Lots of excitement around here!

August 22, 2021

Hello!

Some exciting things are happening here in Nauvoo! First off, the Young Sister Missionaries (YSM) have received their outbound calls! Let me explain a little - when you are called as a YSM to Nauvoo, you spend 12 months serving in Nauvoo and then you serve 6 months away from Nauvoo serving as a proselytizing missionary. The YSMs that are going outbound will start leaving Sept. 22. The rest of the YSMs that are heading home leave in October. Since they have been giving tours, those going outbound need training in giving discussions before they leave so we are helping them in their transition. At first, we were going to have a companionship come for dinner and then give us a discussion, but since covid has reared its ugly head again, we now will be doing the discussions over zoom.  Also, the YSMs have been doing a lot of the Zoom tours and we, the Senior Missionaries, will be trained in how to take over the tours and do them. All of the missionaries, whether we are FM, Sites or Teamsters, will be learning how to do them. 

I am so excited for the new experiences that the YSMs will have, whether heading home or outbound, but I will sure miss them! They bring such a spirit of love, joy and testimony to the mission! I love seeing them and hearing their happy greetings - "Hello Sister Burns!", "I love you, Sister Burns!" "Have a great day, Sister Burns!" Every time that I see them, my spirit is touched and I am filled with His love, through them!

Another exciting, but kind of scary thing (haha), is that I have been put in charge of the mission side of Boo-tiful Nauvoo. For those who don't know what this is - it is a Halloween celebration in Nauvoo. Mullholland, the main street in upper Nauvoo, is lined with jack-o-lanterns, there is a parade and lots of kettle corn and fun to be had. So, I will be attending the city planning meetings, organizing the pumpkin carving (around 400-500 pumpkins) and getting them lined up on Mullholland. Also, making arrangements, etc, for the mission entry in the parade and making around 4000ish (so I've been told) bags of kettle corn to pass out. I'm a little nervous and a lot excited to help make this happen this year! It was cancelled last year so we want to make up for that this year!

Monday night we took a boat ride on the Mississippi with several other missionary couples. It was a fun, relaxing evening and I really enjoyed being on the water. We went through Lock 19 so that was interesting. It was probably the first and last time that I'll experience that. We went into the lock, waited for the water to fill up high enough so that we could go out the other side. On the way back, we entered the lock and waited for the water to empty. I love spending time with the other missionaries. 

Today is my birthday and I am so blessed! I received so many birthday wishes, texts, treats and love! I also had a two hour Google Meet with my kids and grandkids! They are the best and I love them! Elder Burns took me to dinner last night and then out for ice cream after. Gluten-free shrimp scampi, sweet potato fries (the first I've had since I left Utah) and a German Chocolate shake. It was yummy!

My work truck is in the hospital. It quit working and the diagnosis is that it needs a new starter put in. In the meantime, Sister Wood was very kind and let me hang out with her and her truck this week. She was a huge help at Lyon Drug and helped me cut back more of the lemon balm and also the Tansie plants. The areas look so bare now but it reminds me that sometimes, we are cut down so that we can grow stronger and better. It's during these times of "pruning" that we need to continue to have faith that Heavenly Father has a plan for us and that we need to hold fast to the faith and promise that He knows us and what we need to grow closer to Him.

As I look back through my life, I can see His hand in so many things where I felt forgotten, felt like He didn't care about me or where I was struggling to understand why something was happening. In my times of struggle, He was there all along and His timetable always works out better than mine! I just need to remember that during the trial!

I love being here in Nauvoo! I love serving here! I love each of you!

The gourds in the gourd tunnel are falling off of the 

vines. This makes me sad. ;-(  This one was almost as 

tall as I am.

The Temple gardeners asked us to help them plant some new flower beds around the

Temple Arrival Center. We had a lot of fun helping them plant them. 

This is called Snake Alley and is in Burlington, Iowa. This picture 

doesn't do it justice. I'll have to go back and take a picture

looking from the bottom to the top.

A lot of pictures from our cruise on the Mississippi.

Sweet Sister Bingham! I asked Doug, something like,

"Honey, should we take a picture?" Sister Bingham

answered by hopping in next to me, hence the

laughing from me! I love her and will miss her when

they leave in a few weeks. 

Heading into Lock #19

E/S Elia, Us, E/S Brown in front of the Fort Madison Branch building. 

This is where we are assigned to go each Sunday as we do our outbound service.

Notice how tan my arms are and how white my legs are. Haha! Also, we had one of the 

missionaries take this picture and the other tried hiding behind the pillar. 

