Learning Experiences, an Adventure, and Meet the Mormons!

Dear Family,

This week was really long. Like seriously. For real. It was SOOO long. If you remember last year's summer, you'll remember that it got super hot and gross and...well, it's starting again. I got here a year ago and it was hot and I had to suffer for three ish months with the heat...hopefully it will go by fast! I am not a fan of the heat.

On Monday, we went to the Belnaps. They are a great family and he is from Idaho Falls! Also, he is related to Preston. Do you remember my friend Preston? The redhead? Yeah him. They are related! I'm not sure how closely...but they are. We had dinner with them and taught them a little bit of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is really big on saving water, which I think Dad would appreciate. She has tubs in her sinks to save the water we would waste. It's good. Even though I'm not really sure it makes much of a difference. We then went to see T and H at Sister Sifton's house. T, as you know, was baptized about a month ago and H is her son who isn't baptized. But he doesn't really want to be. The lesson we had was...weird. It wasn't the greatest becasue T was upset for some reason and kept thinking that H was being disrespectful, but really he was just being a kid. It was awkward though. The spirit was really strong at some points and at other points...not so much. Then we saw J and we read part of a talk with her from conference: Is It Still Wonderful to You? by Bishop Causse. It's really good. you should read it. (Alma 14:12-13, 25-26; 15:9; Luke 22:42)

On Tuesday we went to the soup kitchen because we didn't have a district meeting. It was good. I love going there and they really appreciate our help. We get to dry trays and when we do it we hit them against the counter and it's really a stress reliever. I love it! I received a blessing from Elder Feltner and Elder Harrison that day too. I was feeling really overwhelmed and really anxious and I wasn't sure why so I asked for a blessing. Elder Feltner gave me a really incredible blessing that I really needed. What he focused on the most was how much Heavenly Father loves me and how proud He is of the work I've done. He has great things in store for me! It really helped me get through the rest of the week. We then saw Sister Ramirez. She's super great. I love seeing her. We had dinner with Sister Haroldsen. She is a wonderful woman whom I love a lot. She loves us. Then we had MCM and then went to see T. the elders came to help us with her kids but...the lesson went awry. Baptism was pushed too much and I don't think the husband, K, appreciated it all that much. But it was okay! The spirit was still there sometiems. We played simon Says! (Alma 16:16-17; 34:40-41; Mosiah 4:9-12, 24-25; 3 Nephi 12:48 [perfect meaning complete])

On Wednesday we had district meeting and it was a really good one. I was feeling the spirit and I was reminded why I chose to serve a mission and what I am meant to do here. I needed it a lot. We didn't see a ton of people. We ate dinner with Ivy and her family and it was good! It was Italian which was really good. I love Italian food. Then we tried by the F's and she let us in to use the bathroom but we didn't stay. We will call her to set up a time. Then we takled to this woman named He and she was...interesting. She said we could come back though. That was our Wednesday...it was kind of a long day. Well, it went by fast but we didn't see a lot of people. (Alma 17:2, 9-11, 17)

Thursday we went to the Remington. AND OH YEAH I FORGOT. ON Wednesday we met a family that we had received as a referral and we went by and found out that they had just lost a family member. The funeral was Thursday. So they invited us and we went. It was good! I don't why, but at funerals I have this really big urge to make jokes...it was tough. Then we went to take our car in to the shop because we had to get our oil changes. It was interesting. Then we saw Sister Todd and shared Alma 26:27 with her. She really liked it. Then we went to an apartment complex near our dinner to contact a former. Except we got lost in this apartment complex. Now, let me remind you that I have terrible directional instincts. So it didn't help at all. But we met some really nice people that new missionaries from Modesto (can visit?). So that was good. But then as we were trying to find our way back, we got stuck...in a pool area. NOT IN THE POOL. But in the gate that surrounded it. WE were there for fifteen minutes before we were able to flag down a nice Navy man who unlocked it for us. I even tried to climb the fence...but then I got scared. We ate dinner with the Sopps who I love a lot. Then we saw E. They sold their house! Which makes me sad but also I'm glad that they were able to do it finally. We'll help them move when they dio, Then we briefly saw M. She's sweet. But she was really tired. (Alma 18:32, 34)

