The Beginning of The End

And then there were 2...

My dearest Family and Friends,

This MIGHT be the last email I get to send as there is just two weeks and a day left to my mission. That said-- I want to let you all know this: I love this gospel. I am SO grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve here in Nauvoo. I was thinking about it the other night as I was sitting with a woman whom I met (and gave a referral card to who is now taking the discussions in Chicago!) in the Visitors Center. We were watching the pageant and I was watching her feel "like [she] was in a big hug." and thinking how much I have changed in the last 3.5 months. And how I had no idea in that info meeting in the Logan Institute (thanks again, Becca!) or in that call back or even on the plane, how much this summer would impact me for the rest of my life. My testimony of this wonderful gospel-- of the Plan of Salvation, of The Prophet Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon-- all have grown so incredibly much. I know it is true. 

Thank you all so much for your support of my time here, even when it was hard, I felt your love and prayers. 

I love you all!

See you soon!

Sister Hallett

Rocking Horses are the Best

Everyone. Right now. Go look up "John Taylor Home, Nauvoo, Rocking Horse Story." It will make you cry it's awesome and the message behind it is the love that Heavenly Father loves us and will do what is best for us if it works for His plan. 

(Mom Note: John Taylor Story below from The Friend magazine, March 2010)

JTH (John Taylor Home) is my favorite site in Nauvoo, and the site leader, Sister Allen knows that. It also seems that I am assigned there on the days that I am having a hard time, so I get to tell how much Heavenly Father loves us about 20-30 times in 4 hours. It's wonderful. :) 

So on Thursday I was at "Sunset By The Mississippi," a variety show we do with the seniors, and Sister Allen came up to me and slipped something in my pocket and waked away. I reached in and found the sweetest little Rocking Horse necklace. When I went to go thank her, she hugged me and said "So you can remember that Heavenly Father loves you--- even when you leave Nauvoo." 

Have I mentioned that I love Nauvoo? No? Okay. Let me say it again--- I LOVE NAUVOO!!!!!!!! 

I love the people and the spirit here. I can't believe I'll be home in less than a month. (Not thinking about it.) 

Anyway- Moral of the story for this week is Heavenly Father loves you and so do I. 

I get to serve in the Nauvoo Visitors Center today- so imagine me like a temple square missionary, but also really humid and hot and you've got it! 

Love you all!

Sister Hallett

The Love of a Father

BY AMIE JANE LEAVITT

(Based on a story from the life of John Taylor)
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you (John 15:9).

For weeks, Nauvoo had been buzzing with activity. Wagons clattered along frozen streets. People rushed to and fro carrying packages and carting barrels of food. Joseph Taylor knew he would not see this scene much longer. Soon, the Saints would be leaving their homes on the bank of the Mississippi River to travel west.

“Joseph, I need you to load the wagon,” his mother called from the kitchen.

Joseph had been avoiding this for days. He didn’t mind helping, but he knew that once the wagon was loaded, they’d have to leave.

A scratchy burlap sack tickled his face as he lifted it into the wagon’s shallow bed. His family had hardly even started packing, yet the wagon was almost full.

“Where are we putting everything else?” Joseph asked his mother as he picked up another sack in the kitchen.

“We’re only taking the necessities, Joseph,” his mother said. “I thought you understood that. There just isn’t enough room for everything.”

Joseph’s eyes started to fill with tears. It was bad enough leaving his comfortable home, but now they had to leave all of their favorite things too.

Joseph ran upstairs and into the toy room. It was his favorite part of the house. He had spent hours here imagining grand adventures while riding his wooden rocking horse that his father had carved for him. Joseph ran his hand over the horse and felt its golden mane of real horsehair. He realized that he would have to say good-bye to it forever.

On a frosty morning, Joseph’s family tied the canvas covering over their wagon and shut the door of their home for the last time. After inching their way through the snow, they boarded a ferry and pushed off to cross the icy river. Joseph watched as Nauvoo—and his beloved toy horse—slipped farther into the distance.

That night when the Saints set up camp, Joseph wrapped up in a quilt and warmed his hands over a fire. But nothing could help the cold ache in his heart.

Joseph’s father placed a hand on his shoulder. “Please tell me what’s wrong,” he said.

