Bean Bag Basketball

Abby's email from April 13, 2015

Dear Family,

This week was actually really good. It was a hard weekend, but the rest of the week was awesome. We have a baptism coming up AND another investigator accepted the invitation and wants to work toward it! I'll give more details in here :)

On Monday, we taught T at the Robisons' home. They are super awesome and I love them so much. They are a great fellowship. We taught about prayer and scripture study and it was a really good lesson. It was only T though; her son, H, wasn't with her. It was okay though. It was an awesome lesson. Then we saw another investigator (who we actually dropped this week). She is struggling a lot and really isn't ready to accept the gospel, even though we know it's what would help her the most. Then we saw the H family. Z is a recent convert. He's super great. We taught the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was really great!

Tuesday, we had zone meeting. It was really good. I loved it. All the trainings given were awesome. I loved them. We went on exchanges on Tuesday as well. I was with Sister Neira in Corcoran! It's a small little town like thirty minutes from Hanford. It was a lot of fun. I love Sister Neira and she is an awesome missionary. I know she will do great things in her mission. They have a lot of baptismal dates and are doing great! I was able to talk a little bit about some things I have been struggling with, and it helped a lot. Hopefully, I will continue to get over all these things.

Wednesday before we exchanged back, we got to go to this emergency aid place and give out food to the poor and needy. It was really awesome. I gave out Popsicles. It was really sweet. And humbling. Some of those people really did need the food and it was really sad to see. I wished we could help a little more. Then we had lunch and exchanged back. We ate dinner with the Obersts. So we had a salad and some crackers and a smoothie. It was actually really good but it was weird. And it was filling. Maybe I should try veganism? Haha, just kidding. I wouldn't be able to do it. Then we got to see  a recent convert. We helped her clean a little bit because they have a baby on the way and she needs to get everything ready for him. We then read a chapter in the Book of Mormon with her. It was really awesome! She is great and super solid. I love her. Then Sister Arruda had the feeling that we should go see T. So we did. She had just gotten home and she let us in for a little bit. We started with a prayer and she told us a story about how a man once told her that she would be a tool in God's hands. As she was talking, I thought of a scripture I had just read the day before when I was fasting. Alma 17:11. It's about being an instrument in the hands of God. So I shared that with her and she started to cry. Sister Arruda then started talking about that and then she invited her for baptism! AND SHE SAID YES! Now, we just need to set a date with her. It was the best lesson I've been in since I got here. It was really awesome.

Thursday, we got to go to the nursing home again and it was a blast. They beat us at beanbag baseball 35 to 14. It was sad. But it was fun anyway! Then we got to go to lunch with the leaders in our zone because they invited us. It was really yummy! I got a burger. We then saw the H family. They were awesome. They let us in and were super awesome. I love them. We saw E and set a date with her! It was for April 18 but we had to reset it yesterday because she couldn't do it then. So now it's for the 19th of April. I'm so excited!! I mean, I didn't teach her forever, but I taught her enough that I love her so much. It's going to be awesome! I can't wait. Then we saw the Greens. I love them soooo much. They are an awesome family and they love us. Sister Green took us to Fresno for Special Opps. Also, HAPPY THREE MONTHS TO REESE!!

So Friday we went to the soup kitchen and got to serve there. It was so fun. I love serving them. Then we weekly planned for an hour and then Sister Green came and got us to take us to Fresno. Special opps means we got to have a youth for the weekend. We got Sister Cleveland and she was set apart to be a missionary for three days! It was really great. She's super sweet. And I got to go back to Fresno for a couple hours which means I got to see Sister Smith and Sister Putnam and Sister West and the other Sister Smith and I got to see Elder Bean too!! It was great. I miss them all so much. I'm really trying hard to love being here in Hanford despite the fact they are all there. President told me I need to decide to not let the changes affect me so much...because it really has been a struggle. I hate it. So we got to see J one last time with Sister Cleveland. She invited HER to be baptized but SHE isn't ready. It's sad.