Friday we TALKED TO 20 PEOPLE! For the first time ever! It was fun! But then we lost it after taht...we need to figure out how to be consistent. We went to the soup kitchen as well and that was fun. We had to leave early though because Elder and Sister Fanning were coming to check our apartment. We had dinner with Sister Ramirez. I love her. She's great. Then we stopped by the J's and L. We saw a woman in our apartment complex whose name is F. She's Pentecostal. But she's sweet! (Alma 18:10, 13,14, 16-17, 23; Enos 1:15-16)

Saturday was a long day. We went to the Remington and then we stopped by H. But she didn't come to the door. We stopped by a few people but not a lot of people answered the door. We had dinner with the Gages who are super great. Then we tried by B because we had an appointment but she wasn't home. We tried a few potentials but then ended up driving back to our apartment to see J. This is where Meet the Mormons comes in. We watched most of it with her and are going to go back maybe tonight to finish it. I love that movie! (Alma 20:24, 26-27; 22:15; 23:7)

Sunday I learned that if I don't follow spiritual promptings, I am preventing someone else from being blessing. I had a feeling that I needed to bear my testimony about God's love during sacrament but I didn't want to. Toward the end of the meeting, the thought came to me, "If you don't, someone's prayers won't be answered." I don't actualy know if someone's prayer was answered because of me but I do know that I did what God wanted me to do. We  taught T whom I love a lot. He's so sweet. It was a really good lesson. We had dinner with Sister Sifton and then had another dinner with the M's and their member daughter. It was fun! Then we saw the S's and M. It was a good day! (Alma 24:6, 10, 13-14, 16, 26-27)

Today I was still in Alma, of course, and I read some of chapter 26. You should all read it because it's one of my favorites. Verses to read are 1, 8, 11-12, and 15-16. 

I LOVE YOU ALL and I'm so grateful for you and all your support. remember God loves you!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

My one year mark, baptism and sacrifice

Dear Family,

This week, I learned a lot about sacrifice. Elder Nathanial Oberst, who returned home from a mission last week, reported yesterday in church. He gave an incredible talk on sacrificing and consecrating. He said that God is only asking for us to sacrifice because He wants to give us something even better. He said there are three types of missionaries: Those who don't want to be here, those who are dedicated and those who are consecrated. So I asked myself, what is it that I haven't placed on my altar of sacrifice? What am I holding back? And I came to the conclusion that I'm holding back my anxiety and my homesickness. Yes, it really wouldn't be a sacrifice to not have it. But wouldn't it? Anxiety is something that I have, unbeknownst to us, struggled with my whole life and laying that aside would be weird. Who would I be without it? And homesickness often shows me that I have a wonderful family at home who loves me and wants me to succeed. And I want to succeed too. But it's hard to let go of all the good memories and good times that I had with you. So I know now...I need to figure out how to sacrifice my anxiety and homesickness. that is a way that I will become more consecrated. Of course, I think there are other little things that may keep me from being completely consecrated, but I know with all my heart that as I do my best to "sacrifice" these two things, I will be a more consecrated missionary.

On Tuesday I went to the dentist. Which sucked. But you know what? THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I went to the dentist for absolutely nothing. I think I grind my teeth at night and that's why they hurt. (Mom, I blame you for that.) After our preparation day we ate dinner with the Barth family whom I love. They are so awesome. Sister Barth is so hilarious. I love her so much. And they are such a beautiful couple. their family is so cute. Then we had MCM which was good too. I love all of our ward missionaries and our ward mission leader. they are awesome. We saw Sister Carter, who is also super sweet. I love her a lot. She gave us some ice cream and cookies. We talked about the Atonement and it was really good. I love talking about the Atonement of my Savior. We got pretty deep which I also love. It was great. 

