Let The Spirit Guide You

So on Saturday after doing Nauvoo Singers we were heading back for lunch when I saw a man standing by himself outside of the Cultural Hall. I felt like I needed to go and talk to him so I asked how he like the show. (The other Anna Amanda cast had just finished performing.) He said that he enjoyed the show and began to talk about how hot and humid it was . I wanted to go on my way to lunch because it was scorching hot because I was in my huge pioneer dress but I felt prompted to ask him what brought him to Nauvoo. He told me it was because of the spirit he felt here and that he was a convert to the church. I asked him if he would tell me his conversion story and he agreed after I insisted that it would be alright if I was late for lunch. I quickly grabbed one of the sisters to listen with me and he told his 5 minute story to me. What's amazing is being from Canada, I didn't even feel the heat during his story; I was too invested. It was amazing. He had turned away about 4 sets of missionaries until his wife felt the spirit so strongly during a message they shared about eternal families that she wanted to know more. When they started teaching about the plan of salvation he couldn't help but feel that what he was hearing was true. As a child he told me that he had always felt that there was a lot more to life than just life here on earth. He immediately felt the spirit when the missionaries taught him about the premortal existence and eternal life. He was challenged to read the BOM and he did so in about 2 months. He asked Heavenly Father if it was true and he knew that he needed to join the church. He knew it was true and he couldn't deny it.

It was so touching to hear his personal witness of the truth! I loved talking to him and asking him questions about the Gospel. It's amazing what an impact the truth of this marvelous Gospel can have in people's lives. It is so true. :)I got to meet his wife as well because we sang for them later on. They were both so happy and beaming with joy from the spirit they felt in Nauvoo.

Right after I left the couple, I walked into the visitor's center and saw two little girls sitting on the statue of the first vision. I followed the prompting to walk over and start talking to them. Their names wer Milea and Lindsey and I asked them what they liked about Nauvoo etc. (Milea is 3 and Lindsey is 5) MIlea then looked up at the statue and pointed to Jesus and Heavenly Father, "Which is which?" she asked. I was able to explain the first vision to the two little girls. It was such a tender experience and they were so dang adorable! I love talking to little children and connecting with them spiritually. Their hearts are the softest and the most open to the love of God. I asked what their favorite primary song was and they both said without hesitation, "I am a child of God." "Yes you are!" I replied, "And He loves you more than you could ever imagine!!".

What a wonderful experience! I love those little girls. I feel like Heavenly Father has magnified a gift he has given me here in Nauvoo.... to connect with children. I have met so many little kids as well as young adults and teenagers who I have just 'clicked' with. GAH I love this work!!!!!! I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!

Not Even a Cough

On Friday night there were approximately 400 people lined up to come through the Trail of Hope. It had been a very long day of performances and my voice was giving out from the bronchitis. I was terrified because it was the night I needed to sing a hymn as Elisa Leavitt. I said a prayer with Sister Porter who was playing my mother that night, Sarah Leavitt. As we knelt in prayer and asked for the help from the Lord that I needed pretty badly that night especially... we felt peace and knew that it would be alright. I was having a cough attack, my ears and eyes were itching from allergies, and I was sneezing like a banchee. However, each time a group would come through I would clear my throat to sing and the hoarseness of my voice would disappear and just when I thought I needed to cough or sneeze, I wouldn't. Gosh... it was a miracle. Truly! Immediately after we would finish singing and the group would move along to the next vignette I would have another cough attack and blow my lungs out haha. What a tender mercy from the Lord. The enabling power of the Atonement is truly amazing... I cannot thank my Lord and Savior enough for allowing me to bear my testimony that night without sickness affecting my message. This work is much too important... the messages of the Saints touch people's souls in a very special way here. Sickness or no sickness, the Lord will always find a way to spread his love and Gospel. It's amazing to see how much the work is growing today in the church.

Tornadoes, Trails, and Testimony

HEY FAMILY!!!!!

Boy things are going great here! Another busy busy week has gone by and I can't believe how fast the time is flying! Can you believe that I'll have been here for an entire month on Friday!? EEEeeeee. Nauvoo is just so wonderful and I can't wait to have you come here and get a taste of the amazing spirit I feel every day. 