Joseph felt foolish. Everyone had left important things behind. “I miss my horse,” he said, starting to cry. “I love him so much, and I’ll never see him again.”

Joseph’s father pulled him close. “I understand,” he said. “You shouldn’t feel ashamed for missing something you love.”

When Joseph awoke the next morning, his father, who was an Apostle, had left to help some other families in need. Joseph gathered wood and fed the animals. He filled pots with ice from the creek so his mother could cook supper.

As the sun dipped below the horizon that evening, Joseph saw his father coming into camp. He looked exhausted. Ever since he had been injured at Carthage, he had needed to use a cane to help him walk. Today he was limping more than usual. His face was red from the cold, and there was snow on his jacket.

“But it hasn’t snowed all day,” Joseph thought. “Where has Father been?”

Then he saw it. Tied to his father’s horse was Joseph’s rocking horse. His father had ridden all the way back to Nauvoo, across the icy Mississippi River, and risked being caught by the angry mobs just to retrieve Joseph’s beloved horse.

“I think he’ll like going on this adventure to the West, don’t you?” his father asked as Joseph raced into his outstretched arms.

Joseph’s father, John Taylor, served as President of the Church after Brigham Young. The rocking horse traveled all the way to the Salt Lake Valley. Today, it can be found in the upstairs toy room of the John Taylor home in Nauvoo, Illinois

Some Weeks, You Just Have to LAUGH!

   We're quite exhausted here! Going to bed at 12 or later after pageant and then waking up at like 5:30 or 6 for showers is NOT super fun. We're all sick, passing out, having breakdowns and SMILING AND LAUGHING BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE CITY OF NAUVOO!!!! WE'RE THE LORD'S MISSIONARIES AND BY GOLLY WE ARE SO LUCKY TO BE HERE!!!

(Mom note: Their director has asked that family and friends send them letters of encouragement this week. It's been a hard week. They have added the Nauvoo and British pageants this week so that adds 6 more shows a week to their already very busy schedule! I would appreciate it if everyone would send her a quick letter with their favorite uplifting thought or scripture this week! Let's fill her mailbox again!)

                              At this point, I should probably mention that I'm mildly delirious...
       But despite it all, it has been a great week of joy! I LOVE the Nauvoo and British Pageants. I love the people and I especially love the children. One in particular is named Boyd Packer Robinson and he is just a doll! He's seven and such a goofball. He told me I was his girlfriend and I told him I couldn't be his girlfriend because I was on a mission. He looked at me for a really long minute and then asked if I would be his SISTER-friend. So I said yes. How could I not?


         I had an exhausted giggle-fit in Relief Society today. Nothing caused it, but all of a sudden, life was hilarious. And then I was laughing more because I didn't know why I was laughing. It was great. And Sister Meyers was just looking at me going "breathe. Sister Hallett. Breathe. Are you crying? Breathe!"

I have bugbites that look like chicken pox all over my legs its great.

 (Mom note: I took this picture after getting after her about wearing socks and more insect repellant!)

          The laughter wasn't helped by a sweet sister in church today-- We have a live ASL translation of the meetings and in SM today, this one sister who is known for being talkative starts trying to talk to a man sitting in the ASL section. No matter how many times he signed "I'm deaf. I don't understand you." She just kept talking and talking. He finally gave up and nodded politely. Sister Munroe, Sister Allred and I all died.

Guys. Life is awesome. Even when it isn't, you sometimes have to make your own sunshine, but try to be grateful for what you have. We live in an amazing age of light and restoration.
I love this gospel. I love Nauvoo. And I love all of you.
(Yes, I will be home in less than a month. Shhh...)
Love,
Sister Hallett

(Mom note: We got to spend last week in Nauvoo so we were able to watch Sister Hallett at work! And WORK she does! She is always busy, running from one place to another. On top of the theater tech work that she and Sister Starrs do (on several shows a day), they also do tours at some of the historic sites. They never rest! Included are some pictures we took while there.)

It's so cold!

And I love it!!!
Well... Comparitively.
When we first got here, we had a day that was 69* and 57% humidity. And we were dying. Sweat dripping off us, unable to dance with any sort of happiness.
Well. This week we had a day that was 64* and 60% humidity. And I cannot tell you how many times I took my jacket off to give to one of the Stage YPM girls. It was SO COLD! (said they, I thought it was nice until we had a Nauvoo Hurricane later that night.)

