Quote from little 5-yr old visitor. He and his little bro were totally the highlights of my day! I’d just finished explaining to him a quote from John Taylor telling the Church members “we will suffer wrong rather than do wrong.” I was trying to explain what that meant to him and then he piped up with that insightful comment, so I guess he definitely understood the lesson. I seriously almost cried. It was so sweet.
WE’RE ALL STILL AFLOAT
If any of you pay more attention to the news than I ever did, you may know there’s some flooding around here. In fact, you probably know more about it than I do. Apparently it’s pretty bad. Here’s what I know…up the river in Cedar Rapids and stuff it’s ridiculous flooding. Here all the river towns are sandbagging. The river is WAY up and should crest by mid-week (I’m learning a little about how rivers and floods work, you see.) We actually got a chance to go to Niota (a teeny, tiny town about 15 miles away) and sandbag for a couple hours. Most of the missionaries have made time to go out there, including the BYU performers who were here for a couple weeks, and even some visitors. It was really good to spend time outside doing some manual labor and mostly really good to help out in the community and get to know some people.
Nauvoo’s safe for now because apparently it’s a slightly higher elevation. The only thing in danger right now are the Community of Christ sites like the Nauvoo House but the Church has been over there a ton helping and things are ok for now. They’re even still open for tours. There was a storm in Carthage and some damage was done but it was fairly minimal and they’re business as usual today. The weather itself is actually quite pleasant. We even got sunburned out sandbagging. So things are fine. I’m praying all the people in the towns are ok but as far as the flooding, it seems like it’s a really good chance to serve!
TRANSFER NEWS
Not much news. Sis Rancie and I are staying together. We’re moving to the other littler house in Nauvoo. Our p-day will still be Monday. We may stay together for a long time because President wants us together to be working on the pageant. So that means she’s my second-longest comp so far! In light of that, I thought it appropriate to tell a little more about her.
She’s from Melbourne, Australia, which you already knew. This means I get to translate for her when people can’t tell what she’s saying. I also get to learn cool phrases like, “no, I can’t be bothered” for “I don’t feel like it.” She’s a total powerhouse and loves to work. We have tons of fun together. She’s 5’ 1” so we get to share lots of clothes but she’s also skinny as a rail so, you know how that goes… She told me the other day that I’m the only person she’s ever met who’s worse in the kitchen than she is—so that gives you an idea of our combined homemaking skills. Last night she suggested that with our p-day we spend some time baking. I looked at her like it was the dumbest thing she’s ever said and couldn’t figure out why she was so excited…until we realized the language barrier had struck again and she really was suggesting we lay out in the sun. Ha! She has 5 siblings and they’re all around her age. In fact, two of her sisters were on their missions at the same time as her. Cool, huh? She came out the transfer right after me so we’re both going home in December. She served her outbound assignment in the Sacramento Mission and she’s, of course, filling my mind with grand plans to go play in Australia. We have almost identical “deciding to go on missions” stories (meaning several years of prayers and indecisions). She’s a champ!
BRING THE WORLD HIS TRUTH
This summer we’re able to spend a little more time getting to know the YPMs (the performing missionaries who come out for 4 months.) they’re total champs. The other day one of them opened their mission call (they’re church service missionaries who serve at ages 18 and up so some of them get their full-time mission calls out here if they haven’t already served.) Anyway, one of them opened his call the other day. We do it in the 70’s Hall cause that’s the building they used here to train the missionaries back in the day before they went out. It’s just such an amazing spirit as mission calls are opened. This was particularly powerful though because the entire room was full of missionaries. There wasn’t a single person in there without a badge on. He got called to a Brazil mission (one that he actually totally had predicted, cool). The coolest though was being in the room with all them and singing Called to Serve and then I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go. It was cool to be able to look around and see 50 other kids or amazing adults who’d decided to spend so much of their time serving the Lord. The last verse the kid sang it as a solo (at first I was all nervous for him before I remembered that’s what he does all day. Ha!) and it just really hit me that it’s a matter of personal dedication between you and the Lord. That’s what all missionary work is—a sincere willingness to do what He’s asked. So if you get a chance, I recommend reading through that last verse and really likening it to yourself and then thinking about that throughout the day in matters of obedience…asking ourselves “how willing am I to do the Lord’s work?”
Thanks for all of you and your examples. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such solid family members and friends. Love you guys!
Love, Sis C
Monday, June 16, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
"I feel Amish..."
Quote from Sis. Rancie as we were in the Women's Garden pulling up wild onions next to someone who was laying bricks and someone else trimming trees and everyone who was waving happily to each other. Ahh, yes.
SIGHTINGS
i got to see a senior couple that i served closely with in GA. they came through nauvoo adn it was so good to see them. i got to show them how to make shoes with wooden pegs. yes, i'm becoming so self-sufficient!
i also saw devan w quackenbush adn his wife amy (blair's cous) for those who that concerns. it was way good to see them adn to talk about their missionary work with their possibly mofia-invovled friend. :)
i also saw an elder from GA. incidentally, every time i saw him i was gardening, on a mandatory temple assignment, out to eat, or some other very non-proseylting type activity. i think he's pretty well convinced i'm not really serving a mission. or maybe he's just jealous...
THOUGHT
So this was some insight from Elder Burt when he came to visit (I love that I get to be uplifted by the visitors all day...). He was telling me he was tihnking about the scripture that said "many are called, but few are chosen..." and saying that he used to think that it was kind of an exclusive thing where God didn't choose us. He then realized that the really choosing happens with all. "Many are called..." meaning the gospel is offered to many or many are born into it. "...but few are chosen" really refers to the individual choice we each have whether to cling onto the truths we have or accept them when they're offered to us. One of Satan's biggest weapons, as we know, is complancy--feeling like we're doing fine and that just being a good person is enough. We have the option to CHOOSE Christ every time we prioritize our day, every time we debate doing something that we know we've been taught not to do, or doing something that will require extra faith on our part. Another visitor said that, along those same lines, we are "rejecting" Christ in those little ways when we deliberately choose things that drive us further away from Him.
