Conference Week

So, Abby got two emails from us this week; the ones we sent last week and the ones we sent this week.  Yay!

Dad,

Conference was amazing! I loved all the talks and I got a lot out of it. I have lots of pages of notes from it and it was really cool. We watched the Sunday sessions at the stake center, which I have never done before. It was pretty cool, but I miss home sessions of general conference. We watched the first session on Saturday at the second counselor to the bishop's home and the second session at our dinner's home. It was really cool but it made me think of home and what you all would be doing. It's okay though. I ended both days with a smile and with a resolve to do better.

I am glad you got to got to the priesthood session. I can't wait for the general conference ensign to come out! Hopefully I'll get my own copy. I noticed many of the Apostles look old. It made me sad because I love them all. They all gave great talks and I don't want to lose any of them. The basic message I got from conference was all about the Savior as well. Also to follow the prophet. Meet the Mormons will be a great tool to show everyone who we are as a church and as people. There were some people who watched it before who said that they would let missionaries in after watching it. Not for the doctrine but because we are people.

I got Mom's email this week. I got everyone's email this week. Well, yours and Mom's. I haven't checked to see if I got one from Hunter yet...Oh, did you get the package I sent for your birthday? I wasn't sure if it would get there or not...I hope it did though!

I haven't gotten Grandma's package yet but my zone leaders might have it for me today! We are going to the stake center and they will be there so I'll check with them. I am also waiting for my hymnbook and a flash drive from you...have you sent it? It's probably with our zone leaders if you have.

I will pray for the soccer team! I really want them to make it to state this year! It would make me so happy! Even though I'm not there to see it. You can take pictures and videos maybe?? Haha, just kidding. I am sad that I will miss his last season too, but I know it's for a good work and we are all being blessed for it.

I love the temple! Next time we go, I really want to take a family name. Do you think you could do some work and give me a name to take through? I really want to be able to feel that close connection with families and I know there is a lot of work that we can do on Mom's side of the family. That's so crazy that Mom isn't the only member on the Luckey side! I thought for sure she would be. I hope you do end up doing some family history. I would like to but I feel like I have so little time to do anything except missionary work! Even though that's work in itself.

We have a potential investigator named Pete who is really awesome and I feel like he is prepared to receive this Gospel. He is going to set up an appointment with us after his wife gets home in about a week. I am hoping and praying that this will be the miracle that we have been waiting for.

Transfer call came on Saturday. Sister Lunddahl and I are staying together! I am so excited! There's so much work we can do in this area and I can't wait to see how it all pans our. We are finally starting to see the fruits of our labors and I am so very grateful to the Lord for showing us those miracles and for giving us hope that we are doing the right thing.

There are some members in Alluvial who are like family to me. I told them that I've been homesick and Kurt's automatic response was "How can we change that?" Melanie asked if I wanted her to call Mom and have her send some of my things from home, but I told her I would be alright. Know that I have family here and I have many people in my corner. It's great!

I was able to see Meet the Mormons this week. It was so good! I recommend it. Is it showing in Idaho theaters?? I hope so because it's a really great movie that shows who we are as members and people. I saw the elders I came out with and they gave me a blessing. I have been having migraines again and I went to the doctor on Thursday. They gave me a prescription for Imitrex. It has helped and I feel like it's getting a lot better now.

I love you so much, Dad. I am so grateful to have the support of my parents and to be here as a missionary. I know I don't have to worry about anything worldly while I am here because if I need something, I know you'll help me out with it. Thank you for everything. I miss you everyday but I know that I am doing great work here and it's what I am meant to be doing. I love you!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

PS Do you want the wire hangers I took from home? I don't need them and they take up space. Also, will you pray for my companion, Sister Lunddahl? Her best friend's sister passed away and she just found out

Mom,

It's okay! I read it this week. When I sent my email, I hadn't gotten one from you or Dad so I figured you either were really busy or you just didn't send it on accident. But I did get it! I was kind of sad that I didn't get it last week, but that's okay. I saw it this week and I got to write you a letter! I am glad Hunter got my letters--I hope he writes me back or emails me soon because I haven't heard from him in a while.

