Home

Well, I left my Nauvoo home, but now I am here at home. Wow, was that an incerdible experience. I loved being a missionary! I will miss you Nauvoo and the people I served with. But I am excited to start a new chapter of life, and take the things I have learned with me. I may have left Nauvoo, but Nauvoo will never leave me. Thanks for everyone who has been reading and following this blog as I have told you the stories, feelings, and pictures each week as I sang, danced and testified. I hope you were able to enjoy them and be lifted up in someway or another. Thank you Nauvoo. I am grateful for the privilege.

A few pictures from my last week in Nauvoo!
Smiley cake pops my mom sent me my final week of Nauvoo
Group picture of the Ypm's in the Cultural Hall
Packing up our Nauvoo home
Packing up the stage props
President and Sister Ludwig and Elder and Sister Camp
The beautiful grove for our testimony meeting
Sister Chauncey, Sister Carroll, Sister Frisby and Me (Great face Elder Elwood)
Model Pictures of the Elders..Looking Good!
Elder Elwood and Elder Rose
Model pictures of the Sisters...:)
Yep, the wind is in my hair!
Group picture of all the YPM's in the garden
My wonderful companion Sister Frisby on the bus ride home...

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So Many Miracles...

Dear Everyone!

Wow...wow. So many miracles have happened this week. I will start with the best part of the week. Since I don't have much time, I will dive right into it. So, Sunday night, we find out that Elder and Sister Camp have been connecting with the missionary department in Salt Lake City to try and get the "Trail of Hope"vignette that the pageant people do while they are here, so that us YPM's could do it. They've never let the YPM's do them before. Well, long story short, Monday, we ended up getting permission to do them and Monday night we received our scripts and started memorizing. This might not make a whole lot of sense if you haven't been to Nauvoo and seen the Pageant core cast do the "Trail of Hope" vignette, but basically we have the opportunity to portray real people and their stories of when they lived in Nauvoo and had to leave to go west. We ended up memorizing the scripts in 24 hours and started performing. Our first night we had 140 people show up. It really was a miracle and we feel so blessed to be able to have this opportunity. Since then, we have performed them in the morning and the evening and have had over 500 people come so far. We will be doing them this week too, as well as another vignette we got permission to do, "Youth of Zion." Basically this week was like just as busy as the pageant weeks, if not busier. It has been incredible! For the trail of hope, Sister Pettit and I portray Sarah and Elisa Leavitt. It's a story of a mother and a daughter. In it, I am the mother, and I talk about how my husband sang, "Come let us anew," before he passed away. Elisa and I sing it together. "Blessed are the dead that died in the Lord, yea" saith the Lord, "For they rest from their labors and their works do follow them." It is like the coolest experience ever to be portraying actual people who tell their stories of when they were leaving Nauvoo to go west. I have been able to feel of their spirits and am so grateful for their sacrifices. I seriously can't imagine my Nauvoo experience without this. It is so incredible. My testimony has been strengthened so much this week. We have had so many amazing experiences with the YPM's where we have felt the love of the Lord so strongly. I know that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. I love my sisters so much, and the Elders. We are like family.

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LOCATION: Parley Street West of the Seventies Hall
HOURS: Always Open
All Sites, Tours, Shows, and Rides at Historic Nauvoo are FREE!

The Trail of Hope is a moving experience year round

In the concluding dedicatory session of the Nauvoo Temple, President Hinckley of the LDS Church, made a special request of all those who were then in Nauvoo. He asked everyone to take a few minutes to “walk down Parley Street to the waterfront,” to the landing on the Mississippi River from which the early Mormons departed Nauvoo and crossed into Iowa on their westward trek. He asked people to leave behind the comfort of their air-conditioned cars, to walk along this historic path and take time to read the plaques along the Trail of Hope.

Thirty markers contain quotes from journals and letters of early pioneers as they got ready to begin the great trek to the Rocky Mountains. Click here to read the quotes on the markers (PDF).

At the edge of the river stands the Pioneer Memorial and “Exodus to Greatness” Monument. The Pioneer Memorial contains the names of many of those who died along the Mormon Trail and surrounds the “Exodus to Greatness” Monument, a stone mounted bronze frieze of the Mormon Trail.

The two pictures below are of the carriage ride traveling down Parley's Street and Sister Pettit and I sharing our testimony on the 'Trail of Hope'

Another cool story, so we normally sing two songs on the balcony before each show of High Hopes and Riverboats. Those two songs are Invocation and Nauvoo. Well, this week, we added a third one...Joy! Yes, we have now been singing Joy on the balcony. It is such a joyous experience. I can't wait to share it with all of you that read this, because basically when the YPM's and I sing it, we just feel so much love for each other, and for everyone we are singing too, and for this beautiful place. It brings us joy!