Saturday we went to the Remington again. It was fun! They beat us again, by one point. then we had interviews with president. It was really helpful. He gave me a blessing and said I was at the crescendo of my mission and now is the time to sprint to the finish line. I'm really grateful for that. We saw A for dinner and then we went to the adult session of stake conference. Elders Baxter and Packer of the Seventy were there. I met Elder Packer but not the other one. Elder Baxter was from Scotland. It was pretty cool! It was a really good session. I loved it and took lots of notes. Then we saw J. She's sweet. She loves the Book of Mormon. She is a recent convert who needs to come to church. she's great.

Sunday we had stake conference and we had TWO INVESTIGATORS COME. T and E. It was great. And it was a good conference because it emphasized the need to be baptized. The released the stake president. It was President Evans (weird right?) and the new one is President Andersen who is in our ward. After stake conference we found out we didn't need to go back to Fresno, and I was really sad about that. I had a hard time accepting it. I really wanted to go back. I hope I get to serve there again one day, but I'm trying not to focus on that. We saw the L family. They are great. B is so solid. Then we saw a sweet nine year old. His dad won't let him be baptized. It's sad. Then we saw Sister W. She has a lot of struggles so I shared what I was struggling with that day. Then we dropped Sister Cleveland off. It was sad. then we had dinner with the Gages who are great. And then we saw E and reset her date! It was a good day!

We did lock ourselves out of our apartment so the zone leaders, Elders Benites and Allred had to break in for us. It was pretty hilarious. They climbed through the window. It was great. Then they gave me a blessing which I also really needed.

I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for you! Can you send me one of my composition notebooks?? I'm almost finished with the one I have and I need a new one! I LOVE YOU!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese 

Soup Kitchen and an Old Folks Home

Abby's email from April 6, 2015

Dearest Family,

This week was actually a pretty good one! I loved most everything about it. I really hope that our weeks will continue to improve.

On Monday night, we taught an investigator in a members' home, the Greens. They are a super awesome family. They have a sixteen year old daughter and she is really sweet. They are really good fellowshippers for T, who we taught at their home. We taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ--faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It was good! She was late though so we had to do a modified lesson. then we had FHE at the Haroldsons. They are great. They love missionaries. Our ward mission leader lives there too since they are his in laws. They have a crazy house and they have family getting mission calls! It's the best. then we taught a recent convert. He's super great and we watched The Testaments with him. It was really aewsome. We couldn't finish though because we had to get home. I hate getting home late because then it takes longer to plan for our day. One of our goals is to plan within thirty minutes. My companion wasn't super fond of that idea at first because she felt like I just wanted to get it done and I wasn't following the spirit (which kind of hurt a little bit, but then I explained). 

Tuesday we were supposed to go on exchanges but Sister Arruda couldn't find her Tiwi card so she could drive so we didn't go. We did teach E though. She's super sweet. We talked a lot about the Atonement with her and God's will. It actually really helped me too. I love her. She is super ready--she just needs to take the step of faith. Then we saw a less active, Sister Ramirez. I love her. She's sweet. Her husband is great too. Then we had dinner with the Andersens'. they are a great family. They have a beautiful house and lots of grandkids. I love them. We were able to teach J again as well. It was a good lesson. We taught some of the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was definitely present.

On Wednesday, we went out with Brother Robison. He took us to a less active that he knew and the less active wasn't home. We found out that most of his family is unbaptized though. We are going to try again! then we went to see T with him. He invited her boys to scouts and the oldest one was pretty interested. We think the Robisons will be great fellowship for them. We had dinner with the Whiteheads. They are sweet. Then we had a good lesson with a less active man. We taught the Resoration. He is pretty unknowledgeable about the gospel since he hasn't gone in years. We saw a family and committed them to share the Plan of Salvation pamphlet with friends. They are really sweet. they brought us Easter candy on Saturday night. It was so sweet.

Thursday, we got to serve at the Remington. It's a nursing home. I love it. They are super great old people and they told us we are the funnest volunteers. I think we're going to start going twice a week with the elders. It's going to be fun!! We saw I, a recent convert less active member. She's sweet. She isn't praying though. We are trying to get her to pray. Her husband is...interesting. He's a member with a lot of conviction but I wasn't sure what to think of him. We ate dinner with a cute old lady. She's sweet. She told us her life story. Then we saw the Greens again because all of our appointments fell through and no one was home. (It was also spring break in addition to Easter...put a wrench in our plans.) We showed the video "Because He Lives." You should watch it!

