My Young Performing Missionary Friends

Farewell Nauvoo

Yesterday was our last day of shows.  It was of course a emotional day, but it was so wonderful.  The shows were as great as ever.  Singing from the balcony for the last time is when most people lost the tears.  The band came in to listen down below.  They were tears of pure JOY! It was wonderful to look around and simply love everyone around you.  Our group has become so unified.  Elder Camp said last year he was ready to go home.  But this year he says he doesn't want to leave. 

 

After our last show of High Hopes, all the Elders were assigned to go get hair cuts before our last "Sunset on the Mississippi."   Sis. Murset ran out of time and ended up cutting my hair during Sunset, back stage.  I have an "in" with Sis. Murset you could say, and I convinced her to not go as short as everyone elses!  This was our goodbye present to President Ludwig.

 

The last acting we did here was the Trail of Hope Saturday night, and it was so amazing.  We had a full moon that lite the path.  With the full moon, full hearts, and many full eyes I was the last Vignette along the trail.  There is an amazing spirit that testifies of the truthfulness of what we share down on that trail.  It was a perfect ending.

 

Today we had church, and a YPM testimony meeting, followed by a pot luck lunch.  Then we struck the set, and took everything down to pack into storage until next years group comes to open it all up again.  We've been cleaning and packing and will finish everything up tomorrow before we fly home on Tuesday.

 

Every night after our house prayer, the Elders stay in the living room for "put-ups."  This is where one Elder highlights another Elder for the day.  Earlier this week Elder Black chose me, and in his put-up he said that he has never met anyone else who thinks they are as funny, and laughs at their own jokes as much as Elder Rose! haha.

 

So many wonderful things happen here everyday.  I love it here.  It feels like home.

See y'all soon!

 

Love, Elder Rose

 

                                                                 The Trail of Hope

                                                             The car my family rented

                                      Taking my family on a tour of the Blacksmith Shop

Visit from the family

As I type this, my family is on the plane, flying back to Utah.  It was so good to have Mom, Dad, and the girls out here to see Nauvoo!  But at the same time it was somewhat of an eye opener for me on how much I've changed this summer.  I gave them a tour of the Blacksmith shop, and made them their very own horseshoe! They of course came to all of the shows.  And they were even personally invited by Susan Easton Black to come hear her speak!  So they came in this morning and heard Sister Black address the YPM's.  It was a great talk on the life of Ezra Taft Benson, which also highlighted two subjects she felt were appropriate for her audience: Romance and Education. So watch out ladies! We're coming back....JK

 

This week we had a miracle here in Nauvoo.  Last Sunday, the member of the Quorum of Seventy over Nauvoo Productions, Mark Lisvardi, gave us permission to get the scripts to some of the Nauvoo Pageant core cast vignettes, and perform them.  It was a big deal to the Pageant people, this is the first time anyone has been able to do them other than the core cast, so it took a little work to get the script from them.  Monday night we received our assigned parts; two casts of 12 people.  We had to memorize basically a monologue by Thursday when we started performing them, and some of us that were double cast had to memorize two! We did two showings a day, one in the morning and one at night for Thurs-Saturday. People would come to the trail head of Parley St. (the street the saints left from when they crossed the Mississippi west) and as they walk several blocks down to the river, they would pause to hear 10 presentations of journal entries of the people who lived here.  It was so neat to represent a Nauvoo native, and quote their exact words.  We had several amazing experiences on the trail.  My first part is the quote from Edwin Alfred Pettit, a 14 year old boy who dressed as a girl to cross the first part of the trek because his guardian was opposed to him leaving.  My second part is the last narration on the trail, in which I bear testimony to the truthfulness of this gospel.  When we do the trail at night, it is an even more amazing experience. As a "company" of people walk down the trail together they are guided by a "captain" YPM, who holds a lantern to light the way. (because it gets really dark after 8:30)  Last night I was the last narrator.  I sat on my stool near the river all by myself, lit by a small, rather pathetic candle, and the bright moonlight.  It was great to have that time to ponder back on my summer, as it is soon coming to a close, but also to feel the testimony of the saints from the experience that surrounded me.  That is also why I mentioned earlier that I have changed so much this summer, with my family in town it became more apparent how I'm different now, but better.  Nauvoo is close to my heart and will never leave me.  Like Sister Black said this morning, "Nauvoo will never leave you, it's like frosting it just sticks!"  But I don't ever want it to leave me either.  I'm sad to only have one more week here, but like the Saints who left here long ago, I have faith for the future, but like them, I'm just not sure what the future holds.

