Sunday, July 21st

Hello!

Those photos are so fun! I can't wait to get more in the mail!

It sounds like Emma is having fun at acting camp! I can't wait to hear more about it! Did she take a journal with her? I hope so. I've been thinking back.. but it's hard to do! I have never been great at keeping a journal, and now I'm scared I'll forget all about my high school and college experiences! I can't let that happen! I'm so grateful I have been better at keeping a journal here... That way, if I'm ever struggling, I can look back on this time here in Nauvoo and take some strength from my previous experiences. Anyway, that's why I hope she took a journal: so she will remember all the fun she had and all she learned. Have they been cast yet? What is her part? Also, my teacher from last semester was Ben Hopkins. I don't know if he's working at the camp this summer. I've never heard of anyone by the name of Reese. I'm glad she's having so much fun and that she's made some friends! Yay for friends with the same standards, who lift us up to be better!

 I would LOVE to take a church history trip! did I already tell you that? Probably, but I feel like I know how to go to these sites now that I've been a missionary at one of them... You go as a seeker of truth, trying to strengthen your testimony, rather than just take a vacation and be a tourist. These sites, especially Nauvoo, have so much to offer Spiritually.  One of our sisters, Sister Porter, has a great analogy for it. She's a runner, and she says that when you're running they have water stations set out every two miles for you to take a quick break and a drink. At the end of those two miles you are exhausted and you feel like you can't carry on... But then you get that water and you're rejuvenated and ready to keep going an extra two miles. In live, Nauvoo is one of those water stops for a lot of people. They feel down or they have doubts, but then they come here and are Spiritually renewed, both in faith and testimony. It's so great!

I'm so excited that the apartment situation worked out! You are seriously THE BEST! You and Mama Nelson both! Man, how crazy and stressful that must have been... But I'm so glad it worked out! Is there anything I need to sign or do?... Do you want to wait until I come home to work out the details and fill me in? It's only three weeks away... :( boohoo!!!!!

In closing, I want to share something I have written down in my journal. Sadly, I didn't think of it, and also, unfortunately I can't remember where I heard it or who said it.... But it goes like this:

"If it weren't for God, we wouldn't be here. If it weren't for Jesus Christ, it wouldn't matter. If it weren't for Joseph Smith, we wouldn't know."

Cool, right? And so true! With God, we have a purpose, to learn and become more like Him and to one day live with Him. Because Christ atoned for our sins, we can repent and continue to move towards that goal. Because of Joseph Smith, we have the restored gospel and all of the blessings that go with it, including the knowledge of the plan of salvation and that families can be together forever. What a glorious plan our Father has made for us! Thanks for raising me in the gospel so I could know it, live it, love it, and share it!

 DADDY!! I'm still waiting for that letter with your thoughts and impressions from your Nauvoo experience... And am anxious to receive it! I want to know what you learned and felt here! LOVE YOU!!!

I love you so much! Please keep me updated! Letters are better than food here, almost as good as sleep! :) Hurrah for Israel!

xoxo Sister Welch

 

 

 Sunday, July 14th

Hello!! It's been a crazy week... Rather short. And only four more to go... WAH!!!! :(

 We started performing in Pageant this week. Our schedules are slightly different... We have all the same things, except no Trail on weekday evenings. Instead, we do TOH Thursday and Saturday mornings with the Core Cast of pageant filling in for Sarah Leavitt, Brigham Young, the Greeter, and Eliza R. Snow. They also add Jane Manning. Jane Manning was a beautiful woman. She was an African American member who walked about 800 miles with her family to get to Nauvoo. Their feet got so dry they cracked and bled until you could see their footprints in blood... But then they said a prayer together as a group and asked to be healed. And they were! So neat. The YPMs also do TOH on Sunday nights, and the Band YPMs get to come help with crowd control and company captain-ing. It's so neat to have them their and be able to sing and pray at the end of the day as a whole family of 40 YPMs.

I'm glad to hear you and Emma still love all the music to our shows! I'd be afraid you'd be sick of it, since you came to it twice a day almost every day you were here! Haha. What recordings do you guys listen to? Ones on Youtube from previous years, or did you record our stuff?

 

I loved getting all your post cards! It was a perfect way to wrap up your time here, since you had given them to me periodically throughout the week. The last one made me cry! I was so happy you guys got to come here and experience the beauty of Nauvoo, both temporally and spiritually!

