My Companion is Amazing- and always Smiling!

Sister Israelsen and Sister Carroll

Here Comes the Ox Cart....

Hi Family,

We start performing this wednesday. We'll be doing random performances for those who hire us. We'll start on the wagon sometime soon, and our first performance of  Sunset by the Mississippi is on Saturday. It's going to be GREAT!! :) I'm so stoked. Sunset is really fun. We have most of the acts that were here when Nate did it. such as the "audition" (making eggs...) which is HILARIOUS...the actors are really good. We also are doing a dance number, the stage and band YPMs. it's called frog kissin'. It is a great number. We get to go all out. Another sister and I are doing The Devil went down to Georgia. That's way fun. We push people out of the way and go crazy. That's what you do when your a devil's demon. haha It's interesting as missionaries acting or dancing. Like when they tell the girls to pretend to be in love with the guys or something...yep. it's...interesting haha.

Our mission president asked us not to get up before 6:30. (We'd been getting up at 6:00 to get ready on time, and excercise). So we had to change our schedules around a bit. Now we have to squeeze in excercising or anything like that whenever we can. I'd still be up for running in the morning, but when you have to schedule showering for 14 girls it gets a little crazy!!

We did baptisms in the Nauvoo temple the other day. It was a beautiful experience. I was able to be baptised for Elder Bragues relatives. It was amazing. All of Nauvoo is beautiful. There is always a gorgeous sunset or sunrise, the Mississippi looks great. Either it's gleaming in the sunlight or there are crazy waves during a storm. I saw my first mayfly ) the other day. Woot!

Since the no-waking- up- until 6:30, Sister Carroll and I have been doing companionship study at night or during the middle of the day. A few days in a row we went into the Visitor's center garden and read in the sunlight. It was the perfect temperatue. Soon we won't be able to because there will be so many visitors, but for now we can. It is wonderful studying the scriptures or gospel while in the nature. It's so wonderful outside! The Lord loves us!!

We got our pioneer dresses the other day. One of mine is purple and pink (really cute) :) The other one is a goldish color (semi-cute) I'll get you some pictures some time. Speaking of pictures. I sent some last week, but I don't think they sent. I'll try again.

We have a few different leaders here. The Mursets - They are sooooooooo nice and fun. Sister Murset reminds me of the most amazing young women leader I've ever had. She is so happy and smiley and kind and good. Elder Murset is funny and really organized. They both are terrific. The Bragues - Elder Brague is the band director. He is fun and goofy :) He knows what he is talking about. And he puts up with us :) haha Sister Brague. She is very much a grandmother for us while we are here. She's always looking out for us and giving us advice. ALWAYS. She's got a lot of experiences to tell us about :) She is kind! Then there are the Ludwigs. My mission president and his wife. I'm guessing we see them more than a typical missionary would see their president. Sister Ludwig is our cheerleader. She's always smiling and telling us how we did so great. Think of the stereotypical Relief Society president giving her lesson, this is her. She is wonderful! We all love her :) President Ludwig is a very good leader. He is a little strict, but you have to be as a mission president. He is very kind. I love my leaders!

I've learned that on a mission it's really up to you how much you'll change or what kind of missionary you'll be. You could easily sleep in or not study when you have time. Those who came back from their missions a better person didn't just follow directions of leaders, they had to have so much discipline and a desire to become better.

I love you guys!! I've realized what a wonderful family I've been blessed to live in! Just reading about you makes me soooo happy. I'd love some more pictures of you all, if you want to send some in the mail :) That'd be great. I've also realized how blessed I've been to have the friends I had in highschool and further on. My friends that are serving missions are really inspiring me. I know they are the kind of people who will work so hard as missionaries and become close to the Lord. I also am so grateful for my other friends who are at home and college and anywhere else. I know they are always working to become the best thems. (I know that last word didn't make sense...but I wrote it like that on purpose) :)

In our District conference with the Ludwigs, President Ludwig talked about Urgency and Sustained Effort. He talked about how we need to work with an urgent pace with everything in our lives. (not frantic...urgent). When we are told to do something we need to go and do it right away. Sometimes we may follow something in an urgent matter and it may take months or even years for it to make a difference. That's where sustained effort needs to come in. We need to work hard and endure to the end. I want to challenge anyone who reads this to find something in their life they can work on, and work on it NOW (don't procrastinate), sustain the effort. and keep smiling too :D

As Sister Ludwig said, "I'm going to be better today than I was yesterday."

I love this church. IT IS TRUE!! I know that as we pray sincerely we will feel closer to our Savior. PMG is inspired. READ IT! I love you all soooo much.

