WHO KNEW?????
When we left the summer of 2019 we had no idea that it would be the last summer we would spend at the Hill Cumorah or with the Work Crew. After the Work Crew for 2020 had been selected we were informed that the 2020 Pageant was to be postponed until 2021. The 28 young men who were planning on serving in 2020 decided (except for 3 who chose to proceed with mission plans) to extend their commitment to 2021. Even the 4 District Leaders who had all graduated from High School decided to postpone other plans and even a mission call so that they could come and serve and lead at the Hill one last time.
Needless to say Brother Hess and I were astounded and thrilled that 25 of the 28 2020 Work Crew would be remaining with us. We had already grown to love them and were in the middle of our spiritual preparations when the announcement was made to postpone the 2020 Pageant.
Preparations continued and we had high hopes that the pandemic would be passed by 2021 and we would be able to finally be together at the Hill. The Lord directed us to increase the District Leaders' role and responsibilities and we set about having some wonderful training sessions and discussions about what they could do to encourage their District members to stay spiritually focused and how to help them internalize the spiritual traits that we had been studying. Zoom calls and emails and texts happened regularly and the Districts grew to truly know and love each other. We watched the District Leaders blossom in their roles as leaders and mentors to their District members. The Lord was clearly preparing them for a time to come when they would need the confidence, creativity, and strength to serve in new found ways. Brother Hess and I felt so strongly that they were being prepared for a great work, and we are both so excited to see what the Lord has in store for them.
When the announcement came in March we were sooooo sad. We wanted so much for these amazing young men of the 2021 Work Crew to have the whole experience that being and serving on the Work Crew can give. For reasons we may never know that was not going to happen.
Brother Hess and I went up to the Hill in April to sell our trailer and collect our personal belongings and ended up helping distribute almost all of the Wind Tunnel contents to the Seneca Lakes Girl's Camp that is owned by the Church. They took almost EVRYTHING!!! By the time they were done there wasn't much left. It made me happy to know that Work Crew lives on even if it is at a Girl's camp :) We ended up spending about 4 days at the Hill and when we left we had so many mixed feelings. A huge part of 11 years of our lives was being left behind and yet we were leaving with so many cherished memories and moments with over 250 amazing young men, dozens of friends and leaders who taught and inspired us in so many marvelous ways, that could never be replaced . We both feel sooo grateful for the privilege it has been to serve the Lord through our service to the young men, the Cast, the Pageant and the community of Palmyra.
Brother Hess and I both look forward to receiving mission call announcements, marriage and baby announcements and being able to be included in the joyous moments of our young men's lives. We love them all and are so grateful to have served with each of them.
I still look forward to Mondays when my inbox fills up with emails from missionaries all over the world! I guess there will be a few more years (hopefully) of that happening!
We will look forward to Work Crew reunions and returning to the Hill at some future time to walk its paths and remember...
ALL our love
Brother and Mama Hess
