Our p-day was changed from Monday to Friday due to the mission presidents seminar we hosted. So the e-mail for this week is rather late. A lot has happened. About three quarters of the way through September 7th I began to feel awful. It was a steep down hill from there and today is my first real day of feeling better. I served until Wednesday when Sister Ludwig found me at the Visitors Center. To my raspy "Hello Sister Ludwig" her face quickly dropped and said, "Are you getting sick?". My stomach dropped and after some very short and pointless protests she had me in the car and headed back home. I have to admit, in high school getting sick was like getting an unexpected holiday. I much preferred my warm bed to a cold dull classroom any day, even if I felt as though my head would fall off. Then I went to college. Getting sick at college is no fun. There is no mother to care for you, you feel crummy, your roommates avoid you like the plague for fear they will get sick, and if you miss classes it means a lot of catching up to do before you begin to feel well again. I never thought getting sick could feel any worse, but alas, I can assure you that getting sick on a mission is worse. Getting sick means you can't serve until you feel in tip top shape again and everyone wants to help you feel better. I have been in and out of serving since Wednesday, but I am back on my feet and ready to go! I can only imagine how getting sick must feel as a mother. Yuck. I was able to serve the mission presidents, their wives, Elder and Sister Perry (Yes, Elder Perry, an Apostle of God) and all the other General Authorities. It was an amazing weekend. I loved it! The weirdest thought was that some of these mission presidents were some of the Nauvoo Sisters future mission presidents. We had no idea who they were, but there knew who we were. It was fun. The thing that really put the icing on the cake was when we sang "Called to Serve" for all who were in attendance. It was the last time we would all sing together as Sisters. Sister Brinkerhoff and Sister Stagg are leaving next Thursday. The spirit was so strong. We were able to sing a rendition of the song that was arranged by a Nauvoo Sister that served here last year. It really does those sweet, quiet, really joyful moments on a mission justice. Elder Perry stopped all of us as we started to exit the room and made sure that we received a standing ovation. He then asked who had had their companionship study the previous day. We all raised our hands and laughed as he let us all leave.
Today has been absolutely fabulous! How could it not be? We got up, exercised, went to the Temple and now are writing to our loved ones! The Temple was so good today. I love it there. It will be hard not to have it so available when I leave this place. I was reading Alma Chapter 8 today while I was at the Temple. This is the chapter in which he meets Amulek. I love Amulek. I also love the example that Alma is to me as a servant of the Lord. In verse 14 it describes Alma as he travels away from a city that he has just been essentially kicked out of because he was preaching the Gospel. The people there were offended by truth and saw that he was removed. Alma is "weighed down with much sorrow", not for his own persecutions, but because the people had rejected the Gospel. Alma wanted nothing more for those people than to feel the joy the Gospel brings. In verse 14 the Lord commands Alma to turn around, go back to where he just came from, back to a place where he was just spit on, yelled at, and cast out, and preach the Gospel again. Alma's response? "He returned speedily to the land" of those people that had cast him out to do the will of the Lord. Not only did he return, but he did it "speedily". I can only hope that I will be as quick to hearken to the counsel of the Lord.
For the rest of the day I am going to write my mission president, go out to lunch with the other p-day Sisters (I have been out for 6 months today), run some errands, and write letters. I have A LOT to write. Thank you so much for the sometimes overwhelming amount of support you all extend to me. <333
Sister Bailey
Suggested reading : Mosiah18
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Rock Of Our Redeemer, Who Is Christ
We are going to Hannibal for P-day with the Henricksons (sp?), which leaves pretty much no time for letters. I cannot grantee that anyone will get a letter this week, so forgive me in advance for your empty mail boxes. :(
A weird thing happened to me this week. Sometimes, when I study, I read over my ministerial certificate to remind me what I'm doing and who my call to Nauvoo has actually come from. This time, as I read, I took more notice of my tentative release date..... "August 31, 2010". The most evasive thought pushed itself into my head, "If the date on that card holds water, this time next year I will be home". And today, if that's true, this time next year I will have been home for a week. I love all of you and miss you a lot, but I don't like to think about it. Part of me wants to be a missionary forever.
