Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you for all your support and love. I know it has meant a lot to Abby and I am certainly grateful for you as well. Abby is coming home tomorrow! Her plane lands in the Boise Airport at 6:15 p.m., please join us in welcoming her home, if you can!
Please read Abby's last email. She has grown up and learned so much. You can tell in her last few emails. I'm grateful for her and the example she has been to our family these last 18 months. I'm excited to see her go from here and grow into the person Heavenly Father intends her to be. She will be attending BYU-I in January and she is pretty excited about it.
Again, we are so grateful for each and everyone of you and for your support and love and friendship as we made this 18 month journey with Abby. Thank you!
The Reese Family
Sister Abigail Reese
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
The Last-What I've Learned
11-30-15
Dear Family and Friends,
Wow...I'll see most of you in two
days. I don't even know what to say. It has been...a really incredible eighteen
months. I don't even know how to express to you how much I have loved every
last second of the last eighteen months. I can't even express to you how much I
have struggled and persevered and learned to love the people of the California
Fresno Mission--mostly Fresno, but some in Hanford too :)
This week was a really emotionally
exhausting week. I broke down over a silly pumpkin project we were doing with
Sister O and then I cried a lot on Thanksgiving. I got to spend the day with
people that I love which was good. We went to see H and C in the morning, and
then we had dinner with the W’s. After that we spent some time with the O’s. I
love them so much. They are like family and I feel like family with them. I
promised them I would come visit so...I'll have to make that happen. We played
Mafia and then Telephone and then we just hung out and talked. It was great. Today
we went to help them pick out a Christmas tree. It was a lot of fun--something
I have never done before. They want us to help decorate too. I don't really
know what else to say about my week.
I think for my parting words, I will
leave y'all with some words of what I've learned.
1. I've learned the Atonement. I
think that the biggest thing I've learned is the Atonement. I have learned how
to use it and how to rely on the redeeming and enabling power of the Atonement.
It is so much more than I can even express. I have had many times in the last
eighteen months where I have just needed to kneel down and pray and pour my
heart out to my Heavenly Father because I know He and my Savior are the only
Ones who really know me and know what I need. They know what I am going through
and what I've gone through. I struggled with homesickness and anxiety and
frustration and heartbreak and...so many other things while I have been in
Fresno, but I have been able to overcome so many of those things on my mission.
Because of my mission, I have been able to see my strengths. I have learned
that grace works for everyone, not just the nonmembers or investigators or less
actives or every other member in the church. It works for everyone. I read this
morning that grace doesn't mean Christ will be there AFTER all we can do. He's
going to be there every step of the way as we do all we can do. He isnt'
waiting at the finish line. He is walking alongside us. I have seen that on my
mission. I have seen His hand and His help. I know He is there, and as I've
learned that, He expects me to use it. The Atonement is the center of the
gospel. Everything else is an appendage to it. I know that. I know the only way
to fully access this power is to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am
grateful for that.
2. I learned to love. I have come to
love so many people on my mission. I could list so many people whom I love to
you but I won't. I just know that I love this mission and I love these people.
I don't think I would have ever learned to love people if I hadn't served a
mission. I am filled with so much love for them. I am filled with so much love
for those I have seen baptized and those I have seen progress and the members
who have taken me in and made me feel like family. I have been able to see the
way that the Lord helps us to have charity for those we serve. I never
realized how much I could love someone who wasn't my family so much. I know I
was terrible at loving people before my mission, but I hope this is something I
will take with me as I return home.
3. I have learned to give my will to
God. I know with all my heart that if we give our will to the Lord, our lives
will go so much more according to His plan for us. Three years ago, when I was
first thinking of serving a mission, when the age change was announced, I
didn't want to go. I didn't want to step out of my comfort zone and come on a
mission. But I did it because I knew He wanted me to, and by the time I got
there, I wanted to go too, because I knew it would help me with so much more
than I could ever imagine. And as I have served a mission that I knew God
wanted me to, I have learned to give it all to Him. We have to lay it all on
the altar of sacrifice (figuratively). The only thing the Lord doesn't have
from us is our will. The only thing He doesn't take away is our agency. That is
the only thing we can give Him. I hope I can always hold on to that.
