Transfer Call, the Sequoias, and Lots of Teaching!

09-07-15

Dear Family,

This week was super successful! And I learned something really sad but important: Loving your investigators and those you teach is not always enough to help them progress. Sometimes, they still don't recognize the spirit and the truthfulness of the gospel. It's a hard lesson to learn.

Monday was a good day. I feel like we accomplished a lot and got a lot done. We went to the Ounesavaths before Preparation Day was over and played Clue. They had to put their dog down so that was sad. We cheered them up though and had pizza for dinner with them! M is doing wonderfully. Her birthday was the 30th so that is great. We picked up our laundry and Sister L is just so wonderful. She's new in the gospel--only been a member three years and I tend to forget that because it seems like more to me. She's sweet. (Alma 48:11-13)

Tuesday was a district meeting that we learned a lot in. I honestly can't remember what we were trained on...but it was really good! OH YEAH. It was the power of prayer and the power of the Book of Mormon. It was good! I really need to make sure people understand the importance of both. We found a new investigator! She's Baptist and super nice. She's black and really open. She doesn't think God is going to tell her that Joseph Smith is a prophet but I know if she prays sincerely then she will get an answer. we ate dinner with TJ who is not even in our ward but his mom is. He made us dinner and we ate outside. We had a really good conversation with him. We taught the P! I just love them. We set a baptismal date for October 17 which, ironically enough, is the end of the next transfer. OH YEAH I FORGOT! SISTER PUTNAM AND I ARE STAYING TOGETHER IN KINGS CANYON ANOTHER TRANSFER! Now that I got that out of the way :) They are so willing to commit and do the things we ask of them and they feel the spirit. It's wonderful. They didn't make it to church because her uncle was in a car accident...Satan works hard. Annette Morris is a less active who is really sweet and I love her. she's really talkative. (2 Nephi 2:3)

We had THREE MEMBER PRESENTS on Wednesday...that's something we've been working on. Member presents. We tend to forget we need a member until the very last minute. H A came out with us and we were able to see two investigators--F and J. It was really good. One lesson was very spirit filled and the other was a tad distracting. It was great. The N have a lot of knowledge and we love them. They were our dinner. We finally got in contact with the D. They are really great though. they just...gave us food. It was sweet. Then we taught H who I love a lot. He and his wife, C, took us to the sequoias today! It was so fun and I'll send pictures! Brother P is a great fellowship for them. (2 Nephi 4:20)

Thursday was still pretty successful. We were able to stop by the O' and drop something off. Quick visit. The F are still doing pretty good. They still haven't come to church in a few weeks but that's okay. the baby is coming soon! She is due September 14. Sister P still doesn't know when she is getting out of the rehabilitation center which is sad. The Hs (not Bishop) are super funny and she is a wonderful missionary. She said she is giving her friend a Family Proclamation and a pamphlet. We contacted a part member and now they are going to feed us soon! It was great. I love Brother H. So much. He is great. He made us a DVD of his concert. One of them. And he is making us something with our Native American name on it. He's great. We are seeing him tonight too :) (Psalms 56:4)

We had a Lao lesson on Friday. It was interesting. Everything that we said got translated to P but not a lot that they said got translated to us. It was fun though! The S's are super sweet. We weekly planned for a lot of the day and then we went to Red Robin for dinner where the policies have changed. It was interesting. But I got my favorite burger! I loved it. And their campfire sauce is really good. We talked with this less active woman for a while. She's super sweet. V H. I love her little child. J. But he calls himself Racer Prime because he LOVES Transformers. (D&C 50:2930)

We took C M out with us on Saturday. We didn't see a ton of success--the P forgot we were coming and weren't there. I was really sad. But they are coming to the farewell tomorrow! So that'll be fun. We did see the O before we went to Bishop H daughter's baptism. L. She was super sweet. Then we taught H again! We played a game with him that was the vision of the tree of life. It was a lot of fun! Ca made it on her mission :) (2 Nephi 9:52)

We had a good Sunday. I was feeling a little down because I was just feeling unloved for some reason. Which really shouldn't matter but it did. And so while I fasted, I said a prayer that God would just help me and He did! Brother H and Sister H and Brother H all talked about how much they love us as their sister missionaries. Brother H exhorted everyone to have us in their home. It was pretty great. God knows what we need. We taught I after church. He gets distracted really easily. We ate dinner with the F. I absolutely LOVE them. they are so funny. They are feeding us again on the 18th and taking us to the Spaghetti Factory. I am SO EXCITED! Then we taught J and R. It was good. Good lesson. Short but good. (1 Nephi 19:9; Moroni 7:45-48)

Today we went to the sequoias! It was so fun! I took a lot of pictures and can now check that off my bucket list :) It was pretty great. I love the M. They are so funny. We don't have a lot of time to accomplish everything else though, unfortunately.

I love being here. I love seeing the progress that the people we teach are making. I did learn this week that God's opinion is the one that matters. We may not feel confident or worthy but God things we are. He knows we are.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

A BBQ, a Baptism, and the Power of the Word

8/31/15

 

Dear Family,
 

So...this week was a little boring, other than the baptism we had. That was pretty cool. Yep. That's my week.

