The
weather is changing, the days are cooler and the leaves are becoming more
colorful. Fall is definitely in the air,
and it’s awesome!
Scott
has served in the usual “men’s” sites this week: Browning Gun, Blacksmith and
Brickyard. He likes the variety of
places and the different elders that he has the chance to serve with. This past week, on Monday, he was with Elder
Johnson in Browning Gun. It was Elder Johnson’s
last day serving in the historic sites since he and his wife were finishing
their mission and heading home. Just
before the day was over, a group came in.
They were from Brazil, spoke very little English, and wanted a tour of
Browning Gun. It just so happened that
Elder Johnson had served his mission in Brazil and spoke Portuguese! So the very last tour that he gave on his
mission was in his favorite historic site, in his mission language. What a great way to end a mission :0)
Each
week I serve about four days in the office and two days in the sites. I enjoy both places because I like the
change. In the sites I have the chance
to serve with the other sisters, which is a lot of fun for me. They are great women who just want to do
their best and serve the Lord. They come
from such varied backgrounds and they each have a story to tell. I have learned so much from serving with
them. In the office I spend my days
helping missionaries with a lot of technology needs, from setting up phones and
tablets, to creating their PowerPoints for Sunday School. We hold Sunday School in the east theater in
the Visitors’ Center, so it works easiest if the scriptures and visual aids are
up on the big screen. They also can show
the church videos that way. It’s a nice
feeling when I can alleviate some of the stress they feel with their lessons and
prepare the technology part. Since I am
in the mission office so often, I have the chance to see all of the work that
it takes to keep this mission running smoothly.
And boy, is it an eye-opening experience! Because Nauvoo is a mission, as well as a church
historic site and tourist destination, there is so much that needs to be done
on all fronts. Hosting tour groups from
all over the world and church officials from Salt Lake is a part of the daily
routine it seems like. It’s almost like being in the customer service business,
we have to get it right. It’s all a
great thing to be a part of.
This
week was the Nauvoo Stake Conference and I just wanted to share a little of
what I learned. One of the speakers
talked about the power of YET. I thought
it was a little strange until he explained it.
I can’t do it…YET. I don’t
understand…YET. I don’t know how…YET. My prayers aren’t answered…YET. I can’t
forgive them…YET. YET with God, all things are possible.
We may not be the person we want to be, YET. But if we keep working at it and turn to the
Savior, we can become the person our Heavenly Father knows we can become. The best is YET to come. I think what I love about this whole concept is the
feeling of hope that it brings. There is hope in the Savior, and when we
are hopeful, we can be happy.
A
few other thoughts for this week:
- In regards to ministering:
- Small, kind, simple gestures are better than no gesture at all.
- Just do something, anything guided by the Spirit.
- President Lusvardi taught: Sometimes, just knowing someone's name is ministering. Sometimes, just being there is ministering. Sometimes ministering happens when we aren't ready to do it, but we do it anyway. And we do it because we love the Savior and want to share His love.
This
week’s pictures:
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| A Sunday evening concert by the Young Sister Missionaries. They will leave for their outbound assignments at the end of October and will be gone until April 1, 2019. We will miss them so much!! |
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| I don't know...but I just can't get enough of this place. |
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| In front of Browning Gun... Scott's favorite hang out :0) |
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| With Elder Johnson on his last day of service. |
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| Just fall... |
