Dad,
I loved seeing everyone on Christmas
Day! It was really great to be able to see and talk to you. It was a little
difficult at the end but I am so, so glad that I got to see everyone. I think
it would have been harder for me if I had been calling you on the phone. I'm
glad I got to share something about Christmas with you! When you pick me up, I
want to teach you a lesson before we leave my mission because it can be really
powerful. I'll still be a set apart representative of Jesus Christ. Until we get
home. That will be weird. Also, you should let President Clark know that that
is the plan. They order plane tickets six months in advance so at least by May
21. Or I guess June 2.
God has blessed me this week with a
lot of strength. He has been preparing me for what is to come for a while. We
got our transfer call on Saturday. I told you transfers were on the 31, right?
Well, on the 31st, I will be going to another area. I was really sad when I
found out. But then not too long after, I felt this overwhelming peace and
comfort just flow right over me. It was the greatest feeling ever. It was
really cool to have a confirmation that everything at transfers is inspired of
God. I have been feeling like I was going to get transferred for a while but I
didn't want to believe it. God made me though. In my heart, I knew. In my head,
I was oblivious, but in my heart I knew what was coming. And I was okay with
it. I have been in this area--Alluvial--for seven and a half months. And I've
been in Woodward Park for four and a half. I have spent a lot of time there and
I am so grateful for the time I had. It was really amazing and I truly grew a
lot from being in these wards. And I had a baptism! R means everything to
me and it was worth every hard things I ever struggled with. I will be going to
the Fresno East Stake in the Cedarwood ward. My companion will be Sister Russel
who is actually here from the Nauvoo visitor's center. So that will be
interesting. I guess God just likes putting me with visitor's center sisters.
She'll be my third one! but I love her. I met her yesterday and I love her so
much! Plus, a sister that I took out on open your mouth is in that stake in the
Spanish ward. I'm excited to be with her too! AND an elder I came out with is
my district leader: Elder Bean! I'm so excited! It almost makes up for my
previous district leader going home on Wednesday. Almost. But I truly am
excited. And you know how I am with change so I am taking this remarkably well.
Which kind of makes me wonder if there is a lot to come, a lot of hard things.
But if there is, I will push through because I have God on my side. I am truly
grateful that I was able to serve in Alluvial and Woodward Park. And it will be
hard to leave. Brother Rahn, the ward mission leader in Woodward Park, decided
to talk about me in Gospel Principles. It was really interesting to hear
people's comments. A lot of people said how outgoing I've become. How much
louder I am. And how much bossier. Apparently, all I do now is boss Brother
Rahn around. Which is true in a sense I guess. But we're going to their house
for dinner tonight so I can see them one more time. It'll be really great!
We were able to see quite a few
people this week, despite it being Christmas. On Tuesday we had a whole bunch
of set appointments that fell through. It was really frustrating. But we
realized there was a reason for it when we were able to see a few people. We
were able to go see Sister White, an older lady who is just awesome. I love her
and will miss her a lot. We also saw Ci and were able to talk to her for a
while. She was really sweet and just let us in. We technically aren't teaching
her anymore, but that's okay. One day she will come to know for herself that
what we taught is true. We also did some service for a recent convert.
She is really sweet but she has a lot of...stuff. I think I've talked about her
before. We are really trying to help her organize everything so she will have
the courage to just throw it out. We're not sure how it's going.
Christmas Eve was almost like
another day of Christmas! It was really good! We made a ginger bread house that
is super cute. Then we made cookies with Sherry. I love her and I'm going to
miss her a lot. She and Charles took us to the farewell last night so that we could
be there for Elder Grisenti, who was my district leader for four transfers. It
was great! I love them both so much and I hope one day C's heart will be
softened enough to accept the gospel. We also went to the Thacker's. They are
so sweet. I got socks from them. We also got a stocking and a couple gifts.
They were so sweet and I am so grateful for them. It made me feel almost like I
was at our Christmas Eve party. It was really awesome. Then we went to the
Gallis'. They are awesome. I played Away in a Manger for them on the piano
while everyone sang...I messed up but at least I was brave and did it right? It
was really cool.