I'm glad you guys are having fun in NY!! I'm so jealous that you got to see Newsies! Maybe we can go again when I get home? ;) did you go do baptisms in the Manhattan temple? I remember we got to with LIGHT! Such a neat experience. Interesting, since it doubles as a chapel, too, right? But it was amazing to find such peace in such a crazy, noisy city! And you got to see Wicked! How was that? Better than to two times you saw it when it came to Gammage? Haha!  

 EMMA! I LOVE YOUR HAIR CUT! You look so posh and grown up! Ah! So adorable! Can I copy you?

We do have to go to all three hours of church. We only did the one hour thing the first Sunday we were here. Speaking of Church... Guess who sat with me in RS? Mama Nelson! Elder Nelson's family is here for the week. It's so great to see them! What happy people! Sister Spittle's family came this last week, too.

I'm sorry this email hasn't been more meaningful or Spiritual. It's been a tough week for some reason. But, like we sing in High Hopes, "Peace, together we'll find peace... All is well!" All is really well. The saints are such wonderful examples of that. They were asked to leave almost everything they owned and start a journey that could last years, but they did so willingly, with faith and hope. Their testimonies kept them going. Though the task ahead seemed dreary, and they faced many trials along the way, they kept their spirits up, because they knew it would be alright in the end. I thought of that this week as I sang that song. Though there are trials that have been placed in my path here in Nauvoo, all is well! I have a testimony of this true gospel, and my family has been sealed in the Temple for all time and eternity! What more could you ask for? Everything else will work itself out, you know? 

 I love you guys! Emma, I would love a letter about your trip to NY! And all your other happenings! You can type it if you want, I just want a letter!!! :) Love you all! Travel safe! Keep the Spirit with Nauvoo, and don't be afraid to share it! Something I've learned here is that the best missionaries are the bold ones. That's a personal goal I have: BE BOLD! Love you, talk to you soon!

xoxo Sister Welch

Sunday, July 7th

Hello!

It's so fun to see those pictures! I can't wait to see more!

Well... I actually have another bad migraine today... Boo, I know. I'm sorry! I think I need a break from my contacts. I changed them this week, and threw away my old contact case as well... But, it's ok! Elder Wortley said he would work out my "migraine spots" as the chiro people called them haha! So I actually don't have time to reply to your email... So, I'm going to have it printed and I'll send you a written reply in the mail! Is that ok? I hope so, because that's the plan :)

 I'm so glad you guys were able to come out and visit! It's so wonderful here in Nauvoo, isn't it? Such a strong Spirit! All the YPMs love you guys, everyone said you were awesome! Thank you for being so open to feeling the Spirit!  And thank you for that postcard! It made me cry! I love you all SO MUCH!!!! I'm so happy you got to share in my Nauvoo experience, and that I got to share yours!

 

Flu bug is gone from the YPMs! Yay! But so is Elder Camp... He has to leave for three weeks to work with Studio C (BYU TV thing... Like Divine Comedy... heard of them?) He left today after our prep meeting... We'll miss him so much. It'll be weird without our priesthood holder and director...

Pageant is here! We've had a couple of rehearsals with the family cast and it is a blast! It makes our crazy schedules even crazier, but I love it! So worth it!

I want you to know that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer! His Atonement provides forgiveness and also comfort. I know that the work I am participating in is so sacred and happy. The gospel is so happy and so right! I know it is true! Don't forget the Spirit you felt here! Keep it with you and share it with others! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

xoxo Sister Welch

 

 

Sunday, June 30

 

I love you! I'm so glad you're here! You should be out of church by now... I have absolutely LOVED having you here in Nauvoo! Since you are here, this will be short... sorry. Haha

 I'm so happy I got to talk to you after Trail of Hope! I sure do love you...! Would each of you tell me what your favorite part of it was? How it influenced you and made you feel? And you don't have to say I was your favorite part, because it wasn't me, Sister Welch, playing a character. I am only the instrument by which Margaret Gay Judd Clawson can bear testimony to those who visit Nauvoo. Though it is VERY funny how Margaret's parents had a similar relationship to yours, Mom and Dad... :)

 You ought to check out Land and Records if you haven't yet. If you have specific names of ancestors, you can look them up there and find out if they owned/how much land they owned here in Nauvoo. I haven't been able to go there yet, but I think that'd be an awesome thing for you guys to do before you leave! And tell me about it...! I heard it just brings the heritage of Nauvoo even more alive! It's so neat, the Spirit that is here in Nauvoo. You can feel the presence of those who walked the streets when Nauvoo was first built. How neat to know that we have a connection through both Grandpa and Grandma Burgess here!