Met an awesome girl named Allison on Friday. Usually on the days that I feel that someone needs our message, I look for the downtrodden looking and the teenagers that would rather be doing hard labor than being in Nauvoo. But this girl was so welcoming and sweet and the more I talked with her, the more I felt like she was the one I was supposed to be with that evening. I shared some scriptures with her and told her that college was not as scary as it sounds. :) Good times. :)

MY FAMILY IS IN NAUVOO!! Sister Starrs and I had just sat down on an empty row when I look up and think-- "that girl is wearing a dress just like mine.... WAIT A MINUTE! That IS my dress! EMMA!!!" So we walked over to them and I said "Hi, we're representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints--" I didn't get to finish, because my mom had grabbed me and hugged me at that point. It's been good to see them. :) (Hi ma!!!)

Anyways, I love Nauvoo. I love this gospel. People need your kindness in this world, never be afraid to give it.

All my love,
Sister Hallett


(Mom note: This is last weeks email. Sorry it is late- Cell service in Nauvoo is spotty and slow so trying to upload her letter from my phone wasn't really an option.)

Short Email...

...Long week.

Sometimes, when you feel overwhelmed with your daily expanding job, you  pray that Heavenly Father will send you heavenly help...
And then He sends you a new Tech Elder.
Yep! We got a new Yippum. (YPM,) His name is Elder Nelson, and he was one of the original ones that was supposed to come out with me. He is awesome and we get along really well. (Though he does make fun of my vegetarian food.)
Oh yeah! I started doing 2/3 Vegetarian. Basically it just means I only eat meat for our community lunch.
Um... Commemoration for The Martyrdom was amazing. But I'll have to tell you all more about that when I have more time.

I love you all.
The Church is True.
The Prophet Knows the way- no matter what popular opinion or man may say.

Sister Hallett

It's NOT hump day, and I DON'T want to talk about it

(Mom note: Amberlyn refers to "hump day" meaning yesterday (Sunday) marks the 1/2 way point of her adventure in Nauvoo. We also got a bunch of photos in the mail this week. I've included some of them. Sorry for picture quality. Photos of photos- I've GOT to get my scanner working!)



Okay. So maybe it is....
But I digress

Hello! This week has been exhausting. But wonderful. I feel like I'm constantly running on empty and full at the same time! Empty of energy, but full of the spirit! It's interesting how when I start feeling homesick or missing my friends and family, how I am almost instantly calmed.

I've started giving tours that make me step back and go--- wait..... how did I just have enough energy to play with those kids or to match the level of that youth group I just bore my testimony to?
And then sometimes I give tours and I feel like I'm emulating Sister Hannah Smith.... But that's always a fun time, I like those days. (lots of hand talking, Sister Smith. All good things. All good things.)

Ummm..... Nothing too terribly exciting happened that I feel like sharing with the general public... I greatly appreciate the letters and things that people send me! I promise I do appreciate them, even if I'm slow to respond to them. I promise I have every intention of writing you back, I just have zero time. (I'm looking at you, Kyle, Robyn, Arizona Halletts, and Emma!)

Things I've Learned This Week:
-My District Leader, Elder Cobia, is Buddy the Elf. He will set up a roll play and then goof off the entire time you try to talk to him....
-Emma Smith is my hero.
-How the early saints made candles.
-When addressing children, it is perfectly acceptable to tell them that a Courting Candle was a timer that their parents would set for how long they could play with their friends--- That's what dating is, right? ;)
-Hurricanes can happen on the Mississippi river. Not really. But.... There was some damage done. Elder Camp refers to them as a "Him-icane." Because it's the opposite of a "Her-icane." Anyways. Some downed trees and some twisted street signs and a little bit of flooding, but nothing a bit of prayer, manpower and Facilities Management team couldn't fix in an afternoon.
-Youth Conferences are both awesomely amazing tools of wonder and testimony building------ and also  the bane of my existence.

Alrighty. Well. I love you all. The church is true and Heavenly Father loves you.

51 down, 51 to go. (I've also secretly been gone for like.... five years.)