Anyway, I loved their insights.
I loved talking to you, fam. And Happy Mother's Day to all my psuedo-mothers out there! Love you!
-- Sis C
SIGHTINGS
i got to see a senior couple that i served closely with in GA. they came through nauvoo adn it was so good to see them. i got to show them how to make shoes with wooden pegs. yes, i'm becoming so self-sufficient!
i also saw devan w quackenbush adn his wife amy (blair's cous) for those who that concerns. it was way good to see them adn to talk about their missionary work with their possibly mofia-invovled friend. :)
i also saw an elder from GA. incidentally, every time i saw him i was gardening, on a mandatory temple assignment, out to eat, or some other very non-proseylting type activity. i think he's pretty well convinced i'm not really serving a mission. or maybe he's just jealous...
THOUGHT
So this was some insight from Elder Burt when he came to visit (I love that I get to be uplifted by the visitors all day...). He was telling me he was tihnking about the scripture that said "many are called, but few are chosen..." and saying that he used to think that it was kind of an exclusive thing where God didn't choose us. He then realized that the really choosing happens with all. "Many are called..." meaning the gospel is offered to many or many are born into it. "...but few are chosen" really refers to the individual choice we each have whether to cling onto the truths we have or accept them when they're offered to us. One of Satan's biggest weapons, as we know, is complancy--feeling like we're doing fine and that just being a good person is enough. We have the option to CHOOSE Christ every time we prioritize our day, every time we debate doing something that we know we've been taught not to do, or doing something that will require extra faith on our part. Another visitor said that, along those same lines, we are "rejecting" Christ in those little ways when we deliberately choose things that drive us further away from Him.
Anyway, I loved their insights.
I loved talking to you, fam. And Happy Mother's Day to all my psuedo-mothers out there! Love you!
-- Sis C
Monday, June 9, 2008
“The Worst Man in Hancock County”
Quote from a story told at a fireside thing. Details later.
So everything here is great!
ADVENTURES TODAY
We’re off with a senior couple to some Mennonite town or something. I don’t really know. But apparently there’s some cool, old-school little villages around here (not like I don’t live in one or anything…) so we’re gonna go check it out today.
DEAF VISITOR AT LAST!
So we had our first deaf visitor. Her name’s Jenny and she’s 17. we got to interpret for her at all the shows. Her family was very appreciative because they’ve raised her oral (lip-reading and speaking) and she’s just starting to get into the ASL scene. Her fam’s trying to pick it up too but they still don’t know tons. So it was really good. She was way cute. She was here for a few days so we got to bond with her a bit. It’s not our first deaf person period though cause there’s a local recent convert, Chad, from Quincy. He comes in at least once a week. We’re really the only people he knows (other than his regular interpreter) who know ASL. He took me on a tour of the VC the other day. It was hysterical. He was teaching me all about Nauvoo. And actually, I learned some new facts. Helps to have the locals around. :)
GRANTSVILLE REUNIONS
So for those of you who don’t know, there’s a little town in Utah near Tooele that my ancestors helped settle and as consequence, we’re related to nearly everyone there. I’ve run into quite a few people now from that tiny town and we always seem to make connections pretty easily. This last one was weird though. Do you remember last summer the story about the old man who was very hard-of-hearing so I was shouting my testimony at him? Good times. Well he was from Grantsville. He was a total character. He was a stubborn old man who wouldn’t let the missionaries come and work with him even though he knows full well that the gospel’s true. He said if I showed up, he’d let me in, but other than that he’d run the missionaries from his house. He’s just making excuses. So anyway, I’m talking to my friends that were here, the Wickhams, and not only do they know him, but she cuts his hair and just happened to, at that moment, be wearing a necklace he and his wife gave her. What the? We took the random connection as a sign that she needs to call him and hassle him for me. Plus, they happened to be descendants from the same ancestors as some other G-ville visitors from a couple weeks ago who told me about MY ancestor there. Anyway….
HANGING WITH THE LOCALS
So this week we volunteered at the town library. It was so trippy. I could just sit back at different times and observe all the small-town goings-on and pretend I was a part of it. Everyone who came into the library the librarian either knew, or it was a stray visitor who stumbled in. Us Westerners really do stick out like a sore thumb here. I could only notice once I was on the other side of it. We were helping with craft time and one of the girls who came in comes into the library at least once a week (reads books dozens at a time like KT) with her g-ma when they go for a Girls Day Out. She comes in from a town even smaller than Nauvoo and comes “into town” to shop and go out to eat. Keep in mind there’s probably 15 functioning businesses in Nauvoo. Even fewer that an 11 yr-old would be interested in. It was fascinating to us. The librarian was this sweet lady from Germany and we talked to her for a long time about Nauvoo and different things about the town. It really made me realize how much of an impact that we as visitors and missionaries have here. This is their precious little town and we have such a powerful effect for better or for worse here. I think the LDS tend to have a feeling of ownership or entitlement here because Nauvoo is a place we’ve heard about our whole lives. However, for the people here, they remember when it was even quieter than it is now and it’s sacred to them. Their little town is at threat of dying away because of the absence of job industry out here but it’s such a precious place. We need to do all we can to work together with them.
GENEOLOGICAL COOLNESS
Two stories:This random guy came in and introduced himself to me. He’s not a member of the Church but he’s way into fam history. He has lots of it in this area and had ancestors who were persecutors of the church and also ancestors who went and settled Provo, UT. We were talking about the Church and he was saying how he was open-minded about it. I asked him how he thinks we know when something’s true and he says, “No one can tell you. You just feel it here and here” and points at his mind and heart. I smiled real big and told him that was exactly right. (I love it when people who know nothing about Church doctrine quote scripture without knowing it!) He said he got a copy of the Book of Mormon when visiting here at age 8 but he’s never read it. I gave him a chapter to read and he said he definitely would. I read him Moroni’s promise and he thought it was “very powerful.” I told him that’s the Spirit already starting to affirm what’s right. It was awesome.
