Crump Crew in Nauvoo: Happy 4th!

Most of the time the holidays come and go here in the mission and we really don’t notice anything different because the historic sites in Nauvoo are still open, which means we are working. That was the case this last Wednesday when it was July 4^th. We obviously didn’t have family things to go to, but at 8 am we went to a flag raising ceremony at the Visitors’ Center put on by the Nauvoo 1^st ward scouts, we fed the sister missionaries dinner, and then in the evening we sat on the hill on the west side of the temple and watched fireworks off in the distance. Nauvoo City did their fireworks on Saturday, the 7th, so we did the same thing and watched from the temple.

Flag raising ceremony

With Sister Hyde & Sister Johnson on the 4th.

Believe it or not, we have reached the halfway point of our "Sunset by the Mississippi" performances! Whoa, what happened there?! It has not been near as terrifying as I once thought. And I have learned that, no matter how bad I look or how much I mess up, the show goes on and typically there is someone else who has less rhythm that I do :0)

Sometimes I sit in Mission Training, or at our meetings on Sundays, and I just have an overwhelming feeling of love for all of the missionaries we serve with. They are amazing to me. These are people who are farmers, ranchers, secretaries, engineers, teachers, brick masons, furniture salesmen, etc. They have struggles at home, just like everyone else. Some have lost children. Some have family members who struggle with addictions. And many have health issues. However, they have testimonies built on strong foundations of faith and personal experiences. In spite of their circumstances, all they really want to do is to serve their Heavenly Father. For some, this is their third or fourth mission. I don’t know, but each week they inspire me to try harder to be a better missionary and to be a better person. My heart is full of gratitude for their love, friendship and examples.

Scott and I are so grateful to have the opportunity to serve here in Nauvoo. I know that it is a gift from our Heavenly Father. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that. Each day I learn more about him and his complete dedication to what he knew in his heart was right. I know that God does live and that Jesus is the Christ. That has come to me slowly, over time. I am grateful, deep in my heart, for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His love for each of us. He gives meaning to everything we do and I love Him for that.

Some of the actors from the Pageant did a performance for the missionaries
about the preaching of the gospel in Great Britain. It was awesome!

Scott with "Wilford Woodruff".

On Pday we went to Fort Madison, Iowa. It was a military fort
from 1805-1813 and was used as a place to trade with the indians
and was important during the War of 1812 because of it's
location on the banks of the Mississippi.