Sister Hallett

(Photo's with captions from Sister Hallett)

 My Companion and I in full pioneer get-up. Those loop braids and center part though!

 The day we lived in a Hot Tub. It will only get worse from here. Why is humidity a thing?

 Have I mentioned how quickly weather changes here?

 Headset! I'm an official Tech!

 "Gird up your loins, fresh courage take" How we get stuff done: 2014 YPM-T Style!
Sister Starrs' "Hipster" dress. Only she could pull it off.

Trying to open my package from mom. Sister Starrs won the prize.
(Mom note: I may or may not have completely wrapped each package with clear packing tape, and then decorated it with cute packing tape.) ;)

Just another Manic Sunday

This Week In Nauvoo I've Learned:

-Santa is Mormon. No joke. I sat behind him in Sunday School today. And he was visiting Nauvoo. Santa Claus is doing a month long church history tour, ladies and gentlemen.

-When you pray in January that you would just carry the water bottles if you were allowed to go to Nauvoo, don't be surprised when you're having a grumpy grump day in June that someone will literally hand you the cart that holds all the water bottles. Heavenly Father sure has a sense of humor. 

-Preschool teachers and animators with missionary daughters set loose in the dollar store send the best packages. (Thanks mom and dad!!)

-I have some awesome friends and family that send me lots of mail and they've noticed in the mail room. Thank you all!!! 

-The D&C is AWESOME! I spent a week on just one chapter. (76. Go read it. Now.) 

So this week has been good, but hard. Everyone is sick, and when everyone is sick, no one is. (If that makes sense....) the show must go on and The Work cannot be delayed, so we're living on ibuprofen, throat coat and blessings. Prayers would be greatly appreciated in our behalf. However sick we are offstage though, miracles happen on stage. People whose voices are barely above a whisper can suddenly belt and do beautiful arias onstage. Then they get back and can't speak again. The Work Will Not Be Delayed. 

My mission has been really hard on my scriptures and journal. My journal is mostly duct tape these days and I'm going to have to get a good new set of scriptures when I get home, because mine are falling apart too... They're wearing out for good use though!!! 

Well. I'm off to the Community of Christ tour. (Joseph Smith sites.) I love Nauvoo, the gospel and you!

Sister Hallett

Tell Sister Hallett She's a Spinster Week

Hey y'all! Weeks go by so quick here and I don't have too much to say. But I do have a couple funny stories.

So one of the joys of working in the Nauvoo mission is getting to work with over three hundred senior missionaries. Their stories are fascinating and they are all such wonderful people and they-- the sisters in particular-- love talking to us. 

One of the downsides is that they see me, a college girl, 19 years old without a boyfriend or missionary and instantly think something is wrong with me. In the last week I have been told:

- I need to "settle down" and "make a goal to be married within the year." 

- I need to quit regular school and try cosmetology school. 

- I need to "quit being so picky" and "just pick one."

- If I didn't get married soon, I'd end up with a widow or a divorcee. 

- Choose one of the YPM Elders and date and marry him when we get home. 

(VERY LARGE NOTE: NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM, NOR DO I WANT TO DATE ANY OF THE YPM ELDERS. END OF ALL CAPS NOTE.) 

Sister Camp says they all just want to have grandbabies, even if it's through their Nauvoo kids. 

Funny story number two: During Trail of Hope, I walk through the crowd and talk to people, share my testimony etc. 

This week I had one woman-- member, with her kids-- stop me and tell me that I was NOT in ANY circumstances an "actual missionary." I calmly asked her what she meant, and she said that the stage performers were because they were sharing their testimonies through their talents, but all I was doing was moving around microphones and that wasn't missionary work. She was so angry about it. Like my being a tech was personally offensive to her... But I just laughed a little and bore my testimony- which she rolled her eyes through-- and moved on. People are so funny sometimes. But you've just got to turn the other cheek with people like that and remember that they're children of Heavenly Father too. 

Took a tour of Carthage Jail this morning. The spirit was immensely strong. Words cannot express how much I love this gospel and how much I want you all to come experience Nauvoo.

The church is true

I love you all

Sister Hallett

When it Rains in Nauvoo...

