Sunday, May 19, 2013 - Email from Sister Welch

Hello all!!

Thank you so much for your package! I loved it!!! The pictures especially! Can you send me more? Of our family and stuff?  I put them up right above my bed, I love it! EMMA!! Everyone says you look like me... That's news to us, huh? Pshh...

 

 

Oh, surprise!! Haha, we get to email you this week!

Also... I am very happy here!!! So I'm going to express it with lots of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay???!?!?!!!?!?!?!!! :)  (From Arlene - To understand this completely, read her first email from May 9th below which contains a ton of exclamation marks.  My brother teased her about it in an email, and this is her response to his teasing.)  :)

 

 

It's so great how all my HS buddies are going on missions! You'll have to let me know where Buh is going! So exciting!

I love this stuff so much! We had a guest speaker talk to us Friday night. Brother Mark Lusvardi. He is on the mission council for the church... I think. Helped write Preach My Gospel. He talked about having a unified cast. Asked us to pray for each other when we are on stage, specifically for those with peaking parts. As they speak... Cool huh? It's interesting because one of the things the Camps have focused on is trying to become a Zion community and really coming together in one heart and mind and purpose. It's very neat to ponder and pray for that added unity. We've seen it happen in our dancing. Praying makes a huge difference, too.

So, my companion is Sister Smith. She's the best!!! She was the one girl I didn't think about having as my companion. Like at all. But she's so great! We get along very well! It's sad though, because we're the only Sister companionship that's split up between casts.... Which is hard. I find it weird to be in my room all alone. To be anywhere without her really. Werid, huh? I guess it's a blessing. Companionships are meant to protect us, and also provide a second witness. But I love her, she's such an inspiration! I'll tell you more about her in a snail mail letter.

So... Our shows start next week... AHH!!!! But here's the thing... Ok, so we're behind, but we have seriously come SO FAR!! It is amazing what you can accomplish when you have the Lord on your side. We finished High Hopes and River Boats last week. And we're almost done with Sunset. And Anna-Amanda.

 

 

 

 

 

 Our costumes are almost done! They're so awesome!! I think I've got four costumes in all... two of which are brand new! The sewing room senior sisters are just great! They work so hard and are so sweet! And funny. They are a hoot! And Sister and Elder Murset, the YPM costumer couple are just the sweetest! So hard working! They're from AZ, too! Good people. 

 

 

 

 

The Spirit can be so strong here! Elder Camp has said that this group is especially powerful. They told us stories of what a hard time everyone had trying to get to Nauvoo. The devil is working hard on us. You know that, he worked VERY hard on me. But, as Elder Camp says all the time, he does NOT win here. He doesn't. Something good is coming... And I can't wait!!

Oh I love it here! It's been hard at times to keep the missionary mindset, though. Not because I'm a bad person, or not doing what I should, I promise I'm  a good person!!!! But I'm not a typical missionary, you know? We don't have a lot of interaction with people outside of our cast or the visitors center where we rehearse... I can't wait to start performing so we'll have the chance to visit with people and sow some seeds.

EMMY!!!! Just know I miss you soooooo much! When I look at my pictures I think, "Aw, my baby!!" I know you're not my baby... But you are!!! You're my baby seeester!!!! I hope you're having a fun end of the school year, and keeping up a good schedule! And having fun on dates! ;)

You can get SO MUCH DONE in one day, did you know that? I never want to wake up past 9 AM ever in my life ever again. We start our practices at 8 and don't stop until nine or ten. SO MUCH GETS DONE!!!! I love it!!

And.. I love you all!! Thank you for all of your love and support! I love getting letters and emails (HINT HINT), but I only get to check my email once a week (HINT HINT), and I only get half an hour to email (HINT HINT!) but I can receive letters all week (HINT HINT) at lunch (HINT HINT) with everyone else (HINT HINT!!!!). It's kind of like Hogwarts. Except, owls don't deliver it. Other missionaries do because they are so nice and service oriented.

I love you!!! Stay strong, go to the temple! Today we learned that going to the temple once a month is a nuisance, going once a week is exact obedience. I live right next door to the Nauvoo temple... It's so beautiful and I cannot wait to go do work there!!!!!

I love you! Thank you for all you do!

xoxo Sister Welch

 

Sunday, May 12, 2013 - email messsage from Amanda - (This was sent on Mother's Day, since they were not allowed to call.  That is why it is so focused on me.  :)  - Arlene)

 

 

MOMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Not super missionary-like, but hey, I miss you and it's Mother's Day! We watched a beautiful video produced by the church today in Sunday School. I can't remember the title, but it is on the LDS.org homepage. Go check it out, it made me tear up thinking of you! The first line was "Each time a daughter is born, so is a mother." Made me think of us :)

 Emma looks absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!! Have her write/email me all about it! EMMA your dress is BEAUTIFUL!! I love all the sparkles :) Where did you find it? How long did it take? AAHHH!!!! Quit growing up!

