Movies, New Investigators and Movies Galore!

Abby's email from June 29, 2015

Dear Family,

I had a really awesome week! I am just so happy and loving my mission right now. It's the best feeling ever! now the trick is I need to be able to feel this way for the next five months because if I don't...well...then it'll make my mission harder than it needs to be.

I learned a lot about preparation and patience and change this week. Well, sort of. I did learn a lot though. On Monday we went to see the R family who are less active. They seem active to me but they are not active. She's a cub scout master or something like that and she was doing the day camp all week. So we went on Monday because it was the only day they had available. We ended up watching Forever Strong with them. It was good! Our original intention was 17 Miracles. But they chose Forever Strong. That's a good movie too. I love it. But I don't think it really applied to the younger kids that were there. They did feed us dinner! They had ribs. they were actually really good. I wasn't expecting that since I'm not a big fan of ribs. (Alma 42:23, 30; Abraham 3:25; Moroni 7:19)

On Tuesday we had our first district meeting since I came back! And I seriously am so glad to be back in Fresno and in the Fresno East zone. there is a huge part of me that really hopes I get to serve in Alluvial/Woodward Park again but I wouldn't mind ending my mission here :) Our district meeting was really good. There is this elder, Elder Deacon, who is so passionate and loud about everything. He trained on the doctrine of Christ. It was a really good training. Then our district leader trained on something else that I can't remember. I do remember it was really good. OH YEAH! It was faith, hope, and charity. So of course it was really good. then we went to lunch with some of the sisters in our zone. That was fun too. We had an appointment with an investigator that fell through unfortunately but we ended up contacting a member of her family later on and committed him to be baptized on July 11! I don't think it's super solid so we might have to push it back but we are definitely going to baptize him at some point if he is willing to change. We went to see Sister J who is the granddaughter of one of our progressing investigators. She is super sweet. Then we ate dinner with the H’s. She served a mission! IN FRESNO! That's how she and her husband met :) Isn't it so sweet?? We also saw the O family. I love them. She is the young woman's president and they are just so sweet. I love them a lot. I didn't want to leave! The spirit is just so strong in their home. We were getting ready to drive away because they weren't home when the pulled up and the motioned for us to stay. It was so sweet. She has so many old books that I really want to read! But I can't. It's okay though! I can look. (Alma 43:4849; D&C 59:23; Alma 37:47)

On Wednesday, we watched 17 Miracles with Sister E. She's so sweet. She loved it. I think it made her cry. Sister Putnam was crying through the whole thing too. I love that movie a lot. It reminds us all to remember the Saints who sacrificed so much to come here. We ate with the Ph’s. They are super sweet. I love them. We saw a former named M. She is super cool and super...how do I say it...um...gangster? Haha, she's great though. Just a little rough around the edges! We taught K too! I really thought this would be the lesson he FINALLY committed to baptism, but he still won't commit to baptism. It's frustrating! But I know he's close. We told him to pray for a date. So...hopefully that will work. I just feel like there have been SOO many answers placed right in front of him, but he just doesn't recognize it. It's frustrating. But I really love them. they made us cookies :) And I think he's going to make homemade mac and cheese when we have dinner with them! (Alma 44:3-4)

Thursday we saw a less active named Sister Ji. She is great. When we were praying before we left the apartment I had this impression to watch 17 Miracles with her so we did and she LOVED it. I think she really needed it. I'm really glad I followed that prompting. She's super sweet and I think she really needed it. We saw W P who is really sweet. I love her. She's this cute old lady who doesn't come to church because she doesn't have a ride. But she said she would come next week! We saw F. We actually at first went to her granddaughter's Taekwondo class. that was fun! I decided I want to kick box when I get home. (can you imagine ABBY doing this!) Then we went to dinner with the B’s. they are the best. Super sweet older couple. Then we saw the C's! I love them too. they are great. He is a convert with a really awesome story. he told us all about it. They tried to convince me he was Catholic and of course, I believe them because I'm gullible but he felt bad because apparently I look like I'm a super humble, sweet person. (Alma 45:78, 20; 46:12-13; 13:28-29)