It pours. Hard. Out of (Literally) the clear blue sky. Ruining your pair of comfortable shoes and damaging a microphone speaker. But thank heavens for the impression I had to pick up my scriptures right before it started raining.
But I digress.
I feel like this week has gone by so quickly that I have nothing to say-- but then I remember that I'm Sister Hallett and so of course I have things to say!

First: There are worse things in this world than Seagulls. Mayflies and gnats. I've figured out that pure vanilla keeps the gnats away. If anyone knows any mayfly tricks, they'd be greatly appreciated.
Also- Rain in Nauvoo is crazy. We got rained out of a performance, my favorite shoes may never be the same and we are worried about some of our speakers... but by the time we got it all inside it had stopped and the most BEAUTIFUL rainbow had appeared.

We started working at sites this week. I've worked in the Brigham Young Home, the Family Living Center (I made bread and talked to 5th graders. I was like a duck to water!!) the Schoolhouse, the John Taylor Home, and Wilford Woodruff home. I love working there because I get to learn about the history and then almost immediately get to start teaching it. I LOVE TALKING TO PEOPLE.

I had a great experience on Wednesday night. While doing Trail of Hope, I met a man and woman who had met earlier that day in Nauvoo. She was a member, he was not. She spoke English, he did not. They were both from the same city in France, near the German boarder.
I spoke to Sylvie in English for a little while about Nauvoo and the trail-- when all of a sudden, I had the strongest impression to bear my testimony to them in French. I was terrified and my inner dialogue went something like:
Sister Hallett: What? That's crazy, I can't do that
Spirit: Do it
SH: But my French isn't that good, what can I do, bear witness that the strawberries are bought at the grocery store?
S: Do it.
SH: But what if I make a mistake? French are really critical!
S: stop arguing and do it.
SH: But--- but!!!!
S: Do.... It.... Right.... Now.
SH: Okay.......

And so I started talking. At first a little shakily, but soon I was bearing my testimony with words and conjugations that I know weren't in my vocabulary.
When I was finished, Sylvie looked at me with little bits of tears in her eyes and thanked me for my testimony in "Absolutely perfect" French. I was so surprised, but I know that Heavenly Father knows Marco and Sylvie personally, just as he knows me personally, and in that moment, they needed to hear the gospel in their own tongue.

I love this gospel so much. I am grateful for the miracles I see happen every day.

I love and miss you all,

All is Well, All is Well

 Sister Amberlyn Hallett

 

Brigham Young Home

 Wilford Woodruff Home

 Family Living Center

How is it already Sunday?

(Sister Hallett's 4th-great-grandparents Capt. James Brown and Sarah Steadwell Brown) 



They say that there is opposition in all things and more opposition whenever something amazing is about to happen. And boy is that true!!! This week has been amazing but kind of hard.
We do an amazing program called "The Trail of Hope" where we take guests down Parley Street after dark and the YPMs perform entries from the early Saint's journals about the day they left. It is amazing. On our dress rehearsal night, we weren't supposed to have anyone come, just the Band members to have a little bit of practice with what we were doing. But, Lo and Behold, 86 people turned up. Sister Camp gave me the quickest rundown of what I needed to do and sent me on my way-- companionless. (Sis Starrs was organizing groups.) I said a prayer and went to greet our group, not knowing what I would say. But I opened my mouth and it was filled. I started baring my testimony of Joseph Smith and the love he had for the people and the truthfulness of the restored gospel. I spoke of my own family that crossed the river and my brave grandmother who made most of the trek without her husband or oldest son. I know I couldn't have spoken so elloquently myself and I know The Lord filled my mouth.
As I was cleaning up, another group of 50 came and I was so calm as I restored all the torches and reset the missionaries, I bore my testimony again the same way. It was amazing. As I was cleaning up the third time, after Sister Camp gave me permission to turn people away if I felt like it, a car with two women in it drove up and asked what they were doing. I felt the spirit so strongly tell me that I had to let them through. So I found them a guide and sent them on. Afterwards, one of the women came up and told me of the difficulties she had been facing and how much she needed The Trail. I spoke to her a while longer to find out she was from Salt Lake. I asked which part and she asked me if I knew where Arcadia Elementary School was, that she lives across the street. SMALL WORLD. I love tiny miracles.
A young man has come through the last few days. His name is Jay Tea. (JT.) He told us he has been inactive since he was a teenager (he's 22 now.) and on his drive from Salt Lake to Chicago, his car has broken down near temple square, which he was able to get fixed in a couple hours, near Martain's Cove in Wyoming, which took a day, and RIGHT OUTSIDE THE NAUVOO TEMPLE when he made a wrong turn and was trying to figure out how to leave Nauvoo. Nauvoo is in the middle of nowhere. You have to be aiming for Nauvoo to get to Nauvoo. If this wasn't a sign from Heavenly Father, I don't know what is. In the few days he's been here, his countanance has changed--- in church today he was BEAMING. It was amazing. I love how the gospel changes our lives.