This past week was the first week of "Angels in the outfield". This is when we get to teach the Seniors. It has been so fun. I have to admit, about an hour before my first lesson, I was scared out of my mind. I couldn't think straight. I had no idea where it was coming from, which only made it worse. I only remember thinking, "I have to write this down. I never want to forget how hard this was". From Tuesday on everything was coming up roses. I had no idea how creative the Seniors are here. We have been having so much fun. I have now taught the first lesson roughly 19 times (not counting the MTC or the visitor's center, this is just for angels) with 5 different companions. It has been so amazing to learn from one another and teach together. I have taught with Sister Alexander, Sister Lukens, Sister Westwood, Sister Reece, Sister Thomas. It was SO good.
To make it even better, yesterday was fast Sunday. We broke our fast at President Ludwig's house and then all sat down in the living room and talked about Angels in the outfield and then our outbounds. President doesn't know where we're going. ( I think I told you otherwise last week. Please forgive me, this is the Navuoo mission... rumors spread like fire on prairie grass). Transfers have been pushed back a week because next week we're going to be hosting a "Mission President's seminar" here in Nauvoo. Some of us will be meeting our future mission president. We wont know it when it happens. Many of the mission presidents coming next week are presidents of missions who often times shelter Nauvoo Sisters for the winter. Many sisters are really nervous about the field. When I really think about it, my excitement drowns out any nerves I have. As the upcoming months unfold I hope to keep two things in mind. One "I am a Nauvoo Sister, who is now going out to proselyte" (Sister Lukens, dispelling the thought of "Ok I'm no longer a Nauvoo Sister I am a proselyting sister"). And two, I have been called by the Lord, and the Lord has not called me to failure.
"And now my sons remember remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ that ye must build your foundations, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation upon which if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12)
The same can be said for each one of us here on earth. We are God's children, He loves us and He sent us here to learn the things we need to learn and do the things we need to do in order to become like Him. The whole purpose of this life is to one day return to Him. That is how we are happy, that is how we are successful. We have not been sent here to fail, just as every missionary has not been called to fail. And just as every missionary must turn to and depend on his arm for strength, we must "remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ, that we must build our foundation.
A lot of times in the mission we talk about our "mission life" and our "real life". In some ways it's true, there is a bit of a difference, but in a lot of ways the line between the mission and "real life" is much finer, much blurrier than we give it credit for. The principles for success are the same. "Remember, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Ask and ye shall receive, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen."
Sister Bailey.
D&C 4
A weird thing happened to me this week. Sometimes, when I study, I read over my ministerial certificate to remind me what I'm doing and who my call to Nauvoo has actually come from. This time, as I read, I took more notice of my tentative release date..... "August 31, 2010". The most evasive thought pushed itself into my head, "If the date on that card holds water, this time next year I will be home". And today, if that's true, this time next year I will have been home for a week. I love all of you and miss you a lot, but I don't like to think about it. Part of me wants to be a missionary forever.
This past week was the first week of "Angels in the outfield". This is when we get to teach the Seniors. It has been so fun. I have to admit, about an hour before my first lesson, I was scared out of my mind. I couldn't think straight. I had no idea where it was coming from, which only made it worse. I only remember thinking, "I have to write this down. I never want to forget how hard this was". From Tuesday on everything was coming up roses. I had no idea how creative the Seniors are here. We have been having so much fun. I have now taught the first lesson roughly 19 times (not counting the MTC or the visitor's center, this is just for angels) with 5 different companions. It has been so amazing to learn from one another and teach together. I have taught with Sister Alexander, Sister Lukens, Sister Westwood, Sister Reece, Sister Thomas. It was SO good.
To make it even better, yesterday was fast Sunday. We broke our fast at President Ludwig's house and then all sat down in the living room and talked about Angels in the outfield and then our outbounds. President doesn't know where we're going. ( I think I told you otherwise last week. Please forgive me, this is the Navuoo mission... rumors spread like fire on prairie grass). Transfers have been pushed back a week because next week we're going to be hosting a "Mission President's seminar" here in Nauvoo. Some of us will be meeting our future mission president. We wont know it when it happens. Many of the mission presidents coming next week are presidents of missions who often times shelter Nauvoo Sisters for the winter. Many sisters are really nervous about the field. When I really think about it, my excitement drowns out any nerves I have. As the upcoming months unfold I hope to keep two things in mind. One "I am a Nauvoo Sister, who is now going out to proselyte" (Sister Lukens, dispelling the thought of "Ok I'm no longer a Nauvoo Sister I am a proselyting sister"). And two, I have been called by the Lord, and the Lord has not called me to failure.
