Burns in Nauvoo: 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!