4. I have learned to be humble.
Humility is so key. If we aren't humble, we won't be able to get along with the
person we are with. If we aren't humble, we won't be able to give it all to
God. Humility is the act of aligning your will to God's. So I guess it kind of
goes with the above. Choose humility as Alma says in Alma 32. Don't make the
Lord "compel" you to be humble. I have learned we need to choose it.
5. I have learned who I am as a
daughter of God. I don't think I was ever able to be myself until I came on a
mission. I have learned that I have worth too and no one is better than anyone.
We are all different and God loves us differently but all the same. I know that
I matter in the plan. Even as small as I am in comparison to the rest of the 7
billion people on earth. I matter in the plan. I have changed the lives of so
many people here and I know that matters. I am a daughter of my Heavenly
Father. And I know He loves me.
I love my Heavenly Father and my
Savior. I have come to know them personally. I have grown in my relationship
with them. I know them and I know they are always there, every step of the way.
I love you all!!
Always <3,
Sister Abigail Reese
PS I had my exit interview!
President Clark is awesome and told me that I will be okay. He asked me to
teach him what I have learned from the scriptures. I shared Alma 36. Read it.
It's great. And then he asked me what I was worried about coming home and I
know that I will be okay because he is so reassuring. I had to promise to keep
in contact in order to leave the room. I also had to promise to call if I
needed anything. I am so grateful for the mission president I had. He is
the best. I love him so much and I know I needed him.
Second to Last
11-23-15
Dear Family,
Dear Family,
I am not really sure what to say
today. I don't really know how to put into words the thoughts that have been
running through my head all week. I only have two email days left--one more
after this one. I don't really know how I can express to you all the gratitude
I have for this mission and for all of you for all you have done for me. I
don't really know how I can talk about my mission to you or this last week.
This last week has been a whirlwind
of emotions. I have thought a lot about the fact that I only have about a week
left until I return home. I only have that. I don't have a lot of time to say
good bye or to prepare or to do anything really. And it's Thanksgiving so that
makes it even weirder. There are so many people that I wish I could stay and be
with, so many faces that come to mind when I think of my mission. I think of
the K’s from my first area--they took us to lunch today so they are on my mind
a lot. I think of the B’s, who were also in my first area. They were so incredibly
loving and embracing. I think of the O’s in Cedarwood and their way of making
us feel so at home. I think of T from Hanford, and the O’s from Hanford. I
think of the way they all made me feel so loved and so wanted. I think of the
way they have all helped me through my mission, how they have shaped my
mission. I think of the way they are still helping me push through to the very
end. I think of the motivation they give me to finish and to finish strong and
to keep faithful to the end. And then I think of Kings Canyon. These last five
months have been some of my favorite months of my mission. These people have
become family to me. They have become who I need them to be. I think especially
of the O family and everything they have helped me with. They made my farewell
invitations and printed them for me. They embraced me as family from the very
first moment that I met them. They love me and care for me and take care of me.
All these people are everywhere. These people are here in the world. I have learned
that there are good people everywhere and I am so grateful for that. I know I
wouldn't be who I am without them.
My mission has been an incredible
experience. I have been out for eighteen months, officially. Isn't it weird?? I
have been out for eighteen months already. This week marked that. Saturday. We
celebrated a lot of things this week. The first of that was P's birthday on
Monday. He's part of the O clan. We did this really cool family home evening
lesson with them about our gifts. We each drew a name and had to write their
talents and gifts down and then we gave them back. At the end of the lesson we
all drew names and have to do an act of service for them. I drew C's name, who
I absolutely adore...but I am not sure what to do for him. Maybe we can do this
activity when I come home? We saw H and C who I also love. They are great.
(Alma 37:18)
The F’s took us to dinner this week.
