Hi Family!
Things have slowed down here quite a bit. We do a lot of calling (to ask if people want free CDs of the Pageant music. . .which missionaries will bring by with a short message!) these days. No big deal but Sister Newell and I are big hitters with the calling numbers. She's a great pusher and we enjoy the friendly competition (that we created and no one else knows about), so we're pretty much the dream team.
I've been able to learn a lot more about relying on the Spirit while calling (we call it the "Call Center" although it's really just a gaggle of computers upstairs at the VC). First of all, because it's mostly just calling people and asking them if they want the CDs, I don't feel like it is my particular area of expertise, so there isn't a ton of pride or preconceived notions about my abilities to cloud my perspective. I follow every little prompting I have because, hey, why not? I don't know what I'm doing, and a lot of times my personality/abilities don't factor in too much. I've been able to see reasons for following the little prompting I feel every time I follow them. And I realized--why don't I rely on the Lord like this all the time? Yes, we need to act for ourselves. But still. I put way too much faith in my own skill which,frankly, is a great burden.
Something else cool that happened: There was a referral card given from an Elder in the DesMoines Iowa mission referring his best friend. I called his dad to get the number, but the only one he had was wrong. It seemed like all was lost. S.Newell and I then came down from call center, where we had been for a long period of time, and there are some Elders from the Des Moines Iowa mission (the only elders we ever see are from that mission, since technically their boundaries envelop Nauvoo). We never see any of those Elders, except during Pageant season. In less than two minutes, they have the Elder who referrred the friend on the phone, and he is able to give me his friend's email. I email the kid and within 24 hours, he has emailed back and wants missionaries to bring the CD. Coincidence? I think not!
Something that's pretty hard that we get here in Nauvoo a lot are questions like "Are you real missionaries?" or, "Man, you guys have it easy! In my mission we were street contacting for 8 hours a day," or,"Just wait til you get to proselyte. That's the best kind of missionary work," etc. It's been an exercise in patience and humility to not get snarky with these RM punks (and others) who think their mission is somehow more valuable than mine (slash sometimes I do get snarky and feel bad later. Obviously they have needs to be discerned if they feel the need to compare missions).
I always knew, but now have seen as a tabgible reality, that the Lord cares for his children at all stages of life on their path back to Him. If you helped guide them/intervened in their life to redirect them to the path, does it matter where on that path? As missionaries, our commission is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. We all have different calls that help fulfill that commission.
It is clear in the way that Heavenly Father directs His resources to Nauvoo that every part of our lives is important to him. Nauvoo is a healing place--spiritual therapy of any of his children, members or not, is important to him. He loves us enough to send huge forces of missionaries to Nauvoo just so people can talk with missionaries and work out their spiritual struggles, whether they perceive them or not.
Anyways, the significance of Nauvoo is one I have philosophied many a time. Sometimes it's awkward/annoying to try and justify myself to guests. But when you have those important spiritual experiences, I know that it's worth it.
Sister Newell's dad and 18 year old brother came this weekend! I got some quality time with her family as the 4th wheel. I was an excellent picture taker.
I love you all!
Love, Sister Rachel
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