The first of many busy weeks in Nauvoo...

Whoa!  This week has been a whirlwind!  There's hardly a spare minute to have some down time.  But it's all been good.  It is so comforting to be able to just rely on the spirit to carry us through each day.

Monday we met with a senior couple who showed us around Nauvoo.  We went to some of the places that we were scheduled to give tours at first so we could get a feel for how things would go.  In the afternoon we met with Sister Wadsworth who is the mission secretary and she oriented us on all things mission related.  We then had a new missionary training with Pres. Lusvardi for about an hour.  Afterwards we had dinner at the President’s home with all of the new senior couples.

By the end of Monday night I was pretty overwhelmed and exhausted.  There is so much to remember.  I had a terrible stress headache that I couldn’t get rid of.  I eventually just had to ask Heavenly Father to help me be more relaxed and calm.  That did the trick.  Why I didn’t ask sooner, I don’t know.

Tuesday we went around to more sites so we could learn the ropes and we spent a lot of time studying and preparing.

Wednesday was our pday but we had district and zone meetings first thing in the morning. Afterwards we were able to run errands, clean the house and do some more preparing. (We drive south 20 min. and cross the Mississippi River to Keokuk for any shopping).  The day flew by!

Thursday was our first day of an assignment as guides and we were assigned to the Brigham Young home.  It was just the two of us so we were a little nervous at first but we had studied and planned who would say what in each of the rooms.  The day went super well and we were able to give eight tours.  It wasn’t as hard as I had thought it would be and typically the visitors were super nice.  

We finished up at 5:00 with tours, went home and grabbed some dinner before heading to practice for "Sunset on the Mississippi" at 6:30.  That was the part of the mission I was most worried about, and actually still am, the singing and dancing.  There’s so much to learn and I have about as much rhythm as a box of rocks :0) But, just like with everything else here, the other missionaries were so helpful and Heavenly Father helped me remember a few of the dance steps.  I didn't trip over my feet and crash to the floor like I had anticipated :0)

Friday we were serving in John Taylor’s home. Our very first tour was with two couples and the men had served missions together.  The one couple was from England.  They were so fun to be with. When we were all together upstairs in the bedroom I finished the tour with a quote from John Taylor about the peace he felt as he prepared to leave Nauvoo.  He knew that the same God that helped the saints establish the church, brought them to Nauvoo, and build a temple would be the same God that would guide them west and build another, better city.  When I read that quote I was overcome with the spirit and they could feel it too.  It was a great way to end the tour.

Our first assignment at the Visitor Center was on Saturday.  Working there and teaching people about the gospel sure beats knocking on doors to find people to teach! The people we see here actually come with the intention so learn more.  In the morning I had a group of three women who were from Missouri and Illinois.  They were non-members and at first I was a little leery of the one woman.  I felt like she was going to just rip apart anything I said to her.  But I think she could feel the spirit and in the end I was able to give her a copy of the Book of Mormon.  I hope she takes some time to read it and can feel the power of the book. 

This week, as we served in John Taylor's home, I learned some valuable lessons from him.  He knew God had called him to the work of spreading the Gospel.  He felt at peace throughout his life as he faced some pretty daunting tasks. One thing he said has really struck me and I hope to make it a part of who I am, "The work seemed great, the duties arduous and responsible. I felt my own weakness and littleness; but I felt determined, the Lord being my helper, to endeavor to magnify it.”

This is our official invite to the Nauvoo Pageant:
http://nauvooinfo.org/Crump

Here are a few pictures from the week:

With Sister & President Lusvardi after Monday's dinner
with the other new missionary couples.

At the door of the Brigham Young home.
The dress I'm wearing is a loaner while the sisters in the Sewing Room
make the two dresses that I will have.  Sister Jardine and Sister Johnson
have got to be the kindest people ever and want to make my dresses just
right.  Even though wearing a dress is certainly not my favorite attire, I am
happy to wear what they have so painstakingly sewn for me. 

Day 1 of tours for us.

The first picture I posted of our home was not one we actually took.
 It was one I found on the internet since we hadn't taken one yet.So here is our
home as it looks right now.  Spring is just around the corner and then
we will be surrounded by groves of trees. The magnolia tree just to the right of
the house is just beginning to blossom.

This is our view down Munson street towards
Heber C. Kimball's home.

Thursday night, after our practice of "Sunset on the Mississippi",
this was our own sunset with the statues of Joseph and Hyrum.