On Christmas Day, we went to the
Davis's for breakfast. Their grandson made hash browns in a waffle iron! It was
so cool! They tasted really good. I'm glad I got to try them. They kept asking
me how I eat potatoes since I'm from Idaho...it was interesting. But I love
their family so much. They are great. Then we went to the Burts' to Skype. That
was one of my favorite parts of the day! It was really great to see you. And
Sister Burt afterward gave me a hug and told me it was okay to cry and be sad
because you do miss your family as a missionary, especially on Christmas. She
served in Boise. Crazy right? They gave us a Christmas present which was so
sweet (but I have no idea how I'm going to transfer everything that I got on
Christmas Day). We went to the Kuhns' next. They had a ton of presents for us.
It was crazy! Our trunk was full of gifts from people by the end of the day. We
watched Frozen and I loved it so much! I miss that movie. But it'll be there
when I get back...as long as you didn't give it away because it is my movie :)
We played Catch Phrase after that. With Melanie and a whole bunch of
missionaries. It was so fun! I love that game so much!
The next day, we had dinner with an
awesome family who has a son Hunter's age. He reminded me of a combination of
me, because he's clumsy (he dropped a plate...it kind of just fell out of his
hands, and then like five minutes later, he spilled water on his mom!), and
Hunter because he's funny. He's a little more quiet than Hunter but it was
really awesome! I love them. We are going to see them before I leave tomorrow.
We also saw Sister Gonzalez who got a little shiatsu for Christmas. She is so
cute!
Saturday we did this really cool
role play with our dinner appointment. We asked each of them to think of a
nonmember they know and then play them. We taught them the Plan of Salvation
and it was one of the coolest role plays I have ever done. I loved it! And
Sister Scribner has someone that we will probably start teaching! Well, Sister
Isaksen and Sister West, her new companion. So that'll be really good. I'm
excited for them! We also saw the Kuhns. It was right before our transfer call.
Actually, we didn't get our call until about 10:27. It was terrible. We were
all on conference call so that was really cool. We listened together. Only four
of us are leaving. Some of my favorite people are leaving so I think it's good
that I won't be here to miss them.
Sunday was the farewell and it was
great! I love listening to missionaries bear testimony. A new assistant was
called and he was my zone leader my first two transfers...it'll be weird seeing
him a lot again.
Has Brittany had her baby yet?? Send
me pictures when she has!
I love you, Dad. I miss you and
think of you a lot, but I know that I am here for a purpose. I know that I am
in the California Fresno Mission for a reason. For multiple reasons. And I'm
grateful for that. I love you!
Always <3,
Sister Abigail Reese
PS Did you like your presents?
Mom,
I had a great Christmas! It was a
little difficult after I said good bye to you because I didn't want to have to
say good bye. But it was awesome to see everyone and I'm really grateful that I
was given that opportunity. It made my day and I will cherish that until
Mother's Day! We went to the Davis's for breakfast. She is the relief society
president in Woodward Park. They are great. Joseph, their grandson who is
twelve, made hash browns using a waffle iron! Isn't that the coolest thing
ever?? I want to learn how to do it! They were really good too. Then we went to
the Burts, of course, and Skyped. They are so great. Sister Burt came and gave
me a big hug after I was done talking to me and said it was okay to cry and to
be sad for a little bit on Christmas Day. It was really sweet. I couldn't give
Brother Burt a hug for you but I told him you told me to! They are the greatest
members and I'm so grateful for them. They got a Christmas present--a scarf and
a journal. It was cute! Then we went to the Kuhns'. that was a lot of fun. We
played this game with some missionaries that Melanie made and then we had
dinner. they gave us stockings. We also got a Christmas Santa hat to wear so
Sister Isaksen and I were wearing ours. It was really cute! I'll send a picture
if I have time. We watched Frozen for our Christmas movie and it was so good! I
forgot how much I love that movie. I thought it would make me think of home but
it didn't. I sang along to the songs. I still know them! It was great. Then we
played Catch Phrase with Melanie and Elders Robertson, Perez, and Garbero. It
was so much fun! It got really competitive but I loved it! Last time it was
just Sister Lunddahl and I with Kurt and Melanie. But this time we had more
people. It was great! At the end of the night, there were even more
missionaries. It was really crazy. It was intense. You should play it for
family home evening or something. But my Christmas was great. It really helps
to have awesome members who treat us like family and who love us. The Lord knows
what I needed and He knows that I needed to be in this area for five transfers.