 

Other than the Vignettes, we had everything else go normal.  People are starting to say goodbye, which breaks our hearts.  But the memories we have here are far greater than the pain we will feel in separating. The Nauvoo bubble is the best bubble to ever live in. The Gospel is true, especially here in Nauvoo:)

 

Love Elder Rose

                                                            My Pa and I in "Rendevous"

Only Two Weeks Left

I can't believe there is only two more weeks of our shows here in Nauvoo!  Just last night we finished the run of the Nauvoo Pageant!  Our leaders talked President Ludwig into allowing us to stay and watch the Pageant for the last time.  It is such a wonderful place to be.  Each night as the pageant began we were out seeking referrals from, and visiting with the guests.  And since our neighbors from Kaysville, the Balling family, have been here helping with the pageant, this week it was fun to talk with them about their experiences as well.  We had a neat experience with a non-member who came to see HHRB at the same time as the Ballings, and then we all ran into each other again at the Pageant's Country fair!  As I met her young daughters, brother Balling had a chance to visit with the mom; she said she had a wonderful experience here and was seeking more information about the church when she returned home to Texas.

 

We also saw some other fun people this week.  My Pa from the Rendezvous show, (who was in the New Braunfel ward on my mission) had his family (grandchildren) in town this week, they came and saw JPAA and Rendezvous.  In that same night of Rendezvous the Texiera's, another couple from New Braunfels, Texas that I got to know, were at the show.  In addition to it being the busiest week with the last week of pageant, this seems to be the time for all the YPM's from past years to come visit.  There is a group from last year, and several from 2007 as well.  I also ran into a girl I know from working at the MTC.

 

On Monday my throat was being tired more than usual, and on Tuesday I decided to visit the doctor here.  He concluded that I have this virus that's been going around and started me that day on an antibiotic.  Wednesday was rough on the throat and since then I've improved.  I think we caught it early enough that it didn't get real bad, I didn't have to miss any shows.

 

We've had some really great shows this week.  We are all really tired, specially from pageant nights, but we're aiming high for the finishing two weeks.  It seems hard to remember life before Nauvoo.  Today we are starting the recording of all of our songs from the sociable, and all the shows.  So for those of you who didn't make it out here this summer, you can still hear some of what we've accomplished here, when I return home.

 

All is well and I love you all.

 

Love Elder Rose

 

All YPM's with President and Sister Ludwig after the sociable

YPM Elders at the Pageant

YPM Sisters before the Pageant

YPM Band

A Hot Time in Nauvoo

Nauvoo Heat Index all last week was well above 100 degrees F.  It was so so hot outside, we would walk from the car to the buildings and you would already start to sweat. It was wonderful:)  Because it was so HOT, our evening outdoor show was moved inside every night!  It's different to do inside, and we can't quite do all the same numbers, but it was a fun adventure.  Plus when we come inside we get to wear our wireless mics rather than the stand mics we use on the outdoor stage, so the sound is a bunch better!  Our neighbors the Ballings came too, I ran into them on Saturday night during Sunset show.  They are here for the Pageant all this week.

 

After Sister Cook left earlier last week, we thought we would have a normal run week.  But we were surprised on Thursday when Elder Mark Lucivardi came and wanted to see our show.  He is the General Authority over our department here and came in the early summer to see the other cast's show.  So this time he could only come to the 2:30 HHRB show, but wanted to see our cast, so we switched shows for him.  It was great, he loved the show.  Sister Steele was out sick on Saturday, but was back by Sunday.  Other than that we were all in good health and running well with the shows.

 

On Sunday we put on what's called a 'Sociable' here in Nauvoo.  It's basically like a Fireside musical presentation.  All the BYU groups that come put one on, as well as special speakers, and the young sister missionaries as well.  So we took our turn.  Because of our busy schedule and because the band is never with us, we really didn't have much time to prepare our group numbers other than Sundays.  So most of the small group numbers had to practice on their own, and then we spent from 12-5pm on Sunday putting the whole blocking and order of the program together.  We performed on the indoor stage and had two performances, 6:30 and 7:45, so all the guests and Missionaries could see it. I accompanied Elder Toone on the guitar for his solo, and I sang in a quartet the song 'Write thy name upon my heart.'  The program was great, and even better the second time through.  The most moving part of the program though was the accompaniment of the Spirit.  It was strong and consistent throughout the program.  It was a great upliftment for the busy week ahead.  And even though we didn't get any rest on Sunday, the different schedule and work rejuvenated us for this week.  One of the band YPM sisters even said the program changed her life.  Nauvoo is truly a sacred place.  Specially on that stage!

