Four Months Out!

My Dear Friends,

I know that it has been a long time since I posted anything on my blog or wrote an update as to the happenings in Nauvoo.  This is a much different experience from the previous six months that we spent here and I am so much busier.  We were both site missionaries the first time and the last three months we were here we worked together in the Visitor's Center. 

This time around it is completely different.  Dave is the site leader over the Browning Gun Shop and spends three days a week at that site and then two to three either in the tin shop, the boot shop, the blacksmith or the brickyard.  We hardly ever see each other.  We see each other on Rendezvous night or exchanging the car with one another.  I pick him up at 6:00 and then he drops me off at the Cultural Hall for my night at Rendezvous, while he hurries home to change for Sunset, Rendezvous or has a night off.  He is in shows four nights a week.

It is a very tiring schedule for the seniors, especially in July.  They work a six hour schedule in the day and shows four nights.  No one complains (at least not out loud) and everyone has a great attitude.  The pageant had its closing night last night so things will become much more quiet here.

I am scheduled for "show" five days a week.  I have three casts of 60 missionaries each and I am the so-called director of "Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo".  This show runs year round with two performances each night in the Cultural Hall.  Every missionary is assigned to be in a cast.  They are called, Sarah Granger, Lucy Mack and Emma Hale.  It becomes part of your identity here in Nauvoo.  Each cast has a manager and a social director. The cast has a temple night once every two months and dinners and BBQ's, etc. 

My job is vast.  I make a spreadsheet schedule for each cast so that they know what songs they are in and where they enter and stand for each performance.  I do one cast lineup  on Monday, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday.  I train the new missionaries for the show and I replace and rehearse vignettes.  It is a huge calling and I go to the show EVERY night.   I take notes and give them ideas to make it a good, clean, tight show.   The worst part is the long hours and the best part is that I know every single missionary here and know them well.  That part is wonderful.  I am working with people who have ever been on the stage before and hoped they would never be there.  It is really very rewarding.  All in all, once I got over the huge learning curve, I am really enjoying it and love the people I work with.

Dave and I taught Sunday School today.  It is not something that I really wanted to do but now it is over.  Our lesson was on the resurrection and people said it was good - but who knows?  Now we have spoken in church, taught Relief Society and Priesthood and now Sunday School.  I think we are through.

We work together on Sundays in the sites.  Because I have such a huge job, we work one Sunday and get two or three off.  I like to do it as I don't get into the sites much.  The only time I wear a pioneer costume is on those Sundays - otherwise it is church dress all the time.

I love Nauvoo.  I love the spirit that is here.  They say that if you come - they will be here and I believe it.  I do not think that if they were here they would care about their yellow cup or their hat box, but they would want you to know of their great faith and their willingness to leave it all behind to follow the directions of the prophet.

We are so lucky to walk out our front door and look right directly at the temple.  We live in a darling home - the home of William Weeks - designer of the Nauvoo Tample.  It is within walking distance of the Visitor's Center.  This home was dedicated by President Hinckley in 2002.  It is small but it is really nice.

Sorry for the long delay between letters.  I will try to be much better.

Love,

Sherry and Dave