Friday was weekly planning! Which is just about the longest day ever. We got a lot done though! We did get to see a sweet old lady who is in a rehabilitation center. Sister Pitman. I love her. She used to live in Woodward Park ward! Then we ate dinner with the H’--the bishop and his family. I love them so much. they served in the same mission--Thailand. that's how they met! I love their story :) We contacted a referral who was super open and they are new investigators! The C family. they are great. I love them a lot. Then we saw Brother H/Elvis/Neal Diamond/security guard. So to make everyone feel better, we have a security guard in our apartment complex. He also plays as Neal Diamond and Elvis...He's awesome! (Alma 46:20; Helaman 14:17)

Saturday was a good day too! We contacted a former and she is being taught again--K V.. She's really sweet. She sent jus home with egg rolls...which I don't like...but that's okay! It was a nice gesture. Then we saw the M family. Well, actually just Sister M. She's so sweet. I think we answered a lot of her questions. We didn't have a dinner so we went to Denny's. It was really good! I really want to see the new Fantastic 4 movie when I come home, yeah? We can all go together! Or just watch it on DVD...we then saw the A family. Their daughter married an elder that served in this ward recently...yeah...it's actually a really sweet story. I like it. We saw the H's. They have a daughter who really wants to be baptized and the dad won't let her :( It's sad. They are less active/part member. I want to help them. (Alma 48:7, 11-13, 17, 15-16, 25)

On Sunday, we had MCM and then ward council. It was the best ward council I have been in my whole mission. the bishop made everyone talk! It was great! Then we had church. Church was really good. We taught two lessons. We taught Gospel Principles--The Gathering of Israel. It was a good lesson! And we taught the Miamaids. It was short because they actually talked for the first little bit about the same-sex marriage legalization and how to handle it. I am very grateful the church is strong and will keep its standards. I am wondering how that is going to affect us as missionaries. We didn't really see anyone on Sunday. Just the Wo’s--our dinner. they are great. I love them a lot. We got hamburgers! We talked to a crazy lady named D. She has a lot of out of there beliefs. But she was sweet. (Alma 49:28; 50:19-20)

I really love this area and I wouldn't mind ending my mission here at all. Maybe I will! Who knows? I am really grateful to be serving a mission. That was reiterated to me this last week. I wouldn't be me without my mission. I'm so grateful for this and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for your support!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

 

Transfers to Fresno, a Baptism and a Visit to My Old Area

Abby's email from June 22 (Hunter's Birthday!)

Dear Family,

I guess I didn't actually clarify where I would be in Fresno East. I'm not back in Cedarwood, though that would be really awesome. I am in King's Canyon with Sister Putnam! That's in Fresno while Cedarwood was in Clovis. (I did go back to Cedarwood for dinner yesterday which I'll tell y'all about tomorrow.) I'm loving the new area though! I'm just so grateful to be back in Fresno. It makes me really happy! I did find out that Sister Hamilton and Elder Bean will be in the Modesto Mission which breaks my heart just a little, but I know they are going to do great things there.

So this week was transfer week which means it was somewhat stressful and lots of missionaries said good bye. On Monday, we had preparation day which was good. I was packing throughout the day before we went to do stuff. I went to get a mouth guard because when I went to the dentist they told me to get one. (I think I grind my teeth in my sleep--thanks, Mom!) I think I got the wrong size though...I'm not quite sure what to do. We went to see T and her family on Monday because they are great. Also, we wanted to teach them. Haha. Anyway, we ended up just teaching her and her boys, K and H. H actually reminds me of...well, H. T's son reminds me of my little brother! Isn't that crazy? I told him that and he gave me a funny look. They are going to miss me. I just know it ;) then we went to see B and K because I hadn't been able to say good bye to them. We walked up and B was sitting outside and told me that they heard. Her neighbor, Pa, told them. We'd seen her a day before. So we went in and we talked to them for a while. K tried to get me to hold their baby because I love that little girl, but I wouldn't do it. I wasn't going to break the rules...as much as I wanted to. Then we went to see Sister C and her brother, M. I love them a lot. They thought that Sister Arruda was the one getting transferred and so they had her favorite cookies made. It was okay though. They are great and wanted to see me again before I go but they didn't have the time. Sister C gave me a gift though! It was sweet. (Alma 34:3-4, 13-16, 19, 31-33, 36, 38, 40-41)