 

Love,  Elder Rose

More Nauvoo Adventures

Hello all,

 

Today's been busy, but great.  Elder Costa, of the Presidency of the Seventy, has been here this weekend.  He spoke in Church today, and then he met with just the Young Missionaries (roughly 60 of us).  It is so neat to meet with a General Authority in a close setting.  He said to be sure to tell our families "thanks"  for preparing us to be here, and to tell you that we are all Noble and "Choised" spirits!  (and he wrote it on the white board and he's from Brazil so he spelled it like that and said it like that too!)  He also came to the show HHRB on Friday, (along with Mary Cook of the YW General Presidency.)  We actually had a really neat experience that day.  On Friday we were all really tired...which is normal for a Friday.  We were told he was coming to the show, but one of our themes has been to do the same "our best" show for everyone, and that we shouldn't change to impress.  But we should do our show in best harmony with the overall picture.  Anyway, with all the sickness and everything this week, Friday was one of the only days that everyone was on stage together.  Before the show we all knelt together on the stage and Elder Camp offered a pray on our behalf.  That show was a testimony strengthening show for us all.  Elder Camp told us that it was the best show he's seen us do to date!  Our group has a great unity, and everyone works together really well, specially when were on stage together.  We really are being helped by our spiritual friends.  We do so much every day, and by the end of the week we really start to feel the heat! I know if we didn't rely on the help we recieve we couldn't do the things we do!

 

Most everyone was in good enough health this week.  Elder Elwood has had the worst of it, he was out with no voice for about three days.  Elder Johnson had to cover his part.  Others were under the weather now and again, but no one else traded parts.  Yesterday morning however Elder Harrison (who also opened his mission call this week to Colorado Springs Mission.  It was actually sent to his Utah residence and they had to send it to him here...) he had an in-grown toe thing, and the doc cut it off in the morning so he was out for the dancing.  So his counter part did the show JPAA with our cast in the morning.  As we were setting up for the show we realized not only does Elder Harrison do the part of the Tattletale twin, he also does the Puppet Show part of Andy, and Elder Christiansen his counterpart does only the Tattletale twin.... So I volunteered to be the Puppet!!! and O MY FUNNY it was so fun, the sisters that I did it with said it was so fun, and I thought it was fun.  I only had to be prompted a few times on some of the jokes, but overall it was so so exciting!!! Maybe I'll get to do it again sometime....     Because he was out, that meant that I also had to cover for him in the HHRB in the stickpole stunt....which was really cool, I got to do a flip thing on stage!  It's really fun sometimes, but sad, that people sit out.  Because covering for them on stage is exciting and new!  I had to do a few of Elder Elwoods "off William" lines too, so overall I was covering lines and making things fun.

 

Another new thing in Sunset is the clogging. During the show we do a little clogging to "When the Saints Come Marching In".  There is a break where three people do a trio solo in front!  Well, we asked the Camps if we could do it with them, and then Elder Fairborn and I learned the part and performed it on Friday and Satruday....it was really nervexciting but it's so fun to do the clog solo part too! On Saturday Elder Costa was there too!!!   We will be meeting with Sister Cook tonight over at the Presidents home...while we eat Ice Cream.

 

On Friday Mornings my cast does what we call street strolling.  This is were we take the Guitar and go sing to people who are on the streets of Old Nauvoo... This week was really interesting because on Friday morning all the sisters had to be at the sites to help cover for all the senior sisters who were out sick,  and that left the 5 of us Elders...except Elder Toone, and Elder Elwood were on vocal rest and could not sing....So it was just the three of us, Elder Hazen, Elder Harrison and I left to roam and sing to the visitors! but we put some quick arrangements of some old pioneer songs and went on our way!

 

One funny thing we did for a few days on stage was start passing objects without our director or the audience knowing.  So we started by passing a vanilla wafer, and it was really funny.  The joke was that who ever had them by the end of the show would have to eat them!! except it kinda got crumbly fast....But one Elder...who will remain nameless didn't like our little game and thought it was childish or something and so when he was passed the cookie he smashed it and threw it away!   So we learned not to pass it to him,  Except Elder Hazen apparently didn't get the message, and during the second show we were passing a guitar pick (O and you just pass it by shaking hands with someone or something like that.)  And during the dance 'Nauvoo whoop-de-do' Sister Steele passed it to Elder Hazen who was playing Brigham Young, well after the dance right before the scene ends, Brigham and this Elder characters shake hands, and Elder Hazen passed him the pick.  He didn't like that.  When Elder Hazen came off stage we were all laughing and telling who we had passed the pick to... then Elder told us that he had passed it to this Elder....and All at once we all went  "Ooooooo" and we all knew that we might not see that pick untill the show was over!! What an adventure...