 Make sure you go to the blacksmith shop and brickyard... Because you can get a brick and a prairie diamond! Yay souvenirs! However, I'd also like to challenge you to go to these sites not as tourists, but as seekers of truth, to keep feeling the Spirit and building your testimonies! I know you've felt the Spirit here, which makes me so happy that you're open to it! Keep it going!

 Mom, it WAS Sister Brown you talked to in the VC. The ASL sister missionary? She gave me a hug today after church and told me she talked to you guys: "You're family is so cute!" Lots of people say that after meeting you, actually. To which my response is always, "Aren't they the BEST?!" And the Sisters absolutely adore Emma. Each has said she is so cute!.... And, of course, everyone says that we look exactly alike. Elder Nelson says you look more like me the older you get... YAY!!! Twins after all!

 Also, some sad news today... One of our Sisters, Sister Allen, is probably going home tomorrow for health reasons. she's had what the Camps are calling "episodes"... And rightly so. She has periods where she loses control of her body... The doctors think it might be MS... So scary. Since her insurance doesn't cover her out here, and it's a pretty serious concern, our leaders felt it was best that she get diagnosed at home where she'll have her family. We're all very very sad to see her go. heartbroken, actually. After we found out, we sang songs, cried, and beared testimony... and also told our "favorite Sister Allen moments". She is seriously one of the funniest people I've ever met. I'll miss her. she's been a great comfort and example and friend to me here. I'll really miss her, but I'm glad that she's going to get everything figured out. Please keep her in your prayers. Nauvoo will definitely not be the same without her. 

Well... Time to go! Enjoy Nauvoo! I love you! Keep a prayer in your heart as you go about Nauvoo. Questions will be answered, and the Spirit will be felt. I testify that that is true, this is such a sacred place! Love you!!

xoxo Sister Welch

Here are some photos from our trip to Nauvoo!  More to come - Arlene

 

 

Email from Sister Amanda Welch, June 16, 2013

 DADDYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST DAD EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Father's day! I hope YOU'RE getting pampered like you deserve! Thanks for sacrificing your club night to go celebrate Mom's birthday. That's why you're the best :) Today being Father's Day and all, I was thinking about you--weird? Maybe...--and remembering all those nights we spent reading fairy tales and Harry Potter. It meant a lot to me. I love those stories, and I treasure them not only because they're wonderful stories, but because I shared them with you. So thanks for taking the time to be a great dad and show me that you love me :) You're the best!! Happy Father's day! Let me know how your armies are coming, and when Valhalla is. Oh! And I've got a letter for you, too! It'll be in the mail tomorrow! Love you!

 

 

 MOM!  YOU ARE THE BEST MOM EVERRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you are having a WONDERFUL birthday! I love you so much! I'm sorry the video made you cry... But I knew you would love it, and it's the only thing I could "give" you on your actual birthday, since I spaced and didn't get you a letter in the mail in time for you to get it for your birthday... But there will be one coming this week!! I laughed out loud when I read about how you all went go-carting for your birthday!!! Not something I would have thought typical of the Welch family... But I like it :) I hope Em and Dad pampered you like you deserve! 

 

 

 Emma Baby, I love you! So much! I hope you know that. Also know that I think of you often and pray for you always!!! Let me know how your summer is going!

 I got a letter from the Streeters this week! Or was it last week... did I already tell you that? I can't remember.  But the girls drew me a picture to go along with it. I loved it! And all those letters from the YW?! So perfect! I felt so loved pulling that giant stack of envelopes out of that package!!  If any of them (or their wonderful, beautiful, thoughtful leaders) read this, THANK YOU!!! I hope I'll have time this week to write them back... That's the goal! haha

Thank you for sending me that sheet music! I'm so excited to learn the whole thing!!! (note from Arlene - I emailed her the sheet music for My Party Dress as she requested).  It's so funny! And Sister Smith always laughs when I sing it for her. Well... I guess she IS my mandatory best friend here... But still!!! Haha! And all I do here is play little kids, so it's the perfect song for me!

 I just checked out my blog for the first time... Weird! Hmm... I don't know how often I'll be doing that! Also, Mom, if you'd like to add your feelings about my work on a blog post, feel free. I don't know why, but the thought came to me this morning to ask you to do that. So... yeah :) I'll read that post for sure! I was going to try to send you pictures from my camera today, but I forgot it at home... So next week maybe?
 