Wednesday we went on exchanges. I was here in Hanford with Hermana Clark. I was so nervous to lead the area because I didn't think I could do it. But I feel that it was a really good exchange and I proved to myself that I could lead the area! We saw E at Sister Sopp's home. She is so great. I love her. then we saw sister Ramirez and talked about hope. It was a really good lesson. She's so sweet. Then we saw Sister Hill at Panera for dinner. I love Panera but I don't think we have them in Idaho. Then we dropped by B G who has really been struggling. I'm really glad we got to see her. We haven't seen her in a while. She was struggling with some stuff so I'm glad we stopped by. Then we saw the Salls. They are awesome. I love them. They are the cutest old couple ever. It was sweet. And then the elders called us and asked us to come over to see M. We talked about her baptism and how she was super nervous but it all worked out! She went through with it. Scriptures: Mosiah 27:14, 25

Thursday we exchanged back right before we had our service at the nursing home. It was really good. I love going there. Then we saw E at the family history center. It was fun! She was so excited to do her family history but we couldn't find her family so we decided to let her get some information she didn't have and she's going to put it in and then hopefully we will be able to get a little farther on it with her. We saw Ivy who had a birthday. It was also my year mark! I was so shocked that it had come so fast! Can you believe I've been a missionary for a whole year? Longer now! I can't believe it. It's so crazy to me that I have been out that long. We went to Applebee's for dinner with the M's--the Baptist couple. They are so sweet. We talked about the Family Proclamation with them. they loved it. Then we saw J! I love her so much. She was so excited for her baptism. It has been wonderful to teach her and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity. Then we were able to see the H who we haven't seen for a really long time. We had a really good lesson with them where we kept their attention. Scriptures: Mosiah 28:3, Romans 5:1

Friday we went to the soup kitchen! I love them all so much. We talked to P a little bit. He reminds me a little of Hunter which is probably why I love him so much. There was something wrong with him on Friday though and i couldn't figure out what it was. it was really bugging me. But we were one of the last people to leave the soup kitchen and I always love when that happens because they we have a chance to talk to some of my favorite people! We weekly planned which was okay and then we had J's baptismal interview. She was so ready. She is so smart. She knows so many things and it has been incredible to recognize that. We went to see the Milnes family (who also fed us dinner Saturday and let us come over to do laundry today) and it was great. I love them. they are preparing to go to the temple to be sealed and it reminds me of when we were sealed! Then we saw T who is awesome. We want to ask his dad for permission for him to be baptized again but we don't know how to do it. Then we saw T and we had a very inspired message for her and her son that night about the stripling warriors and listening to your moms. It was really cool. Then we saw J and her mom sat in on the lesson! THAT NEVER HAPPENS! It was a huge miracle. It was really cool. I have a quote instead of a scripture today: "...nevertheless, this is the most sacred day of the year for special remembrance of brother hands and determined arms that reached into the abyss of death to save us from fallings and our failings, from our sorrows and our sins." and we can celebrate "victory over every fall we have ever made, every sorrow we have ever known, every discouragement we have ever had, every fear we have ever faced." (Jeffrey R. Holland, conference Oct 2015)

on Saturday, we went to the Remington again and had a good time! Then we went to M's baptism! It wasn't ours, but it was still really great. I'm really glad we got to go. She was so happy! We did the halftime show (taught the Restoration) and it was really good! We then went to see F and asked about B and K. She said they may be splitting up which made me really sad. We're praying for them though! Then we saw B again to make sure she was coming to church. She said she would and then didn't come :( Then we had dinner with the Milnes family. I love them so much. they are so cute. Brother Milnes nonmember mother was there and she was so sweet too. Then we saw B C and she loves missionaries. she's so sweet. She doesn't ever let us in but she is really great Then we saw J who is Je's sister. She lives across from us. Then we saw A who is awesome too. i love her so much. No scriptures again but I did learn that prayer is selfless! When you are praying for God to take something away and only asking because it's hard for you, He won't grant it...but when you ask so you can help others, He is more likely to help. 

