#handhewnlogs

Hey Fam,

I don't have much to say on account of really there can't be that much news going on at Carthage these days. Although the biggest event that Carthage has is happening tomorrow. And that's the 170th commemoration of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum. It's actually way cool that I get to be there that day! And we have this ceremony thing that we're singing "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" at. 

But just on a funny note. So on the tour through the jail, right before we go into the martyrdom room, we're in the dungeon cell, which is all dark because the windows are thing slits. So anyways, we're stuck in that room because another tour is still in the martyrdom room, and we've said pretty much everything there is to say in the dungeon cell. We've told the stories, the facts, expounded on all the gospel principles we could think of. So in a last ditch attempt to glean all the info we know, Sister Mills mentions, "And did you know, these logs (in the ceiling) are hand-hewn!" Well, a day or two later, we're reading through the outline of the tour where it talks about the hand-hewn logs and I can't stop cracking up, and I try to tell Sister Mills why but I can hardly talk through the laughter. It's really just so very funny to me because I feel like talking about the logs is just complete sign of desperation because nobody cares. At all. And it's just so dang funny. Can you possibly comprehend the hilarity of adding in "And by the way, these logs are hand hewn!"? Oh my goodness. Sister Mills and I couldn't stop laughing. So we made up a new hashtag: #handhewnlogs  You know. . . for when things are awkward. Ok, so maybe you can't understand. It's probably not funny at all to you. When you're a missionary, the very tiny things are very funny. The smallest things bring me joy. Facial expressions. Brief interactions. Anything the senior missionaries do. 

Well, sorry I really have nothing to report on. Maybe there will be excitement brought about by the commemoration. I doubt it. Pageant starts in two weeks or so. 

Love you guys!

Love, Rachel

"And please bless that we will have a good day in the jail."

Hello Dear Family,

Well, life in Carthage is just as peachy keen as ever. 

As I've given tours, I have noticed fascinating patterns of human behavior (Side note: I pretty much knew this before but Sister Mills confirmed it and it's been defined: I have the gift of discernment. Like, of people. I can discern people. That's why people always turn out how I expect them to be (at least in our interactions together)--because I can discern it!). Anyways. As we open the door and let them out of the jail, there's a marked difference between those who smile, look you in the eye, say thanks when they walk by and those who don't. They are the ones who had a way more spiritual experience. Were way more prepared. They are the ones whose light of Christ you can feel. Etc. And yes, maybe that's why they thank you in the end. Because they had a good experience. There still is something, however, in their countenance, and gratitude/acknowledgement is just an outward expression of it.  

Sorry, I honestly don't have much to say this week. The 170th commemoration of the martyrdom is coming up next Friday. Rumor is it's supposed to get cray cray at the jail. Also, Living Legends left and now the BYU contemporary dance team and also the jazz band Synthesis are here for two weeks. And guess who is on the CDT? My friend Tyler who lived at the Villa. It's really weird to see him except that it's not weird at all. And that's the weirdest part. What if I slip back to easily into normal life? Although, admittedly, Sister Richardson and I talked about how proud we are of ourselves because we really did start to get uncomfortable with some of the songs. They weren't even bad at all but we just felt really weird about it. (And I'm not even talking about the dance, just the normal jazz songs.) That's a good sign, right? 

Ok, love you guys!

Love, Rachel

Life is good in the Carthage Bubble

Hey Fam!

Carthage is still great. Have I told you about how Nauvoo is legitimately the biggest bubble? Like, no outside world interference, truly a bubble. Well Carthage is even more of a bubble, if that's even conceivable. And then you go through the tour a few times and the spirit's so strong you can become immune to it if you aren't careful.And if you aren't careful, you can create problems out of nothing, if you know what I mean. There are a lot of diverse personalities serving here in Carthage. . .  It's quite a fun/interesting dynamic to work with the seniors so closely. I love them dearly. I'll never see seniors the same way again, on account of they are all my good friends, real talk. There's this couple named the Johnsons. Soooo great. Elder Johnson is like a father from another mother (don't worry Daddy, not to replace you!). Quite the quick and dry wit. He wants to be a star in Rendezvous (the senior play). I highly encourage it. 

