horns, an Indian costume and still trying to get me.  I will never forget him, and his wife got us into our “new” little home.

He has made my time in the green room  “golden!”

The Andersen’s are from Delta, Utah.  Between them they have 13 kids.  They are so wonderful and so sweet and they play George and Agatha as well.  I always get such sweet hugs and encouragement from her.  People get us mixed up a lot.

The Jensen’s from Ivans, Utah.  They have been in our cast as well and he teases me and I dish it back.  I have had my shoes untied numerous times. 

The Endters.  They are from California and she has to be one of the most “artistic” hearted people I have ever met.  She was teaching a RS lesson one Sunday when the lights went off.  She thought it was a wonderful object lesson and just went right on teaching!  She has taken beautiful photos here. 

The Schrokhowskys.  They live in Boise.  He is from Austria, they met in Australia, have been all over the world and one of my best friends here.  She is so full of life and energy I could hardly keep up.  She is just personality plus and kept me in stitches the whole time.  I am really sad to see them go.  So with everyone that leaves, new ones come and I have been in the midst of serious training.  Sixty more next month.  Some day it will be my turn, but until then I have to thrust in my sickle with my might, right?

LET IT SNOW!!!! AND WHILE IT DOES……

So while I am at a site working……………Richard is riding the horse drawn sleigh. Go figure.  Lots of snow here in beautiful old Nauvoo.  It is still snowing today and seems as if it has been for weeks. But I think it is beautiful.  I love the four seasons and they are certainly here in abundance.

This morning was our farewell breakfast and welcome all in the same meal.  Some of my really dear friends are leaving and it is heartbreaking.  They call this mission the “revolving door,” and it really does feel like that.  One day someone is here, the next they are gone. And I just keep going on.  We got 12 new people this last week and have been involved in some of their training.

The President asked me to give them all a tour of the Brigham Young Home last Saturday, then I gave one of the tours in the Family Living Center last night, I will help with the tour in the Land and Records today, do Agatha tonight and train again tomorrow.  These people are being trained for five straight days before they are put to work and we were trained for ………….zero days before we were thrown in.  Much better for all concerned.

Next month we are receiving 70 new missionaries, and the month after that, we will receive 40 more.  Because Richard and I are Zone Leaders, we will be training the people called to be new district leaders.  We are making up notebooks that will make it easier to figure out their responsibilities.  The Openshaws have just been made zone leaders to replace the Greens.  We are ecstatic!!! They are like our family here.  We will be working with them a lot.

Last night we went over to the Openshaw’s and he teaches us for FHE.  I can’t even tell you what it is like to have a personal tutor that was the Institute director for the University of Utah, and BYU-I.  I am literally a sponge trying to take everything in.  What a blessing he is to me and how he is increasing my understanding of the Gospel.  What a blessing.

Yesterday, on our off day, I tried to get some more of my genealogy done.  So many people to find.  It is surely exciting and I love the work, I just wish I had more time and much more expertise to do it. 

We just heard that a sister that was here last summer who had to return home because of a brain tumor, just passed away.  Sister Larsen. Then this week we were stunned as Janae’s ex-brother-in-law, Brett Burkinshaw was found dead in his bed, 42 years old. Our days are known only to the Lord.  I am so grateful that I understand the Plan of Salvation-Happiness, and grateful to know that our time here is but a short minute, so much awaits us on the other side of the veil.

Our friends, the Christensens, are now home in Cleveland, Utah.  How we miss them, they inspired us all and continue to do so.  I just talked to them and he is having a feeding tube inserted in hopes of being able to make it through the summer.  We pray for them always…………………………………………………….

WE LOVE AND MISS YOU DORIS AND CHOCOLATE CHIP!

So while it snows, life goes on. I hope to live it with as much gratitude and grace as I am able.