"And now my sons remember remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ that ye must build your foundations, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation upon which if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12)
The same can be said for each one of us here on earth. We are God's children, He loves us and He sent us here to learn the things we need to learn and do the things we need to do in order to become like Him. The whole purpose of this life is to one day return to Him. That is how we are happy, that is how we are successful. We have not been sent here to fail, just as every missionary has not been called to fail. And just as every missionary must turn to and depend on his arm for strength, we must "remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ, that we must build our foundation.
A lot of times in the mission we talk about our "mission life" and our "real life". In some ways it's true, there is a bit of a difference, but in a lot of ways the line between the mission and "real life" is much finer, much blurrier than we give it credit for. The principles for success are the same. "Remember, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Ask and ye shall receive, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen."
Sister Bailey.
D&C 4
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Visitor's are gone, but the spirit is still strong
The sun is out, the corn is high and the weather is near perfect. Welcome to Nauvoo. Sister Westwood and I have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off, so it must be another preparation day. We did some things around the house this morning and then headed off to clean the van and get gas before coming here to the Visitor's Center to e-mail.We plan to get load of stuff done, some errands in town, stop by the sewing room etc.. It should be a good day.
This week was a good one. Last Tuesday was an eventful day at the visitor's center. Sister Westwood and I got stuck in the elevator for a good 20 minutes, my old roommate Sara and Jimmy came in, a bat was flying around the visitor's center, when we got back after lunch we had surprise interviews with President Ludwig, and I talked to President Ludwig's brother in law on the phone in the call center. That was kind of fun. On Wednesday I served at the cultural hall and it was pretty slow. I served with Sister Warr and Sister Brockbank who are two of the funniest sisters in the mission, so I wasn't at all bored. Then Elder and Sister Meyers came in and it was pretty much a party. Elder Meyers had caught some raccoons and wanted to show them to me so we went out to his car and took a look. One was still fighting but the other two were very resigned to the predicament they had found themselves in . Elder Meyers is crazy and thought it would be fun to let one go, so he did and then chased it around the parking lot. It was funny. On Thursday Elder Brockbank made me eat a donut. He told sister Aston and I he had a surprise for us out in his car and when we had gotten half way across the parking lot he said " They're donuts!! Sister Bailey, I know you don't eat donuts, but I bought these for you and If you don't eat one I'm going to be offended!" What was I suppose to do? I ate one. The man had like FOUR boxes of donuts in his car. It was ridiculous. We also found out that we are leaving October 7th ( not October 12th). President knows where we are going, but won't tell us until about a week before we leave.
As slow as this place has gotten, the Lord has blessed all of the missionaries with some of the neatest experiences. I love serving. If you have a dull moment you're probably the one to blame. The spirit is too strong here to have a dull moment. When you think you have nothing to do, read the Book of Mormon! The pages come alive. I know that can be said for more than just missionaries. As we fill our extra time with the most important things in life., family, the Book of Mormon , the Ensign etc. , the Lord blesses us and our minds and spirits are fed. He is the living water and the bread of Life. He has asked us to "fest upon the word"..... not nibble, not pick, Feast.
I love District meeting and Zone conference. I am looking forward to Angels in the outfield, but I am terrified at the same time. My studies are now basically wholly on the lessons so that I can teach with any companion I get. I pray that each new companionship I teach in will be able to have the Spirit there to unify us in our teaching in such a short amount of time with little or no preparation. It's the little or no preparation that I am worried about, but, I know that the Father knows that we are doing our best and will aid us in our teaching.
In District meeting this week president said, "Sometimes we have no idea what we volunteer for". Isn't that the truth? The important thing is not how much or how little we understand about what we have promised to do, the important thing is what we DO with the promise we have made.
And when we feel faint hearted we can think about the promise that was made in Abraham Chapter 3.
