surprise visit!

Letter #6
Well this week has been super long..... But I had the best week ever!

We had a community band concert monday night that went over fairly well, but that was the day when things started heating up for sure! Whew!

Tuesday was a very special day because someone special showed up, unexpected! I cannot tell you how happy I was that you guys came. I can tell you honestly that you didn't distract me once nor did you take too long visiting with me. I loved having you there and sharing those special moments with me in the "ballroom". :)

Every day has been so great, they all seem to just blend in with one another though.... because every day is so similar. We talked as a group about how we can find joy in the journey and Carpe Diem!

This letter will probably be a little more short than usual because you guys pretty much heard everything I wanted to tell you.

I did have a cool experience with some of the members of Vocal Point who are here for their 2 week concert week thingy....

We were performing our hymnfest and they stopped by to listen and stayed for the whole thing. A few of us were talking about non chalant things.... and then I decided to try and change the topic to more spiritual things. The spirit was most defifintely there and I know that they are probably strong faithful members but maybe they just needed to hear a testimony.

So our last and final sister recieved her mission call to the Mexico, Mexico City mission in November. Crazy!!!

Also, we just found out last night that the stepfather of one of the elders in the band was killed in a plane accident this past weekend along with a friend and his brother who was severely injured. His stepfather raised him since he was 2. It was a very emotional day yesterday. I would ask that you keep Elder Foster in your prayers. He is a very strong Elder with a strong testimony of eternal families, but it is still very difficult for him. I had a very powerful experience last night. I will be honest and say that i didn't have a great day. But when he told us I was overcome with emotion. I understand that our Heavenly Father cares about our struggles and trials, but sometimes there are those who are struggling more than you and they need you to stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about others.

I am grateful for that experience. It helped me regain focus on my purpose here.

I love you guys a lot.

I cannot begin to describe to you the amount of joy I have for our eternal families.

Love always and forever.

Sister Jex

P.S.:  This is what Mom had to say about first seeing me:

"After getting up early and driving from Chicago we arrived in Nauvoo around 2:00pm and headed immediately to the Visitor's Center.  Young Performers in costume were standing at the door of the theater and you could see that a show was about to begin.  I looked and noticed a few of the musicians coming in my direction.  I stopped them and asked them if they knew where Emily might be, to which they gave me a puzzled look.  Correcting myself, I asked if they knew Sister Jex and then with instant recognition they asked how I knew her and began to tell us how great she is and how much they love serving with her.  Elder Foster wrote down their performing agenda for the rest of the day and handed me the paper saying that they were leaving at that moment to meet up and perform on Mullholland street.  I quickly decided to wait and surprise her when they returned in an hour to play in the garden (by the statues) and asked them not to say anything to her.  From a distance I saw her!  My heart leaped and I hurried over to the stair case that leads to the balcony to hide so that she wouldn't see me.  The Senior Sister missionary who had greeted us upon entering was excited to help me keep our "surprise" and told me that she would alert me when Emily had left the building.  I sat on the 4th step huddled by the wall and while I was reviewing phone messages I looked up at the sound of voices heading toward the door and THERE SHE WAS.  She turned as though cued and with the most surprised look, exclaimed, "MOM!!!!!!" and burst into tears and threw her arms around me!  Her companion, Sister Reed and a few other sisters all stood and smiled sweetly at the tender reunion.  Tearfully she explained that she couldn't stay and I reassured her we would see her at the next performance in the garden.  When Keith came out I told him what just happened and I worried that I had made her homesick or distracted her from her work--which we had committed we wouldn't do.  After viewing the stage production of Old Nauvoo we quickly exited and there she was...with all 16 performing musicians...in the garden...playing church hymns.   Each musician announced the next piece and bore testimony of Jesus Christ.  As Emily walked to the front of the group and began to speak with spirit and confidence I could not have been more proud and grateful for this wonderful opportunity that had been given to our daughter!  With my camera I tried to capture the sweetness of the experience.  Each song was beautiful and stirring and I could easily see why the importance of music in this historical setting!  When they finished we watched all of the musicians mingle with the many visitors and shake hands and thank them for coming. What a marvelous missionary opportunity!  Finally we were able to embrace again and she expressed how glad she was that she had the chance to see me first in the Visitors Center rather than be surprised during a performance! Later that night we enjoyed Sunset at the Mississippi; the band was CENTER STAGE and accompanied almost every act!  The next day we caught up with her at the Cultural Hall where she was assigned to give tours for the afternoon!  I can't express how it felt to hear so many Senior missionaries report to us how much they love serving with her; what a great sense of humor she has and of her confidence and testimony!  We left Nauvoo feeling especially thankful for the watchful eye of our Father in Heaven upon each of our children!"