Week EIGHT: Ariel...I mean, Sister Ashby

Sister Ashby's weekly thumbs up/peace sign photo

Hello all! I hope you are having a fantastic day! This week has been one for the books! We officially started our pageant rehearsals! It has been so fun to get to know and work with the directors and core cast! Everyone is so cool! The choreographer is from London and is really talented! All the YPMs were worried because we have been all talking in British accents for WEEKS...well, actually MONTHS. Now that all the British people are coming for the pageants including our choreographer and his wife, we are going to have to break the habit... FAST. We told our choreographer about it and he just laughed and said no one will be offended. They will just laugh at how bad they are. The dances are so much fun and the stage is terrifying, but I'm slowly getting used to it. I haven't body-rolled down the stage...yet... so, I think we are going to be OK. I am actually shocked because I have been picked for a lot of the dancing, but I am so happy I get to participate so much! "Gallant Ships" is my favorite one BY FAR! The dresses are so beautiful and we have all the dances learned already! It only took us three or four rehearsals throughout the week! These people are so amazing and fun to work with. We truly have this Zion-like unity and it's amazing what we have been able to accomplish side by side. That is something I am definitely going to miss in the theater world back home.

As far as vocal stuff, I had my [ENT] appointment on Tuesday. I am so glad they were able to move me up and I didn't have to wait until later in July. The appointment was in Quincy, so I got some AWESOME bonding time with Sister Schultz. [Sister Schultz and her husband are over all the YPM stage missionaries.]  She's the best.  I was very, very nervous and scared to have a camera shoved down my throat, not to mention, anxious for the results. The numbing spray didn't work so I felt everything, but that's OK. He said that I didn't have anything too scary, yet.  My vocal cords are just very, very tired and strained. Two red bumps are beginning to form, but with rest, they will go away. He gave me other recommended tips to help the process go faster and sent me off.  I am so glad for that comfort to know I will be OK if I give it rest. I have been placed on hard vocal rest for a week more. LET ME TELL YOU... IT HAS BEEN SO HARD! The YPMs call me Ariel and it is so hard to not talk to them because they are so funny and I just love them all so much. I bought a whiteboard and some fun markers at Walmart and have been using that to communicate. It can be really hard sometimes after shows and Nauvoo Singers [on the streets] after we perform. I love how eager everyone is to talk to us and it is so hard when they come excitedly to talk with me and one of the other YPMs has to let them know I am on vocal rest, or, I have to break it to tell them.

Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith - June 27th

The Sunday before I had my doctor appointment, I ran into Aunt Ginger and Uncle Mark [they are there in Nauvoo for a month supervising families who come to participate in the pageants] who gave me my small suitcase. (Thank you, by the way! All the sisters are jealous of my scented wax melt stuff). I walked into the Bistro with [the suitcase] and Elder Hernandez and some others freaked out because they thought I was going home. Ha! (I should have played along and started fake crying; that would have been SO FUNNY). Then sister Adams said, "Obviously she isn't because she would have WAY MORE STUFF THAN THAT"! It has been especially hard to not talk with my companion, we love, love, love talking. Ha, ha. I am so grateful for her. Today, she told me when we walked in together [into] sacrament [meeting], Elders Dickson, Wilkinson, and Hernandez made a comment about how we are a companionship POWERHOUSE. I would just like to second that. Last night, Sister Bills was mentioning how in previous years they had to sometimes switch companions for a couple days due to drama and contention. I am just so grateful. As I look at her, I don't think I could have been more perfectly paired with anyone else, and that goes for every stage sister companionship here. Everyone has been so perfectly matched and are powerhouses in their own way. I know that we were called to serve together by Heavenly Father. I know that not everyone always gets paired with the easiest people and have to pray to have a Christ-like love. So, I am glad I have sister Hoagland. She rocks.

Sister Isaacson, Sister Ashby, Sister Jackson, Sister Nelson, Sister Hoagland

I also got a really cool healing blessing before the appointment, before I knew what was going on. In the blessing, it said that I will be healed with time and patience and rest. Afterward, Elder Hatch, one of our directors, stopped and looked at me and said, "Your ancestors are here." It kind of shocked me. The spirit testified to me as he continued. He said, "They are with you on stage and know that even if you can't necessarily speak or sing right now, you are still testifying of the church and representing them on stage." That was so cool for me and something I needed to hear. It brought me great comfort in a time of fear. Fear that I wasn't going to get my voice back, fear that I wasn't doing enough as a missionary, and fear of possibly being sent home. I still had faith and I knew Heavenly Father would heal me if it was his will, but fear still was present. I also thought of Aunt Suzi. I imagine she is here, too, with them, cheering me on. [Suzi is her aunt who passed away almost a year an a half ago.  She loved Nauvoo.]

The YPMs and I have started some on-stage shenanigans. We now have a game we play onstage during "Sunset". Some elders bought a badminton set and after having one of the birdie tips pop off, decided another use for it. At the beginning of the show, an Elder or Sister will start out with the tip and begin passing it around. So, whether you get it handed to you backstage, onstage, during a dance or whatever, you have to get rid of it as fast as possible. Whoever ends up with it at the end, looses. Last night, I got it three times but came out victorious in the end. We, sisters, also will grab each other's hands or kick each other ("love taps") as we pass by, fun things like that. Sister Hammond also finds humor in teasing Sister Nelson on stage during the USA Medley. She has tickled her before, but last night decided to shove ice down her back. Needless to say, Sister Nelson wasn't too happy.

Notice that Sister Ashby has no mic.  She lip syncs
all group numbers while on hard vocal rest.

Anyway, that is all from me today! I am loving every second of Nauvoo! I CAN NOT BELIEVE TUESDAY WAS OUR HALFWAY POINT!

Thank you, Dad, for the treats and art! EVERYONE LOVED THEM AND WERE SO EXCITED! THEY CANNOT WAIT TO MEET YOU! I would love to get some other art prints, too! These don't have to be for everyone. They can be just for me, but I really want the one of Jesus's hand with the butterfly and maybe some other ones too! I love having them in my room to look at while I'm studying! Plus, they remind me of you!

IT IS SO FUN TO HEAR FROM YOU!! I hope you are having a fantastic day! Mom, thank you for the letter! I got it and my companion and I loved them! We will be hopefully sending out a letter to you and all the girls soon! Sorry, I don't have any new pictures or videos. [All photos in this post are credited to Wendy Isaacson.] This week was wack! It's been crazy, hot [heat index of 109 degrees] but so fun! It was awesome to meet sister Isaacson's adorable family and her little brother Mickey is my favorite. He is ADORABLE!

Love you all so much!!! Miss you all!!! 💟💙💟

Sister Issacson's family bought the stage YPMs famous ice cold root beer
from the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo on that very hot day.  THANK YOU!!!