(If you don't have "The Pearl of Great Price" you can find Abraham Chapter 3 on LDS.org >>> Church Library >>>> Scriptures
Sister Bailey
I love you all
This week was a good one. Last Tuesday was an eventful day at the visitor's center. Sister Westwood and I got stuck in the elevator for a good 20 minutes, my old roommate Sara and Jimmy came in, a bat was flying around the visitor's center, when we got back after lunch we had surprise interviews with President Ludwig, and I talked to President Ludwig's brother in law on the phone in the call center. That was kind of fun. On Wednesday I served at the cultural hall and it was pretty slow. I served with Sister Warr and Sister Brockbank who are two of the funniest sisters in the mission, so I wasn't at all bored. Then Elder and Sister Meyers came in and it was pretty much a party. Elder Meyers had caught some raccoons and wanted to show them to me so we went out to his car and took a look. One was still fighting but the other two were very resigned to the predicament they had found themselves in . Elder Meyers is crazy and thought it would be fun to let one go, so he did and then chased it around the parking lot. It was funny. On Thursday Elder Brockbank made me eat a donut. He told sister Aston and I he had a surprise for us out in his car and when we had gotten half way across the parking lot he said " They're donuts!! Sister Bailey, I know you don't eat donuts, but I bought these for you and If you don't eat one I'm going to be offended!" What was I suppose to do? I ate one. The man had like FOUR boxes of donuts in his car. It was ridiculous. We also found out that we are leaving October 7th ( not October 12th). President knows where we are going, but won't tell us until about a week before we leave.
As slow as this place has gotten, the Lord has blessed all of the missionaries with some of the neatest experiences. I love serving. If you have a dull moment you're probably the one to blame. The spirit is too strong here to have a dull moment. When you think you have nothing to do, read the Book of Mormon! The pages come alive. I know that can be said for more than just missionaries. As we fill our extra time with the most important things in life., family, the Book of Mormon , the Ensign etc. , the Lord blesses us and our minds and spirits are fed. He is the living water and the bread of Life. He has asked us to "fest upon the word"..... not nibble, not pick, Feast.
I love District meeting and Zone conference. I am looking forward to Angels in the outfield, but I am terrified at the same time. My studies are now basically wholly on the lessons so that I can teach with any companion I get. I pray that each new companionship I teach in will be able to have the Spirit there to unify us in our teaching in such a short amount of time with little or no preparation. It's the little or no preparation that I am worried about, but, I know that the Father knows that we are doing our best and will aid us in our teaching.
In District meeting this week president said, "Sometimes we have no idea what we volunteer for". Isn't that the truth? The important thing is not how much or how little we understand about what we have promised to do, the important thing is what we DO with the promise we have made.
And when we feel faint hearted we can think about the promise that was made in Abraham Chapter 3.
(If you don't have "The Pearl of Great Price" you can find Abraham Chapter 3 on LDS.org >>> Church Library >>>> Scriptures
Sister Bailey
I love you all
A Little e-mail
At the end of this week Nauvoo starts pre-gaming for the Sister's outbounds. We will tract the Seniors. Knock on their doors, teach them lessons and eat their food. They will call us and make appointments for follow up lessons and dinner appointments. As mundane as it might sound, we are all very excited about it. Sister Westwood and I took to teaching a gorilla and a penguin in our living room the other day. The lesson went well, but it we were hard pressed for a second opinion.
In this week's District meeting President said something that I have fallen in love with. "Everything we do for the Lord should be a little hard".
That is a quote that each of us could live by. The Lord stretches us and helps us grow. Growing and stretching are not always the warmest or fuzziest feelings but, as we trust in Him and let Him direct our paths, we will get where we need to go. He will only ever lead us back home.
Sister Bailey
Proverbs 3:5-6 A favorite of many.
I know that this is a little e-mail, but This is what has flooded my thoughts as of late.
In this week's District meeting President said something that I have fallen in love with. "Everything we do for the Lord should be a little hard".
That is a quote that each of us could live by. The Lord stretches us and helps us grow. Growing and stretching are not always the warmest or fuzziest feelings but, as we trust in Him and let Him direct our paths, we will get where we need to go. He will only ever lead us back home.
Sister Bailey
Proverbs 3:5-6 A favorite of many.
I know that this is a little e-mail, but This is what has flooded my thoughts as of late.
Friday, August 21, 2009
just a quick update
I have broken my streak. When transfers happened on Sunday, I, for the first time on my mission, did not pack up my bags and move. I am still in Nauvoo. Which is good! I love Nauvoo. It feels weird not to be in Carthage, but Nauvoo is just fine. That's the great thing about missions, as long as you are doing the work you will fall in love with any place, any people, at least for the time being. Although I am not in a new place I do have a new preparation day and new companion. Sister Westwood. She is also a signing sister. She is from Payson, Utah. Very sweet. Very sincere. It should be a good transfer. I think our differences with help us each learn a lot this transfer and it will be SO good for the lessons! Something I'm really looking forward to is "Angels in the outfield". Basically, since Nauvoo gets so slow come September, the Senior missionaries all make dinner appointments with us and we start teaching them the lessons to prepare to go into the field. I think Sister Westwood and I will teach well together.