I absolutely LOVED conference. I did got to the Women's Broadcast and that was awesome too. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk. Of course, I loved them all. I have at least a page on all of those talks. Conference this weekend was really good. We spent the Saturday sessions in two members' homes. One of them is the second counselor to the bishop and the other one was feeding us dinner so she invited us over to watch the afternoon session. I didn't even know she liked me that much! I got a lot out of conference, though it did make me feel a little homesick. It reminded me of what we would do every conference--that is to say, sit in our pajamas and watch it at home. But I still enjoyed every moment of it. I loved Elder Bednar's talk about why we are missionaries. My favorite comment was when he said, "Sometimes we are awkward..." It made Sister Lunddahl and I laugh. It's so true! We all have some awkward moments!

Our transfer call came on Saturday. I am happy to report that Sister Lunddahl and I will be staying together in Alluvial and Woodward Park! We were so happy. We have seen a lot of progress since she has come and we see the potential that can come. We were hoping and praying that we would be able to see those fruits together. I am sad though because Elder Moreno, who is one of my favorite elders, is going to Hanford. He was doubled out, meaning there are two new missionaries coming in where he was serving in the Spanish ward. They are sisters so we won't be the only sisters in the zone anymore! Crazy! But I am excited. Sister Ramos will be training a missionary from the MTC and she came out with me so it'll be great.

We have a potential investigator named Pete. He is super nice and his brother was just baptized. He said he would contact us to set up an appointment in a week because his wife is in Korea right now and he is super busy. But he seemed sincere and I truly believe he is prepared to hear our message. It's wonderful to see how much potential the Lord is placing in our path! He is blessing us because we are striving to do our best. I love it!

That's so cool that you met Sister Ard's best friend's mom! I forgot to tell you her first name, sorry. But I am glad you figured it out! I'll have to tell her you met them. We've been emailing. I miss her but I know that she is where the Lord needs her.

 

We have a part member family we are working with.. Becky is the nonmember and she has been progressing a lot. I think she knows that she needs to come to church but she thinks she isn't ready to make that step. Please pray that she will. She's one I have been working with since my first transfer and I want to see her progress before I get transferred. I love her with all my heart and it would make me so happy to see her make those covenants!

We got to watch the Meet the Mormons movie this week! It was SOOOO good. I really recommend it to everyone. It made me cry because there is a missionary mom in it that reminded me of when I was getting ready to serve. I got to see the elders I came out with and it was awesome! They gave me a blessing because I have been having migraines again. It was really nice to be able to have them do that.

I love you and I pray for you everyday. Often, I feel like giving up but if I feel that way, I think of you and everyone at home. I am not just doing this for me or for the Lord. I am doing it for my family too. I love you!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

PS Do you want me to send home the wire hangers I brought with me or should I just toss them? I don't need them and they take up space in my luggage.

No Email for Abby...

Ok, so for some reason the emails mom and dad sent out didn't get to Abby before she was able to get to a computer, so she didn't get an email from either either of us! But as you will see, she was ok with it.  She is doing great and I am so grateful for you support!  Thank you!

Hey Mom and Dad!

So...I didn't really get an email from you this week except the short responses from my last email. I thought I'd be a good girl and write you anyway.

This week was really good. I learned a lot of things that were very helpful for me. We have a new investigator--Rosie, the one I was telling you about. She is super sweet and she's willing to learn more, though I'm not sure how open she is to it. We met with her on Wednesday and she asked us some questions about our beliefs and why we do things the way we do. She even came to church on Fast Sunday at the beginning of the month and she really enjoyed it! She said she was going to come again but she couldn't yesterday because she was out of town for most of the day so she's going to come in a couple weeks since it's conference weekend this week. (Which I'm super excited about!) We were able to both testify of how the gospel had helped us in our lives and I feel that the spirit testified through us. We had a wonderful meeting and we have another one this week. Continue to pray for her because I know your prayers work!