Tuesday was kind of a hard day. I REEEEAAAALLLLLLYYYYY wanted to go to the farewell because Elder Judy was going home, Sister Wilkins, Elder Rainey, Elder Taufa...and a lot of others. We didn't get to though. We couldn't find anyone to take us and I was SOOO sad. It broke my heart a little. And I found out both sister Hamilton and Elder Bean were there so I missed seeing them :P But it was okay. the one thing I did get to do was say good bye to families I love. We ate lunch with a family in 1st ward. The A’s. They fed us seviche (sp?) which was seafood, tomatoes, avocado, lemon juice...and just everything I didn't like. I tried not to show it though. I ate some! Then we saw A because we hadn't had the chance to say good bye to her yet. She's the best. I love her. We were able to see J and S but M wasn't home so I didn't get to say good bye to her :( We also saw the G’s. They fed us. They fed us REALLY good hamburgers. I really liked them. We stopped by the S’s and while we were there, we found out we had a flat tire. And I don't actually know how to change a tire...so we ended going to the R’s (yes, Dad, I drove on a flat...it was scary) and Brother R and his son changed it for us. Then I got to say good bye to J. I'm glad I got to see those people but sad I didn't get to say good bye to the missionaries. (Alma 356:3, 20-21, 27)

Wednesday was transfers. Sister M’s brought me to Fresno and I was just so excited to be back. It is a little weird being back but not in the same area. Sister B is in our zone though! I'm so excited. I love her a lot. I'm so excited to be here. We went to see an investigator, S, who's really sweet. She is older and a little slow but she's great! Then we ate dinner with the H’s. She is a ward missionary. They are great. We saw Bishop Haroldsen and his family. They are so sweet. All the members here are just so loving and so welcoming. Then I got to meet our ward mission leader, Brother L. He's very quiet and shy. But the members I met were awesome. (sorry, no scripture today...we didn't do studies. Also...do y'all even read them?)

Thursday was good! We saw the F in the morning. They are pretty cool. Not really active but cool. She is pregnant and she likes to talk. We talked about families with them since they are about to have a baby. Apparently Brother F isn't usually as engaged as he was to this lesson. We then went to see this sweet old lady named W P. She's awesome. I really love her a lot. She just let us in and told us about her life. It was sweet. then we ate with a different family whose last name is P. He was the ward mission leader previous to the new one. I met him once! I went to be a baptism in King's Canyon when I was in Cedarwood. He remembered me :) We saw the R family. They are great. We are going to see them again tonight. Then we saw A M. She goes to C every weekend for her mom. She's sweet. (Alma 37:6-8, 17, 33, 36-37, 40, 44)

On Friday, we weekly planned. It was good! I really missed going to the soup kitchen and the Remington but it's okay. It's good anyway. We saw Sister E who is super sweet. We ate with the M family. K is not a member and has been investigating for a long time now. A was inactive for a while until she went to a baptism of a cousin or niece or something and then she just had this feeling she needed to come back so ever since her husband has been taught. He knows he needs to get baptized but he says there is just difference in doctrine holding him back. I am hoping he'll commit to be baptized this week. We also saw the B’s. They are great and super sweet. I love them. They were just so welcoming--just like all the members I've met so far. (Alma 38:2, 4-5, 9)

On Saturday we saw the Mb family who is this really adorable black family. Brother M was the first baptized last October or so and the rest of his family followed. they are great. Then I went to a baptism! A and A finally got baptized! Do you remember them from Woodward Park?? I got to go! I felt a little out of place since I'm not there anymore but it was good to see everyone! They were so cute that day. It was a really good day! (Alma 39:15, 17. Also, sister Jo said something I loved at the baptism: "It's a simple plan and a complicated life.")