They are taking us again the day after Thanksgiving because they actually like
me. I love them too! They are super funny. They are another family that has
just embraced me. I really love them. They are seriously the best. We saw the U’s
too and that was fun. She is slowly making a little progression. It's hard. She
doesn't want to make the commitment but we know it would help her so much. The
weird thing is she does everything we ask her to do. She reads when we ask her
to read and prays when we ask her to pray--not for us yet, but I hope I'll get
her to do it before I leave. (Luke 22:32)
We did a lot of service for the O’s
again. It was fun. Sister H took us to Panda for dinner. It was good. I like
Panda. We saw Brother H a few times this week too. That was good. I have
pictures with him as Elvis! (Alma 41:14)
The M’s fed us this week and we
haven' had dinner with them in a while. Sister M reminds me of Mom. Isn't that
weird?? I can't believe how much she reminds me of Mom. But she's awesome. We
made a memory game that we played with H and C and Brother M. That was good. We
got to see the Rfamily for a few minutes. They wanted to see me before I go
home. (Alma 42:15)
We had a busy Friday. We finished my
invitations. And we taught P. P thanked me for teaching him. For helping him.
It was very touching. We taught M and then the U’s. That was really good.
Sister H came to the U’s. We think she'll be a good fellowship for F. We ate
dinner at Subway with the R. That was fun. It brought back so many memories. We
taught I who is super sweet. He has so many questions and so many worries. He's
eight. We stopped by the L family. That was fun. (Alma 42:45)
We got my invitations sent out on
Saturday. We saw the F after forever and then Sister O helped us put my
invitations together. The H’ fed us and we played our memory game with them! It
was cool. (Alma 45:20-21)
Sunday was a weird day. I was having
an awful morning. I don't really know why. We had MCM with no priesthood holder
so that was weird. Brother H and Brother B were both out of town. Church itself
was good. I loved it. Then we took pictures with Brother H. We ate with the D’s.
Then we taught the P’s and then saw J. She's a sweetheart. She has a cute
little three year old and I don't know how to spell her name. (Alma 48:11-13)
M and K K took us to lunch today! It
was really good. We went to Hanford for a little bit for the Turkey Bowl. Then
it took us forever to email because the stake center was locked and our
building wouldn't let us in. That's why it is so late. It's been a long day.
I'm sorry this is so short. We don't
have a lot of time left and I want to get to everyone who emailed me. I love my
mission. Anyone reading this who is thinking about going on a mission, do it.
Just go. It's worth everything. It's worth it. It has changed my life. I have
learned so much on my mission.
I love you all!
Always <3,
Sister Abigail Reese
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Zone Conference, Departing Testimony, and Temple Trip
11-16-15
Dear Family,
This week was a pretty crazy week! We had a lot going on and
we even found some new investigators. We slimmed down our investigator pool
this week so new ones are definitely needed.
On Monday, I think I already mentioned we went shopping. We
got two pairs of boots, but I may send one back. It has a heel and isn't super
comfortable. We saw the O’s and I just love them. P's birthday is today
(November 16)! We are going to celebrate! I am so excited for him. We saw D and
her husband. We just stopped by. They let us in when we just stop by. Brother H
came with us. It was pretty great. We got to teach her husband for the first
time! He drinks...heavily. We saw H after that. It was really great. We did
Family Home Evening with them! It was good. C wanted to teach us about FHE so
she and H could do it. (Alma 34:36)
On Tuesday we had district meeting. It was good. I don't
really remember what we talked about...OH YEAH! We talked about teach people,
not lessons, and How to Begin Teaching. It was good! I am trying to memorize
the bullet points. We ate lunch at the O’s. Sister O stopped by our apartment
that morning and helped us with some stuff. She dropped off Sister P's clothes.
Then she invited us to lunch so we could work on my farewell invitations! IT
was good! We saw M after that. She is so great. She didn't come to church
though :( We did have stake conference and they can fit the whole stake in one
building! Except the Spanish ward. We saw the U’s. They are pretty great. Then
we ate dinner with the P’s. They are really great. She made chicken spaghetti!
