Picture taken in front of the fireplace in the Family Living Center
December 20, 2020
My dear family and friends,
This week has been so much fun! Besides the usual service we do each day in the welding and auto mechanic shop, this week, we have been able to work with the Young Sister Missionaries! What a blast that has been for us! Up to this point, we really haven't had the opportunity to do much with them other than a quick "hello" as we pass each other (again - thanks Covid). For Christmas this week, we (the missionaries) are getting to go on a wagon ride through Nauvoo (in small groups, socially distanced and with masks on for those who are worried) and have entertainment at pre-arranged locations. The night us "oldies" go, the YSMs are performing for us and then when they go, us "oldies" are performing for them. We are all excited for this and it has been a great moral booster! After a Thanksgiving "lockdown", we are so excited for this!
So, Elder Burns and I have been organizing the YSM entertainment. We have been able to meet with the YSMs and preview their talents - songs, story-telling, skits, etc. It's been so much fun! These young sisters really are valiant servants, saved for these last days and they are so talented and willing to share those talents! It has been a JOY for us to be with them!
Speaking of JOY - I heard a great acronym the other day for it!
J - Jesus
O - Others
Y - Yourself
If we remember this acronym - keep Jesus first in our lives, then others and then yourself. That's where true joy is found. Now, I'm not saying that we don't take time for ourselves because it is very important that we do that - we must fill our cups so that we have enough to give others. I know for me that I am happiest when I feel needed and am serving others.
This week, we also took a lot of food to the food bank and items to the Bright Angel drop. It was so nice to see how generous our missionaries are. I love it and I love being a part of such great work!
Last night we were able to go to some of the historic sites and it was so wonderful to be able to enter them. It was the first time since we've been here. They are decorated for Christmas and have some super cool nutcrackers. Elder Burns and I have a large collection of nutcrackers but I'd never seen any like I saw last night! I'll put pictures on the blog.
Along with celebrating Christmas this week, we also celebrate the birth of Joseph Smith on December 23. I am so grateful that Joseph, as a young boy of 14, had the faith to seek answers in prayer. I'm thankful that he had the courage, strength and integrity to carry on the work that he was assigned to do. I love him and am so humbled that I get to daily walk the streets here in Nauvoo that he walked and that my ancestors walked.
As Elder Burns and I were in the Post Office historic site yesterday, the thought again came to me that Joseph walked on those floors, as did many of my ancestors. I know that this church, the restored church of Jesus Christ, was restored through Joseph Smith. I know that he translated The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Christ. I know that I take a lot of this for granted but I rejoice this holiday season to remember these two great men, my Savior, Jesus Christ and his prophet in the latter-days, Joseph Smith. If you are interested in reading about Christmas with the prophet Joseph, here is a link to a great article:
https://www.
I wish you all a wonderful and very merry Christmas! May you rejoice in Christ, who I know came to this Earth as a small babe in a manager, who was welcomed to the earth by shepherds. He lived a humble life but was a perfect example for us to follow. He died so that we might live again! I am forever grateful to Him for his sacrifice for me. I know I fall short but that he makes up the difference for me as I repent and try harder to be better each day!
Much love to all of you!
Sister Burns
I'll be posting a lot of pictures on this week's blog. I can't attach very many to the email or it won't send. You can find the blog at burnsinnauvoo.blogspot.com
Printing Office, the home of John Taylor and the Post Office.
Riser Boot & Shoe Shop
Stoddard Tin Shop
I love this lock that is on one of the historic sites.
I just can't remember which one!
A beautiful sunrise in Nauvoo! This makes having to get up early so worth it!
The First Vision statue in the Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is having a makeover.
Everything is in the process of being removed.
I'm excited to see the new and improved VC when it is all complete.
This was one of my cleaning and organizing activities this week!
The before 🠉and after🠋!
This gentleman has been going all over Nauvoo singing Christmas carols.
We had a knock on the door and he was singing for us! It was so much fun!
Pictures from inside the 70's Hall. I forgot to get one of the outside.
I don't usually see the sunsets but was in the right spot on this day!
This picture sums up beautifully what I believe!
The Savior came to us as a small babe, set the perfect example for us to live by.
He died and was resurrected so that we can live again. Through Him
and the covenants that I have made with Him in His beautiful temples,
I can live with Him again and be with my family forever!
That knowledge makes everything worth it!
Some fun nutcrackers that are in some of the historic sites this Christmas.
Our three Christmas trees! This one we brought from home. My mom and dad bought it on their mission so we thought it only right to bring it on our mission.
Little did we know that we would have a tree and decorations waiting for us when we arrived to our condo in Nauvoo, so we decided that we would have two trees!
Then we received a package from our kids and grandkids that was full of nutcracker ornaments that they had made and painted for us. We didn't have room for them on the other tree so we headed to Dollar General and bought this tree - and it was even 50% off! We have also added a lot of new ornaments to it that we have received from the other missionaries here! The ornaments on this tree will definitely be treasured!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
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