 

We are all having so much fun... I appreciate all the lovely letters that I've been receiving!  Thanks!

 

The weather is HOT, and we have "who can sweat the most" competitions during Sunset show!  We love it!

I'm out of Time,  We're staying busy.

 

Much Love

 

Elder ROSE

Peter

Exhausted in the Service of God

We have had a most wonderful week.  Everything seems to be going quite well.  Last Sunday Elder Camp gave us a talk about last years YPM's and how the second week of pageant is really when the fatigue started to set in, and sickness occurred.  And sure enough this past week three of our Elders rotated through a stomach flu that completely whipped them.  On Monday my counterpart for HHRB, Elder Christiansen, was out bad, so that meant for both Monday and Tuesdays shows I had to play the part of Peter for both casts.  It was actually rather exciting.  We always have a company meeting right before our shows, and when someone will be sitting out the dances, we use that time to re-position our cast to fill the empty spots.  So then everyone is on their toes for the show!  On Monday we were doing this process of filling in so that I would be Peter, and we forgot one detail...my solo on my off cast, right before whistling and whittling brigade (same solo I wrote about last week:))  Because in that single solo I have a different counter part...but he couldn't do it, because in this cast (A cast) he played the role of William the Englishman...anywho..No one realized there wasn't anyone to sing that part basically untill it came to that part of the show: So I walk off stage from the scene right before, and it's like it all hit us at once and we realized that someone had to go on!  So I actually walked on (As Peter) and sang the solo...it was really out of place, and rather funny.  The sickness then took my companion out for a day, and he missed HHRB; and then Elder Elwood was out for a day.  The sickness has really hit the Sr. missionaries too, yesterday they closed 3 sites early because there was not enough man power to give tours there.

 

Then on Wednesday, which normally is my P-day morning, I subbed in JPAA for Elder Johnson because he and his companion were spending time with Elder Harrisons family that were in town.  So this week was even more busy for me because of the extra show roles I had.  But it was very fun.  It was really neat as well because on Monday I was playing Peter when Emily's roommate Saundra came with her family...and if it weren't for the cast switch she wouldn't have seen me in that role.  And then on Wednesday at JPAA one of my friends from high school, Morgen Luedkey, was there.  Turns out her grandma is our accompanist 2 times a week, because she's on a mission here, too.  It's so much fun to run into people I know.

Also this week I ran into a girl from my tap class this last semester at BYU, and on Saturday Danny Anderson's little brother and sister were there with their Church tour group. (It's Ben and Caroline right...)  They came to the visitors center right after one of our shows. and then I saw them, and Bro. Tesch at the Pageant that night, too!  It also turns out that my companion, Elder Toone, is cousins to the Barlows, (one of them recognized me as "Becca's older brother"...I think he said you were scenic lab partners or something)...who were on the tour with Ben And Caroline.

 

On Saturday morning Elder Packer was able to open his mission call here in the first MTC for the church, The 70's hall.  He will be serving in the New Jersey, Morristown mission.  He leaves Sept. 7th.  We had to have the meeting at 7am because that's really the only open time we have.  We, the Elders, arrived first- only to be greeted by our leaders, and President and Sisters Ludwig.  As we were walking down the street towards the 70's hall, sister Camp and Sister Ludwig were chatting at how exhausted we looked. But then Sister Ludwig made a really neat comment, that was later shared with us.  "How great a blessing it is to be entirely exhausted in the service of God."  THAT IS SO NEAT.  Being a missionary is the best time ever, literally our every hour is filled with service.  And here it sometimes feels even more physically demanding than my proselyting mission in Texas.  But being so physically tired has really allowed us to trust and depend on Divine help to see us through the end of the day, or the end of the week. But being so tired never felt so great, nor was it ever accompanied by such great blessings.

 

One of my favorite happenstances here in Nauvoo is when we greet a family, or group in the morning...and then we continue to run into them at all of our shows. (be it over a day, or over their entire stay here.)  One of these experience happened on Friday and then again on Saturday.  On Friday we were out singing on the streets of Old Nauvoo and we were greeted by a group wearing similar outfits to our own.  They were a group of Mennonites from Iowa.  We sang for them and then they sang a parting song for us in German.  We continued to see them at Sunset, and at Pageant.  They were very shy, but as soon as you talked to them they opened right up.  Then an even neater group of young men came to JPAA on Saturday morning.  They were a small group of deacon age kids from West Ogden that came with their 'basketball' coach.  They first talked to me because they thought it was hilarious how I (as the school master) fell in love with the 'feckel face lady' : Then they came to one of each of our shows that day, and after each show they looked to greet me, and we talked about their experience.  During Sunset before we do the 'Audition' skit, some of us get to go into the audience and sit by people. I went and sat by them before surprising them and running up onto the stage when they called for volunteers:)  It was really neat.  Two of the kids are recently baptized members and were here having a really neat experience.  Overall it was neat to create a memory for them, and for me, and to share the experience of the spirit of Nauvoo.

