"Choised" Spirits....

Dear "choised" spirits,

So, this week was incredible, and today especially awesome! OK, the whole week was awesome. But I have so much to tell and like no time, so it might be jumbled, but that's ok. I think you will all forgive me. First of all I forgot to mention a few things last week that happened that were highlights. We had a general authority visit, Marvin K. Jenson and he spoke to us. That was awesome! Last Sunday, as stage YPM's, we had the opportunity to sing the tab choirs version of "Praise to the Man" in Sacrament Meeting. Holy Cow, Joseph Smith is a true prophet. Usually I don't cry in upbeat songs, like "Praise to the Man," but yep I just was overcome with the spirit. I am so grateful for the Prophet of the Restoration. "Millions shall know Brother Joseph again." Also, last week, I broke a guitar string during "Devil" at Sunset", And I broke another one this week. haha. yep. That's three this summer from jamming too hard...I guess.

This last week, we watched Elder Harrison open his mission call up in the 70's hall! He is going to Colorado Spring, Colorado. Two weeks have now flown by of pageant. I love the pageant. There has been this horrible sickness bug flying around Nauvoo where you get a sore throat, and then loose your voice and have a really bad cold. So,  like half of the Seniors were sick this week with it. So none of them could work in sites, and they were calling in sick everyday. So normally when we work in the sites, there are two seniors and 1 YPM to each site. Well, on Tuesday, it was just two YPM's per sites, because the seniors couldn't come in because of this sickness. Friday and Saturday, we didn't even street contact in the morning, instead we just worked in sites, because they had no seniors to work. Sister Camp basically said that if it wasn't for the YPM's, they would have closed down many of the sites. Hopefull this bug leaves soon. Pray for us here in Nauvoo. Pretty much all of us YPM's have some sort of a cold. And Elder Elwood had it bad this week, where he completely lost voice. We had missing people in our shows this last week because of flu too. We had to re block dances right before shows and stuff.

Because of all these people being missing, Zion has really taken on a special meaning for me. I have come to realize this week how important each and every person is in our Zion community. We all have been blessed with special talents and abilities. We all do our part to serve, and when we come together to fulfill our responsibilities, we are able to see blessing and miracles together, and put on great shows. When one person is missing, you realize the dramatic difference a show is, or just how weird it is without them, when we are all used to spending every waking moment together. It was such a joyous experience these last couple days, when we were all together again, being able to share our testimony to our audiences as a whole. I love all the YPM's and I am so grateful for each individual person. I'm grateful for their testimonies, their faith, their talents, their abilities, their friendship, and how much joy we have been able to feel as we serve our Heavenly Father together.

Today, was wonderful. Elder and Sister Costa are here and saw our shows this week. Holy Cow, they are amazing!! I have loved meeting them.They spoke in Sacrament meeting and spoke to the YPM's today. Mom, and Dad, he told all of us to tell you thank you for the way you have helped prepare me to be a missionary in Nauvoo this summer. Also that you are all noble and "choised" spirits. So now you know why I wrote that at the top of this letter. Because you know Elder Costa's native language is Portuguese, and so he wrote"choice" on the board as "choised," and so I really liked it. haha, it was great. He is so awesome and so hilarious, both Elder and Sister Costa. Also today we had fun, long rehearsals for our YPM sociable next week! yay! In a few minutes, I am going to go to our district meeting with Sister Frisby. Our districts are awesome. Our two Senior district leaders are Elder and Sister Crowly and we are going to their house for dinner tonight. And Ann Cook from the general young women's presidency is here, and we are having an ice cream social at the Ludwigs tonight and she is going to speak to us.

Man, I feel like there were a billion other things that happened this week. I will have to tell about the pranks that have been happening on the stage in the next letter haha., cause I have to run. But I love Nauvoo, I love being a missionary. The church is so true! I don't have time to proof read this, so hopefully it makes sense. haha, if not, hey the church is still true! Love you all! Hurrah for Israel!

Sincerely yours,
Sister Paulsen    
                                 Elder Claudio R.M. Costa

                               
He and his wife Sister Costa, came this week and saw our performances. They spoke in sacrament meeting and then to all the YPM's. They are amazing!

Sister Paulsen broke her guitar string again!  That is 3 times.  She plays her guitar in "The Devil went down to Georgia" each evening and is strumming perhaps a little too hard!

Below is a video clip of her jumping and jamming.  She is obviously having fun!

The Sunday Ice Cream Social at President and Sister Ludwigs is always a house full.  Special guests that week are invited and all the YPM's and the Band Performers. Sister Ludwig makes the Best Hot Fudge!

..and we seem to all fit, barely..:) My Great grandmother 'Mor' would say, "...the walls just breathe".