After my last letter, I realized that I was busy doing a lot of necessary things but that I had failed in reading my scriptures and praying like I should. I came across a thought that read, "If you don't have time to pray and read scriptures, you are busier than God ever intended you to be." Yes, I was busy and yes, I was tired but I still had time to do those things, I just chose not to because I was tired and didn't have the motivation to do it.
This week, I decided that I needed to have some spiritual uplift so I prayed that I would be able to have some great spiritual experiences this week and did that happen!
This week, we had a lot of visitors from Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City. We had those over the FM and several of the sites come and visit. They were touring the sites with an architect who deals with historic homes. He was teaching them the correct way to restore homes and what to look for in those already restored that might need to be improved on. On Thursday morning, they did a training for the FM missionaries and employees. We were taught a lot of great things but I really liked this picture of humility. Being humble is to recognize gratefully our dependence on the Lord-to understand that we have constant need for His support. I love this picture - it shows a person in humble prayer but it also looks like a body-builder pose, that to me says, by humbling myself before my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ, in humble prayer, they will help me do great things. In them is my strength!
The garden sisters often talk of how we couldn't do the things we do without the help of the Savior. He gives us the strength and endurance that we need to accomplish the things that we do.
Along with the Salt Lake group was Moina. She works for FM at Church Headquarters and is our advocate. We talked to her a lot during the delays in getting out to Nauvoo. She's the one that had to call and tell us we were being delayed because of Covid. It was so nice to put a face to the voice and spend some time with her. She is the nicest person.
While Moina was in town, the garden crew and spouses went to dinner in Keokuk.
Back row: Elder Cole, S/E Wood, Elder Elia, Elder Burns, Sister Elia Middle Row: Sister Cole, Moina, Elder Coffman, Sister Koop, Sister Peterson Front row: Sister Coffman, Sister Burns (I have no clue what I'm doing with my mouth,
maybe licking my teeth or preparing to blow you kisses?😂), Elder Koop
The garden sisters! Sister Wood, Sister Burns aka me!,
Moina, Sister Coffman and Sister Elia
We also had a great training on Wednesday night and then Friday we were privileged to hear from the General Relief Society, Sister Bingham and the Primary President, Sister Johnson, their husbands, and our Area Seventy (his name escapes me). That was a wonderful evening that again strengthened my testimony.
Friday, we also attended a session in the Nauvoo Temple. It's always a great day when I can attend the temple!
Saturday, Doug and I attended several of the YPM shows in the morning, then I went to "Women of Nauvoo" by myself. Doug's headache was pretty bad by this point so he stayed home to sleep. I've seen this vignette on the beginnings of Relief Society before but the spirit was strong. Maybe it helped that Sisters Bingham and Johnson were there, along with the Area Seventy and their spouses. I know that Relief Society is an inspired part of the church and I'm so grateful for those early pioneers who saw a need and did something about it.
There is so much more that I could share. Like I said earlier, the Lord blessed me with an abundance of spiritual experiences this week and for that I'm grateful. I know that he knows me and loves me, as he knows and loves you. If you need confirmation of that, pray to Heavenly Father and he'll bless you to know of His love for you.
I almost forgot to mention - twelve of our YSMs left for their outbound assignments. It was wonderful to see them before they left and present them with a picture of the Nauvoo Temple that Doug drew. They loved it! I know they will all do great as they move from being site missionaries to proselytizing missionaries. I will miss them - a lot!
Pageant stage railing that Elder Burns was working on
If you look really close, you can see a new orchard that was planted
behind the Orson Hyde home. Richard is calling it the "Fruitcake orchard"
because it has a big mix of fruit trees in it!
Sister Wimmer and Sister Bybee, the day before they
went into isolation before they left to go outbound.
I love all of the YSMs but there are a few that I
have a special love for and Sister Bybee is one of them!
I ministered to her during the Covid
lockdown and grew extra close to her.
It's always fun when family friends come to visit Nauvoo!
Blaine and Diane Chantry Anderson. The Chantry's and Burns' have
been friends since they were little.
The surrey is ready for its special guests. As missionaries leave the mission,
they get a ride in the surrey. This days guests were Sisters Bingham and Johnson
and their husbands. Elder Bowman is holding the horses and Elder Cochran in the drivers seat.
In the gourd tunnel before it was taken down.
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