Friday we worked at the soup kitchen. I love those people so much. They are super awesome and they love us. It makes me happy. We ate dinner with the Milnes. They are great. We got to decorate eggs with them for Easter. Then we saw a member family. They are super sweet. We only talked to Sister T but she was great. Then we saw A, who lives in our apartment complex. She's sweet. 

Saturday was general conference! I loved it! We watched it at the stake center and I took a lot of notes. I got a lot out of the Saturday sessions. They are always so great. I loved the focus on families. It was great. We saw  a recent convert. He knows what he needs to do--come back to church. Hopefully he will.

Sunday we watched general conference. I kind of wished we could have watched it at the stake center because it was really noisy in her house with all her friends. But it was okay. I loved it anyway. I loved Elder NIelson's talk about the Prodigal Son. And then Elder Holland's was great of course. It reminded me that God is never going to let us fall--He's not going to let ME fall while I'm out here. We ate dinner with the Obersts'. they are an interesting family. they have a missionary out too. They have a whole wall dedicated to him. They have plotted out all his areas and his companions! We then saw the M's, investigators of sorts. They are really not...we just practice teaching on them but they seem like members! they are going to take us out to dinner this week, I think. We saw the L family. I love them so much. B is super solid and J has a strong testimony. I love seeing solid recent converts and less active who have come back.

I love being a missionary. this week I've been thinking about family a lot though, especially since general conference. I want to make the last part of my mission the best part and I'm hoping I will be able to do that. 

I LOVE YOU ALL! 

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese 

Abby's first week in Hanford

Abby's email from March 30,2015

Dear Family,

This week was kind of a difficult one, which you probably expect with transfers and me being transferred south to Hanford. I'm not in Fresno or Clovis anymore...I'm really sad about that. I miss those cities so much and I really hope I can go back. Right now, I hope I can go back at the end of the transfer but I may feel differently at the end of the transfer.

Monday was my last preparation day in Fresno East. It was really sad. However, I don't think I really realized I was leaving until I got to Hanford so I didn't cry at all Monday or Tuesday. I got a whole bunch of missionaries to sign my transfer journal which was nice. Their notes were really sweet and they made me laugh. Sister Luke wanted to take us out to dinner. So we went to In-N-Out one last time since Sister Russell loves it but doesn't want to eat fast food anymore when she goes back to Nauvoo. Then we went to see the Hutchasons'. I love that family. They are great. I'm glad we got to know them. Hey have you been updating my Facebook page? Or adding friends for me? You should...there are people that added me that I want to accept!

Tuesday was a day of packing and figuring out how to fit everything. We did have one last district lunch with me, Sister Russell, Sister Smith, Sister Putnam, Elder Berry, and Elder Judy. Elder Judy's birthday was March 28 and since I was being transferred we celebrated on Tuesday. It was great! I was the only one in our district being transferred which was weird but it was sweet of them that they were able to have a lunch with me one last time. But I know I probably will go back to Fresno eventually. We did some mormon.org time so Sister Russell could copy some songs and I looked at Grandma's temple ordinances and they have been reserved by me! But I can't do baptisms and confirmations or initiatories....Can you maybe do it? And then next time I go to the temple I can do the endowment. It will be great! We didn't really get to say good bye to anyone which made me really sad. I miss them a lot and I didn't even get to say good bye! but it's okay. I know I'll make those relationships here too. We did see the Olsens' though, which I'm glad about. Sister Olsen said they come to Hanford just to have Superior Dairy, which is apparently a really good ice cream place so she said she would email me when they were planning on coming and she would take me and my companion! It was really sweet. I miss that family so much. I would love to serve there again, but I'm not sure how likely that is. We went to the farewell since Sister Russell was speaking. It was really good! I got to see a lot of people from my last area. Melanie and Kurt were there and a lot of people from Woodward Park came too. I got to show off my new hair haha. they loved it though! Melanie is coming to Hanford in April so she said she would take us out! I'm excited. I miss them so much. Sister Ard went home this week too. It's weird that my trainer is gone. I think that is another reason that this week has been difficult, knowing my trainer is no longer in the mission. It makes me sad. The farewell was awesome though. Made me cry. Elder Gayan's testimony was recorded and it broke my heart. I love that elder.