We have a few potential investigators. One's name is Pete. He's a referral we received a week ago and we were able to contact him on Wednesday this week. His brother just joined the church and he said he would be open and willing to learn more. He was super nice and gave us his number. We texted him but he didn't respond so we are going to go by and try to set up a time to come back this week. Hopefully we will be able to teach him and bring him closer to Christ. I know that if he wants to be, he is ready to receive the restored Gospel just as his brother was. He has seen how it has changed his brother's life and I'm hoping that he will want it to change his life too. You can pray for him too!

We also have Violet. She's a fourteen year old girl who has been taking the lessons for a while. We stopped by her house to see how she was doing and she was happy to meet us but I'm not sure if she really wants to learn more or if she was just saying that. Her neighbor across the street is a member in Woodward Park and has been her fellowshipper since she started taking the lessons. Hopefully we will be that push that brings her to have the desire and the knowledge to be baptized. She's really sweet, but I think she is somewhat afraid of what others may think of her, so hopefully we can help her see that it doesn't matter what others think as long as she's doing what god wants her to do.

Then there's Thomas. His mom is an inactive member and has been for years--long enough that he isn't a member. He's fifteen years old and really good friends with a young man in Alluvial. He came to the movie night last week and had fun. He always comes to the sports nights the young men have and he seems interested in learning more, according to his friend's parents. They weren't at church on Sunday even though they said they would be but I think it may be because she's not ready to take that first step to come back. She's sweet and kind and I'm not sure how much she likes missionaries but we will try our hardest to meet with her and her son this week.

The Lord is showing Sister Lunddahl and me what it means to be obedient and what blessings that brings. He has blessed us beyond measure this week and I feel we are finally starting to see the fruits of our labors coming to us in the form of people. It has truly been a wonderful thing to see. We went on exchanges with our sister training leader and she really helped me to see how to prioritize to make our time not only productive but effective as well. I know with all my heart as we continue to do that, the Lord will place those who are prepared in our path.

Have you heard about the Meet the Mormons movie?? I heard it's going to be really good! I would assume it's going to be in theaters in Idaho, but I could be wrong. It's coming here to Fresno and Clovis and the whole stake is so excited. They are inviting their friends! The point of it is to show everyone that we are normal human beings with problems just like everyone else. I hope that we will get to watch it! If it is coming to theaters near you invite someone and go see it yourselves.

I love you! I missed hearing from you, but I know you probably just didn't send it or something...I hope. Have a great week!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

PS Would you care if I got myself a Costco card?

 

Changes for Abby

Mom,

I was struggling last week. I'll be honest about that. But I didn't want you to worry. Apparently you know me better than that because you worried anyway. But I know your fasting and prayers helped me so much because I'm doing awesome now. Thank you for that. I am doing a lot better and I know that I will be okay.

I love Sister Henderson and Sister Jensen. They are both so great! I know that they are wonderful women who love me and are probably praying for me too. I am grateful for them. Please let them know that.

I don't really remember what I emailed last week. I was struggling and I didn't want to worry you. I guess it didn't matter. You know me much better than that. But I promise you that I am okay and I am never going to give up. This opportunity, this chance, has been the best thing in my life to this point, and I know that will be the best version of me when I come home in fourteen months. Know that I think of you often, but not too often because I need to focus. I love you and it gives me strength thinking of you. I know that your fasting and prayers helped me a lot. I could feel them and they have given me the strength I need. I hope that you know that.

I look for the blessings God has given me everyday. He has given me so much. I know that to be true. It's not easy, but I know it's worth it. Like you said, we both knew it would be hard, but I didn't realize how hard it would be. It's harder than I ever imagined but worth more than I ever thought. It's crazy how much I've changed and much strength I have gained from this experience. I have wonderful elders and sisters and wonderful leaders and a wonderful mission president who are on my side and cheering me on just like you and everyone else at home. I know that I will be able to do anything simply because I have all these people in my corner.

The Lord has placed His trust in me through President Clark. Sister Ard and I got a call from President Clark on Friday night. He told us that he was surprised when Sister Ard and I stayed together this transfer but he knew the Lord would provide. And He did. There is a Temple Square sister up in Modesto who is gong back to Temple Square on Wednesday and her companion is going home on Wednesday as well. They need missionaries there for the rest of the transfer and two new Temple Square sisters are coming on Wednesday. Sister Ard is now in Modesto and I am staying here in Fresno over Alluvial and Woodward Park. I will be getting my new companion on Wednesday--a temple Square sister from Denmark. Sister Ard is getting the other one, from the Philippines. I will be leading the area--the two areas--with this Temple Square sister and I will also be training her in the way we do missionary work. this is a huge task that I have been asked to do but I am so grateful for it. I know the Lord has given me this opportunity because He knows I can do it. Out of all the sisters in this mission, He chose me and I know that I will make Him proud if I rely on Him. I hope you are proud of me too. I'm scared and excited and nervous but I know it's the right thing. I know He has been preparing me for this. I know I will do great. I have so many people on my side and I will be able to do anything with that.

The investigator we had with a baptismal date no longer has a date. But he knows he needs to be baptized. During the lesson we had with him on Saturday--I was with Sister Monson and Sister Bennion, who I came out with--there were some concerns that came out, and that needed to come out, because of questions I asked him. It was intense and scary and I was praying the whole time that the Lord would be with us. But he hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon so I promised him if he would, his concerns would be resolved. I know they will be if he does what we asked. Please pray for him. His name is Alan.

I am with Sister Bennion and Sister Monson in Shepherd! I love these sisters! I came out with them and President told me that we needed to get work done when he called (he knew we would).. I love being here. I love being a missionary even though it's hard. It has taught me so much and helped me grow so much.

I love you, Mom. You have been an amazing influence on my life. I am so grateful for that. Please know that I know you are praying for me and I know you want me to be my best. I'm trying to make you proud.

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

Dad,

I wasn't going to send you a letter, but I thought it might help me to get it all out to someone at home. And it did. I am doing a lot better today than I was last week. I tell myself everyday that I am doing the work the Lord expects of me. It is hard being homesick, but I know that it really is something that Satan is using against me. It makes me so angry that he is using my family against me, but I know that I can withstand it. I got an email from Ty last week who told me that I needed to stay. I know that. I have already grown so much and I know that growth would just go to waste if I went home. I have so much support here and so many elders and sisters who love me and care about me and want to help me. I also had the privilege of meeting with President Clark on Saturday. He asked me how I was doing and asked how the family was. He gave me a blessing of strength and comfort and diligence and lots of other things. Ever since then I have been very...calm. I love hearing stories about a child's faith because their faith is so much stronger than we know. I am trying everyday to have the faith of a child. I'm working on it and I know the Lord will help me overcome everything if I rely on Him as you've said I should.

So...crazy things happened this week. The Lord and President Clark have placed their trust and faith in me. on Friday night, Sister Ard and I got a call from President. He talked to us about how the two Temple Square sisters we have are going back to Temple Square on Wednesday. One of the Temple Square sisters here is with a sister who is going home on Wednesday. At that point, I knew that one of us would be leaving. Sister Ard was assigned to go to Modesto where the Temple Square sister and the sister going home are at. She will be with one of the new Temple Square sisters coming in on Wednesday and I will be with the other one. On top of covering two areas, I am now leading that area and sort of training a new sister who doesn't know missionary work the way we do. I'm excited and scared and nervous and grateful all at the same time. It blows my mind that the Lord has put so much trust in me and I am so excited to grow and to prove that I can do it.

So we had an investigator with a baptismal date. However, we met with him on Saturday--I had the Shepherd sisters with me--and there were some concerns that came up. He needs to resolve those concerns before he is baptized. I promised him that if he would read the Book of Mormon (because he's not) his concerns would be resolved. And I know they will be if only he will read the Book of Mormon. I have all the faith in the world that he will be baptized because he knows it is what is right. He wants to join the church, but he needs to get past this block that is stopping him. I know it is Satan just trying to stop him. So will y'all pray for him? His name is Alan.