I started sites yesterday and have to head to another one here in a few minutes. The Brigham Young House was yesterday. I loved being there. And I'm going to the Scovil Bakery today.
Anyway, I need to go. I love you all and I love the gospel.
All is well, All is well
Sister Hallett

AND a snail-mail too! With MORE photos!

(Note from Mom: After getting the awesome emails with photos, we got more in the mail! I will have to scold Sister Hallett for FOLDING the photos to fit them in a small envelope, but I was super happy to get them! Sorry for the quality- these are pictures of the pictures, my scanner is on strike! Sister Hallett's notes from the back of photos included.) 

I'm Official!

The Temple from my bathroom window. No zoom used. It is so pretty on the outside, I can't wait to go inside! I am so grateful for the Temples in the world today and that our family is sealed in the temple for eternity. I love you all so much!

Really though- the Mississippi is so Pretty!

BLOOMERS! Pioneer Clothes are better than church clothes.
TRUTH-FACT.

Some Pictures

(Note from Mom: So I got 2 emails today from someone I didn't know. Both contained photo attachments. I NEVER open attachments from people I don't know, but the subject line said "hi mom!" so I took a chance and opened them up.  Boy, am I so glad I did! Totally made my day. I will have to ask Amberlyn who it was that sent them to me.)

Doesn't She look adorable!!!

And it came to pass....

(Note from Mom: Anyone else find a hidden 'announcement' in these verses?)


From the Book of Hallett 3:1-11

1. And verily, verily it came to pass that Sister Starrs and Sister Hallett did toil in the land of Nauvoo for many more days. And Lo, they did work many long hours and hard work and did all they could to be pleasing unto the Camps, that the shows might be of a quality to magnify the work.
2. And Elder Mortenson had patience with his female companions.
3. And they did get bikes, and did ride them around the town until they were pained, and further, up the steep hill towards the temple, and yea, they did hurt many hurts for many days in the land of Nauvoo.
4. And Elder Mortenson did listen to their cries and laughed, and gave unto them chairs and told them funny stories about riding bikes in Huston, Texas in the middle of August, and did tell them to suck it up and take some aspirin. And they did.
5. And Elder Camp did forget to pick up the Technical Missionaries in the Facilities management compound, which was, at the time, about 3 miles away from the place of their working. And the techs did vow to never let him live it down, as they had to walk from FM to the visitors center and he picked them up only about 1/4 mile outside of the visitors center.
6. But they got free bread, so it was okay.
7. And Elder Mortenson had even more patience and ate his free bread, and told us about creepy haunted houses in Huston.
8. Verily, Verily in the week of hard labor, in the city of Nauvoo, in the land of Illinois, Sister Hallett did give a pass along card to a man in the Mart of Wal, and she did share the gospel with him for but a brief moment, and he believed we were like Amish Muslims, and he was mistaken. And she did meet others in the Mart of Wal, and invited them to come to a rehearsal of the shows, and they did come, and Sister Hallett rejoiced.
9. And Sister Hallett did realize her love of sharing the gospel and does desire to serve a longer season.
10. And Sister Hallett did learn to love the midwest, and the people in it, and saw them as their Father in Heaven saw them, and did love them, and desired for their salvation, and would talk to them all, had she time.
11. And she said unto her companion: "Companion, I would stay here forever, if I could" and her companion said "Sister Hallett. Stop talking like you're a missionary in the Book of Mormon."

So you could say its been a pretty great week. With utter exhaustion abound, some pretty great things have been said.