Another one was the BYU Folk Dancers here this week gave a little fireside. One of them talked about how his g-ma was a convert to the Church and when she did her fam history discovered that her g,g, gpa was labeled “the worst man in Hancock County.” He was one of the total ring-leaders for the mobs. He took part in any significant mob activity here, including the burning of the temple. The next guy, one of his best friends, who got up to talk was a descendant of John Taylor (an apostle in Nauvoo who was with Joseph Smith during the martyrdom and later became the prophet after Brigham Young). They talked about how this was like the closing of a book and a way of making things right. They talked about how they’d like to think that on the other side of the veil that their ancestors are pleased to see that they’re friends. The first kid’s g-ma had had a moral dilemma about doing temple work for the mob guy and presented her problem to Joseph F. Smith and was told very emphatically “you do that work and let God be the judge.” I love that. I love to know that the Atonement is so comprehensive that we don’t understand. The mercy of God is so powerful. I also know that having the truth while we’re here on the earth is so powerful and it’s worth every effort to make sure we find and retain it throughout our lives.
Love you all. Talk to you later!
--Sis C
So everything here is great!
ADVENTURES TODAY
We’re off with a senior couple to some Mennonite town or something. I don’t really know. But apparently there’s some cool, old-school little villages around here (not like I don’t live in one or anything…) so we’re gonna go check it out today.
DEAF VISITOR AT LAST!
So we had our first deaf visitor. Her name’s Jenny and she’s 17. we got to interpret for her at all the shows. Her family was very appreciative because they’ve raised her oral (lip-reading and speaking) and she’s just starting to get into the ASL scene. Her fam’s trying to pick it up too but they still don’t know tons. So it was really good. She was way cute. She was here for a few days so we got to bond with her a bit. It’s not our first deaf person period though cause there’s a local recent convert, Chad, from Quincy. He comes in at least once a week. We’re really the only people he knows (other than his regular interpreter) who know ASL. He took me on a tour of the VC the other day. It was hysterical. He was teaching me all about Nauvoo. And actually, I learned some new facts. Helps to have the locals around. :)
GRANTSVILLE REUNIONS
So for those of you who don’t know, there’s a little town in Utah near Tooele that my ancestors helped settle and as consequence, we’re related to nearly everyone there. I’ve run into quite a few people now from that tiny town and we always seem to make connections pretty easily. This last one was weird though. Do you remember last summer the story about the old man who was very hard-of-hearing so I was shouting my testimony at him? Good times. Well he was from Grantsville. He was a total character. He was a stubborn old man who wouldn’t let the missionaries come and work with him even though he knows full well that the gospel’s true. He said if I showed up, he’d let me in, but other than that he’d run the missionaries from his house. He’s just making excuses. So anyway, I’m talking to my friends that were here, the Wickhams, and not only do they know him, but she cuts his hair and just happened to, at that moment, be wearing a necklace he and his wife gave her. What the? We took the random connection as a sign that she needs to call him and hassle him for me. Plus, they happened to be descendants from the same ancestors as some other G-ville visitors from a couple weeks ago who told me about MY ancestor there. Anyway….
HANGING WITH THE LOCALS
So this week we volunteered at the town library. It was so trippy. I could just sit back at different times and observe all the small-town goings-on and pretend I was a part of it. Everyone who came into the library the librarian either knew, or it was a stray visitor who stumbled in. Us Westerners really do stick out like a sore thumb here. I could only notice once I was on the other side of it. We were helping with craft time and one of the girls who came in comes into the library at least once a week (reads books dozens at a time like KT) with her g-ma when they go for a Girls Day Out. She comes in from a town even smaller than Nauvoo and comes “into town” to shop and go out to eat. Keep in mind there’s probably 15 functioning businesses in Nauvoo. Even fewer that an 11 yr-old would be interested in. It was fascinating to us. The librarian was this sweet lady from Germany and we talked to her for a long time about Nauvoo and different things about the town. It really made me realize how much of an impact that we as visitors and missionaries have here. This is their precious little town and we have such a powerful effect for better or for worse here. I think the LDS tend to have a feeling of ownership or entitlement here because Nauvoo is a place we’ve heard about our whole lives. However, for the people here, they remember when it was even quieter than it is now and it’s sacred to them. Their little town is at threat of dying away because of the absence of job industry out here but it’s such a precious place. We need to do all we can to work together with them.
GENEOLOGICAL COOLNESS
Two stories:This random guy came in and introduced himself to me. He’s not a member of the Church but he’s way into fam history. He has lots of it in this area and had ancestors who were persecutors of the church and also ancestors who went and settled Provo, UT. We were talking about the Church and he was saying how he was open-minded about it. I asked him how he thinks we know when something’s true and he says, “No one can tell you. You just feel it here and here” and points at his mind and heart. I smiled real big and told him that was exactly right. (I love it when people who know nothing about Church doctrine quote scripture without knowing it!) He said he got a copy of the Book of Mormon when visiting here at age 8 but he’s never read it. I gave him a chapter to read and he said he definitely would. I read him Moroni’s promise and he thought it was “very powerful.” I told him that’s the Spirit already starting to affirm what’s right. It was awesome.
Another one was the BYU Folk Dancers here this week gave a little fireside. One of them talked about how his g-ma was a convert to the Church and when she did her fam history discovered that her g,g, gpa was labeled “the worst man in Hancock County.” He was one of the total ring-leaders for the mobs. He took part in any significant mob activity here, including the burning of the temple. The next guy, one of his best friends, who got up to talk was a descendant of John Taylor (an apostle in Nauvoo who was with Joseph Smith during the martyrdom and later became the prophet after Brigham Young). They talked about how this was like the closing of a book and a way of making things right. They talked about how they’d like to think that on the other side of the veil that their ancestors are pleased to see that they’re friends. The first kid’s g-ma had had a moral dilemma about doing temple work for the mob guy and presented her problem to Joseph F. Smith and was told very emphatically “you do that work and let God be the judge.” I love that. I love to know that the Atonement is so comprehensive that we don’t understand. The mercy of God is so powerful. I also know that having the truth while we’re here on the earth is so powerful and it’s worth every effort to make sure we find and retain it throughout our lives.
