There is nothing as constant as change

Well, it looks like the last half of our mission will be VERY different from the first half. Friday July 17, President Ludwig called us into his office and after a prayer and a brief discussion we were called to be the directors of "Sunset by the Mississippi" for next year! AHHHHH!!!
Elder and Sister Cluff are the current directors and they are going home in September. The final performance for this year is Aug. 15. Before the Cluffs leave we'll meet with them and try and learn all we can about what is involved. Then I think we'll just get to work at the sites etc. like we're doing now until January when Elder and Sister Camp will come to Nauvoo. They have been called from SLC to be over Nauvoo Productions. Sister Pat Davis has done it for 9 years and this is her last year. So, in January the Camps will come and work with us for a couple of weeks and let us know what they want to have happen for next year. Then it will be our job to organize things and teach the songs and dances to the missionaries. Then the Camps will come back next summer to polish it up. Many of the missionaries who are here now will have gone home so we will have a new batch. We will be directing 250 missionaries who will be divided into 3 casts. So, next year Ron will still work in the sites and then do Sunset after hours and we'll spend our evenings having Sunset practices until May when we begin performing Sunset every night except Sunday. (No more nights off next summer) I will have an office in the Visitor's Center and my days will be spent working on Sunset. I don't have any idea what that means yet. President Ludwig said that I might be able to work in a 1/2 day a week working at the sites if I want to. (yes!) This also means that next year Ron and I won't be performing in Rendezvous anymore since we'll be at Sunset every night. I was so stunned when President Ludwig asked us that I just stared at him. As you all know, it's not often that I'm speechless! There are good things about it and then things we will miss. With this calling we will be able to get to know EVERY missionary and not just the ones in our cast. Elder and Sister Camp seem like wonderful people and it will be great to get to work with them. I know we are going to learn a LOT. (huge understatement) It looks like things won't change very much for us until January so for now I guess all there is to do is worry.
Yesterday at Pioneer Pastimes I met a man who directed the Nauvoo Brass Band for many years. The current band leader introduced me to him and told him that I would be directing Sunset next year. He said, "That's wonderful, tell me about your background" I said, "I have a testimony and I said yes". He looked a bit worried, I wonder why!!!

As scared as I am, the more I think about this, the more I realize that this will be a great opportunity and I know that if this is what Heavenly Father wants us to do then we will obviously have His help. I know that Ron is going to be great, he's a natural at this performing stuff, it will be fun to do this together. Pres. Ludwig said that one of the important parts of this calling will be to have fun at the rehearsals. After a long day of working at the sites the missionaries have to go to practices. It needs to be fun. Well, with Ron in charge, I don't think that will be a problem. No matter what assignment he is given on this mission, he does it well and still manages to have fun and help all of us around him have fun. He's a good companion!