#GiveThanks

 

Happy Sabbath my dear friends and family!

What a joyful and busy week this has been!  As I mentioned in my previous email, Elder Burns and I were called to be over the Light the World activities for the missionaries here. We had several meetings for that this week and are excited to meet with others in the Nauvoo area and get things moving. One of the activities that we have been doing is making adult-sized bibs for the rest homes in Carthage. We completed that and have 53 bibs to give to them. Having been with my grandmas while they were in rest homes, I know what a blessing these bibs will be.  We look forward to doing food drives and other activities yet to be determined.

On the work front - the tool chests are clean and organized! Labels are being made for them now and I'm waiting for the carpentry shop to make me a storage area for the Dewalt tools. We hung some pegboard to make a dedicated space for specific tools needed and little by little (ever so little by little ) I am making progress. Elder Burns has been fixing trailers and making signs for some of the new homes that have been restored and are now a part of the tours. He is also being trained in other areas to take over for some of the other missionaries that are leaving soon. 

Wednesday we were blessed to be able to pick up 5 new YSM that are just arriving on their missions. We drove to St. Louis and had a very enjoyable ride back, listening to the excitement and stories of the YSM. There were 8 new YSMs that joined us that day. Of the five we picked up, one was from my hometown of Pocatello and one was close by in Blackfoot. The others were from Utah. It was such a joy to hear them tell of their "why" for serving a mission. Several of them commented that it was after receiving their Patriarchal Blessing  that they received the desire and knew that they would serve their missions. There is power in these blessings. If you have yours, please take the time to read it often. If you don't have one yet, please do what you need to do to receive yours. For my friends and family who have no idea what I'm talking about, please read this short article that explains more about them.  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/patriarchal-blessings?lang=eng

I #GiveThanks for my Patriarchal Blessing and the peace that I feel when I read it. It has given me direction in time of trial, it has given me peace and I am blessed to have it. 

Thursday we had several training meetings and they always leave me feeling spiritually fed. These next few meetings will be on Faith and developing the Christlike attribute of Faith. I have a favorite saying that says, "Faith is not knowing what the future holds. Faith is knowing who holds the future."  One of my favorite songs also talks about faith. Here are the words: 

Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.
Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.
Faith is like a little seed:
If planted, it will grow.
Faith is a swelling within my heart.
When I do right, I know.

Faith is knowing I lived with God before my mortal birth.
Faith is knowing I can return when my life ends on earth.
Faith is trust in God above;
In Christ, who showed the way.
Faith is strengthened; I feel it grow
Whenever I obey.

Friday President Nelson gave a short but powerful message to all who will listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlcILxGmVrI  At the end, he asked us to flood social media with things we are grateful for and use the hashtag #givethanks. It has brought me so much joy as I've read so many positive messages of gratitude. What do you #givethanks for?

We did receive some heartbreaking news this week. A beloved counselor in our site mission presidency was diagnosed with cancer and will be leaving the mission this week. Our love and prayers go with him and his sweet wife.

I am thankful this holiday season that I was raised by parents who were full of faith and good works. They knew and know, as do I, that Jesus is our Savior and that he hears and answers our prayers. They might not always be answered how I think they should be, but I've learned through the years that He answers them in a way that is best for me. He sees the whole picture and I only see a puzzle piece of it. I'm thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for the many, many blessings that that brings into my life. I'm grateful to be serving Him as a missionary for His church, in beautiful Nauvoo. I can guarantee you that if I didn't have a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, I would not have left my children and grandchildren to serve Him for 18 months. I know He lives! I know that because He lives, I will be able to be with my family forever! That knowledge makes any sacrifice worth it! I love my Savior, I love His church, I love my family, I love all my friends - we are all one large family!

Happy Thanksgiving and remember to find things to be thankful for!

Sister Burns

Faith is like a little seed. If planted it will grow. Flower bed in front of the Visitor Center.

Working on the bibs for the rest homes.