Love you all. Talk to you later!
--Sis C
Monday, June 2, 2008
"The pen is better than any mind."
Quote compliments of Sis. Rancie. I'm pretty sure she was meaning to say something more to the effect that "the dullest pencil is better than the sharpest mind." ..an oft-said quote. Perhaps it would've been better remembered if she'd written it down...
NEW RUNNING BUDDY
So this was cool—we were greeting at one of the shows and I saw a woman sitting alone (unusual for Nauvoo. People generally come in packs.) so I was visiting with her and she was a local (more unusual) who was just out for a walk, heard a show going on, and decided to come see what it was. For someone who’s LDS this wouldn’t be that strange but in Nauvoo, there’s not a lot of “fence-sitters” when it comes to the Church. People are either members of the Church or they’re definitely not interested in spending any time around hoards of missionaries. So I was intrigued. I thought even that maybe she’d just moved in, but no, she’s been here for years. So we got talking. She knows a fair amount about the Church and has LDS friends. She has a copy of the Book of Mormon and has read some. She kept saying how she sees what the draw is to the Church because of its focus on families and the members’ dedication to their beliefs. Her family is such a priority to her and they sound amazing. The more we talked, the more confused I was. She sounded so open yet obviously had some setbacks from being ready to learn more. What I gathered from our conversation was that it was probably the social/family pressures that are holding her back. There are still plenty of misconceptions about the Church in this area. It was neat though to hear that her LDS friends have been doing their best to break down those walls and to invite them to things. The best part was that while we were talking we found out she’s a runner and knows about some trail runs in the area. Woohoo! So the next morning we met up and went for a run around a mini lake that I’d never been able to find on my own. It was really cool. She was so stinkin sweet. Hopefully we’ll be able to do lots more with her. She even talked about doing a yogo/weights class in the mornings for the sisters. I love her and I love getting to know the locals. :)
AUSTRALIAN MIRACLES
So this was cool…Sis. Rancie and I during comp study were going over possible scenarios in teaching/tours situations, trying to practice resolving concerns that people have. We ended up, though we were talking about hypothetical situations, talking more about her own friends that she used to room with that she’d never gotten to share the gospel with in the way that she wanted. I told her that if this person was still popping up in her mind, that it was the Spirit and that she needed to get in touch with her. This was virtually impossible because she didn’t have any of her contact info other than a description of how to get to her house. But I committed her to sending the missionaries over there to meet her and Sis. Rancie, being a woman of GREAT faith, said that she’d do it. So…THE LORD ALWAYS PROVIDES A WAY. Less than a week later we met a visitor who was soon to go into the mission field to one of the several missions in Australia. Just so happened to be the mission that Sis. Rancie’s friend lived in. She didn’t think about it right away—was just chatting with him about the area. Then after she finished it popped strongly (good description, huh?) into her head to tell him about her friend. She left him with all the info she had about how to get a hold of her friend. Something so simple but as we looked back at the whole situation we could see so many different aspects of it where the Lord had His hand in the whole process. Way cool. I’m excited to see what will happen.
MORE FRIENDS!
So I got a nice surprise in the Wilford Woodruff home. Some visitors pulled up and we can see out onto the street from the 2nd story study area we have so we can see the visitors as they come. I saw many kids piling out of a van and a boy who I recognized vaguely. As all the dots were connecting in my head I realized it was Stephanie Chidester’s husband…which meant that those were Stephanie’s children…and that she was here too! :) It was really fun to see her and so, so fun to see her kids. She has 4 stinkin adorable boys. A couple were old enough that they were like real people. It was crazy! They’re such a cute little family and such a good example of putting the Lord and His gospel first in your lives. They just finished med school with a family of 6. No small feat! It was great to see them. :)
FUNNY EPIPHANY
So a few weeks ago, in that same historic house, I was sitting looking out the window and being very pensive about things. I was pondering on why people have such strong misconceptions about the Church and how so many people think that Mormons are so weird. I was thinking to myself, “why would they think that. We’re so normal.” Then suddenly I looked down at myself in this pioneer dress, perched in an upper room of a really old house in rural Nauvoo waiting for people to come so I could talk to them and I just started laughing out loud. Nothing is normal about what I was doing.
But alongside that, I know that the message we share is even less normal. Even though it’s as old as the earth (old really) it’s so powerful and unusual to proclaim that the heavens are still open, that the Lord speaks today to us individually as well as through a prophet of God. I know that’s true and that His restored church is one the earth again today and that it’s The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I’m so grateful to be able to spend all of my time trying to tell people about cause, well, it’s kind of a big deal. :)
Love you all!