 

Today we finally got some down time to take a much needed recovery nap.  It's basically the only down time we'll have before we leave...which is still a month away.  We're busier than every, but loving every minute.  Last night as we were leaving pageant, I looked back at the stage and the amazing scene of this audience watching this huge production...and I felt overwhelming gratitude to be here and be a part of this Heavenly Town.

 

Our Typical Day

 

7am special meetings as needed

8am rehersal for the coming weeks pageant with family cast

9am sites/ district meeting/ or song rehersals

10 call for JPAA

11:30 lunch

12 call for 2nd JPAA

1 set for HHRB

2:30 HHRB

4:30 2nd HHRB

6 dinner

6:30 call for Sunset

7 Sunset

8 run to pageant to greet guest before show

8:30 Pageant starts

We finish our part of pageant and make it home by about 9:45

Then we crash at 10:30pm

It's Pageant Time

Another great week gone by.  Sunday is a great day to take off and really relax- at least for a while.  But the rest is much needed because we hardly get any during the week.  We now have our early morning rehearsals for pageant every day at 7:45-8:45 and then we pick up our regular busy schedule with a half hour for meals and adding Pageant performances every night now!  The pageant opens on Tuesday.  I've never seen the pageant before.  But being a part of it has been so great so far.  We've actually only had 4 rehearsals so far  and we only have one more before Tuesday!! Keep in mind that's all been this past week and we had to learn two dances!  It's so incredible.

Last Sunday night Vocal Point from BYU put on the Sociable. They did a great job.  After our sociables the Mission President invites the featured guests and all the young misisonaries to their home for an Ice cream social.  Sis. Ludwig makes this most delicious hot fudge, and we all mingle with fun people like Susan Easton Black, The BYU folk dancers, The Community of Christ Interns, Pageant core cast, and Vocal Point.  Vocal point gave us a private concert in the living room of the Presidents home.  It was really neat. They were standing and singing right in front of a huge window which ran the length and width of nearly the entire wall. During one of their songs about Christ it began to downpour outside and then lightning and thunder.  Of course we sang for them as well.  It was a really neat evening.

On Monday we sang at two commemorations of Joseph Smith, because the 27th was the anniversary of the Martyrdom.  First was the commemoration put on by the Community of Christ chruch,  they held it in the Smith family cemetary.  We sang "Nauvoo" by their request. and then at the LDS Commemoration we sang "No Ordinary Brothers."  That was held at Carthage, It was a really great service.

I also thought I'd write a little bit about my characters in the shows.  In Just Plain Anna-Amanda,  I play the role of the school teacher.  JPAA is a musical with a message specially directed at children.  Anna-Amanda learns to just be herself..."Because there's nobody else like you! and you are a very important person"  It's a shorter play but lots of fun because many of the characters are caricatures.  The school master sings a song about Bible characters and the importandce of learning!  The kids love it.

In High Hopes and Riverboats I play the character of Peter, the sidekick to the main character Chance.  Peter is a logging man from Wisconsin that's come down to Nauvoo to sell lumber to the growing city of Nauvoo.  The story is that Chance falls in love while here in Nauvoo, and also converts to the Church.  He chooses to go west with the Saints...meanwhile Peter, chooses to go back to Quincy. .. But Peter has a family, he's still a good guy i promise:)

This is a fun handout we got during our district meeting:  "As Latter Day Saints we are practically obsessed with anxiously engaging ourselves in good causes.  Maybe it's subliminal....Glancing through the hymnal last Sunday I noted that we who are called to serve are all enlisted to go arching, marching forward because the world has need of willing men to all press on scattering sunshine.  We wonder if we have done any good in the world today because we have been given much and want to do what is right, keep the commandments, press forward with the Saints, choose the right, and put our shoulders to the wheel going where He wants us to go.  However, as the morning breaks high on the mountain top, truth reflects upon our senses, and while we still believe that sweet is the work, we also realize that we have work enough to do ere the sun goes down.  And thus we ask Thee ere we part, where can we turn for peace?"

During one of our JPAA shows her mom comes on stage and gives Anna a bowl of apples.  Well, during the pre-show puppet show, I slipped a wooden man doll into the bowl.  So then when Sister Steele came on as mom, she saw the doll and started laughing a lot, she barely made it through the scene, it was hillarious. 