Today has been a lot of run around. not very fun really, moving rooms, looking for frames, cleaning the van, printing off pictures for everyone but myself etc. The best part of the morning was going to the Temple for a session. Of course, on a day that one attends the Temple that usually is the best part of the day.
There is not much to say today, nor much time to say it in, so I will leave you a scripture to think about. St. Matthew 6:24-34. These verses tie a string around my heart and yank it in the right direction. I just need to follow.
(for anyone who knows how to count better than I can, yes, you are correct. I've been out for five months. Not six.That seemed rather quick.)
Today has been a lot of run around. not very fun really, moving rooms, looking for frames, cleaning the van, printing off pictures for everyone but myself etc. The best part of the morning was going to the Temple for a session. Of course, on a day that one attends the Temple that usually is the best part of the day.
There is not much to say today, nor much time to say it in, so I will leave you a scripture to think about. St. Matthew 6:24-34. These verses tie a string around my heart and yank it in the right direction. I just need to follow.
(for anyone who knows how to count better than I can, yes, you are correct. I've been out for five months. Not six.That seemed rather quick.)
Sister Bailey
Sunday, August 16, 2009
A short note
Hello. Hello from a very slow, but surprisingly loud Nauvoo. Vocal Point and EFY are here. The combination calls for ear plugs, but due to the fact that I haven’t been to the store in over two weeks and won't be going until next week when both noisy visitors are gone, I am left lacking.
Okay, okay, it’s not as bad as I made it sound. In fact it’s been really fun. The EFY kids, loud as they might be, bring a little “life to the party” or party to the life, depending on how you view the situation. Come August 18th all the YPMs will be gone and then the seniors will start dropping like flies, which is to say they are going home, not kicking the bucket in any “stop breathing” kind of way. It will be weird to come back to Nauvoo after being away so long. Same place, same feeling, same purpose, different people. I will be grateful to still have President and Sister Ludwig and the seniors that are left here. It will make it feel more like home.
Actually, the more I think about that, same place, same feeling, same purpose, different people, the more I feel I need to correct myself. It will be the same place, same feeling, same purpose and in a way, the same people, just different faces, and different stories. 4Nephi1:15-17 describes the kind of people you find here in Nauvoo. And the case will be the same next summer too.
The call center is still my favorite place to be as of late.
Sorry this e-mail is so short. Next week is transfers so there will probably be more to say.
The gospel is true and I love this work. Thank you for you love and support.
Sister Bailey
Keep pressing forward.
Okay, okay, it’s not as bad as I made it sound. In fact it’s been really fun. The EFY kids, loud as they might be, bring a little “life to the party” or party to the life, depending on how you view the situation. Come August 18th all the YPMs will be gone and then the seniors will start dropping like flies, which is to say they are going home, not kicking the bucket in any “stop breathing” kind of way. It will be weird to come back to Nauvoo after being away so long. Same place, same feeling, same purpose, different people. I will be grateful to still have President and Sister Ludwig and the seniors that are left here. It will make it feel more like home.
Actually, the more I think about that, same place, same feeling, same purpose, different people, the more I feel I need to correct myself. It will be the same place, same feeling, same purpose and in a way, the same people, just different faces, and different stories. 4Nephi1:15-17 describes the kind of people you find here in Nauvoo. And the case will be the same next summer too.
The call center is still my favorite place to be as of late.
Sorry this e-mail is so short. Next week is transfers so there will probably be more to say.
The gospel is true and I love this work. Thank you for you love and support.
Sister Bailey
Keep pressing forward.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Quieter Days Are Coming.
Today we're going to the temple and to the bank and the post office and trying to get some letters and exploring done.
Pageant is over. Gone. Moved out. The cast has gone home and taken most of our visitors with them. Nauvoo is back to being a quiet little city on the bend of the river. As the Pageant moved out Vocal Point moved in. Vocal Point is an acapella group from BYU that comes out to Nauvoo every year. Sister Meyer and I watched last night. They were good. To my understanding, after Vocal Point leaves this place is suppose to get pretty dead pretty quick. Vocal Point will take the young preforming missionaries (YPMs) with them and a ton of Senior missionaries go home in August. Nauvoo is full of goodbyes, full of change.