This sign greeted me as I opened my front door 

on my birthday! To whomever put it there - thank you!

 

--

Oh, My Heart!

 August 15, 2021

As the sun sets on the Mississippi, (YPM friends, did you sing that line?) I am reminded of the beautiful world that a loving Heavenly Father created for me and for you! In all of our busyness and all of the chaos in this world, I hope that we can all take a few minutes to appreciate the beauty around us and enjoy a few minutes of peace and love!

Tuesday night was the final "Sunset on the Mississippi" for many of the YPMs. We were able to attend it and say goodbye to many of them. There were a lot of hugs and tears. They were so sweaty and I didn't care! I'll take all of the sweaty hugs I can get from them! I love these kids and will miss them! Wednesday morning, the YPMs loaded the bus and headed to the airport to return home. A piece of my heart left with them! I have loved getting to know these amazing young adults and will miss seeing them around and being with them. They have brought so much fun, music, laughter and such a great spirit to Nauvoo this summer! I will miss them! Before they left, many of the missionaries met them in the parking lot and gave them a "Hoorah, hoorah, hoorah for Israel'' shout and sang "God Be with You Till We Meet Again". The YPMs also sang us a last song before they loaded the bus. I was again able to hug and say goodbye to some of them. 

Along with the YPMs leaving, came a reminder that all to soon, our YSMs will be leaving. Those that will be going out-bound received their calls to their new areas. 

Saturday evening, Elder Burns and I were privileged to clean the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds. I know some might think, what? privileged to clean a cemetery? Yes! As I cleaned the statue of the parents, a brother and a small baby, gathering together as they buried a child, I felt such a beautiful spirit. It's hard to describe the feelings that came over me, as I thought of my own pioneer ancestors who buried their own babies, children, parents and spouses and of modern day pioneers who have done the same. I have a few ancestors buried in this cemetery, although I don't know where since most of the headstones have been destroyed with time. I love the peace and beauty of this  sacred place. I truly was cleaning sacred grounds.

 

Earlier Saturday evening, we gathered for a condo dinner, outside on the grass. It was a beautiful evening. We had a variety of salads and Sister Koop made a special gluten-free pasta salad for me. You know, sometimes it's the small things that bring happiness and joy. That special effort on her part will be remembered.

We had rain and more rain this week which meant several days of pot washing! You'd think by now that we'd be done with them, but nope! There are lots and lots of them and Richard keeps finding more but the great part is, we have an amazing group of garden/grounds Sisters and Elder that makes it fun and enjoyable, even if it is tedious! Speaking of garden Sisters, Sister Wood and Sister Coffman helped me cut back the lemon balm at Lyon Drug. I'll tell you what - six hands sure make faster work than just my two! I sure appreciate their help!

👈Our pot washing station in the B Building

         

                                The lemon balm - before, during and after!  

                                 

       

From Elder Burns: So this week we had one of our FM employees run the backhoe into the back of this trailer and bent the door all up. So when that happens it comes to me. I ended up cutting the bed section out, replacing the bed section with steel after I straightened the door. Welding the pieces in place. Straightening the hinges. And straightening the wall of the trailer so that the doors would swing correctly. Once I got all that accomplished, I was then able to paint it and it is now ready to be used again. It seems like there are a lot of things that happened in Nauvoo that are mistakes but yet they get fixed by me.

This other picture is of the trailer that I am closing in. It is our leaf blower trailer. on the front of the trailer is the leaf blower that comes out of the big shoot on top and will go into the trailer with all the leaves that it sucks up. It is a dump trailer, so that when it is full we can take it to the area outback where we burn the leaves and dump it into the burn pile. 

I know this letter is long, but I really want to share this while it is fresh in my mind. We had an amazing training/devotional tonight that was presented by President Rizley. He spoke of the things that happened in Nauvoo and the surrounding areas after the martyrdom and before the saints left in 1846. It was titled "1845 the lost year". In it, he mentioned Ramus, which was settled by the Johnson family and another family that I don't remember the name of. After the meeting, I told President Rizley that my Johnson ancestors were the Johnson's that settled Ramus. He asked me which one and I told him it was Joel Hills Johnson - my 4th great-grandpa. He then told me that Joel had baptized his Merrill family and that without Joel, he wouldn't be here in Nauvoo today. He said that the Merrill family were farmers in Carthage and that Joel had not been called as a missionary but felt the spirit direct him to them, so he went and taught them and they joined. Isn't that cool! Then, to make it better, Sister Brown was there and she told me that her ancestors were also taught and baptized by Joel!!! I will call that a Nauvoo tender mercy! I'm so grateful for my ancestors and the faith and testimony that they had. I have some strong shoulders to stand upon - I know they are close by!