That is all.  All is well.
Keep moving forward.

Love Elder ROSE!

At the Brickyard with Mom

Today is a day of mixed emotions!  Today marks the half way point of our summer here in Nauvoo!  The time goes so fast.  But we're still excited to make every moment count as we continue on through the summer! We also got a companion transfer today.  It was mostly a surprise, we found out about it on Friday, and all of a sudden two days later we're thrown into new companionships.  My new companion is Elder Toone! He's basically as tall as me, and built like an ox. He's from Centerville, Utah. He is 22 years old.  He plays both Henry and Captain in High Hopes, and Boots in JPAA.  

We had the funniest performance on Friday...Well mostly just me I guess.  When we do my off cast, I play the no-name character of Arza Snow.  My no-name sister (portrayed by Sister Brower) Patience Snow came on in the very first scene and was talking to another character and whispered that we used to have a dog named Blackie. To which I shockingly replied..."What you lost Blackie?" Keep in mind none of this is the story line, or heard by the audience.  So then through out the whole play I was playing the young Arza Snow, who was looking for his lost dog.  I was pouting on stage, and basically it was just really funny!  There are several slow motion parts that we couldn't stop laughing through!  Then I have one singing line that goes like this: "I whistle for my pony, I whistle for my dog; I whistle in the sunshine, and sometimes in the fog."  And when I sang the Dog line I pouted, and immediately I heard the sisters laughing out loud from off stage.  I struggled to sing the rest of the line because I wanted to laugh so bad!

June 27th is the commemoration of the Martyrdom.  We'll be singing at a couple of commemorations. 

Also this week, Vocal Point from BYU came.  It's weird because we feel like they are guests in our house.  But it's also a lot of fun to share the stage with them.  We went to their concert on Friday. And they'll put on the socialable tonight. Then we'll have an ice cream social just us and them afterward.  We also got to meet the core cast for the pageant this week.  We've started rehearsing the dances for pageant and our days are only going to get more and more busy!  We have rehearsals at 7:45 every morning...so some days that will be a total of 7 shows for me!  Whooo!

Love, Elder Rose

Beautiful Nauvoo

These past two weeks the BYU folk dance team has been here performing.  One of the nights they performed someone announced how many performances they had done in the 2 weeks.  So our team started doing calculations.  For the team as a whole we have performed in about 108 shows.  I personally have been in 86 of them, and all of that done in just three weeks of shows, preceded by only 3 weeks of rehearsals!!

We're starting a "Nauvoo Unity Fitness Fit Club!"  You would think that running around all day in shows and in being so active, that you would stay in great shape.  Not so :)  We have treats too often, and we're not always eating healthy or exercising great.  Sometimes I get really out of breath in the show dances.  So in an effort to stay in good shape and healthy, we're starting this program.  Everyone will set their own goals and then we'll track the completion of our goals on a big poster we've made to hang backstage!

  

Unity has become a theme for our group this summer, we're all striving for a "Zion Community." (thus the unity fit club!)  But it's been great to follow the example of the Nauvoo people, and be willing to unite in everything.

Today we took the tour to see the Mansion house, the Nauvoo house, Joseph Smith's first home here, and the Red Brick Store.  While we were up in the second level of the Red Brick Store we ended the tour with a song.  We sang one of the two songs we sing before our show everyday...."Nauvoo"

 

"Through cities towns and countries fair, I've often found my way;

A numbered joys attending to fill each happy day.

Ten thousand beauties rare, have often filled my view,

but lovelier still and Queen of all is beautiful Nauvoo.

but lovelier still and Queen of all is beautiful Nauvoo....."

 

When we sang that time, not only was it the best we've ever done, but it was accompanied by the strongest spirit I've felt- out of all the many times we've sung it.  It was amazing!  A beautiful reminder of the truth of this work, and the things that took place in the Red Brick store, and here in Nauvoo.

Also, today we sang in Church.  "My kindness shall not depart from thee."  Another experience beyond the power of man.  Being here and being a missionary is so amazing.  Mom and Dad, and Grandma Rose came this past week as well. And they felt the awesome spirit that is to be felt here on this sacred ground.

 

This past Friday we had the great speaker, Susan Easton Black come and teach us about the events leading up to the Martyrdom.  We all learned alot about the history and events that took place.  How unjust their enemies were.  But also how amazing these Saints were.  Joseph was not only Prophet, but running for president, a Lieutenant General in the army, and Mayor of the city Nauvoo.

Truth. That is all.

