And the preparations continue...

After the initial excitement of finally receiving our call it was time to get busy with preparations.  I’m a list maker so I created a To Do List, Clothing List, and Mission Supplies List.  I figured it was easier to take what we needed instead of discovering that we were missing something important and feeling like we needed to go buy it once we arrived in Nauvoo.  Especially since we don’t know when or where we will be able to do our first shopping when we get there.

We logged into our missionary portal and right there in big, bold numbers is the daily countdown until we enter the MTC! It made my heart skip a beat! The portal was helpful, with information about what to do immediately and some training, but there are also things that senior missionaries don’t need to worry about.  What a bonus!

I began to search out blogs of senior couples serving in Nauvoo.  It was so fun to read about their experiences and helped us know how to plan and what to look forward to.

On Nov. 22^nd, almost two months after receiving our call, we received an email from the Nauvoo Illinois mission office.  There was a welcome letter and an information packet attached.  It contained the answers to just about all of our questions: living accommodations, clothing, internet, how to pay for things etc.  Not that we still didn’t have questions, but the most important ones were answered.

Scott and I took time each morning to read and prepare ourselves spiritually.  We read Jesus the Christ, Our Heritage, The Restored Gospel, Preach My Gospel, among other books.  We are now reading the Nauvoo section of the Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual.  There is so much that Scott already knows, and he has a mind for all of that kind of history.  However, I have a long way to go and I find that it’s the remembering that’s difficult. But I just pray a lot, read things over and over and eventually it sinks in, especially if I take notes.

Backtrack a bit.  The day after we opened our call I left for a work trip with Heidi to Hawaii.  Yes, everyone needs a “work trip” to Hawaii :0)  The trip was over General Conference weekend.  I obviously had been thinking a lot about our new call and was feeling so inadequate.  I knew why we were called to Nauvoo. I felt it was because of Scott’s knowledge of Church history and his teaching ability.  I kept asking myself, “But why was I called?”  I certainly don’t sing and dance like they do for the Nauvoo pageants, my knowledge of Church history is mediocre and wearing a pioneer dress (or any dress for that matter) for 18 months was beyond my realm of thinking.  I prayed that as I listened to General Conference I would get the answer to my question, “Why was I called?”. 

Well, Heavenly Father answered my pleadings first thing in the Saturday morning session!

First off, Elder Deiter F. Uchtdorf:

“God calls to you.

God knows your every thought, your sorrows, and your greatest hopes. God knows the many times you have sought Him. The many times you have felt limitless joy. The many times you have wept in loneliness. The many times you have felt helpless, confused, or angry.

Those who heed the inner call and seek God, those who pray, believe, and walk the path the Savior has prepared—even if they stumble along the path at times—receive the consoling assurance that “all things shall work together for [their] good.”

Perhaps you don’t consider yourself all that useful; perhaps you don’t consider yourself a blessing in somebody’s life. Often, when we look at ourselves, we see only our limitations and deficiencies. We might think we have to be “more” of something for God to use us—more intelligent, more wealthy, more charismatic, more talented, more spiritual. Blessings will come not so much because of your abilities but because of your choices. And the God of the universe will work within and through you, magnifying your humble efforts for His purposes.

The history of God’s work is filled with people who considered themselves inadequate. But they humbly served, relying on the grace of God and His promise: “Their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield …, and they shall fight manfully for me; and … I [will] preserve them.”

And then…John C. Pingree Jr.

To Moses, God declared, “I have a work for thee” (Moses 1:6). Have you ever wondered if Heavenly Father has a work for you? Are there important things He has prepared you—and specifically you—to accomplish? I testify the answer is yes!

Brothers and sisters, God has important work for each of us. Speaking to sisters but teaching truths that apply to all, President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “Before we came [to earth, we] were given certain assignments. … While we do not now remember the particulars, this does not alter the glorious reality of what we once agreed to.”² What an ennobling truth! Our Heavenly Father has specific and significant things for you and me to accomplish (see Ephesians 2:10).

Some of us question whether Heavenly Father can use us to make important contributions. But remember, He has always used ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things (see 1 Corinthians 1:27–28; D&C 35:13; 124:1). “[We] are agents,” and “the power is in [us]” to “bring to pass much righteousness” (D&C 58:27–28).³

He quoted Pres. Russell M. Nelson:

“The Lord needs you to change the world. As you accept and follow His will for you, you will find yourself accomplishing the impossible!”

Ok, ok.  I got the message.  It’s time to just take the bull by the horns and go for it! Even if I DO have to sing and dance!