Dear Family,
This week was kind of a difficult
one, which you probably expect with transfers and me being transferred south to
Hanford. I'm not in Fresno or Clovis anymore...I'm really sad about that. I
miss those cities so much and I really hope I can go back. Right now, I hope I
can go back at the end of the transfer but I may feel differently at the end of
the transfer.
Monday was my last preparation day
in Fresno East. It was really sad. However, I don't think I really realized I
was leaving until I got to Hanford so I didn't cry at all Monday or Tuesday. I
got a whole bunch of missionaries to sign my transfer journal which was nice.
Their notes were really sweet and they made me laugh. Sister Luke wanted to
take us out to dinner. So we went to In-N-Out one last time since Sister
Russell loves it but doesn't want to eat fast food anymore when she goes back
to Nauvoo. Then we went to see the Hutchasons'. I love that family. They are
great. I'm glad we got to know them. Hey have you been updating my Facebook
page? Or adding friends for me? You should...there are people that added me
that I want to accept!
Tuesday was a day of packing and
figuring out how to fit everything. We did have one last district lunch with
me, Sister Russell, Sister Smith, Sister Putnam, Elder Berry, and Elder Judy.
Elder Judy's birthday was March 28 and since I was being transferred we
celebrated on Tuesday. It was great! I was the only one in our district being
transferred which was weird but it was sweet of them that they were able to
have a lunch with me one last time. But I know I probably will go back to
Fresno eventually. We did some mormon.org time so Sister Russell could copy some songs and I looked
at Grandma's temple ordinances and they have been reserved by me! But I can't
do baptisms and confirmations or initiatories....Can you maybe do it? And then
next time I go to the temple I can do the endowment. It will be great! We
didn't really get to say good bye to anyone which made me really sad. I miss
them a lot and I didn't even get to say good bye! but it's okay. I know I'll
make those relationships here too. We did see the Olsens' though, which I'm
glad about. Sister Olsen said they come to Hanford just to have Superior Dairy,
which is apparently a really good ice cream place so she said she would email
me when they were planning on coming and she would take me and my companion! It
was really sweet. I miss that family so much. I would love to serve there
again, but I'm not sure how likely that is. We went to the farewell since
Sister Russell was speaking. It was really good! I got to see a lot of people
from my last area. Melanie and Kurt were there and a lot of people from
Woodward Park came too. I got to show off my new hair haha. they loved it
though! Melanie is coming to Hanford in April so she said she would take us
out! I'm excited. I miss them so much. Sister Ard went home this week too. It's
weird that my trainer is gone. I think that is another reason that this week
has been difficult, knowing my trainer is no longer in the mission. It makes me
sad. The farewell was awesome though. Made me cry. Elder Gayan's testimony was
recorded and it broke my heart. I love that elder.
Wednesday was transfers so I went
with the Sister Russell in Cedarwood to Hanford. It was good. I met my new
companion and my new sister training leaders (I was released :( ) and my new
zone leaders. They are all awesome. I don't really know a lot of people here
but I hope I will get to know them. the thing about being in the southern part
of the mission is that everyone is more spread out. I don't like it. I liked
having missionaries close. Here there really aren't very many close. There are
two other sets of elders in Hanford and that's it. Selma, Corcoran, Coalinga,
and Lemoore are all a part of the stake. It's kind of like the Boise area but
on a much smaller scale. We did do some service for this woman. She's
sweet. Not a member. We were able to share a message with her. It was great! We
saw an investigator. She is sweet but has doubts about getting
baptized. hopefully we can help her become converted to the gospel. I met our
ward mission leader and the ward missionaries. they are great. One thing I have
been struggling with here is not feeling as welcomed by the members as I was in
my previous areas. But I know there is a reason for it. I know I can make it
through anything through Christ.
On Thursday, we got to play beanbag
baseball! At a nursing home! It was so fun! I'm apparently good at it but I'm
not supposed to be so this week, I'm going to try to do worse than I did so the
old people can win :) It was great though. I did have a little breakdown on
Thursday though afterward. I was really struggling with feelings of anxiety and
panic and not wanting to be in Hanford. I really just wanted to go back to
Fresno, but I'm okay now. I'm trying to remember that I will see all those
people again and I will come to love Hanford. We saw an investigator,
too. She is really sweet. She said she would come to the women's broadcast (and
she did!). She is a little different, very forgetful, but she is awesome. We
did FHE with her every Monday. We then saw Sister Couch for dinner. She has a
missionary out so it was great. We are watching conference at her house on
Sunday! I'm excited. We were able to see our neighbors. E is a less active member and the other two are nonmembers. It
was really great and they love us.
Friday we got to serve at the soup
kitchen! It was so fun. They are awesome there and they let us eat while we're
there. I have always wanted to do that and i got to! I got to get to know them
while I was there too. I was struggling with some anxiety while we were there
and afterwards but I decided not to struggle anymore. I was kind of sick of
crying, especially since it was making my companion stress too. She has only
been out three months so...I need to do my best to be my best. We did weekly
planning and then we had dinner with the Robisons, who are ward missionaries.
they are awesome. I love them. they are one family I felt really welcomed by.
We saw a less active who has some struggles. She's sweet, but she has
some addictions she is trying to overcome. Then we saw a family that the
sisters found before I got here. The Jones. We were only able to see S
J, but that was okay. It was a good lesson!
Saturday, we had a pass off lesson
with the Spanish elders since the investigator spoke better Spanish. I only
understood pieces of it but definitely not enough to know what was going on. It
was interesting. then we had this district/zone meeting thing to get to know
everyone in the zone. It was fun! Elder Moreno and I are in the same zone
again! I love him so much. He's helped me a lot. We were able to see a 16 year
old girl who wants to be baptized but she has to get permission.
I had this feeling that I am supposed to help her while I'm here. I hope I will
be able to. Then we had to finish weekly planning before the women's broadcast,
which was awesome! I got some revelation for myself and I'm hoping I'll be able
to remember it. I loved the videos they showed. I know I shouldn't be thinking
about this, but it reminded me that I could be married sooner than I think. i
could have my own family. I want to be worthy of the temple and I don't want to
compromise that for anyone.
Sunday was my first day at church.
It was good. they were awesome. I bore my testimony so everyone would know me
since the bishop didn't introduce me at the beginning. We saw a recent convert who is great. I love her. then we were able to see this older
couples. They are super sweet and remind me of other older couples I
know from my other areas. I love them. We ate dinner with the Olmsteads. they
are great. then we went to a youth fireside on missionary work because Sister
Arruda was speaking. President Clark was there. Elder Allred, our zone leader,
spoke too. he talked about how hard it is to leave people you love which I
could definitely relate too since I have had too...twice now. I hate it. It's
the hardest part for me. But it's okay. We saw some a recent convert family. they are so great. I love them. So solid. i love seeing that.
I love you all and I'm so grateful
for you and your support. Please know that missionary work is hard, but it's
worth every second. And remember that I'll see you in eight months!
Always <3,
Sister Abigail Reese
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