Sister Tingey: "Guys, what state are we in?"
Sister Hess: "We just crossed into Iowa."
Tingey: "I NEED TO TO EXPERIENCE IOWA!!!!"

"You know you're a YPM when Sister Romney turns to you and says in all honest excitement, 'ELDER COBIA! WE GET TO GO TO WALMART TOMORROW!!!" -Elder Cobia

(in prayer) "We thank thee for............................................... *nudge* Oh my gosh, I just fell asleep giving the prayer." -Sister Packer

(in prayer) "Please help us to fully experience this experience fully." Elder Cavenee

 "I DIDNT FORGET YOU!" -Elder Camp, picking us up on the side of a long dirt road.

"That's the joy of being a visitors center missionary. After 6 pm, we all take off our shoes." -Sister Richardson (A full time sister missionary here.)

I love you all, the church is true, all is well, all is well.

Sister Hallett.

And THEN came this VIDEO! (Yes, mom cried!!!)

This is just pure sweetness and light! You can feel their sweet spirits through the video! So beautiful! What wonderful talent in these groups!

And the Elders are just too funny :) And they sound good too!

(Mom)

Best Mother's Day photos EVER! (According to mom)

The Best City in the World

My dear friends and family,

There is a quote something to the effects of "when I pull up to the pearly gates, I don't want to pull up calmly in a nice dress with a manicure and my hair percectly done. I want to pull up screeching, my car in billows of smoke, every hair out of place, paint on my pants and peanut butter on my shirt saying 'oh, man! What a ride!!' " Well... that is exactly how this week has been. And its an understatement. 

In one week we have gone from not even knowing the plot of the shows to having:

-2 shows double cast

-2 evening vignettes cast

-20 Nauvoo singers songs memorized 

-23 songs memorized for the musical

-2 shows blocked

- 1 show choreographed

-20 actors off book cold **(BY WEDNESDAY. That's 3 days.) 

-3 technicians kind of caught up to speed. 

-3 HUGE shipping crates (5'X10'X7') unpacked, inventoried, sorted, separated, dragged and distributed all over the city

-3 technicians given assignments for the shows (Stage manager for all five Yay stress!!!) 

-20 actors and 3 technicians costumed in perfectly period costumes (BEAUTIFULL!!!!)

-1 band learning 94 (yes. NINETY FOUR!!!) songs and performing some just a few days after they got here

And the spirit is felt here constantly. 

Nauvoo is the best city in the world. So quiet, peaceful, and gorgeous. Did you know that grass grows naturally, rabbits actually hop through dandelion spotted fields, squirrels chase each other up and down trees, turtles live on the downed branches on the Mississippi (which is beautiful, by the way.) and cardinals are real birds? (Haven't gotten a picture of them yet. They're too quick.) 

It is so pretty here that its no surprise that the ASL sign is "beautiful" with an N. 

We live in a beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bath historical home that used to be a convent. There are 12 that share the home and even though I used to think that two to a room was far too many, I already know that I'm going to get Companion Separation Anxiety when I get home. Sister Starrs and I are so close, it feels like we've been friends for years. 

We got our period costumes on Thursday. first of all, a room with HUNDREDS of  period costumes and about 20 in my exact size- I don't think I've ever been so giddy in my life. Narrowing it down was the hardest thing. Sister Starrs and I each get two because next week we begin working in the sites. Hers are green with white and red with black and mine are dark blue with white flowers and red with (get this one, mom!!) a huge pink bibber down the front. They are so pretty!!! We also got bloomers. Pictures attached of two very bored tech sisters playing in the sewing room while waiting for the band elders to come get fitted. 

The work we've done so far is hard, but wonderful. From carrying heavy objects and organizing hundreds of props and costume peices, I have felt myself grow stronger- physically, mentally and spiritually. I love being in a place where whenever I get stressed out, I can just kneel down and say a prayer to my Heavenly Father, even if it is as trife as organizing a prop shed in a manner that would be pleasing unto Him. Sister Starrs and I have a goal to talk to someone about the gospel on our P-days (because working in the visitors center in May, you rarely see someone who isnt a missionary, let alone a member.) We talked to a woman yesterday, Haley, who was more interested in asking us about if we were happy with our hours and if we got enough breaks from our job to be considered lawful than hearing about the gospel. Oh well

The next woman we talked to told us that she was a member that raised her kids in SLC. I asked where and she told me "between 54th S. and 32nd W. on a street where there was a Stake Center at the top of the hill and a church and park at the bottom." Imagine! I came all the way out to Keokuk, Iowa to meet a woman that used to live on the Petrick's street! 