There's a really amazing phenomenon that happens whilst giving tours in the jail. As you go throughout the tour, even though I often don't know the people super well (if I even got the chance to talk to them beforehand), the spirit is just so clear. It's not so much that I'm given words to say (although sometimes that does happen). Rather it's just that I almost feel the spirit of the people in the tour. I just know what they need even if I don't actually know what they need.  It's incredible. So often I just feel the soul of at least one person in the tour. And interestingly, although I guess not surprisingly, the most common theme I find myself testifying of is God's love. In some aspect or another. Everybody just needs it so bad. And I can feel it. I hope that doesn't seem weird. It's very real. 

We got to see BYU's Living Legends this week, as they are in town. It's a dance-culture group thing of native and latin americans and polynesians. Super fun. Like super. If I could be polynesian. . . And they kind of tell the story of the Book of Mormon in a generic kind of way. It was touching. Man, I miss dancing so bad. Except for when we greet for Sunset by the Mississippi, I dance behind the audience. I get my fun in, no worries. 

Ok, I love you! 

Love, Rachel

And three million years later is was my preparation day.

Family!

It's finally my preparation day! Yes, it was reassigned to Thursday. At one point, I quoted one of the lost boys from Peter Pan to Sister Mills, "I never had a mother. . . ." because that's how it felt. Which brings me to my next point, which is that I was transferred to Carthage! And Sister Mills is my new companion!

I've never served in Carthage before (obviously) and I lovvvveee it!! Instinctively, I was quite sad to leave Nauvoo because it's kind of my place, ya know. But Carthage adds a lot of new elements and it's so wonderful. First of all, we are in an apartment of just four of us. I miss the other sisters but I honestly am a lot more well rested, and sometimes I do like my winding down time. Also, Sister Mills, who was in my district in the MTC, is actually a weirdly perfect fit for me. Like seriously, we are a great team. It's the weirdest thing because in many ways we are so different. Our personalities just aren't the same at all. But we run on the same frequency or something. I don't know. I'm trying to break it down so I can apply it to my future marriage. We both work on the same logic, I think. Oh, it's so hard to say.

Anyways, everyday in Carthage is great. It's seriously the most fulfilling missionary work. The spirit is so strong in the tours and you get to talk to the people before/afterwards. There are many things I miss about Nauvoo, but I think this was a needed break.

Highlights: We gave a tour to a group of three FLDS people (the polygamists). So, I always get a really eerie vibe around them (they've come into Nauvoo a few times) but this was my first one on one time giving a tour and I, personally, actually felt the spirit really strongly because I was trying really hard to see them as children of God, with their own needs and concerns (which I would imagine are many, on account of who would want to share a husband?).

Then later that same day we gave a tour to the most awesome prepared non-member couple and it was the greatest. Sorry, guess you had to be there.

On Sunday, Sister Mills and I were assigned to the Seventies Hall and there's a keyboard in there, which, we discovered, plays beats. So we actually had a real live jam sesh singing our own jazzed up versions of hymns to these beats and it was the time of our life. I also had my own pulpit at which to sing.

We are also trying to figure out things to do in the evening since we can't come into Nauvoo on a regular basis and do call center (it's been renamed by Salt Lake "teaching center"). So Sister Mills and I are trying to contact people and get some service going on because we literally have nothing to do. Yesterday we sang at a rest home. Supes fun.

I LOVE all of the seniors that we serve with in Carthage. It's great here because couples serve together so we get to serve with the senior elders, too. They're a riot.

I know this letter is all sunshine and giggles but what am I supposed to do? It's a good time in Carthage and I'm enjoying the newness of it (what a novelty). I'm turning into one of those sister missionaries. I'll probs want to get transfered back to Nauvoo next transfer (aka my last transfer. . .what the what...) but that's not really in my control and I've learned enough to trust Heavenly Father.

Ok, I love you!

Love, Rachel

Oh yeah, and forget about what happened pre-transfers. I have no idea. It's such a blur.