 Thanks for the package!! I love hearing from you all! Sorry I haven't replied, I figured I'd just wait for this email to contact you... haha

 Thanks for that pic from Sis shaffer's mom! Cute! Aunt Marcia sent me a homemade card with that picture on it! And twenty dollars! Not necessary, but so nice! THANK YOU SWEET AUNTIE!

 

 

(heading down the wrong way - going through Priority Security! Oops!)

 

 

 

(Heading the correct way through security now with Sister Emily Shaffer!)

 

 

 

Please forgive any spelling/grammar stuff... I only have 10 more minutes...!!!!

 You should also come to an A cast showing of High Hopes and River Boats. I play a lesser character in that, and I love it! Still pretty funny.

 Mother I love you!!! Happy mothers day!! Again!!

 We're pretty busy here! Last Sunday, we only went to Sacrament meeting because we had so much to do! Our music director, Sis Willmore was only in town for three days, so we had to utilize every second with her!

 Speaking of seconds... Elder and Sister Wortley, the coordinators, gave us these awesome medallions! It's labelled with their motto is "every second counts!" We're only here three months, but we do so much that you can't waste even a second on negativity or doubt or worry or anything else but the work! 

 After Sis Willmore left, we started blocking. we've blocked almost all of Riverboats and all of Anna-Amanda. Two days ago, we started on choreography. We've got one more big number for riverboats, and a few more for the show we do with the seniors, Sunset by the Mississippi. I'm pretty tired, but having so much fun!

 I love all of the elders and sisters here! We get along so well. especially the sisters! I live with 11 others girls and love all of them! It's amazing how well our voices blend. It's truly a blessing. We all sound very much alike, the sisters. And we blend so well with the elders. Blending meaning no one voice or section of the choir stands out or overpowers the others. 

 I can't wait for you to come see all of our hard work! The Lord's hand is truly guiding us and giving us the strength we need!

 Funny story... Before Just Plain Anna-Amanda, the kids show, there's a puppet show to help the kids settle down. I get to be a puppet! Guess what my puppet's name is?... MANDY!!! Funny, right? I also play a Tattle-Tale Twin... I get to be a snotty little kid! So different from my real childhood, right? :) I'm actually the comical character in all of our stuff, I think... It's so much fun, I'm loving it! I'm also glad I took that acting class this past semester. It really opened me up to trying different things and just being myself on the stage. so fun!!

 It is just the most wonderful place, Nauvoo!! I LOVE IT! The Spirit is so very present here. I have felt the love of my Savior so strongly here. I can't wait for you to partake of the goodness that is here! Promise me that you'll do more than just come to my shows! The senior couple missionaries work the cites, and they are so sweet! You also MUST come see Trail of Hope. We haven't worked on it yet, but I know it's going to be powerful. Please family, do your best to be in tune with the Spirit so he can touch your while you're here in Nauvoo. As a missionary, I've been blessed with an added measure of the Spirit, but there is also an added measure of the Spirit here in Nauvoo! It's stolen a piece of my heart, I don't want to leave!!! Good thing I don't have to for another few months :)

 I sure do love you all! Thank you EVERYONE for your kind words of love and support! LOVE YOU!! And so does our Savior! I've felt that firsthand here. Oh, the work is good!!

 Love you Daddy! Hope all is well with work and such! Are you in... New Mexico was it? Are you there yet? Having fun? Tell me all about it!! Thank you for your priesthood and all the hard work you do to support our family! And for supporting me in all I do!! LOVE YOU!!

 Momma dear, I sure do love you! Your example and willingness to help me follow my dreams has really been what's lead me here. When I think about what my life might have been, I know that I wouldn't be here without your influence and guidance. hAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Love you to Kolob and back!! THANK YOU!!!

 

Well... time's up! ;( PLEASE SEND ME LETTERS!!! I only get to check email once a week, And I can't even do that until our shows open in about two weeks. I can get mail everyday at lunch, it truly brightens my day!! But no pressure or anything... :)

 Love you! The gospel is true!! Pray with sincerity and study your scriptures with real intent to find the answers to your questions everyday! It makes all the difference! I love Nauvoo and can't wait to see you all here, partaking of it's greatness!!! LOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEE YYYOOUUUUUUUU!!!!

 xoxo Sister Welch

 p.s. I LOVE saying that and wearing a tag with my name beside Christ's!

p.p.s. You can forward this to family and friends who would be interested Sweet Momma. LOVE YOU!!

p.p.p.s. Lots of love felt here in Nauvoo... Can you tell? LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!

 p.p.p.p.s. SEND THIS TO DAD I DON'T HAVE HIS EMAIL SAVED!!! :(