I got a letter from Rachel Ricks (YAY!!!) and she told me you went to Carlie's bridal shower! How fun! How was that? Also. Shelby's married now. AH!!!! Congratulations Shelby and Tyler!!!!! Make sure you give her an extra hug for me when you go to her reception on the... 21st? I think?

I know I say this all the time, but time is SO FUNNY HERE!! We have time to get the work done--that part is super expanded/extended--but everything else just seems to fly by... It's crazy.

 Speaking of crazy, we had an intense thunder storm last night! The rain was coming down so hard! The weather here is a huge testament to how important Trail of Hope is. On Wednesday, there was a huge storm headed our way... But then it just traveled north. I could see the clouds separate and go around Parley Street from my station on the trail. And then the lightning went crazy and made a beautiful spectacle right above the temple. It was a beautiful sight, the temple all lit up against the dark clouds, lightning dancing around it. So neat! a similar thing happened on Friday. There was a storm that went around us. Trail of Hope is important, it touches peoples' lives, and the Lord will make sure that it takes place. And I bore my testimony for the first time--well, for the first time as Sister Welch and not Margaret Gay Judd Clawson--that night. I expressed my gratitude for the sacrifice of those saints who went down Parley street and headed west, and told my group that I knew the gospel was true and that  the work that is done in the temple is true and right. and it is! The Spirit is so beautiful and peaceful in the temple! It's happy, too. This gospel is so happy. And so is the Book of Mormon. Sister Smith has emphasized recently that she has this desire to read it all the time. It's so true! when you read the Book of Mormon, you just want to read it all the time! It makes you happy. And as I said earlier this week, how can something that makes you so happy--not just happy, but brings you true JOY--not be true? Why would Joseph Smith sacrifice his life to save a book he made up? He wouldn't. The Book of Mormon is true, and I just love it!!

 I got to know Sister Clawson more this week through and article Sister Camp gave me. It had a lot of her writings in it. Let me tell ya, she's a funny woman! I'm so honored to be able to represent her. She recorded her stories not for her own benefit or glory, but to uplift others and bring them joy. To entertain and share the Light of Christ. I'm trying to follow her example in that way. Do we have any more info on our ancestors who were in Nauvoo? I'd love to learn more about them!... In all my spare time... Wah wah. Haha, I'm sorry I shouldn't complain. i LOVE how busy we are actually. We're doing lots of good here, even though it's a pretty unconventional mission.

 I want to share something i learned today in Sacrament meeting. We always say "I love you" but how do you really show that you love someone? You are obedient. You show your parents that you love them by obeying them. It's the same with our Heavenly Father. We obey His commandments to show Him we love Him. sorry I wasn't better at that when I was home... Let me know if you want to discuss it more, I took notes on it, but I'm a little bit rushed for time now haha!

Well, it's about that time... :( I love you all! Tell me what you think about the Joseph Smith movie! EMMA that includes you too please :) have an excellent week! I can't wait to hear all about it!

xoxo Sister Welch

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 30, 2013

(Excerpts from a letter to Arlene)

 Sorry my emails are so confusing.  I end up with only 15-ish minutes to write an email to you (after checking my email) and I’m so frazzled and tired I hardly remember what I wrote.  And there’s no time to check what I’ve included to make sure I put in everything I wanted into the email…sorry.  And for the Trail of Hope, I’m in cast 1.

 Welp.  Shows are going.  Everyone is sick.  Well, all the sisters are.  Some had strep.  Most have just bad colds.  Which one am I?  I’ll never tell! :)  Don’t worry, I’m healthy.

 

 

 

I love all the leaders here.   We are taken care of very well.  So much love from the Camps, the Wortleys, the Myers (the wonderful cooks that make sure there are popsicles and skittles for this peanut intolerant Sister), and the Mursets (the YPM seamstress and her husband, the best!  Our costumes are so beautiful!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Speaking of allergies… one of our Elders, Elder Partridge, had an amazing experience.  He is basically allergic to every fruit and vegetable ever.  And he’s hypoglycemic.  And asthmatic.  The other day, earlier this week, he had the impression to ask for a blessing that specifically asked to take away his asthma.  That’s crazy, right?  So he took a few days to ponder it and gain a bit more faith.  Which is crazy because he is the most faithful, spiritual person I’ve ever met.  But then, he asked another Elder to give him this specific blessing.  Elder Leavitt (giving the blessing) felt impressed to say that Elder Partridge would not be hindered by any previous medical conditions or problems he had before Nauvoo.  Weird, right?  What did that mean?  Well, at lunch the next day – which was composed primarily of fruits and vegetables – he thought “Try some”.  What?   I’m allergic.  “Try some”.  So he did.  He ate a strawberry.  Nothing happened.  So he ate another.  Nothing.  So he kept going.  Nothing!  And this is a guy that goes into anaphylactic shock.  Epipen and everything.  Nothing happened.  It is a true miracle!  It’s so fun to watch him rediscover fruits and vegetables.  He ate two huge plates of salad yesterday.  Best Nauvoo miracle!