-Sis Cartwright
NEW RUNNING BUDDY
So this was cool—we were greeting at one of the shows and I saw a woman sitting alone (unusual for Nauvoo. People generally come in packs.) so I was visiting with her and she was a local (more unusual) who was just out for a walk, heard a show going on, and decided to come see what it was. For someone who’s LDS this wouldn’t be that strange but in Nauvoo, there’s not a lot of “fence-sitters” when it comes to the Church. People are either members of the Church or they’re definitely not interested in spending any time around hoards of missionaries. So I was intrigued. I thought even that maybe she’d just moved in, but no, she’s been here for years. So we got talking. She knows a fair amount about the Church and has LDS friends. She has a copy of the Book of Mormon and has read some. She kept saying how she sees what the draw is to the Church because of its focus on families and the members’ dedication to their beliefs. Her family is such a priority to her and they sound amazing. The more we talked, the more confused I was. She sounded so open yet obviously had some setbacks from being ready to learn more. What I gathered from our conversation was that it was probably the social/family pressures that are holding her back. There are still plenty of misconceptions about the Church in this area. It was neat though to hear that her LDS friends have been doing their best to break down those walls and to invite them to things. The best part was that while we were talking we found out she’s a runner and knows about some trail runs in the area. Woohoo! So the next morning we met up and went for a run around a mini lake that I’d never been able to find on my own. It was really cool. She was so stinkin sweet. Hopefully we’ll be able to do lots more with her. She even talked about doing a yogo/weights class in the mornings for the sisters. I love her and I love getting to know the locals. :)
AUSTRALIAN MIRACLES
So this was cool…Sis. Rancie and I during comp study were going over possible scenarios in teaching/tours situations, trying to practice resolving concerns that people have. We ended up, though we were talking about hypothetical situations, talking more about her own friends that she used to room with that she’d never gotten to share the gospel with in the way that she wanted. I told her that if this person was still popping up in her mind, that it was the Spirit and that she needed to get in touch with her. This was virtually impossible because she didn’t have any of her contact info other than a description of how to get to her house. But I committed her to sending the missionaries over there to meet her and Sis. Rancie, being a woman of GREAT faith, said that she’d do it. So…THE LORD ALWAYS PROVIDES A WAY. Less than a week later we met a visitor who was soon to go into the mission field to one of the several missions in Australia. Just so happened to be the mission that Sis. Rancie’s friend lived in. She didn’t think about it right away—was just chatting with him about the area. Then after she finished it popped strongly (good description, huh?) into her head to tell him about her friend. She left him with all the info she had about how to get a hold of her friend. Something so simple but as we looked back at the whole situation we could see so many different aspects of it where the Lord had His hand in the whole process. Way cool. I’m excited to see what will happen.
MORE FRIENDS!
So I got a nice surprise in the Wilford Woodruff home. Some visitors pulled up and we can see out onto the street from the 2nd story study area we have so we can see the visitors as they come. I saw many kids piling out of a van and a boy who I recognized vaguely. As all the dots were connecting in my head I realized it was Stephanie Chidester’s husband…which meant that those were Stephanie’s children…and that she was here too! :) It was really fun to see her and so, so fun to see her kids. She has 4 stinkin adorable boys. A couple were old enough that they were like real people. It was crazy! They’re such a cute little family and such a good example of putting the Lord and His gospel first in your lives. They just finished med school with a family of 6. No small feat! It was great to see them. :)
FUNNY EPIPHANY
So a few weeks ago, in that same historic house, I was sitting looking out the window and being very pensive about things. I was pondering on why people have such strong misconceptions about the Church and how so many people think that Mormons are so weird. I was thinking to myself, “why would they think that. We’re so normal.” Then suddenly I looked down at myself in this pioneer dress, perched in an upper room of a really old house in rural Nauvoo waiting for people to come so I could talk to them and I just started laughing out loud. Nothing is normal about what I was doing.
But alongside that, I know that the message we share is even less normal. Even though it’s as old as the earth (old really) it’s so powerful and unusual to proclaim that the heavens are still open, that the Lord speaks today to us individually as well as through a prophet of God. I know that’s true and that His restored church is one the earth again today and that it’s The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I’m so grateful to be able to spend all of my time trying to tell people about cause, well, it’s kind of a big deal. :)
Love you all!
-Sis Cartwright
Monday, May 19, 2008
“Let us all lift our feet a little higher so we don’t take a nose dive.”
Quote was the inspirational message at our morning meeting. One of the senior elders was giving the thought that day and told us a very entertaining story about watching a robin that was running through the grass, then tripped and fell beak-first into the ground. He was laughing so hard about how he’s never seen a bird trip onto its face. He didn’t tie it into his talk on repentance until the very end, leaving us all entertained but confused for some time. Anyway, there you have it…
THE STRENGTH OF THE STURDY PIONEERS
This isn’t actually about the old-school pioneers…The other day as we were leaving a meeting the sister driving our van accidentally drove it somewhat into a ditch. (We always try desperately not to have to put the car in reverse because it means we have to back it. This can sometimes result in compromising driving situations. :) Anyway….) So our van is loaded down with 6 of us and we’re just sitting there teetering on the edge—not able to go backwards or forwards—when out of the dust run 3 sisters from the other van dressed in their best pioneer garb, to the rescue! They ran up to the van and before we’d even had time to panic too much (but after we’d had time to laugh hysterically) they’d pushed the van back up onto the road. Wow. It was an adventure no matter what, but put anything in a pioneer dress and it’s somehow much, much funnier. Good times!
I’M DOMESTIC!
Not really, but I did get to contribute to some homemade bread that we made in the bustle oven in the Family Living Center. I tried to only involve myself in the steps that couldn’t get messed up too bad. :) But I got to knead it! Then snitch it all day in between tours….But yeah, I felt real fancy.
A TENDER MERCY :)
We had an awesome chance to talk to a couple who came. We’d seen them before when we showed them how to make bread but hadn’t gotten to know them real well or talk to them too much. Turns out they were pseudo-family members of one of the missionary couples here. They ended up coming to one of our district meetings with their fam and we talked to them a while afterwards. They’re both members of the Church but haven’t gone since they were very young so they know little about the doctrine. The Lord worked it out where we had time to talk to them a little about their experiences here and leave them with some things to think about as they left. It was so neat to watch their faces as they’ve been in Nauvoo and the slight transformation that’s taken place. The woman was saying how much she’d like to move here because of the peaceful feeling. It’s hard sometimes to help people realize that the peace here isn’t just because it’s a small town or because it’s by the river. The peace comes from he Holy Ghost. It’s something they can have with them always, regardless of where they live. It’s something they can take home with them as they let the Lord into their lives and follow His teachings. I’m grateful for that Spirit and to have it as a constant companion (on and off my mission) provided I stay clean and worthy of its presence. I know that it’s the light that leads us to make the decisions that keep us close to Christ. I hope you all take the time to notice when you do and do not feel the peace and comfort of the Holy Ghost and make the alterations needed to allow you to have the Spirit with you more fully. I know that through it we will be able to become more like our Savior and a greater instrument to Him for good.