Sunday, was Father's Day! (so HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL FATHERS READING THIS.) We went to church--it's the first time I haven't had church at nine! It's at one which is...eh. But it was good! After church we went to dinner with the K’s who are members from Cedarwood that I love. We didn't have a dinner and he invited us and the zone leaders because he's the high councilman over missionary work. While we were in the area, we stopped by sister R and the O’s. I really had to go to the bathroom. they O’s are going to be in Boise on July 24! I told them to go see you when they are there if they get the chance. Sister O said she would email you. It was really good to see them. And it made me feel really good that they were so excited to see me. I missed them. (Alma 40:12, 23, 25; 41:2)

I love being in King's Canyon again. It has been a lot of fun so far. My companion is still pretty new and doesn't have a lot of confidence in herself and she feels super inadequate which I'm not sure how to handle, but I'm doing my best. So far, I have been really patient and loving and it seems to work! I know we will do incredible things if we do our very best.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

 

Successful Week, Transfers and Miracles to Come

Dear Family,

So I'm sure you're all wondering what happened to me this transfer, right? You're all just DYING to know if I am in the California Fresno Mission, where I was originally called, or if I am in the California Modesto Mission....Well, here's the answer: I will be in...drum roll please...the CALIFORNIA FRESNO MISSION!! I won't be staying in Hanford this transfer though. I am being transferred back up to Fresno. I will be in Fresno East again!!! I am going to be with Sister Putnam, whom I love a lot because I was her sister training leader, and we will be in King's Canyon. I am so excited!! I can't wait to just get up there! But I still have two more days so I need to be patient. I am really grateful that I get to go back to Fresno and serve with a sister I know really well. And I am so grateful for...just everything. I have loved serving in Hanford, but I know that I did what I was supposed to here. I found so many people to serve here. 

So on Monday, we went shopping! Sister Arruda really loves shopping so I gave in and we went shopping. After about ten minutes, though, I was done with it. We were at Ross and we ended up getting cute matching running outfits. I also got this really nice flowy shirt that is awesome for the summer. So yes, I got some stuff, but it took me about two seconds to pick it all out. We were supposed to teach T at the S's. Except Sister S forgot. So we didn't end up teaching her there. We did go to the G's and T crashed it and we ended up teaching them there. We made puzzles! You know my artistic abilities are...eh. So you can imagine what those puzzles looked like. They weren't too bad...haha. We then went to see J who I will miss a lot. I love her. I don't actually remember what we shared with her, but it was good! She's great. (Alma 25:14; 26:1, 8, 11-12, 15-16; Helaman 10:5; Psalms 5:3)

Tuesday we had district meeting. It was good! I trained on asking questions. I am terrible at that so it was a good subject for me to train on. I really actually enjoyed it. The role play could've been better but there's always something I see that I did wrong. It's okay though. It was a good training according to the missionaries who were listening. We saw E and A who live two doors down. They are so sweet. A is a former and E is her less active daughter. I love them a lot. They are super sweet. We then had an appointment with a potential and she was leaving just as we got there. So we didn't meet with her. It was really sad. We then saw Sister W. I love her a lot. She has the cutest foster kids. We then had dinner with the Ms, who we also go to do laundry on Mondays. They are the best. I really love them. Sister Ms is taking me to Fresno on Wednesday too so that will be good. We didn't really see anyone else that night but it was still a good day. (Alma 26:27-28, 30, 36-37; Luke 24:5-7)

On Wednesday we had a pretty good day. We finally saw B and K! We haven't seen them in a really long time. I missed them a lot. They are great. We talked about trials with them becasue they have a lot of things they are dealing with right now. It's really sad. We love them a lot. Then we went by the E (you remember me talking about them?) family. They are great. Sister E is super prepared. Of course, I didn't understand anything that was going on there when we went by because she doesn't speak English. But I could feel the spirit even though I didn't understand what was being said. We saw Sister R and watched Forever Strong with her. I really love that movie a lot. (Hunter referenced it last week in the email he sent me--Coach Gelwix would definitely agree with your philosophy!) We ate dinner with the Ss family. It was a week of pizza becasue the Ms fed us pizza and then the Ss fed us pizza (homemade) and then we got pizza yesterday too.They are the best family. We had dessert first which was cinnamon rolls! You know how much I love cinnamon rolls. We also saw E. I am super worried about her and her activity in the church, but I know God will help us know what she needs. She is moving in less then a month so we need to make sure the ward up there knows she's there and will embrace her and her mom. We saw a potential. He lives next to a member. He's really nice. He let us teach him a lesson and was super open to it. So hopefully we will go back. We then stopped by J and S even though they aren't actually in our ward (though they live in it).  I love them so much. I am so grateful I got to help M progress this transfer. (Alma 29:9-10, 13-15, 17)

