Nauvoo Week 4

Holy cow I feel like I just barely had my p-day and here it is again!! This week just flew by!
Sister Miskin and I got to work in the Visitors Center on Sunday, that was fun! Right after church we had lunch then went to work. A lot of non-members came in so it was cool to talk with them!

A lot happened so let's see if I can write it all in my email!

On Monday we worked on the wagon tour again. I love the wagon tours, its so fun! I have to tell people about where all the buildings are, who lived there, some history along the way, and then on top of all of that share my testimony. I get to talk about the temple and the Book of Mormon a lot on the wagon. Its really great to have those experiences.

On Tuesday, we got to work on our monologues. Its an addition and a new way to testify during the tours of the buildings here. We've been practicing our monologues since the third week in the MTC. I've been learning how to conduct a reenactment of the Seventies Hall meeting where Brigham Young calls a bunch of men to missions. Its really fun! We practiced those all day on Tuesday. Something really funny happened on my lunch break though. Sister Miskin and I were in the Visitors Center and she had to use the restroom. So we go in and I'm waiting by the sinks when a cute little old lady walks up to wash her hands. Then she just stares at me and asks if I'm a missionary. I told her I was! She got so excited and said, "Fantastic! I have a referral for you!" So she went on to tell me about how she met a waitress in the city next to Nauvoo (Keokuk) and was talking to her about the church. The waitress seemed really interested and wants to know more. So this afternoon when I get to go do my shopping Sister Miskin and I are going to go teach!! Now it might seem funny, but referrals are really rare here! So this is really great and exciting! Tuesday night we all met as sisters with President Lusvardi for a little bit. It was crazy, a bat just randomly flew into the room! So all the sisters are freaking out and President is trying to get us out and the bat, it was the funniest thing! I got to tell President about the referral and he asked if I would share that with all the missionaries here at the meeting in the morning. We all meet as a mission every Wednesday morning before we go to the sites.

On Wednesday, Sister Miskin and I got to start our first day at the Family Living Center. That place is so so fun! When you go there, you learn about some of the skills and daily living of the Saints. The sisters usually teach about spinning wool into yarn, baking bread, candlestick making, and weaving. The elders teach about how to make rope, pottery, rugs and barrels. Its a really fun place for families and its usually pretty busy. Its so cool how at a lot of the places I work at, I learn a new skill! I know how to make beanies, shawls, rugs, rope, candles, bread, anything related to tin, I could keep going! Its so fun to be here!!

Thursday and Friday we worked at the Family Living Center again. On Friday our hours changed to the summer schedule though. Now it'll really get busy!! Typically my day looked something like this:

6:30- wake up, exercise, get ready for day

9:45- be at site ready to work, begin cleaning the site for the guests

12- have lunch at the site

5- go home and have dinner

6:30- go to meeting or training for the sites

9:30- go home to get ready for bed

10:30- lights out!

Now, my schedule is even busier!

6:30- wake up, exercise, get ready for day

12- have lunch

5:30- go home and have dinner

7:30- go to "Sunset" performance to sing

9- Get ready for bed

10:30- Lights out!

Man I am just so tired!! By the end of the day I can't wait to get into my pj's and fall asleep! Every day I do so much and I am always so busy its crazy! Yet I still find time to read my scriptures and write in my journal. I find that if something is really that important to you, you'll make time for it.

This week I was reading in 2 Nephi and I found a great scripture that hasn't really caught my attention before until now. Its 2 Nephi 22:2 and says," Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." Its kind of hard and scary to teach people about history, you want to make sure you say the right things and not mess up. I only get a few minutes with each group, so what I say and how I use my time with them is key. Yet when I read this scripture, I was reminded that I need to trust in Jesus Christ and not be afraid. I am doing His work and He needs me to be here. I have Him on my side. An awesome quote from Elder Gary E. Stevenson says," You have the Savior of the world on your side. If you seek his help and follow his directions, how can you fail?" I testify that this is true. I've followed this counsel and seen that it has helped me! 

I love you all!! I hope you're having fantastic weeks!!

-Sister Taylor