As I said before, the spirit is so strong here all the time. There is a song in our musical called "No Ordinary Brothers," that takes place the night Joseph and Hyrum were martyred. The spirit fills the room so strongly and I can testify to you stronger today that the day I left that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that this gospel that I am blessed and thankful to be serving for is true. I know that we have a living prophet today and that the true gospel has been restored.

I love you all,

All is well, All is well

Sister Hallett

Letter #1

My dearest Mum, Faaahter, Booger and Princess
(and accompanying rodents and Moose)

I love this gospel. I love Nauvoo. I love my companion, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ- The ASTOUNDING Nauvoo YPMS. I love the culture and Spirit that is so strong here constantly. I love the Senior couples who have attached us with hugs, compassion, and cookies. I love the BEAUTIFUL city of Nauvoo and the Wonderful temple that I can see from my bedroom window.
But I especially love and miss all of you.

Today we started work. Elder Mortenson- our Tech Elder- is a gentle giant and would do all the work (or at least heavy lifting) if we would let him. I already love him and Sister Starrs like siblings. For not a moment have I ever felt left out of anything or different or lesser because I'm a Tech Sister.  (Though prayers for us figuring out the brand new light board would be appreciated, So many beautiful buttons that I'm almost afraid to touch it.) We've made such progress just today. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for us.

The home we are staying in is beautiful. Red brick on the outside, blonde wood on the inside. Smack dab between ******** and ******* sits the most adorable home where Sister Starrs and I live with the ten stage sisters. I thought fitting six companionships in a three bedroom house with two bathrooms would be impossible, but so far, there is absolutely no contention, just a cheerful spirit of sisterly love. (Yes, that math is right. 4 girls to a 7x15 room. And it works.)

How I wish you all could be here. Nauvoo is like Zion with a Stage Management team. Mormon Standard time has bee replaced with fifteen-minutes-early-and-do-you-need-anything? or NST. (NST[NauvooStandardTime] also means getting to church at 7:30 and discovering that all the sister missionaries get to sit on the stage.)

The Senior couples here are wonderful. I only hope that one day I will have a relationship with my own Eternal Companion that is half as wonderful as many of these couples. One man in church this morning when we arrived, called out "Babe!" and a woman, probably around 80 responded.
"This is my beautiful wife, " he told us. "She is even more beautiful now than when I married her." with his eyes sparkling with love, even after so many years.

The ward here is what I image the wards in Heaven are like. The spirit is so strong all the time. While taking a tour (on a HUGE wagon with two MASSIVE horses) it was like we were back in the 1800's. When we passed The Mansion House, where Joseph and Emma lived, you could feel the spirit of Joseph Smith right with us, as if he were right beside the wagon with us.

My dear family, I Know this gospel is true. I know it stronger everyday that I am here. I work so hard from the time I wake up at six until I fall gratefully into bed at 10:30. But I do not tire of the work because I know it is for building up the Kingdom of Heaven, to reach those who otherwise may not receive the message. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to be here. I am so honored to wear the name of my Brother and Savior over my heart. I am thrilled to go by my last name because whenever someone calls for me, I am reminded of the amazing, supportive family I have left behind, whose faith and courage have inspired me to come and who raised me upright in the gospel. I love you all so much.

(Mom, I promise you, I am being so will taken care of here. The Mursets have an office so stacked up with anything we need and we are constantly being told to eat healthy, drink more than we think we need to. There is always so much food in the Bistro at lunch and we stocked up in Keokuk yesterday. There are two things constant in this world: Walmart and The Gospel. I bought so much healthy food. So fear not.)

Love you all, The Church is True
Sister Ambi-J Hallett

Some photos from the field

 

 The YPM's at the St. Louis airport

 

The YPM Elders

 

The YPM Sisters 

Sister Hallett's Farewell Open House