The Camps’ Nauvoo mission so far, by the numbers:

·     2000 miles added to the car’s odometer

·     Two moves of apartments

·     40 Young Performing Missionaries, coming from 25+ states in the U.S.

·     11 full days of 14-hour rehearsals

·     28 vocal musical numbers harmonized

·     15 choreographed show numbers perfected

·     A gazillion lines memorized

·     Four musical shows blocked, rehearsed and close to performance-ready

·     25 band musical numbers memorized (at least) and another 20 performance ready

·     Choreography and stage movement taught to more than 200 senior missionaries on the outdoor stage

·     Two tours of the Carthage jail

·     3 testimony meetings

·     1 group wagon and 1 carriage ride

·     Three district meetings (so far…)

·     15 haircuts for elders

·     Two evening sociable (firesides)

·     One ice cream sociable

·     BBQ lunch with the mission president and his wife

·     Shopping excursions in Keokuk

·     26 musical instruments

·     100+ props, benches and set pieces identified, repaired/built

·     64 show dresses

·     20 show pants hemmed

·     20 pair of suspenders buttoned up

·     26 white men’s show shirts unpicked and modified

·     60 additional show shirts fitted and pressed

·     17 band vests constructed and fitted

·     60+ show hats and bonnets repaired, cleaned and fitted

·     Tons of petticoats, bloomers, suspenders, and dress shields


No wonder we’re exhausted!

But what a ride! These are among the best young people we’ve every had the privilege to work with – they are focused, dedicated, humble, and willing to work incredibly hard, both as performers and as missionaries. The only concern I’ve heard from any of them is how they can find time for personal and companion study when their days start at 8am and end at 10pm…

Tomorrow we finish blocking the last couple of scenes; the stage YPMs are supposed to be out of book tomorrow (have all their lines memorized for all four shows)…nothing short of miraculous when one considers they only started rehearsing their lines 10 days ago... This could never happen anywhere but in Nauvoo – these missionaries are sustained and quickened in very obvious and tangible ways – it’s very humbling to witness.