Wednesday was transfers so I went with the Sister Russell in Cedarwood to Hanford. It was good. I met my new companion and my new sister training leaders (I was released :( ) and my new zone leaders. They are all awesome. I don't really know a lot of people here but I hope I will get to know them. the thing about being in the southern part of the mission is that everyone is more spread out. I don't like it. I liked having missionaries close. Here there really aren't very many close. There are two other sets of elders in Hanford and that's it. Selma, Corcoran, Coalinga, and Lemoore are all a part of the stake. It's kind of like the Boise area but on a much smaller scale. We did do some service for this woman. She's sweet. Not a member. We were able to share a message with her. It was great! We saw an investigator. She is sweet but has doubts about getting baptized. hopefully we can help her become converted to the gospel. I met our ward mission leader and the ward missionaries. they are great. One thing I have been struggling with here is not feeling as welcomed by the members as I was in my previous areas. But I know there is a reason for it. I know I can make it through anything through Christ.

On Thursday, we got to play beanbag baseball! At a nursing home! It was so fun! I'm apparently good at it but I'm not supposed to be so this week, I'm going to try to do worse than I did so the old people can win :) It was great though. I did have a little breakdown on Thursday though afterward. I was really struggling with feelings of anxiety and panic and not wanting to be in Hanford. I really just wanted to go back to Fresno, but I'm okay now. I'm trying to remember that I will see all those people again and I will come to love Hanford. We saw an investigator, too. She is really sweet. She said she would come to the women's broadcast (and she did!). She is a little different, very forgetful, but she is awesome. We did FHE with her every Monday. We then saw Sister Couch for dinner. She has a missionary out so it was great. We are watching conference at her house on Sunday! I'm excited. We were able to see our neighbors. E is a less active member and the other two are nonmembers. It was really great and they love us.

Friday we got to serve at the soup kitchen! It was so fun. They are awesome there and they let us eat while we're there. I have always wanted to do that and i got to! I got to get to know them while I was there too. I was struggling with some anxiety while we were there and afterwards but I decided not to struggle anymore. I was kind of sick of crying, especially since it was making my companion stress too. She has only been out three months so...I need to do my best to be my best. We did weekly planning and then we had dinner with the Robisons, who are ward missionaries. they are awesome. I love them. they are one family I felt really welcomed by. We saw a less active who has some struggles. She's sweet, but she has some addictions she is trying to overcome. Then we saw a family that the sisters found before I got here. The Jones. We were only able to see S J, but that was okay. It was a good lesson!

Saturday, we had a pass off lesson with the Spanish elders since the investigator spoke better Spanish. I only understood pieces of it but definitely not enough to know what was going on. It was interesting. then we had this district/zone meeting thing to get to know everyone in the zone. It was fun! Elder Moreno and I are in the same zone again! I love him so much. He's helped me a lot. We were able to see a 16 year old girl  who wants to be baptized but she has to get permission. I had this feeling that I am supposed to help her while I'm here. I hope I will be able to. Then we had to finish weekly planning before the women's broadcast, which was awesome! I got some revelation for myself and I'm hoping I'll be able to remember it. I loved the videos they showed. I know I shouldn't be thinking about this, but it reminded me that I could be married sooner than I think. i could have my own family. I want to be worthy of the temple and I don't want to compromise that for anyone.

Sunday was my first day at church. It was good. they were awesome. I bore my testimony so everyone would know me since the bishop didn't introduce me at the beginning. We saw a recent convert  who is great. I love her. then we were able to see this older couples. They are super sweet and remind me of other older couples I know from my other areas. I love them. We ate dinner with the Olmsteads. they are great. then we went to a youth fireside on missionary work because Sister Arruda was speaking. President Clark was there. Elder Allred, our zone leader, spoke too. he talked about how hard it is to leave people you love which I could definitely relate too since I have had too...twice now. I hate it. It's the hardest part for me. But it's okay. We saw some a recent convert family. they are so great. I love them. So solid. i love seeing that.

I love you all and I'm so grateful for you and your support. Please know that missionary work is hard, but it's worth every second. And remember that I'll see you in eight months!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese