New Investigators, Exchanges, and Shopping!

11-09-15

Dear Family,

This week was a really productive one! At least more than last week. We found FOUR new investigators, and we taught a lot of lessons! We didn't teach that many last week. It was a rough week. This week was great though!

On Monday, I don't really remember what we did during preparation day. We went to the O’s like we always do, and we ended up going shopping with her and some of her kids! It was just like shopping with Mom, except it wasn't MY mom. It was fun though! She got us a treat and everything, just like you used to do. It felt like home. We ate dinner with them too. So that was really good. Then we saw I A for another new member lesson. We are SO CLOSE to being done with them. He won't be a recent convert in December so we're trying to finish before that happens. We saw H and FINALLY finished general conference. I think he really liked it and I think it helped him. He is progressing more and more now, and he is praying to know if he should be baptized before I go home. I really want him to be, but I don't want him to if he's not ready. (D&C 88:125)

Tuesday we had district meeting which was almost like zone meeting. But Elder W asked me to share my testimony on how the mission can change you so that was a definite blessing. It got me thinking about how the mission really had changed me. It has changed my life. It has changed who I am. I am so grateful for this experience. I don't know where I would be or what I would be without it. I just love serving here and I love these people so much and because of that, I know I will be more prepared for my future. We saw Sister H after district meeting. She is moving so it was luck that got us to her before she moved. Then we saw M M for a church tour! It was really good. I think she really liked it. A member who is friends with her was there and she likes to talk but it was okay. I played the piano for them and Sister P and Sister T, the member with us, sang a song. It was cool! We ate with the M’s and I played their piano! The only recital piece that I remember. We didn't see a lot of people after that. We tried by some but none of them answered. So we went to see Brother H for a minute and interrupted a date so we didn't stay long. It was good though! (Alma 34:9-10)

Wednesday was a good day! Well, kind of. We saw Sister L. That was good. Then we saw F with H A. We then went to the O’s. We went through clothes for the P’s. We weren't able to see them this week because they kept cancelling but it was okay. We ate with the M’s and Brother M talked about his mission in Germany! It was cool. Then we went to mutual and started to make aprons! The beehives invited us so that was a lot of fun! (D&C 19:16-19)

Thursday, we saw Sister J in the morning and then we saw the O’s. Sister O is helping me make my farewell invitations! I appreciate it a lot. We saw M at her home and taught the Restoration. It was really great! Her kids are so sweet. One of them is really engaged and the other one isn't really. The youngest doesn't really pay attention but that's okay. We ate with the L family and it was fun! I love them a lot. We saw H again and Bishop came with us! It was really good! He made a really good point. He talked about studying your decision first and then making it and THEN praying, but God isn't going to give us an answer until we're ready to do it. Brother H talked to us for a few minutes after that. It was good! (Alma 32:15-16)

Friday we went on exchanges after we weekly planned. I went to the Spanish area again with Sister R! It was cool. We tried to contact a few people in Clovis which happened to be in Cedarwood, except these people were Spanish so they weren't in Cedarwood. It was really weird. We then had dinner with a really sweet family. I couldn't understand them but Sister R translated for me. We saw an investigator after that and then nobody answered the door or they were busy. So that was cool. (D&C 76:22-24)

Saturday we exchanged back in the morning and then we did mormon.org time. We were able to see the M’s after weeks. It was good. P is so sweet. He will be a great missionary. They all came to church on Sunday finally! It was been a really long time since they were all there. R wasn't. But that's normal now. We did service for H and C. It was good! Then we ate dinner--Sister H gave us a pizza. It was artichoke and bacon and chicken...yum...then we taught M. And then we were finally able to get into the H's! It was really good. It has been so long since we've seen them. (Alma 33:11)

Sunday was a really good day. At first I felt a little off but it got better. It was cool. We had three investigators at sacrament! H sat with us because C spoke. We ate dinner with them! It was really good. After dinner with saw U C. Then we we saw Sister H for a little while. It was good. We did much better than last week. (3 Nephi 18:24--my ponderize scripture for the week!)

Today Sister O took us shopping for boots. She was so sweet. The whole family came with us except Brother O. She bought us both two pairs of boots. My one pair is beaten up so they just bought me more. I feel really grateful but also a little selfish. They really went for Sister P, but then they offered for me too. I just...I just love them all so much. I don't know how I'm going to leave them.

I love you all! Thank you for all your support!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

Service, More Service and Halloween!

11-02-15

Dear Family,

This week was a week filled with service. We had a ton of service hours--we helped the O’s with their backyard. It was so fun! (Yes, Dad, yard work was fun!) We were basically taking tree branches to a pile to be burned but we had to cut them down because they were huge. It was fun though. I loved it. It was a work out too. I had fun throwing leaves and branches and berry-looking things at P and C. And L too, but she's just so sweet, I couldn't always do it.

Monday we ate dinner with the O’s, of course. i love them so much. They are pretty great. It was fun! I loved it. They had really good food, as always. Sister O also did our laundry so that was really nice too. We saw the C’s. I just love them. Brother C shared his conversion story with Sister A. It was pretty great. They are doing pretty good. They just lost an uncle or something so they went to Hollister this weekend for the funeral. (2 Nephi 9:3)

Tuesday we found a new investigator! Her name is M M and she is so solid. She is really open and so prepared. She came from a member. She was a member referral, as all of our recent converts have been. I just love her. She is really great and asks really good questions. She's awesome. We went to the airport to pick up Sister A's companion, Sister A. The assistants were with us, one of which is an elder I came out with. Elder Mo'O. He oh so kindly reminded me that I was going to be there in about five weeks (now four). He'll be there to say good bye. We started doing service for the O’s. It was great! Then we had dinner with the R’s. They are really sweet. We saw the P’s. I love them so much. I hope they know that. We saw Brother H. He's doing great. I just love him so much. (2 Nephi 2:48; Alma 23:6)

Wednesday, we had zone meeting. It was probably the most spiritually exhausting zone meeting I have ever had. And not even in a good way. I felt like I was a terrible missionary afterward. And I won't go more in detail about that. We did service for the O’s again. They are great. Then we ate dinner with the D’s whom I had never really met so that was fun. We saw the R’s family. They are great. I love them a lot. That basically concluded our night. (Mosiah 3:18-19)

Thursday, we did more service and it was so fun! I just love them a lot. Also, Sister O helped me make Grandma's rice krispie treats! They were so good! Except I forgot the butterscotch chips so they weren't as good. But they were still really yummy. We ate dinner with the H’s who are great. I really love them. While we were there, Bishop took a question that one of his daughters asked about what you could write as a testimony if you aren't sure if you have one as a teaching moment. It was good for me. We saw the T's. They are pretty sweet. We saw H and C. They are really great. I love them so much. (Mosiah 4:6, Alma 25:17)

Friday we did more service and did some weekly planning. I just love the O’s. They fed us dinner before the Halloween Trunk or Treat. We decorated our trunk with streamers...it was kind of pathetic but we walked around and said hi to people most of the night. It was pretty great. It brought back so many memories! I don't even like Halloween, but as a missionary it's great. WE get to spend it with members! We taught M and it was a good lesson on prayer. Then we saw Brother H for a few minutes. He's great. (Mosiah 14:3-7)

Saturday was a pretty unproductive day. We did some service for an inactive woman who was going to get evicted if she didn't clean her garage. That was fun. I saw a mouse that crawled on Sister W and it scared me so much. She ran out of the garage. It was pretty funny. We finished weekly planning which took forever and then C picked us up for dinner since our cars had to be parked at 6. It was...an interesting couple hours. We started to play Life but then C took us to the O’s. That was fun! We sat around a campfire and played Telephone and then we played Mafia. C killed me! I was so hurt! But it was because he knew I was the doctor and also I've been throwing things at him all week so it was payback...I understand. Sort of. It was a good night! (Alma 27:18)

Sunday was a really good day. We had church and I bore my testimony! I don't know if you're aware but it is my last fast Sunday yesterday. I thought I'd share my testimony with them. It took me most of the hour to actually get the nerve to get out of my seat, as you probably know. But it was good. Then before Gospel Principles, I got frustrated with a sister in our ward and I thought I may have offended her so after the class, I apologized. It turns out I didn't actually offend her but I thought I did. In Relief Society, we were talking about miracles and Sister W asked us what miracles we had seen today. This same sister raised her hand and said, "A sister who thought she had offended me today apologized. That doesn't happen to me very often and that is a miracle to me." If I hadn't apologized--because I really didn't want to--this woman wouldn't have been touched and I would never have known how much she needed it. She came and gave me a hug after Relief Society and I felt more love for this particular woman than I had ever felt. It was cool. We ate with the F’s. I love them a lot. We saw the B’s whom I also love. They said we are like family. Then we saw Brother H. We were sitting in our car outside his apartment and we were praying. At the end of the prayer, as I was saying amen, I looked up and opened my eyes and let out a blood curdling scream. There, at our window, was Brother H and his girlfriend, S. Brother H was waving his arms like a bat or something and it scared the living daylights out of me! It was pretty hilarious though. I was just a little shaken by it. (Alma 29:9)

 I love being a missionary so much and I am so grateful for this experience. I wouldn't be who I am without it and I am so grateful for the time that I've had. I love all of you and I know I couldn't have gotten this far without your support.

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

 

Transfer Week, Farewell, and Sister Arruda!

10-26-15

Dear Family,

This week was really good! Not a ton of interesting things happened, but it was alright. Transfer week is always crazy though, and that it has been. Even though we weren't transferred, we housed two sisters--Sister R while she waited for her companion and Sister A now while she waits for her companion to come from the Philippines. She gets here tomorrow so today is our last full day with her.

On Monday, we did not do much. Just the usual. The O family fed us, like always, and it was really good. We had a good time with them, as usual. We saw F. It was good. Sort of. We had a hard time teaching. We need to be better at that with F, but we are getting there. She is slowly progressing--or so we thought. she didn't come to church yesterday like she said she would. We saw H after that. He is doing well, just progressing very slowly. They are reading the Book of Mormon together and taking notes! He writes down his questions for us to answer. It's great! (Alma 17:10)

Tuesday we didn't do very much. We didn't have a very productive day. We did have a district meeting--Elder V's last. It was so sad. He's home now. It's super weird to think. His flight plans were exactly like mine are, I think. Crazy. We went to the H’s for dinner. They are great. It was just K H and the kids. Her kids are crazy but they are super sweet. We went to the O’s next. She took us to the farewell. It was great! I loved it. The P’s came and Elder V got a picture with them. It was sad to say good bye to him. OH GUESS WHAT?? ELDER MO'O IS THE NEW ASSISTANT!!! You remember him? I came out with him! He's one of my elders. I am so excited. I'll see him more often!! It's great! We took Sister R home with us this night so that was cool. (D&C 10:4; 123:17)

Wednesday was my 17 month mark! Can you believe it has been 17 months since I entered the MTC? I remember it like it was yesterday, and yet it's faded. It's like a dream but not. I feel like so much has happened in such a short amount of time. Weird. We saw Sister J that day and then we ate dinner with the H’s. They are really great. We saw the P’s too. It was fun! They are remembering things so well. Then we saw the R family. They love us. It is really sweet. I just love that family. We saw C because H was out of town. So we stopped and kept her company for a little while. Then we saw Brother H. I just love him so much. (Alma 17:11--my ponderize scripture!)

Thursday, we were in the middle of our studies when the assistants called. They asked us if we would be willing to take an extra sister for a few days--five, to be exact. And it was Sister Arruda! We were companions in Hanford! So, of course, we said yes. We had a really productive day with her though. We found two new investigators! P M and S! Different places but it was cool. We stopped by the R’s briefly. Brother R is pretty blind. But he's cool. We saw the B’s for dinner and met their granddaughter R. They are great. We saw I last that night and then had to get Sister A a mattress to sleep on for the next five days. Brother M helped us out. We found an apartment that was her apartment number but someone lived in that one. She thought we were breaking in. So then we found the RIGHT apartment. It was cool!

Friday we weekly planned. Sister A and I had a good conversation at lunch. We are working together again well. It's great! We saw A M before dinner. We got her address to send her records there so that was really good. Then we ate dinner with Sister V. She's really sweet. She has the cutest baby. Then we saw the U’s. It was good! F said she was scared so I think she's afraid to make the commitment. We saw F and J next. I love them so much. They are great. (Alma 19:23)

Saturday, we saw Sister N who was supposed to feed us but she gave us money instead. Then we did mormon.org. Then we did a service project. It was fun! It was a lot like the dental care thing we did. We saw the U’s again at the church for a church tour. We think she needed it. She has come to church before but she just won't get baptized. I don't know why. We saw Brother H last of all. He's awesome. I just love him. (2 Nephi 2:3, 6-8, and for Hunter and any other young men out there [or young women]: Alma 57:21-27--they were youth like you!! They are valiant!!)

Sunday was crazy. We had a good day at church, of course. Brother H texted us the night before and asked if we could teach the priests about how to use the pamphlets so we did that. It was pretty cool. Sister A and I taught Sister P! It was really cool. the spirit was definitely there. We saw the W’s for dinner and then we were supposed to have an appointment with a potential but she wasn't there. It was sad. But we saw Sister D! I just love her a lot. We taught H again. He was finally home. It was a good lesson. We watched more of conference. We need to figure out how we can help him make it a priority. But I really love that family. (2 Nephi 2:28, D&C 121:45-46)

I just love being here. I know that everything I've done has been really great. I love being a missionary. Thank you for your support and thank you for all your prayers. I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

 

 

Service, a Miracle and a Baptism of Five!

10-19-15

Dear Family,

This week is probably going to be in my top five favorite weeks of my mission. It was the most incredible week ever! There were definitely some hard points, but the miracles and happiness we saw is amazing.

On Monday, I was trying to figure out some school stuff but I gave up. It is very stressful, especially since I only have so much time on Mondays to figure it out. We ate dinner with the O’s. I just love them all so much. They are great. They raelly love missionaries and I think they want to do something for me before I go home. (OH I ALMOST FORGOT TO TELL YOU: I'M ENDING HERE! Sister Putnam and I are staying together in Kings Canyon. I am SO EXCITED!!!) So that's really sweet of them. They were surprised Sister Putnam is still here--it'll be her seventh transfer. Only my fourth and last. But that's okay. We saw H too. That was fun. We finished watching a movie with them and then discussed it. He needs visuals. He isn't progressing super well, but I know that he will. He needs this gospel. I just love them so much. (Alma 7:11-13, 19)

Tuesday we had district meeting. Elder V is going home in two days so that was sad. But we have one last district meeting tomorrow with him so that will be good. We saw the F’s and we finally met the new baby! She's so cute! She was crying a little while we were there and I just wanted to pick her up. but I didn't. That probably wouldn't have been okay. We saw the U’s. We haven't seen them in a really long time. We saw the O’s for dinner. They feed us a lot. I really just love them. We saw the P’s and we didn't think M was going to be able to be baptized with them this last weekend, but her grandma was there so we were able to get permission for her to be baptized!! It was so exciting! And a huge miracle. We weren't sure it was goign to happen. We saw the R family. They are super sweet. They love the missionaries. I just love them so much. They gave us pumpkins one day last week. (Matthew 25:21)

On Wednesday, we did some service with the D sisters and a whole bunch of other missionaries. We painted a fence for one of their investigators. It was fun! We couldn't stay the whole time because we had an appointment that fell through actually, but it was fun! The paint was red and I got it on my white sweats. It looked like blood. It was crazy. We ate lunch with the O’s. It was fun! They had a pizza a member had given us and cooked it for us. I loved it. We saw Sister V for a few minutes. She's a sweetheart. I really like her. Then we saw Sister P. She reminds me every time we go that I go home soon...it's awesome. We ate dinner with the B’s. That was cool. they are so awesome. Then we stopped by D and Pbut they were busy. So we went to mutual for a few minutes and then saw H again. I just love them all. (Ether 12:6)

Thursday was a slow day. We saw the L’s in the morning and Sister Lhad to go to the hospital :( Then we stopped by a few people but it all fell through. We had M's interview for baptism so that was really good. Then we ate dinner with Sister H. She's really sweet but their family is super busy. We saw A M and found out she is moving to Arkansas! So we were really glad we stopped by. We saw Brother H and he told us some depressing stories about when he volunteered for search and rescue. Four people he was looking for died. One was a woman who was running from a bear and she jumped into a body of water with a water fall and got sucked under. Two were two year old kids--one was kidnapped and the other fell into a bucket or something in the ground. The last was an LDS man that he and his dad just never found. IT was so sad! But he told us a good one the next day. (Alma 11:40)

Friday, we saw the O’s because they helped us with the program for the baptism. Then we weekly planned. We ate dinner with the F’s, whom I love. They are some of my favorite people ever. They are so funny and their daughter, A, is a cutie. She makes the funniest comments ever and she painted us a picture! We saw the U’s again and invited F to church. This time she came!! We saw Brother H again and he told us how he almost died from hypothermia when he was trying to find his nephew and his nephew's family. He found them! In the mountains. Their truck had died and they just couldn't get out. It was raining and cold and it was seven miles to the road. They made it though! (Alma 26:12)

Saturday, we saw T J briefly. We had a crazy day. It was weird. WE didn't do much until the baptism and then it was awesome! All the kids were so nervous but super excited. And P cried. The person baptizing them was there really late though so we started late. It didn't help that he didn't know he was supposed to baptize them. But he did it and it was amazing! I got some really good pictures and I will send them. The family was so awesome and the baptism was so spirit filled. I just loved it. It was a once in a mission experience. I don't think I've ever felt so...good. And the thing was I knew it wasn't us. It was God, guiding us to help them. Obviously they needed us and our personalities but I know that it was God. This is God's work and it will be done His way. After the baptism we ate dinner with the K family. They're pretty great. Not very talkative though. Then we saw M and she is doing great. I love her so much. Transfer call was this night and I was really freaking out about it--for no reason, apparently. Nothing really changed except our district leader. It was crazy. I didn't expect that. But we were so excited! (Ether 12:27, Alma 19:13)

On Sunday we had church. It was good. The confirmations took up most of sacrament meeting. It was pretty cool to see the family baptized. The speakers had a total of 20 minutes to speak. I felt slightly bad. It was a good meeting though! A return missionary spoke about family history work. It was cool. We missed second hour because we were getting signatures on our baptismal records and finishing that up. It was great. We saw P after church at the B’s. It was a good lesson. Then we ate dinner with Sister H and her four boys. Brother H was out of town. He wasn't able to come to the baptism :( We saw Brother H after that. He taught us how to play his buffalo hunt game. It was fun! He's so awesome. I just love this area so much. (Helaman 5:24-26--this is the scripture I ponderized this week. Have you tried it??)

 

Exchanges, Baptismal Interview, and Super Saturday!

10-12-15

Dearest Family,

This week has been really pretty great. I have been studying a lot about accountability because I will be training on that in our district meeting on Tuesday. It has been really interesting and really neat to read about it. It's a really broad topic. Accountability includes taking responsibility for your actions, repenting, using your agency to be accountable, and most importantly, accounting to the Lord for your work and your desires and your deeds. In Preach My Gospel, in Chapter 8, it talked about how accountability doesn't just come at the end of our mission--it comes throughout. We should always be accounting to the Lord for what we are doing. one day we are going to stand before God at the judgment bar and we will give an accounting of our lives. It really touched me. We should all be striving to be a disciple of Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 5:13)

On Monday we ate dinner with the O's! I am pretty sure it is becoming a regular thing. We had FHE with them and it was cool because she had these papers, like assessment, to assess how we're doing with the little things, like scripture study, church attendance, prayers, and such. We filled it out even though we are doing them all and she told us to write how we would keep it up after our mission. So we did. And they are going to mail them to us! I'm excited. We saw the M's after that. I love them. H is making slow progress. We are finally beginning to see what is holding him back. (Alma 27:14, D&C 121:7-8)