FAMILY FIRST
I’ve learned a powerful lesson about families. We have many, many people who come into the Visitors’ Center who are such faithful members of the Church. They serve in any capacity they are asked to and they have such a deep love for the gospel. At the same time, they have family members they care about very deeply who have strayed from what they’ve known to be true. This is, of course, one of the deepest sorrows you can feel. These sweet people are very concerned with doing all they can (praying, attending the temple, trying to testify to their family members) so that the ones they love will be able to grab hold of the blessings that are waiting for them. What I’ve come to learn is that sometimes, these same people are hesitant to share the gospel with others around them. They explain that instead, they are focusing on helping their family members come back to church. However, we have been commissioned to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added unto us. Missionary work is a commandment from the Lord and I know and promise that as we look outward and see those right around us who are in need of the gospel and as we are willing to share it, the Lord will take care of those we care so much about—our family members. I’ve seen this happen many times in the lives of those I’ve served with and met out here and I’m grateful for the ways the Lord takes care of us and provides those mighty miracles.
Love you all and talk to you later!
-Sis C
THE STRENGTH OF THE STURDY PIONEERS
This isn’t actually about the old-school pioneers…The other day as we were leaving a meeting the sister driving our van accidentally drove it somewhat into a ditch. (We always try desperately not to have to put the car in reverse because it means we have to back it. This can sometimes result in compromising driving situations. :) Anyway….) So our van is loaded down with 6 of us and we’re just sitting there teetering on the edge—not able to go backwards or forwards—when out of the dust run 3 sisters from the other van dressed in their best pioneer garb, to the rescue! They ran up to the van and before we’d even had time to panic too much (but after we’d had time to laugh hysterically) they’d pushed the van back up onto the road. Wow. It was an adventure no matter what, but put anything in a pioneer dress and it’s somehow much, much funnier. Good times!
I’M DOMESTIC!
Not really, but I did get to contribute to some homemade bread that we made in the bustle oven in the Family Living Center. I tried to only involve myself in the steps that couldn’t get messed up too bad. :) But I got to knead it! Then snitch it all day in between tours….But yeah, I felt real fancy.
A TENDER MERCY :)
We had an awesome chance to talk to a couple who came. We’d seen them before when we showed them how to make bread but hadn’t gotten to know them real well or talk to them too much. Turns out they were pseudo-family members of one of the missionary couples here. They ended up coming to one of our district meetings with their fam and we talked to them a while afterwards. They’re both members of the Church but haven’t gone since they were very young so they know little about the doctrine. The Lord worked it out where we had time to talk to them a little about their experiences here and leave them with some things to think about as they left. It was so neat to watch their faces as they’ve been in Nauvoo and the slight transformation that’s taken place. The woman was saying how much she’d like to move here because of the peaceful feeling. It’s hard sometimes to help people realize that the peace here isn’t just because it’s a small town or because it’s by the river. The peace comes from he Holy Ghost. It’s something they can have with them always, regardless of where they live. It’s something they can take home with them as they let the Lord into their lives and follow His teachings. I’m grateful for that Spirit and to have it as a constant companion (on and off my mission) provided I stay clean and worthy of its presence. I know that it’s the light that leads us to make the decisions that keep us close to Christ. I hope you all take the time to notice when you do and do not feel the peace and comfort of the Holy Ghost and make the alterations needed to allow you to have the Spirit with you more fully. I know that through it we will be able to become more like our Savior and a greater instrument to Him for good.
FAMILY FIRST
I’ve learned a powerful lesson about families. We have many, many people who come into the Visitors’ Center who are such faithful members of the Church. They serve in any capacity they are asked to and they have such a deep love for the gospel. At the same time, they have family members they care about very deeply who have strayed from what they’ve known to be true. This is, of course, one of the deepest sorrows you can feel. These sweet people are very concerned with doing all they can (praying, attending the temple, trying to testify to their family members) so that the ones they love will be able to grab hold of the blessings that are waiting for them. What I’ve come to learn is that sometimes, these same people are hesitant to share the gospel with others around them. They explain that instead, they are focusing on helping their family members come back to church. However, we have been commissioned to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added unto us. Missionary work is a commandment from the Lord and I know and promise that as we look outward and see those right around us who are in need of the gospel and as we are willing to share it, the Lord will take care of those we care so much about—our family members. I’ve seen this happen many times in the lives of those I’ve served with and met out here and I’m grateful for the ways the Lord takes care of us and provides those mighty miracles.
Love you all and talk to you later!
-Sis C
Monday, April 28, 2008
“I’ve never seen an old person kick that high!”
Quote compliments of a 17-yr old boy after watching the performance of Ren-de-vous in Old Nauvoo. It’s an amazing performance done entirely by the senior missionaries. This entire group of high schoolers from Indiana (not LDS, just on a school trip) was loving it. Two of the boys shot out of their seats at the end to give a standing ovation. The kids were WAY cool and wanted to stay in Nauvoo but their itinerary had them heading down to Hannibal (like Mark Twain even compares to senior missionaries pretending to be horses pulling a wagon…). They were very sweet and sincere. When school groups come we obviously can’t share about the Church with them but there’s a definite Spirit in Nauvoo that you just can’t hide and I know they felt it.
AEROBICS…SENIOR MISSIONARY STYLE…
Yes, so we wake up and 6:30 in the morning and then work out for 30 min, according to mission guidelines. Quite enjoyable…usually run to the river and back. The seniors, however, are a little more hard-core. They have an aerobics class every morning from 6:10 to 7. The time was a little earlier but we were intrigued so we had to go. And my, I’m happy we did! The first big part of is was actually line dancing to slow, old-school country music. We did the “Southern Stroll” and other such moves. Amazing! We were definitely not as coordinated as they were (they were experts) and so they’d help us out in between songs—“when you do the grapevine, start with your leg stepping behind…” and other such helpful tips. Then we did abs and weights. They don’t mess around. No wonder they’re in such good shape for all the plays and musicals they do. It was so much fun to work out with them. Unfortunately the next day we were back to our river run but I imagine we’ll be back because so far on my mission nothing’s made me more sore. I was loving it!
