Doubt Not, Fear Not!

September 5, 2021

The Nauvoo Temple as drawn by Elder Burns 👉👉👉👉👉👉👉👉👉👉👉👉

Today was Fast and Testimony meeting. A little 9-year-old boy stood at the pulpit and bore the sweetest testimony I've heard in a long time. In a nutshell, he said that during the pandemic, a lot of people have been afraid and had fear but that if we look, we will see lots of blessings that have happened also. Then his sister stood up and talked about the influence she's had from "influencers" around and how she's really had to rely on the Lord and her testimony to get her through the tough times, when she is tempted to do what the "influencers" want her to do, instead of what she knows she should do. It was so sweet to feel her tender spirit as she relies on the Savior to help her through the ups and downs of life. We've been told that we need to become like little children and these two were great examples of that today.

Another testimony was given by a man who is meeting with the missionaries. Before he stood, several talked about the commotion going on in the world and how we know things are going to get worse before the Savior comes. He stood and basically said that with Jesus on our side, we should not fear but look to Him to help us. That by following Him, we have no need to fear. I love that! We can have the spirit with us as a constant companion if  we let him. What comfort that gives to me. I love the scripture in D&C 6:36 - "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." 

This week has been a great week! We went with E/S Elia to the temple and did sealings - we sealed many daughters to their parents, one son to his and several couples to each other. A sealing is where we join them together as a forever family through the Priesthood Authority that was restored to the Earth through Joseph Smith. It was wonderful to be there and to feel the spirit of those whose work we did. 

The deer found the garden and have really been feasting on it. I'm glad they are enjoying it - haha NOT! 

We did a lot of work in the flower beds around the sites getting them ready for this weekend - Labor Day and the 83rd Annual Nauvoo Grape Festival. Saturday the Grape Festival had a 5k walk/run which many of the missionaries, old and young, participated in. We were going to go cheer them on but, due to me misreading the clock (that's what I get for looking at it with tired, not-yet-awake eyes), we missed most of it. We did arrive in time to congratulate them at the finish line, after most of them had crossed it. It was fun though to mingle with the YSMs and other Senior Couples. 

After that, I spent the day cleaning, doing laundry and fixing dinner for Sisters Bowman and Harrison. They came over to teach us a discussion about faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  They, and many other YSMs, are preparing to go outbound soon so they are teaching discussions to the SC (Senior Couples) so they can transition from site missionaries to proselytizing missionaries. That's a big change for them but they did an amazing job and will be great missionaries!  We also fed them dinner and they loved it and even did the dishes! I've said it before and I'll say it again - I am going to really miss all of the YSMs when they leave! 

I was also able to work with more YSMs on the fleece blankets and that is time spent with them that I will treasure!

Several of the YPMs returned for the weekend and it was so fun to see them again and get hugs from them! We were all at "Sunset by the Mississippi" and we sat behind them. I had more fun watching them than the show. They could not hold still - they were singing and dancing in their seats and I loved every minute of it!!!

After church, we served our Incident Commander shift at the Visitor's Center, had a nice phone visit with Austin and Sydney, then we topped the weekend off by having a "Sundaes on Sunday" District meeting at our place. It was a fun evening spent with wonderful friends. Also, Elder Burns was released this week as our District leader and we welcomed  Elder Snyder as our new DL. Who said Sunday was a day of rest? Haha

We love serving here! We love being missionaries for our Savior! He lives and I am grateful for that knowledge! 

Sister Burns

Sister Harrison and Sister Bowman. Love these Sisters and

I'm going to miss them! Also, I cut my hair this week! 

The trailer Elder Burns has been working on for

leaf pick-up. It's getting there! He's doing a

great job!

From the Women's Garden. It's been closed

all summer, which is really sad. They are putting in

new brick and have had many setbacks.

A unique flower. I really liked it.

👆👇 Pictures from the Exodus Memorial. We were weeding

the flower beds here and I had to stop and take pictures.

There is so much beauty here in Nauvoo!

This HUGE spider was in the flower bed I was weeding

and I was not a fan of it! I quickly left that area! I'm not

messing with that one!

The sprinklers were on the other day when I arrived at Lyon Drug,

which is very unusual. They wouldn't stop so I had to call in for help.

There was a beautiful rainbow in the water but it didn't come through on the picture.

This I find interesting. They are doing work at Lyon Drug and 

this is the front door. Notice the layers of brick that make the wall. Pretty cool!

I can say that I've worn my shoes out in the service of my Lord.

I bought these just after we arrived here and have worn them

every work day since. I wondered why my feet were getting wet -

this would be why!

The missionaries after the 5K.

Making fleece blankets. These sisters are obedient and 

wore their masks the whole time. They removed them  

quickly for the picture because I want to 

remember their sweet faces and smiles!

Our Partridge District

Back L to R E/S Snyder, E/S Burns, E/S Macfarlane, E Webster

Front Row E/S Mills, S Webster

The mission saying good-bye to E/S Bingham and E/S Chapman and Cooper. 

E/S Lancaster also left and headed home.