 

Jon the School Master in "Just Plain Anna Amanda"

We have now finished our second full week of shows.  Mom, Dad, and Grandma Rose came yesterday and surprised me by showing up for our 4:30 performance.  They had a rough flight in to St. Louis during a thunderstorm.  But they made it safe, and enjoyed the shows Saturday. 

 

My companion, Elder Hazen, has had the most odd luck the past couple of weeks.  This morning as we were walking from Church to the visitors center we cut across an acre of grass.  He was commenting on chiggers, and jokingly asked "are they even real?"  I told him they were real, and I had them on my ankles a few times in Texas.  No one has had any bites yet so some the group are unsure if they are real.  Then he joked that if anyone was going to get chiggers it would be him.  In the last two weeks the poor kid has broken out in a rash from poison ivy, fell off the stage and cut his hand open, fell on stage and hurt his back/shoulder,  and got a spider bite that swelled up his hand!

 

Every week we get two mornings where we are assigned to work out in the sites of Old Nauvoo.  We have a prep meeting in the morning at 8:30 and then we work the sites from 9 to 12 noon.  This past week I worked in the Family Living Center making rope for visitors, and then on Friday I worked at the Pioneer Past Times, where we played old fashion games with visitors all morning.  We had lots of youth groups come through and some tours as well.  One of the groups that came through this week was a group from Missouri where the recent Tornado hit.  We had some time to visit with several of the youth.  They said that no one from their stake had been killed, only two were injured.  Their stake center had been destroyed, and some of the youth that were here didn't have a house to return too, they are temporarily housed with other members untill they can find a house to rent. Some of them are just like these early saints, they are venturing into the future, wholly relying upon the gospel.  They literally have no homes.  It was neat to perform for them.  We also performed for the BYU folkdance team that is in town.  We've had some good reaction crowds...Those are the best kind.  Elder Murset even commented to me about Dad being a good laugher, and audience member.  We love it when the audience will respond to what they see on stage!

 

With the storms gone, the weather here has been heavenly. Cool breezes and a soft sun shine.  So nice.  They said that earlier this week was hotter than usual for June.

 

That is all.

Love Elder Rose

My Address

My Address in Nauvoo is:
YPM Elder Rose
P.O. Box 215
Nauvoo, IL  62354


I'd love to hear from you!

First full week of shows

Sunday June 5: Today we changed the order of some of the scenes in our show, and re-blocked a couple of them, so that took a good portion of our time today. Today, President Ludwig, also had a "MTC camp" for us for a couple of hours. It was his attempt to teach what they teach in the MTC, and it was a good refresher. Elder Black, one of the Elders who served in this mission, before his proselyting mission, says that it's alot more like a mission now than this program was when he came the first time. President has done a great job at really strenghtening the process and program here. After the 'mtc' we had a pot-luck, and everyone was plesantly surprised at the really good food everyone brought! The Camps said it was far better than last years!


Our first week of performances really flew past. It was great. Some shows are just for smaller audiences, and some shows sell out! But it's always neat to perform, because we know no matter how small the audience, we can still make a difference. We also got to start working in the sites this week. Elder Hazen and I worked in the Brick yard! We have a script that we are supposed to follow, but in our own words. We gave several tours, and helped make bricks when we weren't busy.


This week we also had a really neat experience. In addition to all the fun people we got to meet and sing for (like the Morgans!) on Friday we had a family come, whose daughter is deaf. Some of the Visitor Center Sisters can sign, and so they came in and signed the whole show for this girl. It was really neat to see. Before the show HHRB begins, we go into the Visitors Center and sing from the balcony to all the people waiting down below. When we started to sing, I could see this girl's parents come over and tap her on the shoulder and point up so she would know we were there. It was a neat moment for me and my friend Mr. Spirit :). I am so thankful for the ability to hear, and sing, and everything. It was all in all, a great realization to the amazing blessing music is in my life.


One more funny experience, yesterday during one of our blackouts in between scenes, I was carrying on a bench, and I tripped. I almost caught my balance, but then I fell, and the bench slammed onto the stage. I was the only one on stage in the dark, the audience waiting....and I burst into laughter, I'm sure the audience was wondering what in the world was happening, the cast got a real laugh at that moment!


We're all ready for another great week! with a practically new show!!
Love Elder Rose

It's Showtime

Yesterday was opening day!  It was a great day.  We started off with a prep meeting at 8:30 a.m., then we ran through some mic changing stuff for the nights program of "Sunset", and then my cast did both shows of "Just Plain Anna Amanda"; one at 10:30 and after lunch at 12:30.  Then we went straight into "High Hopes and River Boats" at 2:30 and 4:30.  We took a 20 minute dinner break before we were to be at the Sunset stage!  It was alot of fun, and some of our best work yet!