Love you all!

--

Sister Burns

Elder Doug and Sister Jill Burns

975 Young Street

Nauvoo, IL 62354

burnsinnauvoo.blogspot.com

The peaceful and serene entrance to the Old Burial Grounds

The sorghum plants did not like the wind storm we had.

A praying mantis that I found this week. He was a gentle reminder

that we can pray anywhere - even on a ladder in the back of

a truck.

These sweet sisters work with the YPMs. The one

on the left found me Sunday and gave me a hug

from Austin. She'd gone home for a wedding and 

met Austin while she was there. Austin was the best

man at the wedding. He asked her to give me a hug -

which I gladly accepted! 

The sheep following the shepherd, aka Sis. Koop

 

Lyon Drug gardens on a rainy, cloudy day.

The beautiful sisters that I worked with Sunday at IC

A fun and yummy little gift that was in our mailbox! So sweet

in multiple ways!

It was a fun weather week. Haha

Men are, that they might have joy!

 

Monday we finished wood chipping the Trail of Hope and it looks so good! Elder Burns finished the new parking lot that they (Elder Burns, Elder Cole and Aaron) have been working on. It looks really nice. We aren't sure what they plan on doing with it but I guess time will tell. I've heard some rumors but nothing confirmed yet.

The other day, I was working in the Lyon Drug Gardens and a boy, around 6-7, came through the gardens. As he made his way to the Gourd Tunnel, he started laughing and laughing and calling for everyone to come and see it. His laughter and excitement at seeing the gourds made my day! It brought so much joy and happiness to me just seeing how happy and excited he was. I wanted to record his laughter! The gourd tunnel is pretty amazing!

Friday, sites were closed for the morning because one of the missionaries had tested positive for Covid and the Presidency was evaluating what actions to take. Thankfully, we opened back up that afternoon! A car pulled up to the gardens and asked if they could walk through them, since everything else was closed. I told them sure. She had some children that were not very happy and I told her to make sure they made it to the gourd tunnel. They walked back there and I joined them. I saw sad faces turn instantly to happy faces. It makes me so happy to see others made happy by my efforts in the gardens! I love that I get to serve this way! I love the miracles that happen in that garden! I'm not the best at gardening - ask my kids haha - but the garden is still (mostly) alive and thriving! I never knew that I would find peace and enjoyment pulling weeds and deadheading plants. I pray each morning to find joy in the service that I do each week and I'm thankful for answered prayers.

Also this week, in the gardens, we had some special visitors! The YPMs stopped by, sang a song for us and enjoyed the gourd tunnel! I love, love, love the YPMs and will miss this group as many of them return home this week. We have come to love many of them! 

As I mentioned earlier, we had a Covid scare this week but as of this writing, as far as I know, no one else has tested positive for it. There are a lot of the missionaries  that are in lockdown right now. Please join us in praying that things stay contained and that we can keep the sites open so others can enjoy the spirit of Nauvoo. 

Wednesday evening, all of the missionaries attended "Sunset by the Mississippi". It was a great time and then we had a group photo taken after the show. 

I love serving here! I love the joy that I feel as I serve. The Savior declared, "Men are, that they might have joy." Heavenly Father has given us so much and He wants us to have joy! How cool is that! Through our trials, through our ups and downs, He wants us to have joy! I know it's not always easy to find joy in some things (like having to wear masks again!) but that's what our loving Savior wants for us - to have joy!

I love this quote from President Nelson: "My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God's plan of salvation, and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening - or not happening - in our lives. Joy comes from, and because of Him. He is the source of all joy."  I invite you to find joy in your life this week! Here's a great talk on joy that I love! 

https://speeches.byuh.edu/devotionals/men-are-that-they-might-have-joy

I love serving here in Nauvoo! I love my family and I'm so thankful that I know we can be together forever! This knowledge definitely brings me joy! I can't picture my life - now or in the eternities - without all of my children and grandchildren around me! I love you all too!

--

Sister Burns

Elder Doug and Sister Jill Burns

975 Young Street

Nauvoo, IL 62354

burnsinnauvoo.blogspot.com

Elder Burns in the dump truck! He's spent a 

lot of time in it the last few weeks.

A sweet text message that I received from Sister Melling

the other day. It made my day!!!

The parking lot the Elder Burns has been working on.

A few more loads of gravel, some leveling and it's 

looking great!