Alright... what's new with me... hmm... WELL... (MOM DON'T FREAK OUT :P) We had a tornado warning last week and were hurried out of our houses to the basement in the visitor's center. I was taking a nap in our house when we heard this scary alarm go off outside and we were woken up by the girls running around the house frantically shouting, "TORNADO WARNING! BE IN THE VAN NOW! WE NEED TO GO!" I have never experience a tornado warning but lemme tell you... as SOON as we stepped outside we were SOAKED and I was almost blown over by the furious winds. HOLY COW it was crazy. The sky was a scary green and we quickly ran into Sister Camps car and she was off. It was pretty scary... I didn't realize how scarred I was from the firestorm in 2003 until that night when we were sitting in the basement of the Visitor's center waiting for the storm to pass. On a lighter note, it did indeed pass and we're all fine! PHEWF!

We also started shows on Friday! It was such a blast oh my goodness. I met so many amazing people and we became close to many families. I LOVE KIDS! Holy cow... they basically attack you with hugs when you're Anna Amanda. They just love that show and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to perform in such a fun role. We have literally been going 12 + hours every day dancing our pants off and singing our lungs out. I would not be able to do this in any place other than Nauvoo. I haven't lost my voice once! It's amazing! Also, I strained a part of my hip and couldn't walk the rest of the day last week. Strains in my body usually take about 3-5 weeks to heal but after a blessing, icing lots, and being very cautious, I was able to be up and dancing normally within 4 days! Miracles have been happening everywhere here. It's truly amazing :) What was so cool about that experience was when I was still in a lot of pain I would go up on stage and dance carefully so that I wouldn't forget the choreography and I wouldn't feel the pain while I was on stage. Right when I exited the stage the pain returned. Coincidence? I think NOT! :)

My favorite part about this entire week was probably performing the Trail of Hope for the first time on Parley Street. We performed vignettes of original journal entries written by the Saints on the very road they left Nauvoo. The spirit here is so overwhelming... it is like nothing I have ever felt before. I cannot even explain it in words... but just imagine a time when you have felt the spirit strongly and multiply it by 50 haha. I'd say that's pretty accurate ;) While performing my vignette for Margaret Gay Judd Clawson it honestly felt nothing like acting. I originally had thought that this would be much like performing a monologue but it was nothing of the sort. I knew the words I was saying were not mine. Before we started I knelt and prayed that I would be able to remember the words and to portray the message the way Margaret wanted me to. Groups of people came station by station to hear our message and it was difficult to hold back tears. The words just... came. I didn't have to think about them in the slightest bit. I felt the strength, love, hope, and charity that Margaret must have felt for her family and Nauvoo. I felt a small portion of what the saints felt that night... it was amazing. When we went to stand by the edge of the Mississippi River where the families and their handcarts trudged through the bitter cold over the icy river we began to sing Come Come Ye Saints under the bright moon and stars. I could see them travelling with hope, not knowing where they were to go, but having faith in the journey. We bore our testimonies through honest words and were able to touch souls. Even if it was just one person, it still makes all the difference. We are here to plant seeds and I know that Trail of Hope is one of our most powerful spiritual tools because I have felt it soften and change my heart. I am so humbled by this experience and am so happy I get to do it every week for the whole summer!

We do many shows every day. There are no breaks and we don't technically have a P-day. I love it so much and I can't complain because of the pure happiness I have felt throughout this entire journey. Even when I am feeling sick, tired, sore, or like I can't go on any longer, the Lord steps in and carries me the rest of the way. He will make up the difference if we as Him in faith :)

I have never been so busy in all my life and I have never been so happy. This mission is turning me into the person I want to become. :) I am so excited for you to come!!! ahhh!!! I want to share the spirit of Nauvoo with everyone.

Anyways, I'd better wrap this up. I miss you all and hope all is well back home! Thank you for all you do and for all your love and support. I couldn't do this without your prayers. They really have helped me stay happy and alert through the touchest times. I am able to give 110% to every show here because of the Lord and your prayers :) So thank you! I cannot say that enough.

There is so much more I could say... I just want you to know I love you and I love this Gospel. Miracles are happening every day here and I look forward to sharing all of the many details with you. *cough* MOM *cough*. ;) 

Until we meet again!

Sister Spittle