Week 8: Here Comes The Rain!

07/03/2016: What a week!  One morning, I saw a lot of buses that said Memphis, TN  on them, and as it turns out, Memphis North Stake had their Youth Conference here! It was so awesome to get to see some familiar faces and friends. Sunday night, Trail of Hope was cancelled because the pageant core cast performed "Our Story Goes On," a music review that they do twice each summer.   Being able to see it was amazing!

Monday was the anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, so we went to a commemoration hosted by Community of Christ at the Smith Cemetery and one hosted by us at Carthage Jail, where they were killed by a mob. The Spirit could be felt so strongly as we recognized their lives and how, like so many before them, they sealed their testimony of the Gospel with their blood. Joseph Smith truly was a prophet called by God to restore the fullness of the Gospel.

Sister Young was asked to try to use the computer instead of the iPad to run sound for The Promise because there were tracks created by the elder who did sound last year on there that Elder Camp wanted to use. Well, being given a new program right before a show was a recipe for disaster and resulted in the big opening song that includes a big dance number having to be done a cappella. Thank goodness for Elder Hasse who sang the music to help all stay together and on beat during the dance. It was quite possibly one of the most entertaining things I have ever seen as the audience was really rooting for them.

Thursday, we got rain for the second time since we got here and the first time since shows opened, which meant that Sunset by the Mississippi was indoors. To say the least, pulling off the show was an adventure, but all worked out really well. We have had lots of rain since then too, which has been awesome because the rain is my favorite (even though fireworks were cancelled last night as a result).

Friday, I was given a job for pageant!  I had asked to be backstage since lights never required more than 3 people, and as it turns out, they were short one person backstage. I am now the final assistant stage manager, which mostly just involves making sure all props are where they need to be at every point of the show. I have loved getting to meet and work with the pageant core cast & crew and cannot wait to continue getting to know them all. They are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Words cannot describe my excitement about my assignment, but I pretty much have not stopped smiling since!


Pictures:
(1)  Our Story Goes On was amazing, and I cannot wait to see it again on the 24th!
(2)  And we got to see Noteworthy this week, and what else would I do while waiting other than take a selfie with Sister Rackham (band ypm... she actually is our tuba player which is way legit) and the other YPMs.
(3&4)  Our resident Canadian, Elder Sykes, gets really into Canada Day... and I did a bit too.


Happy 4th of July to all!


-Sister Sylvestre

Week 7: It's Hump Day!

06/26/2016:  Well, as the subject says, today is Hump Day for the mission, meaning that my time here is half done.

Last Sunday, we toured the part of old Nauvoo owned by Community of Christ.  It was really cool to go inside the homes that Joseph Smith lived in and hosted people in while here and to learn more about the history of those who lived here from 1839-1846.  Our guide was recently called to be part of the "Council of the 12" (an apostle) for Community of Christ, and we all really enjoyed getting to know him and learn about his beliefs and how they both differ and are similar to ours.  It was really a great experience.

On Tuesday, an elder decided to go all out for choreography on a Nauvoo Singers song and got hurt jumping as high as he could in a room with a super low ceiling (less than 1 ft above his head).  He couldn't perform in any shows that day, which led to quite an adventure of actor shuffling.  For Anna Amanda, the elder with his role in the other cast filled in and just didn't do Nauvoo Singers with his cast, but The Promise was not such an easy switch since he has a character in both casts with the same person as the alternate of those characters.  The alternate played the bigger role, and another elder had a couple hours to learn the other role, for which we cut out a less needed scene so that he had less to learn.  Thankfully, the injured elder is well enough now to do all in the shows, so we are back to normal again.

Friday, we had our first day of pageant tech instead of helping with Trail of Hope.  I am not really a technician, and we were only around the light and sound boards, both of which are pretty advanced digital boards.  I basically had no clue what was going on the whole time.

For pictures: Sister Young and I did the carriage ride to Inspiration Point one morning.  It was amazing, and the picture is of Inspiration Point.  And Wolverine (Elder Striplin) decided to join us one morning; it is nice that we still get to take a little time for fun despite being so busy.

-Sister Sylvestre

Mansion House

06/19/2016: Elder & Sister Murset write... "Hi- The Stage and Tech Missionaries were able to take a tour of the Community of Christ (RLDS) tour with their newest Apostle, Lachlan McKay.  The Band will take the tour on Wednesday."

Photo:  Stage & tech YPM's in front of the Mansion House.