We got our transfer call on
Saturday. Transfers aren't until Wednesday but we found out what was happening
on Saturday. I will be going to the Fresno East Stake to serve in the Cedarwood
ward. When I first found out, I was really sad. I love this area so much and I
am so grateful for it. I love these people and I will miss them all so, so
much. But as I knelt down to pray that night, I was filled with this
overwhelming sense of peace and comfort that all would work out and all would
be okay. I accepted this change wholeheartedly. I was able to see the ways God
prepared me for it. I had felt like I was going to be transferred but then I
guess I got used to the feeling so I didn't think it would happen. I wanted to
stay in this area and I wanted to be with Sister Isaksen. But that's not what
God wants for me at this point. I spent seven and a half months here and I have
grown so much. Not it's time to move on and to grow somewhere else and to help
other people. The funny thing is, in my first transfer, I went on exchanges in
Cedarwood (then Clovis 2) and I told the members that I was gong to serve there
one day. And now I am! It's also the ward the assistants are in so it will be a
little weird. But I'm excited! I'm sad to leave and I am sad that I have to say
good bye to so many people. But I know this is what God wants. I can feel that
there are people the Lord is preparing for me there. My new companion's name is
Sister Russel. She's really sweet and she is a Nauvoo sister, meaning she is
from the Nauvoo visitor's center. She'll be here for two more transfers. We are
basically getting doubled into an area, which means we are both new to the
area. It will be interesting. But at least we have the assistants. And, crazy
story, guess who my new district leader is?? It's Elder Bean! The one I came
out with. I had a dream a couple weeks ago that he was going to become my
district leader...and now he has! I'm really relieved because it helps me a lot
to know that my district leader is someone I already trust and love. I'm super
excited about that. It's going to be a fun transfer...and maybe a little hard
too. But I know I can do it and I now God wouldn't place anything in my path
that I can't handle. I'm super grateful for the opportunity I have and I'm so
excited to serve there!
We saw C this week. I think we
basically dropped her, but she was really sweet. We just stopped by and she let
us in and we talked to her and she gave us hot chocolate. She is great. I hope
one day when missionaries knock on her door, she will let them in and accept
the gospel because I know it will help her a lot.
On Christmas Eve, we saw a few
people. We went to the Amsbary's and made a ginger bread house, which I showed
you. I don't think I've ever done that before. We also went to see Sherry and
made cookie with her which we ended up taking to a member who was having a hard
time this Christmas. I loved doing it. It was fun! then we went to the Thacker
family. They are so sweet. I love them. Santa literally came and gave them
presents. That's when we got socks. We also got stockings. And they gave us a
whole bunch of airplanes that we are going to make today and throw at the
elders. It's going to be fun! We also went to the Gallis'. They are awesome
members whom I love. That's where we talked to Nick. Or Sister Isaksen talked
to Nick. They let us participate in their White Elephant exchange even though
we didn't bring anything. It was a lot of fun. Our ward
also put together a whole bunch of gifts for us. It was really sweet. We had so
much stuff by the end of the Christmas day...I have no idea how I'm going to
transfer all of it.
Oh...by the way, the red suitcase
you let me use...well, the front wheels on it are messed up. The rubber on it
is like broken through. It's like this rip right down the middle. I'm not
really sure how to fix it. I'm sure there's a way but I know now what it is. I
promise I'll try though! I don't want any transfers to be difficult because of
a suitcase. I'm going to send home some stuff soon but not today. Brittany gave
me ornaments for our tree which I won't need all year and the nativity Grandma
sent me will be in that box too. So watch out for it! I'll write fragile on the
box. It is really cute!
Speaking of Brittany, has she had
her baby yet??? I've been waiting for a few days to see a picture but it
doesn't look like I have one yet :P It's okay though. Next week right??
I love you, Mom and I am so grateful
that I got to talk to you and everyone on Christmas Day. I hope you told
Grandpa and Robin and Roger and Jess and Jamee that I said hi. I miss them all
and hope they had a merry Christmas. I love you!
Always <3,
Sister Reese
PS I'm glad you liked what I sent
you!
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