On Thursday, we went to the Remington and it was fun. I love them a lot. I am really going to miss them. They are the best. We had an appointment with a potential...that fell through. But we will go by again. It's a family so hopefully we will be able to start teaching them. We finished watching Forever Strong with Sister R. I think she liked it a lot. It taught about change and forgiveness which everyone needs. We ate dinner with the T family (who thankfully did not serve us pizza). They are great. We only ate with Brother and Sister T but they are so funny. We helped the Gs clean the church and then went to see Sister C. We watched a new video called After the Storm (you should all now pause to watch it or watch it later). It is a really good video! I loved it! It helped me a lot. We saw Artie after that and it was inspired. She was telling us that she was wondering when she would see us. Then we went by! Yay! (Alma 30:44; Luke 24:36)

Friday we went to the soup kitchen and told them it could be our last time there. So they all gave us their information and they want to come to my farewell! I'm so happy about it! I will invite them. Not everyone was there which made me sad but it's okay. All will be well. We weekly planned and then we went to Panera for dinner since we didn't have a dinner and Sister G gave us a gift card there. I love Panera. We ran into E there so we joined her and had a good conversation with her. Then we saw T who still isn't getting baptized though we are praying for a miracle. He's the sweetest kid. I'm going to miss him a lot. He's great. Then we saw I who is great too. I love her. I wish I could see her baby! He's due in September. (Alma 31:5, 30-35; 32:6; Matthew 7:24-27; Mosiah 15:7)

On Saturday we went to the Remington again and the elders got a call! Elder Harrison is gonig to be a zone leader in Fresno East so we are going together...which will be odd. And Elder Feltner is the new district leader which I was excited about and then I found out I was leaving. We saw J's mom. She's super sweet. She's curious and open so I hope that openness turns into a desire to join the church and know for herself. We didn't really see anyone else that day except we did talk to this man who was a little buzzed and high when we talked to him. We almost witnessed a fight. It was kind of scary. We saw T after that though and showed her a video called Finding Peace After Substance Abuse and Prison. It was good for them. All day I was restless and just wanted to know what was happening. And then finally we got the call after planning. (Alma 32:13-16, 27-28, 34, 37, 41-43)

Yesterday was a good day. They announced my departure and so everyone was saying good bye. It was sad. We saw the Ws. Then we got to see R who we haven't seen for a while. he's a sweet man. Then we went to dinner with the Bs and As and H's. It was fun! They gave us pizzas on the grill. You should try it! It was actually pretty cool. Brother A told me that we did good work here and he was impressed. He wanted me to leave knowing that I had done a lot of good things here. It was nice. then we saw the Os who I love a lot. Look them up on Facebook! Wendy and David O. I want to keep in contact! Then we saw the Ms. They are great. They love us a lot. (Alma 33:11, 33 D&C 3:2, 20; 4)

I have loved serving in Hanford and I am grateful I had the opportunity. I saw so much success and I've learned so much. I am so excited to do incredible things in the last third of my mission. I know I'll do great things in King's Canyon and anywhere else I serve. 

OH I ALMOST FORGOT! Remember A and A?? THEY ARE GETTING BAPTIZED THIS WEEKEND!!! So hopefully I'll get to go back for that.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

This is an excerpt from the email Abby sent Bill this week and I wanted to share it with all of you.

"The power of prayer is something that I've learned to rely on. Prayer is so much more powerful than we realize. I have relied heavily on the gift I have to pray because without it I know I wouldn't make it through my moments of distress and anxiety and sadness. It is so helpful to have that. Priesthood is something else I've come to appreciate more on my mission. Without all the patience and love and faith of the priesthood holders who have given me a blessing while I've been out, I wouldn't be able to keep pushing forward."