Dad,
When I was told that there would be
a new bishopric this week, my immediate thought was how great you would be in
the bishopric. I was right! I'm so happy and proud to be your daughter. I know
that you'll do great. I know it is probably overwhelming. I never realized how
much the bishopric did until I came out here and seen the many things that the
bishopric do in this ward. It'll be busy for you, but you'll be more immersed
in the Gospel than you have ever been before. I wish I could have been there,
but I know that I am doing important work here. And when I come home, you'll be
sitting on the stand with me when I speak! I'm glad everyone else was able to
be there. We were all with you in spirit. I am always praying for you, but I
will continue to pray for you in your new calling. I am grateful and humbled to
hear of President Quenzer's blessing for me that was in your blessing. It
really helps me to know that I am being blessed even when things are hard. I am
glad to be here and I know I am doing good work. I also know that everyone is
being blessed because of this experience.
That's how I feel as a missionary. I
don't know so many of the members but that is why we are trying to go see all
of them. Even and especially the less-active members. They are really important
and you should always strive to fellowship them and visit them.
I'm so excited that they won!!! (Hunter's soccer team had their first games last week) It
sounds like they are already playing better. I do remember that their first
game was against Skyview last year and they won that one...but they are still
doing better! I'm glad that he is doing well in soccer. It makes me happy!
This week was the last week of
transfers. As I waited for the transfer call--which seemed to take forever,
probably because I kept looking at the clock--I was jittery and tired and
excited and nervous. And then it came. And I waited to hear either Sister Ard's
or my name in the outgoing missionaries...and neither of us were called. What a
surprise that was to me. We are staying together for this next transfer, here
in Alluvial. I am not entirely sure how that will go. I love her to death, but
she is my trainer so I'm afraid that it will be hard to take my mindset from
her as a trainer to her as my companion. But hopefully it will come easily. And
I'm hoping that we will be able to work in unity and to find those who are
prepared for us. There is a reason that we are still together in Alluvial and I
know that we will find out if we work together to do our best. We have gained
so much member trust here that I know it will help us in the next six weeks. We
have had members tell us that they are going to invite people to their homes
when we're over and invited people to church and so many things! It's so great!
One thing that's weird about this
transfer though is that Sister Ard and I are now the only sisters in the zone.
And one of the areas in the zone is now closed. Missionaries are being taken
out of it. It's weird because they've baptized twice this transfer and we
haven't baptized at all, so if any area should be closed, it would be ours, but
I'm glad they didn't because there is still so much work we can do in this
area!
On Saturday, we had the opportunity
to help in the vineyard. Let me tell you something: That is hard work. It's
kind of like working at the orchard but different. It was hot and dirty and I
LOVED IT! I took pictures so I have proof. Remember that picture of Marisa and
I at Copper Basin when we're, like, three? That's how I looked on Saturday
after the grape harvest. We picked grapes and we dumped them, laid them out on
paper. They are making raisins out of them. It'll be really cool to see the
fruits of that even though I don't like raisins. It was so fun though! I'll
attach some pictures.
This week we had Sister Buenaventura
for a day. We thought we'd have her to the end of the transfer, but we didn't.
She was transferred to Turlock. She was in our zone but then she was with us
and now she's in Turlock. I know she's doing well there.
I love you and I'm praying for you!
I hope all is well, and I know you will do great in the bishopric. I love you!
Always <3,
Sister Abigail Reese
Mom,
I did get Dad's email. It makes me
happy to know that the Lord is aware of all of our family. I am not sure if
y'all see it this way but for me this is a blessing that has happened for our
family. I know it is. It's God's way of showing us what blessings come from
having a missionary in the field. And now we have a family member in the
bishopric. More blessings will come because of it. I'm glad I was "with
you" on Sunday because I had this feeling that something was going to
happen that included you and Dad and our family yesterday. I just knew. I could
feel it. Heavenly Father is blessing us and I know a big part of that is
because I am here. It is humbling and comforting that President Quenzer
mentioned me in the blessing he gave Dad. It will help me remember that I am
not only being blessed for being here but I am being blessed because Dad is
serving in the bishopric. You'll figure out how you can help Dad and you'll be
great for it. I know that this is a huge blessing for us, and you will start to
see that soon. Even though it will probably be overwhelming at first. Dad will get
to work with missionaries more!
I hope everyone had fun. I hope they
are proud of me, because it helps me to know that they are. It gives me
strength. I'm glad Brody blessed me. The prayers of children are strong because
they have so much faith.
That's so cool! I'm so happy that
they are finally starting to build that temple. How long ago did they announce
it? At least a year and half ago, because we talked about it my senior year.
Dad told me Hunter's team won their games. I'm so proud of them! I hope they
continue to do well! It makes me happy to think that they are already doing
well.
This week was transfers. Obviously
you know that. I was waiting for the transfer call on Saturday, all jittery and
exhausted and excited and nervous. When it finally came, I waited for the
assistant who was saying it (I'm not sure which one it was) to call either my
name or Sister Ard's name in the list of out going missionaries...and he
didn't. So...my trainer and I are staying together in Alluvial. I'm happy, I
guess. I just hope that we can work together and that we can continue to help
the ward and the members. I also hope that God will lead us to the people He
has prepared in this area. I know there are many.
We got to work at the vineyard on
Saturday! It was so much fun! I loved it! You should be proud of me. I worked
hard, and you can tell by the pictures I sent to you! We had to get in the
vines and find the grapes. I got so dirty. I didn't even worry about the bugs
and spiders...well, not really. I just got up in there and tried to find all
that I could. It was hard work and it was exhausting work, but I did it! I
loved it too. I will have one more chance to do it next summer since I will be
here two summers. Hopefully I'll be able to do it again.
We met with a part member family
this week. It's a mom and daughter. The mom is the member. Her
daughter is almost twelve and she is an...interesting character. She's sweet if
you can connect with her. We watched 17 Miracles with them. You could feel the
spirit so strongly in certain parts. Then Sister Ard and I both bore our
testimonies at the end of the movie and it was so powerful. That same night we
had to take Sister Buenaventura, a sister who was serving in our zone but was
being transferred to Turlock, to the mission home. We were able to see Sister
Clark and President Clark. It was so great and I love them both so much.
Speaking of them, Sister Clark has a blog for the mission: fresnomission.BlogSpot.com.
Also her Facebook is Bonnie Campbell Clark if you want to add her. That would
be okay!
I love you and I am continually
praying for you all! I hope all is well. Tell Adam I said happy birthday! I
love you!
Always <3,
Sister Abigail Reese
Also, I forgot to mention in the
letter I got from President this week, he told me that I had learned a lot from
a great trainer and that I would be a "great trainer...soon."
So...I'll be training at some point in the future....Pray for me...please!
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