Sunday was J's baptism! It was the best day ever! K, her mom, told us that it was because of Sister Arruda and me that she is going back to church. It made me so happy! She made us cry after the baptism when she said that. I love that woman. I'm so sad they are moving away from us. She is going to give us their mailing address so we can write and I'm going to give her mine too! Plus, I will go visit them in Reno one day. I am going to make it happen. She told us that she knew we were special from the moment she met us on Easter Day. I feel like I knew her before I came here and that makes it so much more special. She said we were needed in this exact place in hanford at this time and she thanked us for serving a mission. For choosing. the minute we chose, god knew we would be here for her and J. It made my day and I'm so grateful for her. We also saw the Mayos on Sunday who are so sweet. I love them so much. then we saw J. I love her too. Her mom sat in again. It was way awesome! Scriptures: Alma 5:12-14, 16. And refer to the beginning (sacrifices).

I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for you. Sister Milnes said hello! She let us do our laundry today and she loves us. I'm so grateful for her. I LOVE YOU! Have a great week!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

Temple, A Crazy Pentecostal and a Cancer-Ridden Member

Dear Family,

This week was pretty good! There were some hard moments, but I have been getting really good at coping with my anxiety and my homesickness. I am kind of tired of having to deal with it so hopefully that will motivate me to overcome it while I'm here. 

On Monday, we had our preparation day, of course, and we ate lunch with Elder and Sister Fanning! They are super awesome. I love them. And then we were able to see the Dillon family. that lesson was kind of...not super great. We didn't really know what we were doing and it was hard to figure out where we were going with it. But we did it and we did taught them and they said they enjoyed it! So hopefully that's true. then we taught T. She didn't bring her kids becasue they came to church on Sunday....but we are trying to help her understand that that doens't matter. Getting anything gospel related will help them in the long run. We went to see sister Carter afterward. She's super sweet. I didn't really know her all that well but she is so loving and kind and I didn't really expect that. Shows me not to judge people on sight. I think I gave you the scriptures for the day but just in case: 3 Nephi 15:9, 27:13; James 5:8; and 2 Thessalonians 1:4. I can't remember what they say...but they are good!

On Tuesday we had zone meeting, after which I felt like crap. We also had Sister Roemmich, a travel trainer, with us from Monday to Tuesday and she's super obedient and made us feel like crud because we weren't doing every little thing right. But I have been working on it this week. We talked about obedience and correction at zone meeting which I am trying to be better at (correction). It's hard. then we taught J. Oh yeah! I handed out a Book of Mormon to a man on the street. It was cool. He at first wasn't very open but then we started asking him about him and he told us some stuff and we found out he liked to read so I offered the Book of Mormon! It was really neat! J's lesson was good. She's so prepared and ready for baptism. OH YEAH! Remember when Laurie Hall told us about someone she knew here in the California Fresno Mission? He's in my zone now! Elder Villanueva. I got a picture with him! It's the one with the Book of Mormon! We ate dinner with the Andersons. they are great. He's the new stake president but he wasn't there. He was at work. We taught C S. We found his mom through a media referral and we taught her before then we went back and he came and talked to us! He was trying to preach at us though...so I was bold and stated our purpose. But then I got really frustrated and a little worked up...it wasn't too great. But we did go back later. We saw E. She is really awesome but she doesn't come to church as often as she should...we're working on it. The scriptures for today are Mosiah 12:1 and Matthew 7:24-25. I'm reading in Mosiah right now and it's great!

Wednesday, we contacted a referral named S L. She requested a Book of Mormon because the Church of Christ, where she attends, apparently used to use it. I think it's the old RLDS church or FLDS church or something like that. So we're going to go back after Memorial Day and see her. She's sweet. Then we saw Sister Ramirez. I love her. She's so great. We did a little bit of the Christlike Attribute Activity in Preach My Gospel. It was fun! Then we saw S. She's so sweet. I love her so much. She's super pregnant though and she needs a lot of help. She's due in July! We saw T. She's great. I love her. She always makes us feel better. Then we saw J whom I also love a lot. Her sister moved across from us! I'm excited. Scriptures: Luke 18:29-30 and Mosiah 14:7.

