This week we cleaned the brickyard and I'm so excited! After not making bricks for a while and being told that we would no longer be making or giving out bricks after the supply was gone, we are making bricks again!!!! Each time we have come to Nauvoo, we have received a brick. Each one of my children have a brick. These bricks are treasures and are reminders of not only our visits, but of special memories for each of us. I love it when my grandchildren ask me about the bricks and I can share stories and testimonies about Nauvoo. My bricks sit on a shelf in my "Nauvoo Room" guest room. Yes, ask my guests back at home - we have a room decorated with our Nauvoo memories. We love it and so do our guests, since most of them have been to Nauvoo also!
We had a huge storm this week and Doug spent hours out plowing. Because it was so cold and icy, we in Conservation spent the day making fleece blankets that will be donated. This is part of our Community Outreach from the Mission. Elder Burns and I have been blessed to be on the Community Outreach Committee with E/S Hokanson since not long after we arrived on our mission. It has been a wonderful experience and I have loved every moment of it. We have had food and personal hygiene drives for the Nauvoo Food Pantry, we have collected and donated items to the rest home in Carthage, we helped with the Nauvoo Interfaith Christmas Bright Angels, in helping provide Christmas to 11 families, along with providing backpacks and supplies. I know that I have mentioned all of this in previous letters but it's a service that is close to my heart and I'm so grateful that we were asked to be a part of this.
This week I was able to portray Sarah Kimball/Narrator again in the "Women of Faith" vignette. It is something that I love to do but is so hard to do. It stretches me and that's a good thing. This week was the day of the storm - it was snowy and icy and cold! I just wanted to stay in my warm home and not go anywhere but once I get there, I'm enveloped in the spirit and am so glad that I went. This week I was able to serve with Sister Wood, who portrayed Emma. It was her first time and she did amazing! I'll be doing it three times in March. I'll try to remember and post when they'll be so you can join if you'd like. It's a virtual tour. Sister McDougal runs the camera.
A miracle happened this week! We gave two tours at Lucy's home while I was serving there Tuesday! These were the first tours that I have helped give since before Christmas! It is always a sweet experience to be in Lucy's house and share her story and testimony with others.
This weekend was the Stake Conference in Ivins (where we live when we aren't serving a mission) and one of the speakers asked this question - "What is one thing that I can do this week to draw closer to my Savior?" I invite you to take this question to heart and ponder on what you can do to draw closer to the Savior this week.
I had a friend write to me last week and she was trying to share a spiritual experience that she had had. She told me that she was having a hard time putting it into words. I struggle with that also. I hope that you can feel the spirit of my words, even as I struggle to put my feelings into words.
I love serving here in Nauvoo! I love that I get to attend the temple weekly and feel the love of my family and most importantly, the love of my Savior. I love that each Sunday, I can renew my covenants with my Heavenly Father through taking the Sacrament, repenting and doing those things to draw closer to Him. We were talking with President Dalton tonight and we mentioned that at times we feel like little children, still learning so much. I feel like that at every devotional and training. Isn't that what this life is for? We learn, do the best we can, mess up, try again, improve a little, mess up, repent and keep trying! I love knowing that Heavenly Father's love is unconditional. I know there are times that He must shake His head at me and say, "Oh goodness!" Then I imagine Him saying, "My daughter, I love you! Keep trying! I'm always here for you! Never give up!"
I love you! Have a great and blessed week!
I don't usually take food pictures but couldn't resist on this one.
That meal fed him for three meals. It was huge!
I love the Conservation sisters. This is us cleaning Browning Gun.
The frozen ice on the Mississippi is mesmerizing. Also,
if you look close, you can see an eagle on the ice. We took a
drive to Keokuk and saw so many eagles. Of course, most of them
were in locations that we couldn't pull off of the road to take a pic.
This is coming over the bridge to Fort Madison. The wind was
blowing and the snow was dancing on the ice.
No comments:
Post a Comment