 

On Friday night we actually started our rotations for "Rendevous"...and we were first, so  after sunset, we all went over and all the YPM's supported Sister Johnson and I in our song.  It went really well.  my "Pa" forgot a few lines, but he'll get better and better as the summer continues.  It's a high energy and really fun part.  It was a great way to kick off the night before opening.  It didn't completely feel like opening day because we did "preview performances" for the sr. misisonaries, and NRI and the sewing room... But it was a larger audience by far.  I was surprised how many people showed up!  Elder and Sister Camp said it was more than last year.

 

Today after church (it lasts only one fantastic hour for the missionaries) we went down to the Trail of Hope and walked down Parley street towards the Mississippi.  As we walked it, the wind began to blow and steadily kicked up.  Then right as the last of us finished, it began to rain.  Perfect timing!  We were gathered in the little memorial they have down there, while a few of us ran to grab the Vans.  We sang a few hymns while it was raining ~ it was a really neat experience.  It's amazing to ponder what those early saints must have felt while they were leaving.  We then went and visited the Seventies Hall. Since we won't be working sites yet this week, I'm hoping we'll have the time to see the sites themselves.  It should be a fun week!

 

First Week in Nauvoo

I send my Hello from Nauvoo!  These first three weeks are going to be long rehersals so we don't have a lot of writing time or free time, or temple time, or anything like that.  We have three weeks to put on 4 different shows, so we're doing lots of learning of songs, lines, and blocking!  We're already so tired, but we've got a really great group and we're having lots of fun!  We only have a few minutes this morning.   My companion's name is Elder Hazen,  We and 8 other Elders share a small 5 bedroom house with two bathrooms... such an adventure.  Everyone is good humored and we have a great time.  Already we feel the amazing spirit that Nauvoo has to share!  I'll keep you updated in the future!

YPM's at Carthage Jail

Week Two

We've been here two weeks and we're getting really close to opening the shows!  We have two main shows that just us Young Performing Missionares (YPM's) put together and those have been our main focuses.  This week is all dress rehersals and we'll give our pre-show on Friday.  Once we get into our summer schedual we will have some time to work tours in the sites and even do a little more personal studying.  But I love to be busy and so involved.

Our main show is called High Hopes and Riverboats.  This one we will do in two cast, each cast consisting of all YPM's ( we each have two characters- one for each cast) and we'll perform each cast once a day, in the afternoons.  In the mornings we will rotate between working sites, and participating in another show called " Just Plain Anna-Amanda."  This one is a fun kid-oriented play, that uses 10 of the 20 YPM's.  Then at nights we join with the Sr. Missionares for a variety show call Sunset on the Mississippi.  This is a fun one, and I even get to jam on the guitar a little bit!

We've only had two weeks, plus this one ahead of us...But looks like we're going to make it.  Besides that, we are called of God and have his help to accomplish these things on his behalf.

The other night, the most funny thing happened. We were learning the choreography for one of our dances, and during the show they wanted all the Elders to do a somersault on stage (hard wood floor) and several of us were a little worried about hurting our backs this summer.  So during practice we went out in the foyer with Sister Camp, and she would help us practice the somersaults they wanted for the show.  In addition it had been a long hot day, we were very tired and it was nearly 8:30 at night.  So when it came my turn, I was really focused on arching my back so that I wouldn't hurt my spine, or my hip. Well I was so focused on my back that I left my legs straight out.  So when I was supposed to land on my feet and jump up into the air...there I sat on the floor with my legs spread and straight out.  It was one of those moments where the group all took a moment of silence, and then simultaneously they all began to laugh, it was so funny.  I was so tired, and caught in the middle of the laughter, that I began to cry, o my goodness it was so so funny. Then later the next day, some of the Elders were talking about how they cried at some other times, mostly because of the spirit and stuff.. and then they asked me something, and my responce came out something like this...Ya I cried the other night when we were doing those somersaults!  They all laughed it was just so funny.

Sometimes the things I think are funny, might not be funny later when yall read them.  But I share them anyway:)

Everything is going well, we are very, very, busy, but everyone is getting along great.  Nauvoo is a wonderful place to be.

Nauvoo Young Performing Missionaries

These are all the YPM's - both the acting ones and band ones.

Coming Soon!

This summer I'm off to Nauvoo Ill. for another missionary experience! I'll be leaving May 6th to perform and welcome summer visitors to this historic little town. This blog is where I'll be sharing my adventures and the Fun that we'll be having all summer long!