On Thursday, we went to the Remington again. It was just Sister Arruda and I so it wasn't as fun, but it was still good! They beat us...again. We need practice. We saw I. She's struggling a lot. I don't know what to do for her. She doesn't have the desire to read or pray and it's so sad. She was baptized in June last year and she loved it then. I don't know what happened. We also stopped by H S again. We hadn't set up a return appointment so we went by. The lesson was going really well. She was in the kitchen so we were just teaching her son. But then I asked a question that she didn't like and she came storming out and started yelling at me. I kept my mouth shut because the spirit was totally gone so there was no way what I was going to say was by the spirit. But thankfully my companion stood up for me and told her we were offended because she was saying we didn't love God. And she just kept yelling and told us that she didn't want to enemy coming into her home so we could just go. So we got up and left. It was really sad to see how closed off she was. She would be the crazy Pentecostal. We ate dinner with the Milnes at Superior Dairy which is really yummy. I loved it. I love them too. they are so sweet. We also saw M. She is really struggling but she has a baptismal date for May 23. We know she can do it! We've been praying for her. Scriptures: Mosiah 16:9, 18:1

On Friday, we went to the soup kitchen. I love them so much. They are super great. We did drinks so it was good. there were too many people there though ;/ So there wasn't a lot of work to do. But it was still good! We saw J too. We are almost done with her lessons. I'm sad to see it happen because I love her and she's so fun to teach. We ate dinner with Sister Ramirez. We read some scriptures with her and helped her understand them. Then we saw Sister W. She's sweet but she has some health issues. We also saw E and A whom I love. they are so great. A gave me a cross stitched cross. Remember when I was able to cross stitch? Scripture: Mosiah 21:14-15 (and 16).

Saturday was kind of a long day. No one answered their doors. We went to the Remington again and then we were just going from door to door after taht. It was difficult. We ate dinner with the Lopez family. I love those two a lot. We talked about Ammon in Alma 17 and how he served first and then he was able to share the gospel. You should read it! The story of Ammon is incredible. I'm almost there in my Book of Mormon reading. Then we were able to see T and that was it. She's great though. She made us feel lots better. Scriptures: Mosiah 21:24; Ruth 1:16; and D&C 59:23.

Sunday we had church which was alright. We found out on Sunday that a member we both love has cancer in her stomach and it's spread. She told us with tears in her eyes and I just cried. I was kind of angry at first but then realized God has a plan. We saw J again. We have one more lesson to teach her and that's it. I'm excited for her baptism! We met her nephew who just came home from his mission on Thursday and he was kind of awkward at first but he's not so much now. We also saw the member who has cancer. She is so great and motivating and sweet. We ate dinner with the Gage family. they are awesome too. I love them. Then we saw J and S. M's mom and stepdad. She wasn't feeling up to talking to anyone which was depressing so we just gave her a hug and then talked to them. I love her family so much. they aren't even in our ward! Scriptures: Mosiah 23:21-22, 24:14-15 and Matthew 25:21

Monday was long too. We had a district meeting and I had to reschedule my dentist appointment for today which kind of stinks. I don't like it. I think I have a cavity though so I'm going today. I'm not sure we'll have time to get everything done. We did see J again on Monday. She's so sweet. I love her so much. then we saw B C who is less active. But she was really nice and she talked to us for a while on her porch. She said we could come by anytime. She loves missionaries. We ate dinner with the Sopps. Brother Sopp is pretty cool. He talked about crazy things on his mission! It was great. We saw M. She actually was up when we went by. She was feeling better and still wants to be baptized. she thinks. She's great! Scripture: Mosiah 26:20.

Today we went to the temple. And I had a really awesome experience: When we were leaving the Celestial Room, I didn't feel quite satisfied with the answers to my questions I wanted, but the worker standing by the door reached out as I passed. She gave me a hug and whispered, "I don't know why but I felt prompted to give you a hug and tell you that Heavenly Father loves you." I cried on the way back to the dressing room because I really did need that even though I didn't know why. I want you all to know that it's true for you too. God loves you.

I love you all so much! I feel your prayers. I need them. Haev a great week!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese