Usually I LOVE change. I welcome the unexpected with curiosity and excitement. I was NOT prepared for this change however. In fact, just 4 days before I told a new missionary couple, "yes, sometimes people get transferred from Nauvoo, but we're FM so we're safe." LOL FAMOUS last words.
My bags are packed and we're being transfered to CARTHAGE! We will be in a smaller house, and 30 minutes away from Nauvoo. We've been asked to be grounds managers of Carthage because we're strong, hardworkers, and self directed. We will be our own bosses. Our Job? To make the grounds impeccable. The trees, the grass, the walkways, the garbage cans, the doorways, the monuments, the flower beds...in the heat of summer... outside...over 100 degrees. I cried. Several times. I appreciate the vote of confidence, however I LOVE my housing job SO much, I couldn't imagine having a fun mission without being in housing!
We just did some very heavy lifting and dragging and reorganizing of our big storage space in housing in order to make our processes more efficient when we loan items to missionaries with visiting family and friends, motel stays, etc, etc. Our cleaning supplies were more organized and work spaces better and streamlined. That was SO exhausting, satisfying, and joyful...all of us working together...sob. I realized I couldn't be a big baby and say, "NO WAY", however I did allow myself to feel all my feelings and grieve the loss, then get over it and then be cautiously curious and excited for our new life in Carthage.
So what will I miss about Nauvoo? Working in Housing, game nights with our friends, pickle ball on Mondays (2 min drive), Watching the sun set on the Mississippi River, watching the sun rise on the bluff on the way to Kickboxing(6:30am), all my neighbors, the beauty of the fields, and Old Nauvoo, the slowness of the small town (population 1100),
the temple being in sight pretty much from ANY place in town. I will miss our nice clean upgraded apartment. Wah Wah Wah.
OK, What am I looking forward to in Carthage? Getting to know the 3 other couples out that way plus the Young Sister Missionaries that are out that way. I'm excited to be trained on the large equipment, snow ploughs, riding lawnmowers, cherry pickers, etc. I'm excited to work directly WITH Elder Cullen again...just like when we used to at work where we met. I'm excited to learn about maintaining gorgeous flower beds, maintaining a perfect lawn, keeping the statues clean. I'm looking forward to making a procedures and policies binder so that the next people who get this job will have a clearer idea of what to do and how to do it. I'm excited to clean and organize the tool and storage sheds! I am looking forward to giving tours of the jail where Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the last days, and Hyrum, his brother, were martyred. I am looking forward to feeling the spirit of that sacred space. I am looking forward to listening to my scriptures and study guides in the car as we travel back and forth to Nauvoo to attend the temple, continue pickle ball with our missionary friends, and attend our evening meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, and church on Sunday. It's going to be OK, I don't like moving but I'm going to have fun wherever the Lord sends me because...if HE wants me there, then It's going to be an adventure and I LOVE that.
2 comments:
I previously posted my hearts reaction to standing on the floor of jail where the martyrs were called home. Please send me a copy of the talk you give the visitors. It was in the sixties and I only remember the feeling.
Glenene, site missionaries are encouraged to read and study the facts of their site and then retell in their own words....so there's not really a copy of whatever it was you heard. I feel it's significant that what you remember is what you FELT. That's the goal for us. To feel spirit of Christ as you learn what the saints did to sacrifice for His restored gospel on the earth. There is a GREAT NEW movie out that tells that history. Here's the link. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0DTQD19FK/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
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