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