On Tuesday, we had district meeting. It was pretty great. For the life of me, I can't remember exactly what we talked about. I think it was mostly how to work with members. We went on exchanges so I didn't get to be in my area :( I was so sad. I really don't want to leave. Transfers are next week so anything could happen. I am really stressed and I think it is because of transfers. It will be my last one. (How crazy is that??) So that'll be interesting. I was in a Spanish area and I didn't understand much. I got to teach a little bit though! It was fun. We ate dinner with the elders at an investigators' home so that was really cool. (Mosiah 27:15)

Wednesday, we exchanged back around noon. Sister Putnam and I were excited to be back together. I didn't want to go on exchanges but it was fun, I will admit. I got to take a picture next to a sign with my name on it! I will send it :) We tried to stop by a few people before dinner but we didn't have a lot of success. WE had dinner with the M's who are super awesome. Then we stopped by the J's before we went to mutual. Our two appointments for the night cancelled on us so that was a bummer. But we helped at mutual so that was good! We stopped by a couple other people afterward but no one really answered. (Mosiah 28:3)

Thursday was a pretty good day. We went to see Sister L that morning. She's really great. She's pregnant! She's due in February. I may have mentioned that already but that's okay! We had lunch with the O family. It was good. We shared this really cool poem Sister Putnam found on LDS.org. It's called "Turning Into the Light." You should look it up. It's about addiction recovery and the Atonement! We served at the Poverello House and that was cool because we hadn't been there for a while, but they remembered us! We stopped by J T to pick up dinner. It was cool. Except she gave us tuna and I don't actually like tuna. We saw the P's! They are all set for baptism on Saturday at four! We are super excited. They are so prepared. M may not be baptized with them because we still haven't gotten permission, but she will be baptized soon. I know she will. We found a couple new investigators! They are Cambodian. Sister P came with us to see them. It was fun. We dropped by Brother H but he was in the shower and T answered and told us. So that was cool. (Alma 1:25)

Friday we weekly planned. First time we have been able to finish in a long time. It was fun! I was going crazy but it was good. We ate with the Ps and met another daughter who was visiting from LA. She was super sweet. Then we saw Sister D. I love her a lot. She's a less active who keeps talking about coming to church but hasn't come yet. We saw Sister H so that was cool. Then we saw F and J. We haven't seen them in a while. We talked about service with them and that was really good. We didn't stay too long though. (Moroni 7:45-48)

Saturday we went to Super Saturday! I made these cool blocks that are a countdown till whatever. There are blocks that are like dice and they have numbers (which I haven't put on yet) and then there is a bigger one that says "Days until..." and then there is a chalkboard painted block underneath. It is so cute! I made some other things but they are Christmas presents so I won't tell you :) We saw the M's. R has asked us not to teach while we're there so we just visited for a few minutes. It was sad though. Then we went to A R's baptism! They were less active but now they are coming back. slowly. We saw H and C and they took us to dinner. H opened up a little more afterwards so that was good. We saw Brother H and visited with him for little bit. I just love all of these people. (Ether 12:33-34, Alma 5:26)

On Sunday we were at church all day, of course. We had a really good MCM and then talked about our baptism in ward council. We tend to schedule baptisms on the busiest Saturdays ever and of course there is something going on. A big youth conference before the dance. It starts at one. But some of the youth will be there. Not a lot. We weren't sure the P's would come to church because we couldn't get a hold of P. But they came! And they had their interviews. Elder Villanueva told us that he thinks A will serve a mission. And he said D retained everything really well. M said the most important thing she learned was how to repent. It was really cool to hear! We taught I and he had such a drastic change since the last time we saw him. He really loves learning now and he loves coming to church and he wants to get baptized! He's eight and his dad is a very active member but we are teaching him to help him know why baptism. Then we ate dinner with the L family. It was her birthday! We saw the R family because A was having a party for her birthday. She turned five. They gave us pumpkins to decorate. We drew on them and put stickers on there. They weren' really pumpkins. We saw Brother H again. I just love him. (Alma 5:59-60; Joshua 24:15)

I just love being here so much. I know you are on the countdown for my homecoming, but I just really want to finish strong. I am so grateful for all of your support. Thank you! I love you all!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

1. It's me on a sign!

2. It's Superman!

3. It's Spiderman!