Elder Hazen, Elder Rose, Elder Elwood and Elder Toon singing on the balcony

In other news, we had a butterfly living in our house this week, but he was kind of narcoleptic. We named him Stanley. He ended up not being able to fly very much but was still alive for a little while. It's actually kind of sad and then he ended up dying. Then yesterday, we had a butterfly landing on us yesterday when we were walking to lunch after working in sites. Sister Aramaki and Frisby and I were together. Since Sister Frisby and I had been working in the Brigham Young home that morning, we named the butterfly Brigham, and he let us hold him for like a half hour. Only in Nauvoo, do butterflies just land on you and let you hold them. I love it.

Susan Easton Black is here again. She spoke to us today. What a remarkable lady. Her husband passed away a couple weeks ago, and she wanted to come visit Nauvoo again. Sister Black said, "You can leave Nauvoo, but Nauvoo will remain with me for the rest of my life." This gospel is so true! Hurrah for Israel!

Sincerely yours, Sister Paulsen



 These pictures are from the visit of my Aunt and Uncle and my cousin James Parry.   JP received his endowment in Nauvoo temple while he was here. It is so fun to see family in Nauvoo! They saw 'High Hopes and River Boats', and all the other shows! It was still pretty hot in Nauvoo that week, so Sunset by the Mississippi was indoors again. Aunt Patricia even captured a good pic with her cell phone of Elder Johnson and me.  Before they left, they came to see me at the Nauvoo Post Office where I was giving tours that day. So of course I gave them a tour!  Thank you Aunt Patricia and Uncle Robin and JP!  You will be an awesome missionary!

 

 

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Here are a few pictures from our YPM Talent Show.  All of the YPM's perform and share their many talents.  Elder Elwood, Elder Toon and I did an arrangement of 'Nearer my God to thee'.  Elder Toon sang and Elder Elwood played the cello during the beginning and then sang a harmony part with Elder Toon and I. Here we are practicing, what little time we could. I thought it was beautiful.

Pageant finished last night

Hello everybody!

So, a wonderful week! Pageant just finished last night. Wow, I loved it. We have two more weeks of our other performances, tours, and missionary service here! We are sprinting to the finish, giving it our all. A neat story from this week...

So lately, after High Hopes and Riverboats when we go out and greet people, I have been asking for less referrals, because I want to greet as many people as I can, and not start into long conversations. I have been usually just leaving the conversations for tours and other times when we are able to talk with the visitors. But a couple days ago, I just had this strong impression that one of the girls who was coming through the line after the show, I needed to stop and talk to her. So I pulled her aside, and began talking to this girl. She is probably a Beehive, and sweetest girl ever. I asked her if she had any non member friends, who she would love to share this gospel with. She immediately jumped at the opportunity and said with excitement that she did! Anyway, I ended up getting a referral from her, the easiest one that I've gotten. I was so glad that I listened to that prompting. I know that she will be blessed greatly ,as well as her friend.

Yesterday, I got to switch casts with Sister Hess in High Hopes and Riverboats, just for the fun of it. Elder Camp is letting us switch, so we can keep things fresh and not get complacent. It was so fun, kept things new, and was kind of funny at times because some of things that the other cast does are so different. It really keeps you on your toes.

I am feeling a lot better this week. The cough is still kind of lingering, but so is everyone else. It's kind of funny because all of the YPM's are currently on some kind of antibiotic right now, or have been, except for Sister Hess. Somehow she has just dodged everything that' been going around. These last two weeks are going to be incredible. We are all sprinting to the finish! We are going to give it our all, and bear our testimonies with more vigor then we ever have! I love Nauvoo and love serving the Lord and His children. I love serving with the other YPM's. I love you all! This gospel is so true. Hurrah for Israel!

Sincerely yours,

Sister Paulsen

These pictures are just before the pageant of the YPM Sisters and Elders. Next we have our crazy faces after a full day and then some pictures of the dance numbers in the pageant.  The last one is a little easier to see.  Sister Johnson, Me and Elder Elwood. It was a joyful experience!

 

.....The Sociable and Adventures with the Mursets

This is a picture of all the YPM's and Band Performers and President and Sister Ludwig in the center. This was taken the evening of the Sociable. The next picture..no comment needed!

Elder and Sister Murset took us around to several of their favorite places in Nauvoo one morning. 

I Find Joy!

Dear family and friends,

Hello! So this email is a little late this week, because we were crazy busy on Sunday and didn't have time to email. ha, what's knew? But funny story, actually not really, but I just wrote a super long email, and accidentally deleted it somehow, but here goes try #2.

So last week, was a hard, but great one. Basically I was sick all last week, and went to the doctor, and lost my voice on Friday and Saturday because of my cold, so I was on voice rest those two days, and didn't play Sarah Jane in Riverboats, just mouthed all the songs, good times. But now I am better, pretty much, and I am so happy for good health! yay! But funny story.. I went to go work at the Brigham Young home on Saturday morning, with my voice pretty much gone and within the first 5 minutes I was there, I had a cough attack. This is how the conversation went with one of the Seniors...She said...

