Burns in Nauvoo: One year! What?!?!?

The well at Lyon Drug

October 10, 2021

Hello everyone!

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that we have been here on our mission for one year today! It has really gone by fast, although some of my kids and grandkids might disagree with that! I thought about making a list of the top ten memories from the mission but I honestly can't narrow it down to ten. Among the top would be - drawing closer to my Savior, the YSMs and YPMs, working on the Lyon Drug gardens, being able to attend the temple again, the many eternal friendships that we are making, and everyday walking where my ancestors walked. These are just a few of the mission highlights.

This week was super fun in that my brother and his wife, Layne and Charlotte, came to visit Nauvoo and we were able to spend three evenings with them! It's been a long time since we've been together so that was super sweet! We watched "Sunset" together, had dinner together twice and just enjoyed visiting! Family is the absolute best!

Also, this week, Rachel Fonseca came back to town (she was a summer YPM) to receive her endowment in the Nauvoo Temple. Although we were not able to attend the temple with her, we were able to see her and her mother and spend time with them seeing the YPM shows.

We have been blessed by having the YPMs here for an extended time - they have truly brought the spirit here through their music and dance. They will be missed when they leave on the 21st. In fact, by the 21st, all of the YSMs and YPMs will be gone (except for one YSM companionship) and that will truly be a sad day for the Nauvoo Mission. I know I've said it before, but these young missionaries have brought so much sunshine and happiness to Nauvoo! I will miss them - a lot!

This week, we received an email from the mission Presidency informing us that effective immediately, due to Covid, we were to return to Sunday meetings in Nauvoo and no longer attend the outbound wards. I felt bad because we had just been asked to teach Primary classes and I feel like we left the branch in a lurch since all three missionary couples were teaching/playing piano in their Primary. That being said, it was nice to be in Testimony today as many of the young missionaries, both YSM and YPM, bore their testimonies and it was a blessing to be able to hear them. The church is in great hands with these young people. They are solid and have strong testimonies that will take them far in their next steps in life.

This week we also said goodbye to the gardens. After planting lots and lots of tulip bulbs (when all is said and done, there will be around 30,000 bulbs planted!) and saying goodbye to our sites, we returned all of the tools out of our trucks, cleaned them out and many returned their keys. I kept my keys for now because I'll be using my truck for Boo-tiful Nauvoo stuff. It was sad to say goodbye to Lyon Drug, especially since I still had things to finish in it, but say goodbye, I did. All of the garden crew had a farewell luncheon Friday. Sister Wood made chocolate haystacks so that I could have something sweet since the other desserts were full of gluten. She's so sweet!

As I was finishing up my work Friday at Lyon Drug, a lady came into the garden and thanked me for all of the work that I did in the garden. She said that she walks here everyday and that the gardens made her walk extra special. She was sad that the garden was being readied for winter but was excited to see what spring brings to the garden. It meant a lot to me that she took the time to stop and thank me. Sometimes a little recognition and thanks can go a long way and it definitely made me feel good. Thank you, kind lady! You made my day!

So Monday I start work in Conservation. I will miss working in the gardens but I am excited to start with Conservation. From what I've been told, we'll be deep cleaning the historic sites, inventorying the historic artifacts and cleaning them. We'll also help decorate the sites for Christmas so that'll be a lot of fun. It is nice that I get to experience many of the different areas in FM. I'll still be working with Sister Wood in Conservation so that will be fun.

Another thing - I know, the letter is already so long but... - I will be participating in the "Women of Faith" vignette that is done every Thursday evening over Zoom. I won't be in it every week but it will be a new challenge and opportunity.

As we "sang in our minds" (we are no longer allowed to sing out loud ) this song today, I thought, this is my testimony and I would like to share it with you.

1. I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.
2. He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
3. He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.
4. He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

I know this is true! He is there for each of us - He knows me and he knows you! He has each one of us graven upon the palms of His hands! He understands and has felt everything that we go through. I have a hard time comprehending all of that but yet, I know it's true. I have felt the burden lifted when I couldn't handle anymore. I know it is He who carried it for me and helped me through. I love Him and I'm grateful to be His servant here in Nauvoo.