Our YPMs and Brass Band members of the 1st cast!

This was a week of rejoicing and good-byes

Hello everyone!

This was a week of rejoicing and also a week of too many goodbyes. The rejoicing was in being able to attend an endowment session in the Nauvoo Temple! We've been in the temple for baptisms and confirmations once but to be able to attend a session was a complete joy! We hope to be able to attend frequently now. I still remember the first time that I entered this holy temple here in Nauvoo. It was during the pageant of  2005. As we were walking up to the temple, the hymn, "The Spirit of God'' was playing from the pageant grounds and the Spirit was so strong. As I entered the temple I could feel my ancestors there. It was like they were excited and pleased that I was attending their temple. I know it's the rebuilt temple, but it will always be my ancestors' temple. The one that they sacrificed and worked so hard to finish. I am so grateful for the blessings of the temple!

We had a special FM meeting this week. Bishop Budge, of the Presiding Bishopric, spoke to us.  I wish that I had taken notes (I'm really bad at that) but I really enjoyed the time we had  with him. He spoke about the responsibilities of the Presiding Bishopric and a lot of what they do. He spoke of meetings with President Nelson and how he receives revelation to run the church. 

We said good-bye to three couples this week. The Massey's, the Ballard's and the Booth's. They will be missed. 

Friday several of the garden sisters and husbands went out to dinner at a Mexican place in Ft Madison. It was so-so. I won't be back. After the dinner, The YSMs had their version of the Olympics. They had wheel-barrow races, tug-of-war contests, human knots, graces (throwing a hoop and catching it with two sticks), and a few other competitions. It was fun watching them. Elder Burns and I took a few minutes to walk over to Lyon Drug to check my garden out - I'd been working a lot this week at the Hyde home, the Visitors Center and Trail of Hope so had kind of neglected Lyon Drug. When we arrived there, Richard and his wife were there. He's back now and was checking out the gardens. I'm sure he's dreading coming back Monday - we have so many questions for him! Haha!

Friday, we also gave an FM tour to the Fonseca's. We are friends from back home. I love all of the friends and family that we have had here!

After the Olympics, we directed the Ballard's over to the Family Living Center, where a lot of the missionaries were waiting to send them off with a big "Hoorah for Israel" shout. They did one earlier for the Massey's but we missed that one. I will really miss the Ballard's. We have become very close friends. Ron and Sherryl Allen (missionaries that left in December) and Doug and I are already planning a trip to see the Ballard's when we return. I knew that we would make friends while we were on our mission, but I didn't realize that with those friendships come good-byes for a time. We are already planning mission reunions!!

Our friends, Royal and Adriana Fletcher, were in town this week and I was able to visit with them for a few minutes at the Lyon Drug Gardens. It was so great to see them! We met doing the pageant several years ago (I believe it was 2013) and have stayed friends since.

Today, while we were at the VC doing our shift there, Adele Parker and Kris Larsen (also friends that we met through the Pageant and SOTW) showed up! It was so great to see them again! They are here with others involved in the pageant leadership. 

This week, a sign appeared on the doors of the site buildings telling everyone that we have to wear masks again. Boo! Even with masks, we love serving here and are so thankful for the opportunity and blessing we have of serving in this beautiful city of our ancestors. 

We were invited this week in church to reread President Nelson's conference talk on faith and to think of how faith has helped us in our own lives.  I invite you to do the same. I'm going to also study the Book of Mormon again focusing on faith and the blessings that come from it.   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/49nelson?lang=eng

I love that we have a living prophet to guide and direct us in these latter-days. I'm thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, whose name I wear daily. I love Him and am thankful that I can serve Him.

Much love and blessings to all!

I love to see the temple! I went inside today!

The sun has been so pretty from all the smoke 

in the air. The west is on fire and the smoke

has made it to us here in Nauvoo.

Farewell Sister Massey

E/S Booth Elder Booth was one of Doug's

racquetball partners. Fortunately, they don't live far from us

so they'll be able to play when we return home.

Us and E/S Ballard  I'm already missing them!

The gourd arbor! It's so pretty! 

The Fletcher's!

Just some more beautiful flowers! The red one

is larger than my hand!

I wasn't happy to see these signs again. Boo!

Adele, Kris, E/S Burns, Pres. & Sis Gudmundson

He is the Pageant President

I saw this on Facebook and I really like it!

Sisters Melling & Austad. I got to hang 

out with them at the VC Sunday.

I put this one in for a good laugh! This was 

me after a really hot day out working.

I was hot, sweaty and exhausted!