"You need to go home right now and rest!"
(So I started gathering my things)
"How are you getting home"
Me: "I will just walk"
"Oh no you won't! Your taking my car!"
Me: "But I am not one of the drivers."
"That doesn't matter, here's the keys!"

Haha, and I was off. It really was quite funny, because basically I was kicked out of sites that morning and I hadn't driven a car since the beginning of May so that was kind of weird. But it was a huge blessing!  I was able to go home and sleep, along with Sister Brower and Steele who were at home sleeping because Sister Steele had the flu. But through it all, it reminds me of Mosiah 24:13-15. Alma and His people didn't just have there trials lifted from them, the Lord strengthened them in their trials. I really felt that was how the Lord helped me last week. I began to not pray that my voice would come back, but that I would be strengthened in my trials, and submit to His will. And he did. He blessed me with patience and to get through them cheerfully. The church is so true!

Well, Sunday turned out beautiful! Basically we rehearsed all day for the two sociables that we did that night with the YPM's! Can I say JOY? Wow, I was filled with so much joy that night! The YPM's and I got to sing a song that I wrote this summer that expresses how we feel about Nauvoo and the Joy we find here. I would love to share the lyrics...

Here we stand                                          I find joy
with Heaven's hand                                Joy in His service
Hearts are bound                                    Joy in the service of God
All around                                               I find joy
With charity peace to my soul                Joy to these people
                                                                 Bound together with love from Christ
                                                                 

                                                           

                                                           
                                  One faith, one heart
                                  One strength, that I feel
                                  Knit together with love
                                  Sincere and real
                                  One purpose, one mind
                                  One work, to fulfill
                                  In unity I find joy




Pure in heart                                               I find joy
Never apart                                                 Joy in His service
As instruments in His hands                     Joy in the service of God
Coming Home to what we've known        I find joy
Rejoicing in Zion as one                           Joy in these people
                                                                   Bound together with love from Christ


                                One faith, one heart
                                One strength that I feel
                                Knit together with love
                                Sincere and real
                                One purpose, one mind
                                One work to fulfill
                                In unity I find joy



We are the Lord's                                          I find joy
All our gifts are His                                      Joy in His service
All that we have                                            Joy in the service of God
We've been blesses to give                            I find joy
To live as a winess to serve His children     Joy in these people
As family we find joy                                    Bound together with love from Christ



One faith, one heart
One strength that I feel
Knit together with love
Sincere and real
One purpose, one mind
One work to fulfill
In unity I find joy

Ending Prayer (sung a Capella)

We humbly thank thee
We are grateful for the privilege
This beautiful place
That makes my heart to swell

I do find much joy here! We felt the spirit so strong on Sunday and have felt it so strong while being here in Nauvoo. I know that as we are obedient, the Lord blesses us. I am so grateful to be a missionary here. Oh cool story, we have done 108 shows of High Hopes and Riverboats! Wow! I love it. Well, I didn't even read through this email, since I had to rewrite the whole thing, but I hope you have a good week, love you all! Hurrah for Israel!

Sincerely yours,
Sister Paulsen

More pictures...:)

This past week my Uncle Charles and Aunt Marie and some of their children came to Nauvoo!  These pictures below my Uncle took while they were here.  It is so great seeing family.  Thanks Uncle Chas for the Pics!
                 

They got there Tue. afternoon and they were having a heat wave!  Over 100 degrees with humidity.

This is my cousin, Hannah

...and my cousin McKay

Because of the heat, they moved 'Sunset by the Mississippi' inside. This is Elder Rose and I playing guitars in a jamming number, The Devil went down to Georgia!

Sister Brower is one of the fiddlers in it.

These pics are from other numbers in 'Sunset by the Mississippi'

The pics below are from the puppet show

This is such a fun show, and the kids just love it!

I think we have as much fun as they do!

...maybe more!

Sister Aramaki and I after the show.

These next pics are from 'High Hopes and Riverboats'  I play the role of Sarah Jane, behind me is Peter, (Elder Christiansen), and to his right is Chance, (Elder Black)

This is a singing/dance number in it.  Elder Johnson, my dance partner is to the left.

 This is the cast of 'High Hopes and Riverboats'

L-R  Sister Aramaki, Elder Packer, Elder Fairbourne and Me

After the show with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins.  It was so fun seeing them there!

This is a picture before the pageant (L-R, Parley P. Pratt, one of the stage actors, Sister Frisby my companion, Me, my cousin McKay and Aunt Marie)

Me and my companion, Sister Frisby.  These are the costumes we wear in the Pageant.

Uncle Chas actually got a picture during the pageant.  That can't be easy.  It is a huge production and over a hundred performers.  I am pretty much in the center towards the front.  The YPM's perform two dance numbers with the entire cast.  Then we leave early before the show ends and go to bed...:)

(Thanks for all the great pictures Uncle Chas! )