It was yummy! We finished our aprons with the beehives. The woman who texted
y'all was Sister M! But the picture was of me and Sister F, who is the second
counselor in Young Women. They are both awesome. (Alma 36:3)
Wednesday, we had zone conference! We talked a lot about
obedience. President C did this really cool thing where he had this piece of
long wood. He put blocks on there of our tools/principles/things we give. Then
on the other end he put what God's give. In the middle it was our missionary
purpose according to faith. The bigger the fulcrum, the closer we would get to
God. The fulcrum was our obedience. I wish I could send a picture! It was
really cool. I loved it. I also got to bear my testimony as a departing
missionary. That was really weird. There were only two of us at this zone
conference. Sister W and I. It felt so surreal. I can't believe how close it
is. Afterward, Elder H (J, Ma's ex) came up to me and told me how sad he was
that I am going home. I didn't expect that. I never had the opportunity to
serve around him. He was in Modesto when I was in Hanford and now he's in
Fresno North. So at least I got to see him at zone conferences. He said he
would be at my farewell so I will hopefully get a picture! And then Elder M,
who is an assistant and an elder I came out with, told me how sad he was. I
just really can't believe how close it is. It's super weird. We ate dinner with
the B’s and then we went to mutual because it was young women in excellence! It
brought back so many memories for me! I just love those girls so much. The
young women here are so tight knit. It's so cool to see. We taught H and ended
up using President's fulcrum idea with him. We talked about obedience. It was
really great. The spirit was really powerful and Brother M, our member who was
there, added so much to it. It was really great. (...WE WON SECOND PLACE FOR
CAR CHECKS! And we didn't even try that hard...)
Thursday was temple day! But don't worry; I have another
trip to make. The day after Thanksgiving. I also got my departing information
so I know when I'm leaving and my schedule for the next couple weeks. I love
the temple so much. It is one of my favorite things. I will hopefully be able
to go pretty regularly when I come home. Sister H took us to the temple. I will
send a picture! It was really fun! She took us to Mexican afterward. It was
great. We ate dinner with the M’s! K said they were going to come to my
farewell and A is getting ready to go through the temple. But K asked her to
wait for him! He will be baptized soon. I just know it. We saw R, a nonmember
whose grandparents are members. Her grandparents live up near Turlock which
isn't even in our mission. We saw Brother H. He's pretty great. I just love him
so much. (Mark 5:34)
Friday was fun! WE weekly planned and had two appointments
cancel on us! But then we taught F at her husband's sister's house. It was
great! We saw the P’s after that and then we got to go to the youth activity
that night. It was a nerf war! It's totally something the youth in our ward
should do! I was terrible at it. We played this game called Zombie and there
was one zombie who had to touch us all but if we shot him he was dead. And we
spread out around the church. Sister Putnam and I stayed with the O’s for the
duration. C was my body guard. A boy grabbed my ankles...that was weird. After
that we saw F and J! I haven't seen them in so long. It was really great! They
are coming to my farewell too! (Alma 37:14, 16-17)
Saturday was an interesting day. We finally finished my
farewell invitations and we are going to send them as soon as I can this week!
It'll be...interesting. We saw R again. She's sweet. She is lonely though. Then
we ate dinner with the K's. They are sweet. We went with H and C to the adult
session of stake conference and President and Sister Clark spoke! Also, I got
to see the R’s from Cedarwood! It was so great! I miss them so much. I got to
see a lot of people from Cedarwood. H got us McDonald's afterward. That was
cool! (Alma 37:33, 36-37)
Sunday we had stake conference. I got to see P M, a less
active I taught a couple times when he first wanted to come back to church--he
remembered me!-and Sister O (did you know the junior O’s moved to Meridian??),
the L’s, and R! I am sure there's more but those are the only ones I remember.
We had more time to work so that was cool. We tried by a couple people but no
one answered. Then we ate dinner with the H’s. They made me taquitoes from
Costco!! I was so excited! I miss those. We saw the C’s for a little while. I
love them a lot. Then we found a new investigator! The Ventura (Spanish)
sisters passed off an investigator to us! It was great! She's really sweet :)
(Alma 38:5)
I just love this ward so much and I love everyone here. I am
grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve here. I love these people and
I didn't know I could love people as much as I love these people. I hope you
all are doing well too! Thank you for your support. I love you all!!
Always <3,
Sister Abigail Reese
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)