Dear Family and Friends,
Last night of pageant was Saturday, and it was crazy busy. It felt like Christmas Eve, and everyone was trying to get in their last minute shopping. I was at the Visitors' Center and there was a continual frenzy of guests wanting to make sure they did it all. Elder Long was on the wagon and said it was like driving through a very active ant hill of people. The people who do the counting reported that during pageant time, over 50,000 people visited Nauvoo. A miracle in itself. Whew, now it's Monday, we'll see if it feels like the day after Christmas as far as the rush being over.
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| Elder Grandpa Long |
Kimi, Matt, Jason, and Navy made it here in time to go to the pageant with us. I love having my kids and friends come and share Nauvoo. They'll be here this week, so I'm sure we'll have a great week.
One day this past week, while I was serving at Heber C. Kimball's home, we talked with some non-members who were only going to be in Nauvoo for a couple of hours but had changed their plans to stay another day and a half. My companion asked them what had impressed them to change their plans. They thought and replied that they had enjoyed the sites, plays, pageants, horse rides, but the real reason they had stayed was the kindness of the people. They had sat behind a group of youth at the pageant and found it very refreshing to see and hear good young people just having fun. No "f bombs", just good polite behavior. They also enjoyed seeing the families and how kind they were to each other. They said it was refreshing to know that there are still clean standards in this world and a loving, kind, caring people. They wanted to be a part of it. It hit me just how much what we say and do is watched and felt. We are living testimonies of our beliefs. We only have one chance at a first impression, so we need to make it good.
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| Kimi, Navy, Jason, Matt |
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| Heber C. Kimball Home |
As always, there were protesters at the pageant. They scream and yell things to try to discredit the Church. As missionaries, we are instructed not to respond to them. They record our interactions and change the words to fit their needs. Non response seems to upset them the most. I've never enjoyed bagpipes as much as I have this year. Don't get me wrong; I take pleasure in hearing them in marches, programs, etc., but this year at the pageant gates where the protesters station themselves, the bagpipes play. The protesters are appropriately drowned out. Hurrah! That's one for the kilts!
Life here in Nauvoo is in a state of transition as fall approaches and the crowds diminish. Missionaries are going home, and now it is our turn to take a more leading roll. We'll miss all of our friends but will keep busy with humanitarian projects and service. Never a dull moment in the Lord's work.
As always, we love and miss you. We also appreciate who you are. You are an example of what is good and wholesome, and the world needs your goodness.
Love,
Sister and Elder Long
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