I loved the picture of the pig and the fridge! The pig is so cute. What happened to it? Did you keep it? It's cute. (Our neighbor apparently has a pot-bellied pig for a pet and it got out and was wandering around in front of our house.  Bill to a picture of it and sent it to Abby)

Dad, I love you. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. You're such an amazing man and I am so proud to be your daughter. You have helped me through so much in my life. I hope you know how much I love you and how much you have impacted my life. I pray for you every night. Love you!

Always <3,
Sister Abigail Reese

Abby had another good week!

All,

I'm sorry this post is so late! It has been a hectic week and I'm a little overwhelmed!  I just want you all to know how much I appreciate your support.  Thank you for keeping up with Abby.  I'm so grateful for your thoughts and prayers.  Please direct all your good thoughts to Abby!

Love,

Lynn

PS.  For some reason Abby didn't get her dad's email for this week, so she is responding to my email. 

Mom,

This week was really good! We have an investigator that was being taught by the elders in Woodward Park, and we are now teaching him. He is getting baptized this month! We are so excited and I can't wait to watch him enter into those waters. We have some things we still need to work through with him but I know he will keep the commitment he made to be baptized. It's going to be an amazing feelings to watch him enter those waters.

Earlier this week, we had a miracle walk to our door--literally! We were at our apartment eating dinner because we didn't have a dinner that night. We heard our doorbell ring and we weren't sure who it could be so Sister Ard got up and looked through the peephole since I'm too short and thought it was the daughter of a man who feeds us occasionally in our apartment complex. But it wasn't. It was a Fresno State student who was taking a world religion class. She had seen us going to church on Sunday and wanted to know when the service was and where. She said she had to go to one for her class and she knew that we were members of a congregation. So we gave her the information and we're hoping she'll come soon! She didn't come yesterday, but she will come someday soon. Her stuff is due soon I think. I know that the Lord works in ways we can't understand so I know she'll feel the spirit when she comes to church and she'll want to learn more, even if it's not right away. It was a blessing from the Lord that day.

There is a family in Alluvial who is so good to us. We wanted some granola bars (the peanut ones you always get at Costco) and they had told us in the past if we ever needed anything from Costco to let them know. So we did. They went on Saturday and they got us granola bars and Lucky Charms. It was so amazing to feel their love for us and their desire to help us. They also told us this really cool missionary experience they had a few days earlier. Their neighbor across the street had a daughter who was getting surgery the next day. Her daughter wanted a blessing so they had called the mission office to see if they could get one. Sister Winter, the referral secretary, called us and asked if we could get someone to go, but we had the wrong address and the person who she called when she couldn't get a hold of us had the number but the woman didn't answer. Well, apparently she went across the street to the Burts' home (that's the family's name) and asked him if he knew anyone or could help her find someone to give her daughter a blessing. Brother Burt told her that he could do it. So he called his father and he and his father were able to give this woman's daughter a blessing. It was such a great story and I knew then that we had the wrong address because the Burts needed to do that. It was amazing.

I'm so glad Hunter's team is doing so much better this year! It makes me happy to hear that. And I'm so excited that the Beutlers moved back into the third ward. I love them so much! It'll be weird to see a different fridge and entertainment center. I'm praying for you and your classes. I hope you can feel them!

I love being here. I want everyone to know that. It's hard. It's the hardest thing I have ever done, but I know it's worth it. I love you!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

Also, crazy story! We have an senior couple who's related to Adam (Adam is Abby's brother-in-law) and his family! Elder and Sister Winter. We were talking and she told me she had family in Idaho Falls and then she said the Snarrs. I was like, "No way! My sister married one!" She knows who Adam's dad is and his father too. I just thought it was strange! I've been serving with them for three months and I just now found that out!