Bryan Jerry Smith — at Historic Nauvoo Visitor's Center.

Sister Smith: A Spiritual giant and gifted performer with a powerhouse voice. Nauvoo has never seen such an amazing performance missionary. Love you Sally. @samae_mae

Surprise!

Oh my goodness!!!! My mother surprised me this week!!!! It was THEE most happy day!
I was told that no family member could make it out to Nauvoo. Period. But friday night, as we were doing the trail of hope, I was playing Sally Randall and we had many groups coming through. On about the 7th group I was told we only had about 3 more groups to go. I did my vignette as normal but as the group was walking away two people were oddly hanging behind. It was all but dark outside and I couldn't quite make out the faces. Once my eyes adjusted I saw a broken arm and a famialiar face. It was my mom and my Aunt Laura!!

What a blessing! It was a total miracle and surprise! They barely made it to come see the trail of hope and stayed until today. They got to come see our Nauvoo singers group, both casts of our High Hopes performances and our Sunset By the Mississippi. They weren't too distracting but around just enough that her presence was spectacular. I LOVE her! And I am forever grateful that she and my aunt could make it out.

 

 

Back to work. This week has been pretty great, like most weeks, but I felt a very large sense of unity especially this week. Our cast A (which has half of our group) has really come together to learn new songs and new "group" type of things to do and say together. I love them.

We got to go on the Community of Christ tour of the Joseph Smith's historic home site today. It was interesting to get the tour of Joseph's Mansion house and his original house with Emma. And also the Smith's Family Cemetery. It was great! But it was noticeable that the spirit wasn't very much present. They were very thorough and very informational tours, but the spirit that we constantly try to convey in every tour and every performance on the LDS side of Nauvoo was not present.

I love our church. and I KNOW it is true!

...and the WORK goes on.....

All is going well here! Just going and going. This passed week I have come down with a bit of a sick thing... I don't really know what to call it. It has been going around in the sisters' house! One of the sisters got strep throat and so we are all trying very hard not to get it. The doctor here didn't test me for that but he doesnt think I have it. He gave me a z-pack to help and I think it might be working. My voice is almost all the way gone today though. But I have faith that it doesn't matter how I sound because the Lord will provide a way for His message to get across.

I think I am on the up and up of getting better. But the work must still go on. I am so glad I am here to work hard and do what the Lord has asked of me. We are working hard as a group to become more unified, it is difficult at times because we are all 'leader' personalities. Plus we have our actual leaders and directors and then above them we have our ecclesiastical leaders.. So we are currently making that better.

Our first preparation morning was fun. We had it on thursday and everyone was up and at the temple by 6:45. They made me stay home and sleep through it though because I wasn't feeling well. But afterward, we drove to Keakuk (pronounced k-ee-uh-cook) and went to walmart. That was fine as usual, then...We drove down Mulholland street (which is like the main street here) and parked and went to lunch! It was the first time we were out doing something we wanted and chose to do on our own. We were so happy. We went to this store called the Mercantilel Store where they have TONS of historic Nauvoo memorabilia and also a lunch place in the downstairs. It was so fun to spend some fun time with my sisters. Then of course, we were back in the visitors center by 1:30 getting ready for High Hopes. Only half of a P-day haha. Life is crazy. But I am happy!

I love you. And I know this church is true. My testimony is growing every day and I just want to share it with everyone I meet. We were told a thought that has stuck with me while performing. Each of the people in the audience aren't just audience members or 'people' these are souls. If there are 300 or only 30 each person is a spirit brother and sister and are individual souls. It makes it mean more when we perform....and we DO perform!!

Visit to Carthage Jail