Well, Nauvoo hasn't changed much since you were here. . . 3 days ago. Although, if there were ever a time for Nauvoo to really be a happening place, it's going to be in the next month. The pageant starts tomorrow and we have some pretty filled schedules. When we're assigned to post greet, we are out until 10:40pm. Woooah. Gettin crazy. To be honest, I couldn't really explain to you what we do for Pageant. I think it's something you have to experience first.
I forgot to tell you about what happened to me on Tuesday slash I sort of remembered to tell you but I realize I'm not really a story-telling kind of person in that way, and I didn't feel the need to force it into the brief conversations we had. I was at pioneer pastimes and I made friends with this total funzies kid named Riley, who was ten. You know the clothes they have there--well, he put the bonnet on backwards and was like, "what's this?" I told him it was a bonnet for girls but I convinced him to keep it on. He agreed because he thought he looked like a clone from star wars.
Also, I talked to this guy who, no big deal, won a gold medal in the Olympics in Munich for boxing (?), and is the world judo champion and etc. and etc. He told me all about how he won the world judo fight thing as a ten year old. He explained the move he did. His dad raised him fist fighting mafia guys as a five year old. And then he joined the church in his twenties! Pretty cool times.
On Friday, I was able to talk with the Institute director at the University of Wisconsin, Maddison. Talking to him was tender mercy because previously, I had been getting very socially/physically exhausted and just prayed that I could have strength beyond myself to make it. Then I was able to talk to this guy and we had an enlightening conversation. He wrote this book about the lesser known stories of the Book of Mormon, and he described some of them, and he really has an interesting religious/literary take on the Book of Mormon. One that I've been needing to hear.
Sometimes I get in a scriptural rut. But I know that it doesn't have to be that way, it's just hard for me to figure out how it doesn't have to be that way. So it was nice talking to this man and having a real, intellectual conversation about the scriptures. He said his mission president once encouraged him to read the Book of Mormon as fast as he could--which goes contrary to some preconceived notions. But when you do that, you get a lot more idea of the story/continuing stories than you do just slowly examining verse by verse. And honestly, in a lot of ways, that's more of my thing. I am rejuvenated in my quest to find and analyze things in the Book of Mormon that I didn't think about being there.
Sister Garner and I have also been able to see TJ a couple of times as we've walked/biked home. He invited me to his birthday party on July 27th! He's turning 6! He really is maybe one of the best people I could ever possibly know. His personality is indescribably fantastic.
Well, I'm glad you guys came for many reasons. It was good to see you but I'm very much glad to be a missionary right now. I feel more set to be here. I don't have to sometimes feel like I'm missing out on being in the idealized real world. The real world is complicated and distracting. In fact, it's a good thing we don't listen to "worldly" music and can't date the boys, or I would want to be a missionary forever. Let's be honest.
Well, I love you!
Love,
Sister Ross
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