Mansion House: Construction of the Mansion House was completed in 1843 and initially used as the personal residence of the Smith family and where visitors were entertained and lodged.  Due to expenses, the Mansion House was converted to a hotel 1844. In the 1890s, the hotel wing of the home was removed. The Mansion House is now a historical site.  Photo above is from the early 20th century.

 

 

Happy Father’s Day!

06/19/2016:   From Elder and Sister Murset...  

"Here is a picture from all the YPM’s wishing you all a Happy Father’s day."

Week 6: Lots of Adventures

06/19/2016:  I wish I could tell you guys about all that happened this week (we have had quite an eventful week) and all that I have met here, but that is simply not possible, especially in the short duration of time I have to email. I really have met so many wonderful people this week and have had the opportunity to run into many of them again after first meeting them. I have been blessed to remember names, and I have found that remembering their names really makes a difference in establishing a personal connection to create more meaningful conversations and letting them know that each is valued as an individual, not just as a group of people who come and leave and are only remembered as part of the tally of people at events. It has been really neat to have such experiences. 

 

On Tuesday, we got to watch the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble perform, which was amazing and definitely one of my favorite parts of the week. They have since left, and Noteworthy is arriving to start their 2 week visit. Another fun thing this week was watching Elder Hasse open his mission call to Colorado Denver North, Spanish Speaking with his family present.

Last night, the door to the basement got sealed shut due to a broken piece in the handle, resulting in Sister Young being trapped for a bit until we were able to identify the problem then have her remove the handle since the screws were on her side. It was quite the adventure for those of us in the Hatch House. (Of course, there are videos taken.)

This week, I encountered a quote from Sheri Dew that I love and want to share. "He rarely moves the mountains in front of us, but He always helps us climb them."  I know that the Lord really does help us overcome our trials and obstacles as we ask and seek for His guidance and comfort.

Pictures:  (1)  Sister Young and me at the Blacksmith shop; she made the horseshoe she is holding. (2)  Some elders wanted to try some new hair for the Kung Fu version of the auditions, a skit in Sunset by the Mississippi. Elder Camp didn't approve of them doing it on stage... for obvious reasons.  (3)  Sisters Young and Hughes and me waiting in the 70s Hall for Elder Hasse to open his mission call.  (4) Sister Young and me at the 70s Hall.

Love you all!

-Sister Sylvestre

Pictures

06/19/2016: Pictures. One is waiting for Elder Hasse to open his call... That's Elder Johnson photobombing and Elder Wilkinson is the other in the background. 

No picture at Casey's yet, but Elder Schultz bought us taco pizza from there last night, so that's the other two pics.

 

Week 5: I can hear!

06/12/2016: Monday marked one month since I got here. It honestly feels like a year with how much we pack into each day though. Overall, this week was the same as last week since it is performing season, but we did have the first of the BYU performing groups arrive, so it has been an adventure to strike the outdoor stage super fast after Sunset by the Mississippi while the BYU folk dance ensemble set up for their show that starts 30 minutes after we end. Most days, we only did one show of The Promise, which meant I actually got to have dinner those days! This week, we had the first of our weekly district meetings. Most in my district have not served another mission, so we do not have a clue how they should be since President Hall (our mission president) isn't giving us much direction in how they should be.

Exciting news!!! I finally have a monitor in the light booth that has mics, meaning I can actually hear the show and my cues!! Being able to hear and not just watch in silence has made the show so much more interesting, and it definitely helps me stay awake better too. For the mornings we do not do Anna Amanda we have (another) new assignment, and it seems like this one will last. Last week, President Hall met with people from the church mission department who came here, and they came up with a plan for us to be stationed at a central point in town and to talk with people who visit here since those in the sites do not really have the time to once it gets busy and people have to wait in line for tours. We will have maps and pass-along cards that list all there is to do in Nauvoo, and we will help people plan their experience. I think the goal to make sure all get the most out of their time here by being aware of all there is to do and through getting to have some personal interaction.

This week, I got to see some familiar faces. During Friday's Trail of Hope, I interacted with Tom Garrett and his wife, people from Memphis who I haven't seen since I was young, and they recognized me by my last name, which was exciting. The other is Michael Morrise who served here as a tech YPM last year and came for a visit with a couple of the stage YPMs from last year. I was beyond excited to see him when I spotted him, and they spent a few days here. It is always exciting to run into people I know.

Pictures: One is of me with Michael Morrise and Sister Grounds (a band sister). The other is of me in front of the tin shop.... I think Mr. Stodard spelled his first name a little wrong though ;)


-Sister Sylvestre