Burns in Nauvoo: Spring has sprung, 18-months, and a few Nauvoo miracles

April 10, 2022

Signs of spring are all around us - from the new calves being born, the daffodils in bloom, the tulips coming up, the magnolia trees blooming and the wagons being put out on display. People are coming back and it's been fun to watch! I was able to watch a calf being born the other day. That was pretty exciting and amazing! We gave a lot of tours at Lucy's this week - we had 34 people come through but the next day they had 75. We're slowly getting prepared for the summer rush and we are excited to see everyone come back!

With all the fun things happening, winter reared her head again and we had temps in the 20s and snow flurries this week. Please winter, you've outstayed your welcome and it's time to let spring take over!

We have been busy getting the homes ready for the new senior missionaries - we welcomed 7 new couples this week - along with the homes for the YSMs that start coming in on Wednesday! We are so excited to have them here again! Before long the NPMs will return and that will be the icing on the cake! Then the pageant and oh, I'm getting excited for that!

As you've probably noticed from my last few letters, things have been tough for me and the mission with the changes happening. Well, this week in training, President Dalton showed us the training that he will be doing with the YSMs when they arrive. It was about arrows pointing in and arrows pointing out. The drawing he used had a picture of a missionary with arrows pointing in toward them and each arrow represented an "I" - "I'm too tired to do that," "I don't like the way that is being done," "I don't want to do that," you get the idea. The other figure was of a missionary with the arrows pointed out - "Lord, what would you have me do?", "How can I serve others today?" "This is the Lord's work, not mine." I really needed to hear that - my arrows have definitely been pointing in the last little while and I really needed an attitude adjustment. I am so thankful for that lesson and it truly does make a difference! When I start having my own personal pity party, I remind myself that I need my arrows pointing out and then I do something about that. It really has made a big difference in my attitude and in the joy that I am finding again in serving here. Which direction are your arrows pointing?

One of the senior couples that we welcomed this week is Blaine and Diane Anderson - E/S Anderson. It's going to be a challenge to call them that. We have been friends for years - Doug even longer that I have been. We are excited to serve with them, along with all the new missionaries.

We are looking forward to having Scott, Colleen and Diane (Doug's sisters and Colleen's husband) visit this week! It's always great when family comes!

A small Nauvoo miracle this week - E/S Richins, a new couple, who also are in our district, were arriving on Wednesday. We (Conservation) went in to do a quick spruce up and noticed that mice had been in the home so it took us longer to clean it than we had anticipated. I felt prompted to check my email and I'd received an email saying that they were arriving at 9:15, earlier than the anticipated 10-Noon. It was 9:15 when I saw the email so we hurried and finished and loaded the last of the cleaning supplies into the van as they pulled in. We were able to help them unload their car and welcome them to Nauvoo since no one else from our district was able to make it because of tours, work, etc.

It's hard to believe but today is our 18-month mark and we would be heading home Tuesday if we hadn't extended. Even with all the ups and downs, I am so thankful that we extended.

Can we talk about it being all or nothing? We haven't had a district/zone or mission activity for a while so we now have four in three days. Crazy! Friday we had an FM party to celebrate the completion of the construction part of a big project - the Motel 3 1/2 - that has been being worked on since we arrived. Then, we had a mission waffle dinner. Saturday night we had a potluck district meeting and today we have a Zone potluck dinner. No wonder my pants are fitting a little tight! Haha

Another Nauvoo miracle this morning. It is rare that I have Gluten Free bread at home because it's almost $6 a loaf. We received a phone call this morning and they needed six slices of gluten free bread for the Sacrament and did we have any. We looked and we had exactly six slices. It's a good thing that I didn't have that sandwich I was going to have the other day. It's a small thing but I choose to see the Lord's hand in it.

Today we are being trained in how to do Virtual Tours (VT). At first, my arrows were pointed in and I was not happy about doing VT. I'm trying hard to point my arrows outward and be excited to learn something new and have new opportunities to get out of my comfort zone.

This scripture has been on my mind a lot this week -

...I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and angels round about you, to bear you up. D&C 84:88

I have felt His help many times on this mission and there have been many times that angels have been round about me and have carried me. I know that whatever is asked of us, we will be able to do it - with the help of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Him, all things are possible! I bear testimony of that.

I hope you all have an amazing week as we learn of Christ and prepare for Easter next Sunday. Also, if you could add us to your prayers - Doug and I are singing next Sunday and can use lots of prayers and another Nauvoo miracle! Thanks!