This was definitely a week of high ups and low downs, quite the roller coaster ride for me! I've struggled this week with feelings of inadequacy, feelings of not belonging, feelings of great sadness and frustration, feelings of just wanting to pack my bags and head home. I know that Satan was/is working overtime on me this week. Isn't it true that when we feel this way, something great is usually just around the corner! If we hold on, we make it through the dreary and see the sunshine! Well folks, the sun is shining in Nauvoo and we open one week from tomorrow! May 3rd we open for live, in-person tours! After being closed to the public for over a year, we are like kids at Christmas time! We are excited!
As a mission, we are busy preparing and getting ready for the next level of "normal". We are opening but with a change in how the Historic Sites are visited. Instead of being able to go into any site when you want to, you now have to register in advance and will get a group tour (right now limited to 8) of several of the sites, called an "Experience". I'm excited for how it's going to play out and I really think that the "experience" is going to be a great change!
Friday we had a trial run where the non-site missionaries were visitors and we were to ask questions, try to see the sites, etc. It was fun and we learned a lot from it! There is still much to do and learn. As part of the opening, Elder Burns and I were asked to be on the Security and Emergency Committee. Elder Burns is writing up the Emergency Action Plan for the mission. His years of Incident Command training and work in the Emergency field is coming in handy right now. I was looking around at the missionaries during Sacrament Meeting and decided that Heavenly Father really knows what is going to happen before it happens. He sent the right people to Nauvoo, to be here at this time. We have an amazing Site President who has had to deal with Covid most of his time here. He has worked diligently to lead us, train us and do what is best for Nauvoo. We have video and sound experts, we have those with medical experience to help train all of us in what we need to know if there is an emergency. We have former police officers to train us in Security if needed, we have amazing site missionaries who will give amazing in-person tours, not to mention all of the sweet YSMs. Teamsters, FM, and all are ready for this day to happen! OK, I should say, ready or not, we are ready! :-)
I spent the week pulling weeds, mulching and working hard, along with Sister Koop and a few of the YSMs that were able to come and help. We even had some special visitors stop by on their morning walk and help for an hour-ish. Thanks Sisters Rizley and Bingham! I finished up most of the Orson Hyde home this week. The weeds (for now) are pulled and all the flower beds and tree rings are mulched! This is one of the four homes that have recently been refurbished/rebuilt and will be dedicated soon. I was so close to getting the mulch all done that I decided to stay and work late. Elder and Sister Elia were driving around, saw me working and stopped. Sister Elia stayed and helped me. Soon Elder Burns arrived and in a few hours, it was completed! Happy day! Like I mentioned, we had some YSMs help and on the day they mulched, they sent a thank you text that said, "We just wanted to say thank you both very MULCH for everything this morning!!" It made my day! I love our YSMs!
Another highlight this week was that my niece, Dani, came to Nauvoo for a temple sealing on her husband's side and I was able to see them! I'd never met her husband so that was fun and we also met his parents and siblings. We took them around to the Lyon Drug gardens (of course! haha), the FM complex, the Women's Garden and up to see the horses. It was a quick visit but I'm so glad that it happened!
Saturday night we went out to dinner with the Ballards! It was so fun! We went to a restaurant in Keokuk called Hawkeyes. The food was great and the company was even better! It was a fantastic way to end the week!
Well my friends, I'm grateful for friends that let me vent to them and still love me! I'm thankful the Savior lives and is there to comfort and help us through the trials of life! He, only, knows what we are going through and what we are feeling. He knows how to help us, when we ask Him for help. I'm thankful for my eternal companion - I love him! I'm grateful that the sun does come out again and that things can be bright again. I'm thankful for you!
Much love and blessings,
--Sister Burns
Elder Doug and Sister Jill Burns
975 Young Street
Nauvoo, IL 62354
The flowers are so pretty!
Even the weeds are pretty in Nauvoo. Haha
My sweet, beautiful niece!
Some of the gardens at Lyon Drug. If you look close, you can see my helpers
in the background. They did a great job helping and I'm so grateful for them!
The garden above will be planted in May. I'm excited to learn all about the
herbs we'll be planting.
Another garden at Lyon Drug.
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