 Everyone here is so great.  The Elders are so strong and the sisters are a great example.  I know we were all called of God to be here together this summer.  It becomes more apparent every day.  I LOVE all the YPM’s!

 

 

 

The band YPM sisters are so sweet!  They serve everyone.  All the time.  One sister, Sister Reid, just got her mission call to Argentina Neugin mission.  Three more are waiting for their calls.  So exciting!

 Tell Daddy I love him.  And sorry I haven’t personally replied to him.  It’s taken me three days to write this letter!  If he emails, I will reply to his email first on Sundays.  :)

 I love you so much!  Thank you for all your love and support!  The work is great here!  The temple is beautiful!  It’s humid, but I’m happy!  I can’t wait for you to come feel the Spirit and see our Trail of Hope.  It’s probably the best thing we do here.  I love you!

 

Love, Sister Welch

 p.s.  Emma got her permit!  Tell her to quit growing up!  And be careful!  And don’t go more than 5 miles over!  And that I love her.

 

 p.p.s !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I don’t think I had enough of those, so… there ya go!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Email from Sister Amanda Welch 6/9/13

Mommy!!!!

Sister Smith and Sister Welch in costume

Fun story about moms... My companion's mom surprised her and flew out to Nauvoo for the weekend! How awesome is that! Sister Smith's parents initially told her that they couldn't come out due to finances and excluding family if just her parents came... But, miracles happen, and her mom and aunt were able to fly out! It was so sweet... She first came down Trail of Hope. We were doing cast 1, so Sister Smith's post and my post are next to each other.  At a moment when I was free, Sister Camp came up and told me, "Just a heads up, your companion's mom is in this next group. She flew out to surprise her!" It was so touching! I picked her out when she came to my station. It was very special, because my journey entry from Margaret Gay Judd Clawson talks about the faith of her mother during trying times.  As I spoke Sister Clawson's words, I realized, in a way, I was telling the story of Sister Smith's mom. She was so strong and supportive and had such faith when Sister Smith was undergoing her chemotherapy.  It was so special to get to share that with her. And then I watched as Sister Smith the younger saw Sister Smith the elder after performing the vignette for her group. It was so sweet. She just stared at her mom until her mom came to giver her a big hug. I could see their silhouettes in the tiki torch light. Such a sweet reunion. It made me even more excited to see you, and that you can see me be a missionary!!!

Sister Welch with her missionary companion, Sister Smith

 

Ok, onto your questions... Trail of hope... It depends on what night you come see the trail whether I will be in it or not. But I'd love for you to go even when I'm not in it. It's the most powerful thing we do. And maybe I'll get to be your company captain and lead you down the trail!!

It's getting more crowded here now that school's out, but I think you're safe. Pageant is when it gets CRAZY!!!

I love that you love sending me stuff, because I love getting stuff!!

I DO get ribbons, Sister Murset keeps talking to me about that. I think she's working on it. It is the plan for me to get bows for Just Plain Anna-Amanda.

FOLK DANCERS ARE HERE!!! I love seeing them, but it's so weird. Slightly takes me out of being a missionary because my real life and my Nauvoo life collide... But it's fun! We get to see their fireside tonight, and their show on Tuesday night. So excited!

Today we're going on a tour of the Community of Christ sites with their historian, Loch... Michai? I can't spell. But I'm excited. And we're having dinner with the Sister band YPMS! Good Sunday... But that means I have to go!! I love you!! We might get more time to email you tonight... But if not, I LOVE YOU!! And the gospel is true! Christ is our Savior and He loves us! I love sacred Nauvoo!!!!!

xoxo Sister Welch

YPM Sister Amanda Welch
P.O. Box 215
Nauvoo, IL  62354