(June 18, 2017)

Dearest Friends and Family!

Time keeps moving along here in Nauvoo and it is crazy to believe that we are almost half way through our adventure! We have had a lovely week full of work and some beautiful experiences! Luckily we are all on the uphill and have recovered from our sicknesses! The temperature is starting to rise here as well as the humidity. I think I had forgotten how get and drenched you get from performing in outside, especially during Sunset! But it has been a fun time! We just embrace it! It's Nauvoo!

We were able to go to the temple a few times this week which was really special. Once to do an endowment session on P-day and then the next day for baptisms and iniatories. I love the temple and the peace and spirit it brings into my life. I feel like it really helped me to refocus and recharge this week and I was reminded of what is important. 

One of our favorite things we do here in Nauvoo is Trail of Hope and we were able to do it 3 nights in a row this week for a special circumstances. There was a youth group in town and the night we were to do the trail it stormed quite a bit, but cleared so we didn't cancel. They didn't know that and they really wanted to go through the trail and felt like their group needed it. They approached us the next day and it was something E. Schultz felt like we needed to do, so we were able to perform for them. It was an incredible night and the spirit was strong. I know that the power and testimony of the saints that is testified of on the trail is powerful! There were a million fireflies out that night as well and i felt like is was a testament of God's love! The fields looked a like a sea of glitter with brilliant, incredible light flashing from these creatures.

I'm at a loss for time, but I love you all and am thankful for your support. I feel God's hand leading us and guiding us everyday! Nauvoo is a place of peace, a place of hope, a place of healing! I feel that God loves Nauvoo!

Try and serve and a love a little more this week! 

Sincerely Yours,
Elder Joyner

Prayer is Power! (June 11, 2017)

Hi Family and Friends!

Sorry, I spent a lot of time taking care of some business and now have like 3 minutes to throw something down!

This has been a crazy week! Basically ALL of us got sick at one point, and I mean ALL of us! So that has made for an interesting time. We have had do so some switching casts and roles around to accommodate people sitting out of performances. But somehow we made it work. I think most of us are on the uphill now and getting better and we are taking extra precautions to prevent anything else.

Amid all this sickness, prayer has been vital to us this week! We could not have gotten through all the changes and rearranging and trials without pleading for help and relying on the Lord. That is one of my favorite things about missions is that each time I have learned more and more about trusting in God and relying on Him. "For as to my strength I am weak" and "I can do all things through Christ". We have had much help from Priesthood blessings and praying with all our might and then going to work. We have still been able to touch many and share the spirit with so many youth groups and other visitors who have come this week. Prayer is so powerful and it is still something I think I'm working on and perfecting even after 3 missions! Ha!

I know we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. He is so involved in our lives and is constantly watching out for us, even when we may feel like He is not. I am constantly amazed at all He has blessed us with even this beautiful earth and mortal experience to learn and grow and become more like Him. How amazing!

God lives! The Gospel is true! Pray to Him a little more this week and be a little more sincere!

Love you all! 

Sincerely Yours,
Elder Joyner

(no subject) (June 4, 2017)

Dear Family and Friends!

The weeks keep flying by here in Old Nauvoo and tomorrow marks one months since we have arrived! Which means we only have about 13 weeks left...yikes! That is nothing! We had such a great first week full of performances and were able to touch many lives! Our favorite thing is to be able to talk with our audiences after our shows and have missionary discussions with them and invite them to remember the things they felt here in Nauvoo! We had a few youth groups here this past week mixed with Memorial Day crowds which gave us a lot of people to contact and talk with!

One of the things we do here in Nauvoo, is Nauvoo singers. It is a great opportunity we have to go out on the streets of Nauvoo and sing fun and spiritual arrangements of primary songs and hymns for our guests and then to interact with them. This year, there have been some changes and we are able to go out and do Nauvoo singers at Carthage and we also have about a 3 hour block in the afternoon every other day to sing as well. We have had some pretty amazing experiences where we have been able to touch individuals and testify to them. I have especially enjoyed going to Carthage! It is such a sacred and special place with a spirit that can't compare to anything else. I also love being in the Visitor Center here and singing by the Christus Statue. There is a quiet reverence and sacredness that is found singing next to a statue of our Savior. We have many families who stop to here us sing and are touched by the spirit they feel through our music. It is interesting how even young children between the ages of 1-5 are just enthralled with us and watch us with inquisitive eyes and are amazed! I truly believe that even they can feel the spirit through our music.
This afternoon we have our first performance of our Nauvoo Sunday Concert series that we will do every Sunday. It is like an informal fireside that we do with the band. We have some beautiful arrangements and are excited to share that with those who come and be able to share more spirit of this beautiful place with those who come!

A few former YPMs from last year were visiting these last few days. Although, it was fun to have them here, it really made me miss my 2015 group! I love you all so much and am grateful for the love and support you have shown Sister Hipwell and I! Come visit us!

Well that is basically all I have time for. Sorry, I can't write too much now. I love you all! I know that our Heavenly Father is constantly aware of us and watches over us always!

Sincerely Yours,
Elder Joyner