Love,

Sister Israelsen

I like Different

Hello family!!!
     I'm exhausted, but happy.... and tired, but still alive.  Today was our third day playing I believe. Every ones chops were starting to get really tired, so Elder Braque (our director) had us finish early. We went on a wagon ride which was really neat!

    My companion's name is Sarah Carroll. She actually went to BYU-Idaho and was in symphony band. So, I already kind of knew her. It's been awesome getting to know her better though. She is an amazing sister :) We have companionship studies in the morning and she teaches me a lot. We are going through the Preach My Gospel book. Sister Carroll is from Idaho. She plays the clarinet and she's always smiling.

When we get back home in the evening, we sing through a few songs we need to know for Sunset on the Mississippi. They're called Frog Kissin' and Invocation. We usually tell a few stories from the day and then we say "family prayer"

    We haven't had it rain yet...but I'll tell you what... It is HOT!!!!! I guess it'll get a lot more so, but really. It's steaming. Especially with the humidity. A few of us go running in the mornings when it's not super hot. When we get back, we seriously cannot stop the sweat. It's kind of gross. Haha! But really, the humidity just keeps it on. You wipe it off and it's still there. I got some sun on my first day here. so yes, the farmer tan is beginning. I kind of like the humidity though. It's different, but I like different.

     My chops = tired. We play almost all day. Luckily Sister Bjarnson (the other 1st trumpet) and I switch off a bit. Plus I think rather than get more tired, my lips are getting use to it. Which is great!

     NAUVOO!!! Nauvoo is beautiful! I love it so much. The sunrises and sunsets are always gorgeous! The people are so kind. I know I'm not a morning person really, but I don't even mind waking up to go running because it's so pretty and it's perfect temperature in the morning, and the birds are singing. I love life :) I love learning about the pioneers. Just sitting and listening to stories, I can feel their spirit present SO strongly. I have felt so close to my Savior and my Heavenly Father. Closer than ever, in these past 6 days or so (I really seems like it's been so much longer. WOW. I feel like I've been here forever.)

    I know this church is true!! I know the Book of Mormon is true. I want to be able to play the music in a way that people will be able to hear the real music behind it. The music of heaven. I love you all soooo much!! Keep working with the sheep, Todd and Kimmy! You can win :) :) Emily, how did AP tests go? Are you so glad they're over? Everyone, tell me how you are :)

Love,

Sister Israelsen

As though I'm living in Pioneer Days

..... The spirit is so strong here.  It's a beautiful place.  I almost feel as though I'm living in pioneer days... with some extra things... like A/C and jeans. But, I don't have any electronics, our enjoyment is playing music or going on a walk. People drive at 20 Mph and say "hi" to everyone. Just like you expected mom, I LOVE the senior missionaries. They're amazing. A few of my favorite things about them:
     *  The lady practicing walking on stilts.
     *  All the couple missionaries stood there in a big crowd as we got off the bus cheering and giving giant hugs.
     *  They have such great experience and their talks in church were wonderful, even the guy who 20 minutes of random stories that seemed to have no point...but they did, they were all stories with his wife. He ended in saying how he loved her. (He seemed like the type of guy who doesn't say much so it was very cute) even when he rambled on about what hamburgers look like when they are cooking :).
      It's such a wonderful place and I'm so blessed to be here!!
      I know this church is true!!  I love you all so much!

Love,
Sister Israelsen

Our House

... The house is pretty big.  It's cute too.  We've got two kitchens, three bathrooms, two washer and dryers, and five bedrooms. It's just me and Sister Carroll in my room.  It's quite small, but I don't mind. Oh, and it's right across the street from the temple, so I can look right out my window at it.
    Wow, there are things that wound NEVER work in a house with 14 girls but they do.  On our 20 minute drive to Keokuk to go shopping we figured out a plan for food.  No one complained or made it difficult, it just worked... ideas just came into people's minds. This is our plan:  We each provide our own breakfast, lunch is provided for us, and then each companionship will do dinner for all 14 girls once a week.  It saves so much money and we don't each have to think of a new meal each night, plus we get healthier meals this way. Genius! :)  We also figured out that the sisters who make the food one night, empty the dishwasher the next night!  It's truly a miracle that it all works and that we figured it out so fast.

Young Performing Missionaries 2011

YOUNG PERFORMING MISSIONARIES 2011
Stage, Band, and Tech Crew
Katie is on the 3rd row back, 3rd from the right

Hello Friends and Family

Hi!  If you found this blog, chances are you know Katie or have an interest in what she is doing in Nauvoo.  These blogs will be posted by her family (alright... her Mom), about once a week.  She can't correspond by email except to family once weekly while she is serving as a missionary, but would love to receive letters at

Sister Katie Israelsen, YPM
PO Box 215
Nauvoo, Illinois  62354

Thanks,

Michelle