There is Beauty All Around

 

We planted flowers!!! It's so fun seeing the beauty that flowers bring to an area! We started small,

with the sign at FM, then moved to the Site President's home. We also added flowers to the

Women's Garden and did some more clean-up there. They are trimming the hedges and also

removing lots of trees so we picked up trailer loads of branches.  I have a love/hate relationship

with the trees they are removing. They drop lots of "gumballs" or what I call "goat heads on steroids".

There are thousands of these balls and they go all over the place. The nice thing is, even with the

removal of these trees, there is still a lot of beauty around! 

I'm so excited for this summer! Sister Koop and I will be taking care of the Browning House vegetable gardens and the Lyon Drug herb gardens. I'll be learning how to plant, harvest and dry herbs. This was a goal of mine while I am serving in Nauvoo! We spent a better part of the day Monday working at the Browning House and the Family Living Center, trimming plants, weeding, etc. It looked so nice when we left.  We are planning on tilling the ground and planting this week or next, depending on weather, etc.

We decided to take a huge leap of faith and Elder Burns and I are being trained in doing tours of the Historic Sites. We will start off small with two sites - Browning Gun and the Webb Brothers Blacksmith. I'll let you know when we start doing the tours. We have some learning to do before then! While we were being trained at Browning Gun, we heard water running. Turns out the pipe that the sump pump goes through had broken at the top so the water was coming right back down. An interesting thing is that there is a well in the basement. The plumbers were called and all was fixed by the time we left. 

Tuesday night we had some excitement - a downpour and thunderstorm followed by our first tornado warning as missionaries! The warning came over our phones. We checked the internet and Nauvoo was not in the main warning area and the storm was heading away from us. We chose to stay home and felt peace. We've been in Nauvoo before during pageant when the sirens went off. I still remember the clouds looked like large marshmallows that had been roasted over a campfire. There were none of those clouds. Anyway, the warning expired and things went back to normal. As we were talking about it at work, one of the workers said that she thinks Heavenly Father puts a bubble around Nauvoo and keeps it safe from the tornados. Another stated that a tornado helped take down the first temple and that he doesn't think a second one will be allowed to do the same.

Funny quote from my 5-year-old grandson, Clark. "If you get caught in a tornado, you'll get dizzy!"

I think he's right! 😂

Movie night! Friday night we, the senior missionaries, were able to get together and watch Legacy at Pageant Headquarters. A movie on the big screen and popcorn! It was fun. We had movie night once shortly after we arrived here in October, then Covid restrictions prevented gathering until now. The YSM also had movie night but at a different time from us. 

Today is our Fast Sunday. We are fasting and praying for our beautiful Nauvoo Historic Sites and Carthage Jail to be open to the public so that others may come and feel of the spirit that is here and learn of Nauvoo life in the 1830-40's. I invite you to join your prayers with ours.

Easter is special because it is always a reminder that Christ not only suffered and died for my sins but that He rose again and that He lives! Because He lives, I can live again also. I am so thankful to know that life continues after this life, That when I die, it isn't the end. I'll be with my parents and grandparents again. I have so many questions that I want to ask my relatives who lived in the early days of the church. I look forward to the day (but not too soon!) that I can be with them all again! 

This Easter is also extra special because it is the General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! I invite you to join with me in listening to our Prophet and other General Authorities. I love this time of year! 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/events/april-2021-general-conference?lang=eng

I love all of you! Thank you for your love and prayers on our behalf!  

Sister Burns 

Elder Doug and Sister Jill Burns

My working buddy and friend, 

Sister Koop! Below, I'm planting 

and freezing! Can you see all the

layers on me! Haha

One of the many tubs of "gumballs" that

we picked up. They are all over Nauvoo!

The backyard of Browning Gun. This will be planted 

into a large vegetable garden! I'm excited to be a part

of the work!

Some of the YSM's getting their wagon ride. Their reward 

for passing their "white glove" apartment cleaning. These

Young Sisters are such an example to me and spiritual

way beyond what I am! I love them and being able to 

associate with them, even if it is just a wave as they pass by!