KEEPING BUSY
It’s still pretty quiet here (except on the weekends) so we’re helping out with NRI (the restoration part of Nauvoo). It really just means we move boxes or pull weeds or paint…whatever they want us to do…but it’s refreshing cause it keeps us busy the whole day.
“EXCEPT HE DOTH SUBMIT HIMSELF AS A CHILD
”This was just a precious little moment…we were in the Visitor’s Center and there’s a large status of the Savior (same one that’s in Salt Lake for those who’ve seen it). I was talking with one of the senior missionaries. The place was dead except one family who was walking around with another missionary. This fam had like a million little boys and the youngest one (about 5 yrs) broke off from the pack. He runs, unnoticed, over to the statue. The missionary I was talking to gets really excited and hushed and tells me to turn around. We looked over (everyone else was doing their own thing) and he climbs up to the bottom of the statue and just wraps both his little arms as wide as he can around the Savior’s legs and just stares up at His face. It was the coolest thing. He stayed there for just a minute and then, as 5-yr old boys are prone to do, climbed down and wandered off. It was such a tender little moment. We got to tell the parents about it later and they of course got a little teary just like we had. :)
This is very short, but I’m sure you’re all fine with that! :)
- Sis Cartwright
AEROBICS…SENIOR MISSIONARY STYLE…
Yes, so we wake up and 6:30 in the morning and then work out for 30 min, according to mission guidelines. Quite enjoyable…usually run to the river and back. The seniors, however, are a little more hard-core. They have an aerobics class every morning from 6:10 to 7. The time was a little earlier but we were intrigued so we had to go. And my, I’m happy we did! The first big part of is was actually line dancing to slow, old-school country music. We did the “Southern Stroll” and other such moves. Amazing! We were definitely not as coordinated as they were (they were experts) and so they’d help us out in between songs—“when you do the grapevine, start with your leg stepping behind…” and other such helpful tips. Then we did abs and weights. They don’t mess around. No wonder they’re in such good shape for all the plays and musicals they do. It was so much fun to work out with them. Unfortunately the next day we were back to our river run but I imagine we’ll be back because so far on my mission nothing’s made me more sore. I was loving it!
KEEPING BUSY
It’s still pretty quiet here (except on the weekends) so we’re helping out with NRI (the restoration part of Nauvoo). It really just means we move boxes or pull weeds or paint…whatever they want us to do…but it’s refreshing cause it keeps us busy the whole day.
“EXCEPT HE DOTH SUBMIT HIMSELF AS A CHILD
”This was just a precious little moment…we were in the Visitor’s Center and there’s a large status of the Savior (same one that’s in Salt Lake for those who’ve seen it). I was talking with one of the senior missionaries. The place was dead except one family who was walking around with another missionary. This fam had like a million little boys and the youngest one (about 5 yrs) broke off from the pack. He runs, unnoticed, over to the statue. The missionary I was talking to gets really excited and hushed and tells me to turn around. We looked over (everyone else was doing their own thing) and he climbs up to the bottom of the statue and just wraps both his little arms as wide as he can around the Savior’s legs and just stares up at His face. It was the coolest thing. He stayed there for just a minute and then, as 5-yr old boys are prone to do, climbed down and wandered off. It was such a tender little moment. We got to tell the parents about it later and they of course got a little teary just like we had. :)
This is very short, but I’m sure you’re all fine with that! :)
- Sis Cartwright
Friday, April 18, 2008
"It's like 17 Christmas mornings!"
This is a long one, but these double as my journal so tough luck. :)Quote from one of the senior missionaries who was conducting the mtg the morning after we all got in (cause there's 17 of us). They make us feel so loved, even if we feel haggered and disoriented (like yesterday).
TUMI
So we got a message that a guy named Tumi had ordered a Book of Mormon from http://www.mormon.org/. We got the msg on Mon so the day before we left we went to see him. At first they told us he was home but busy but then as we were talking to his wife he materialized. We then sat with him and taught him about the BOM and where it comes from and about Joseph Smith and how God called a prophet today. He told us when we came he was going to leave to go run some errands but something told him to stay and talk with us. He also told us that every church he sees in Nigeria (where he’s from) and the UK he just feels peace when he sees them, even though he’s never been inside. It was an awesome lesson. I tell you, black people are SO in tune with the Spirit. I hope the elders who have the area will really enjoy teaching him.
LEAVING LILBURN…
one of the more chaotic couple of days in my life. In the top 5 for sure, maybe top 3. I knew I was leaving obviously so that wasn’t a surprise but late Sunday night we decided to move a baptism scheduled for Saturday to Tuesday night so the new missionaries form the MTC could come cause they stay in Lilburn their first night. So much phone calling and rearranging. Plus, I could be there so that was a bonus. It was Stephen’s (who got baptized in March) little bro David. And Stephen just got the priesthood on Sun so he’d be baptizing him. He was way pumped. So Mon was crazy getting everything ready for that. Then that night we got a call that Sis Jones and I were BOTH getting transferred. So this meant we had to spend most of Tuesday packing everything, cleaning everything, and writing EVERY possible thing down that we could think of since we just have all the info in a book and the new missionaries come in and go from there. So it was CRAZY. Plus, we had a baptism that night. But it was gonna be amazing.