When they all leave the sisters schedule will be filled with dinner and teaching appointments! The Senior couples all sign up to let the sisters come teach them the lessons and generally are more than happy to stick a plate of food in front of you while you do. I am really looking forward to it. It's like pregaming for the field. Sooner than we know it I will be writing you all an e-mail telling you where I'm going on my outbound. I feel like I entered the MTC yesterday. I can't believe it's been this long.
For right now I live for the call center. We always have something to do in the call center. I never thought that having people say they want free stuff would make me so happy. I love the call center. The hours I spend in there are probably my happiest. The sisters all watched Sunset by the Mississippi for the last time this summer the other night. It was a great show. The YPMs all had the sisters join in the parade before hand. To be in the parade you have to make a hat (the parade is for little kids). Anyway, as I made my hat I heard a "Sister Bailey!" come from behind me. I turned around expecting to see a YPM and nearly fell over when I saw a John Maruji, my friend from college, standing there! It was the neatest little treat to see him. Nauvoo is referred to by a lot of the Senior missionaries as "a celestial bubble" referring to how people feel when they come here. The Celestial Kingdom is the place where we are able to be with our families again. For eternity. And live with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ again. For eternity. In "a state of never ending happiness". Nauvoo is the place to make CRAZY connections with people. It happens all the time. I think that that will be very similar to the Celestial kingdom. What happy reunions will take place there as we turn around when our name is called to see a friend, a mother, and grandfather, a cousin a great great great great grand father. I can almost hear the smiling and cheering that will go on there. And then to think of the greatest reunion of all, the one we will have with our Eldest Brother, Our Savior, Our Rock and Our Redeemer, The Son Of God, Jesus Christ.The One who holds us up when we can't stand and steadiest us when we falter. The one who "quiets all our fears". I can't even imagine what that will be like.
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall".(Helaman 5:12)
"And moreover, I would desire that you should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it". (Mosiah 2:41)
I love you all.
Sister Bailey
Pageant is over. Gone. Moved out. The cast has gone home and taken most of our visitors with them. Nauvoo is back to being a quiet little city on the bend of the river. As the Pageant moved out Vocal Point moved in. Vocal Point is an acapella group from BYU that comes out to Nauvoo every year. Sister Meyer and I watched last night. They were good. To my understanding, after Vocal Point leaves this place is suppose to get pretty dead pretty quick. Vocal Point will take the young preforming missionaries (YPMs) with them and a ton of Senior missionaries go home in August. Nauvoo is full of goodbyes, full of change.
When they all leave the sisters schedule will be filled with dinner and teaching appointments! The Senior couples all sign up to let the sisters come teach them the lessons and generally are more than happy to stick a plate of food in front of you while you do. I am really looking forward to it. It's like pregaming for the field. Sooner than we know it I will be writing you all an e-mail telling you where I'm going on my outbound. I feel like I entered the MTC yesterday. I can't believe it's been this long.
For right now I live for the call center. We always have something to do in the call center. I never thought that having people say they want free stuff would make me so happy. I love the call center. The hours I spend in there are probably my happiest. The sisters all watched Sunset by the Mississippi for the last time this summer the other night. It was a great show. The YPMs all had the sisters join in the parade before hand. To be in the parade you have to make a hat (the parade is for little kids). Anyway, as I made my hat I heard a "Sister Bailey!" come from behind me. I turned around expecting to see a YPM and nearly fell over when I saw a John Maruji, my friend from college, standing there! It was the neatest little treat to see him. Nauvoo is referred to by a lot of the Senior missionaries as "a celestial bubble" referring to how people feel when they come here. The Celestial Kingdom is the place where we are able to be with our families again. For eternity. And live with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ again. For eternity. In "a state of never ending happiness". Nauvoo is the place to make CRAZY connections with people. It happens all the time. I think that that will be very similar to the Celestial kingdom. What happy reunions will take place there as we turn around when our name is called to see a friend, a mother, and grandfather, a cousin a great great great great grand father. I can almost hear the smiling and cheering that will go on there. And then to think of the greatest reunion of all, the one we will have with our Eldest Brother, Our Savior, Our Rock and Our Redeemer, The Son Of God, Jesus Christ.The One who holds us up when we can't stand and steadiest us when we falter. The one who "quiets all our fears". I can't even imagine what that will be like.
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall".(Helaman 5:12)
"And moreover, I would desire that you should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it". (Mosiah 2:41)
I love you all.
Sister Bailey
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