THE SAD NEWS
Unfortunately, Satan knows when amazing things are going to happen. At dinner (2.5 hrs before the baptism) we get a call from Stephen that they’d been in a car accident and couldn’t make it. It wasn’t that they were hurt but their parents were mad. We were crushed. So was he. Plus we had to tell him that we were both getting transferred so he wouldn’t see either of us again. And the baptism was postponed indefinitely. Man, oh man. On top of that, we got a call from Destiny and Sunshine saying that not only were they still planning on coming to see the baptism, but their mom (who’s the one holding them back from getting baptized) wanted to come with. So we had to tell them that it was cancelled and also that both of us were getting transferred. Wow. It was rough. But they were so sweet and made us goodbye cards that their mom was gonna drive down to the church the next day if we didn’t make it up to say goodbye. Anyway, it was all chaos. And my comp left her scriptures at an investigator’s house and we had to get them at the last possible sec. ANYWAY, it was crazy and we left Wed morning (Sis Dalley and I had to leave for the airport in the middle of transfer mtg and not really say bye to anyone) so suddenly we were on our way to the airport and I hadn’t even had time to process anything that was happening.
THE REUNION
We met up at the GA airport with some of the sisters who had layovers and then met the rest in St Louis. There’s 14 returning and 3 new with a few more to come. The next day we had interviews and then dinner with the mission pres and got to know he and his wife (they’re AWESOME) and today we’re shopping and moving in. Tomorrow we start on the regular sched. I’m comps with Sis Rancie from Australia. We were comps for a day last yr and we love each other so we’re way excited. I always seem to get the international comps. Makes me feel exotic. She’s way hard working.
THE BEST NEWS
The coolest thing was I got a letter from Sis Becker in Canton and she told me that the Elder family we were teaching (the one where the wife was LDS but we didn’t know until we randomly tracted into her and the husband was not…and she was the one who started getting so excited about the gospel when we were over there teaching) anyway…he got baptized!!!! :) Warms my heart! That’s the best feeling. I pray that I can have it many more times. :)It’s good to be back. Weird, but good. We’re excited to apply all we’ve learned in the “outfield.” It was nice to be back by our pretty temple. The first night here I was feeling a little “fish-out-of-watery” cause I hadn’t really processed the whole transition yet but I went to sleep with them temple shining directly through the bedroom window. Ahhh… :)
Cool scrip: 2 Timothy 2:3. I think. If that one’s not that cool that read around til you find one that is.
Love you all!
--Sis C
TUMI
So we got a message that a guy named Tumi had ordered a Book of Mormon from http://www.mormon.org/. We got the msg on Mon so the day before we left we went to see him. At first they told us he was home but busy but then as we were talking to his wife he materialized. We then sat with him and taught him about the BOM and where it comes from and about Joseph Smith and how God called a prophet today. He told us when we came he was going to leave to go run some errands but something told him to stay and talk with us. He also told us that every church he sees in Nigeria (where he’s from) and the UK he just feels peace when he sees them, even though he’s never been inside. It was an awesome lesson. I tell you, black people are SO in tune with the Spirit. I hope the elders who have the area will really enjoy teaching him.
LEAVING LILBURN…
one of the more chaotic couple of days in my life. In the top 5 for sure, maybe top 3. I knew I was leaving obviously so that wasn’t a surprise but late Sunday night we decided to move a baptism scheduled for Saturday to Tuesday night so the new missionaries form the MTC could come cause they stay in Lilburn their first night. So much phone calling and rearranging. Plus, I could be there so that was a bonus. It was Stephen’s (who got baptized in March) little bro David. And Stephen just got the priesthood on Sun so he’d be baptizing him. He was way pumped. So Mon was crazy getting everything ready for that. Then that night we got a call that Sis Jones and I were BOTH getting transferred. So this meant we had to spend most of Tuesday packing everything, cleaning everything, and writing EVERY possible thing down that we could think of since we just have all the info in a book and the new missionaries come in and go from there. So it was CRAZY. Plus, we had a baptism that night. But it was gonna be amazing.
THE SAD NEWS
Unfortunately, Satan knows when amazing things are going to happen. At dinner (2.5 hrs before the baptism) we get a call from Stephen that they’d been in a car accident and couldn’t make it. It wasn’t that they were hurt but their parents were mad. We were crushed. So was he. Plus we had to tell him that we were both getting transferred so he wouldn’t see either of us again. And the baptism was postponed indefinitely. Man, oh man. On top of that, we got a call from Destiny and Sunshine saying that not only were they still planning on coming to see the baptism, but their mom (who’s the one holding them back from getting baptized) wanted to come with. So we had to tell them that it was cancelled and also that both of us were getting transferred. Wow. It was rough. But they were so sweet and made us goodbye cards that their mom was gonna drive down to the church the next day if we didn’t make it up to say goodbye. Anyway, it was all chaos. And my comp left her scriptures at an investigator’s house and we had to get them at the last possible sec. ANYWAY, it was crazy and we left Wed morning (Sis Dalley and I had to leave for the airport in the middle of transfer mtg and not really say bye to anyone) so suddenly we were on our way to the airport and I hadn’t even had time to process anything that was happening.
THE REUNION
We met up at the GA airport with some of the sisters who had layovers and then met the rest in St Louis. There’s 14 returning and 3 new with a few more to come. The next day we had interviews and then dinner with the mission pres and got to know he and his wife (they’re AWESOME) and today we’re shopping and moving in. Tomorrow we start on the regular sched. I’m comps with Sis Rancie from Australia. We were comps for a day last yr and we love each other so we’re way excited. I always seem to get the international comps. Makes me feel exotic. She’s way hard working.
THE BEST NEWS
The coolest thing was I got a letter from Sis Becker in Canton and she told me that the Elder family we were teaching (the one where the wife was LDS but we didn’t know until we randomly tracted into her and the husband was not…and she was the one who started getting so excited about the gospel when we were over there teaching) anyway…he got baptized!!!! :) Warms my heart! That’s the best feeling. I pray that I can have it many more times. :)It’s good to be back. Weird, but good. We’re excited to apply all we’ve learned in the “outfield.” It was nice to be back by our pretty temple. The first night here I was feeling a little “fish-out-of-watery” cause I hadn’t really processed the whole transition yet but I went to sleep with them temple shining directly through the bedroom window. Ahhh… :)
Cool scrip: 2 Timothy 2:3. I think. If that one’s not that cool that read around til you find one that is.
Love you all!
--Sis C
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