Just kidding! We did do a lot of things. We found a really solid investigator who now has a baptism date! His name is H M. His wife is a return missionary. She served in South Carolina. They are a really great couple. The first time we met them we didn't think they were super interested but I think it's always awkward on the first visit. And then we stopped by Monday night and it was good! We taught the Restoration. He was really open and honest with us. He said he is thinking about joining the church but God hasn't told him it's the right time yet. So we are going to make that happen. He's awesome! M is doing really well too. She's still grasping things really well and I love teaching her. It's really humbling to see someone so willing to learn. J T  comes to our ward because she speaks both English and Spanish. She is so sweet and I love her to death. Her daughter, A, is the sweetest thing. She was so excited to see us! She's great. I just love being here. (1 Nephi 13:36, 41; Alma 56:27)

District meeting was awesome this week! We learned a lot. Sister Putnam trained on the Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion. It was great! We wrote a letter to us from God which was really cool. I just know God is proud of the work I've done here. He wants me to see myself the way He does and other people do. For some reason on Tuesday, I was struggling. I completely broke down during companion study and so after district meeting I asked Elder McGovern to give me a blessing. It helped me a lot. He said that god was proud of me for the work I'd done and that my parents were (thanks, Mom and Dad!) and that my extended family was cheering me on. He also counseled me to read my scriptures every night. So I've been doing that. It's been really great. He said my investigators needed me to teach them the Atonement. And he also talked about how much I've been through in my life and on my mission. And I know my life hasn't been hard. Not really. But I leanred through that that my trials are still my trials. They are sacred to me because I suffered through them. I learned not to compare because my trials are mine. No one else could do it and learn from it the way I have. So, yes, I maybe haven't had a hard life, but for me those things were hard and it is a huge accomplishment to make it through those things. I've struggled with so many different things on my mission and I am so grateful for them. I wouldn't be me without my trials. I wouldn't have learned what I've learned without them. So if any of you are struggling, that's okay. If it should be easy, or you think it should be, don't. They're yours. No one else's. I am grateful I have my own trials. It has taught me all I know. Sister F is due in about three weeks. She's super pregnant. The M are really great missionaries and were super willing to take the challenge of writing their testimonies in a Book of Mormon and giving it away. So...now I'm challenging all of you to do it! So go do it! If you need copies, ask your local missionaries :) The R family still doesn't come to church but are learning more and more. The B love missionaries and we think their daughter knows a sister we're serving with! (1 Nephi 15:8, 11, 24-25)

Wednesday was a slow day. Sister J said she was going to come the baptism and the BBQ (but she didn't) and we talked about God's plan for all of us. It was a really great lesson. A and S had just gotten back from their trip and had to get out of their house because the exterminator was coming by. J and R were busy when we went by...as usual. Elder McGovern interviewed P and had a translator :) Sister Miller made a really good meal for us and an ant showed up on my chest in the middle of it...and it was a gross big red ant too so...needless to say I freaked out just a little. Mutual was fun! I love the young women! M A said she just thought I was so cute and she always wanted to hug me but she didn't want to break me. And she took pictures of all of us! Brother H is waiting for a confirmation OR denial of whether or not he has cancer. He's the best! (1 Nephi 16:16, 28)

The H were super sweet on Thursday and took us to lunch. they haven't been home to feed us dinner so they took us to KFC because we stopped by when they were getting ready to leave. It was good! Reminded me of Dad :) M is super sweet. I love her. Her husband is really funny. Used to be in a gang. She's a former who is open but doesn't want to join...we're trying to help her want to join. The F are still the same. We showed a video and they liked it--we think. We just think C may be comfortable where he is at and we don't think he's willing to really try to have a testimony. but we're trying to help him with that. P was so prepared for his baptism! The Ounesavaths are some of my favorite people in the ward. I just love them. P got baptized! H and C M are the greatest! They wanted to take us to a Greek Festival but we couldn't go :( so they are taking us to see the sequoias next week! I'm excited! H has a baptismal date for September 26 but we are hoping to move it up. We love them! (1 Nephi 17:13)

Weekly Planning took forever because Elder Grove committed us to plan more effectively. So we did and it took a little longer. The H are some of the greatest people ever and their kids are so smart and so cute! L is getting baptized on Saturday and they invited a lot of nonmembers! So we may go if we can. Sister H came with us the P and they loved her! It was really great! F has decided she doesn't want to join the church and she wouldn't tell us why. She thinks our testimonies are too fragile to know why she doubts. I was a little offended because I'm pretty sure my testimony is strong enough to withstand anything. I have no doubts about the gospel and I don't like when people imply that I do. But we handled okay-ish. I couldn't think of how to change her mind. She said she still wants to learn but we won't go over as often. We kind of have stopped going over frequently anyway. (1 Nephi 18:2)

We had a baptism! It was in Lao and so I'm going to send you a program (since we had a whole plethora of them at the end). My name is on it and so is Sister Putnam's. I was the chorister and she said a prayer. It was really great! Pwas so sweet. He didn't understand English at all so the talks were in Lao and Brother Ounesavath translated. It was wonderful. He's so sweet. I A is really sweet. He has a very little attention span though so...that didn't help. But we taught him before the BBQ! I felt productive at the BBQ. It was really great. I love the ward so much. Sister W's daughter, E, was dragging me around for a few minutes. She's a cute little one year old who I can't pick up. I wanted to though. She came right to me when I knelt down in front of her! Brother H is the best. He's making a video for us of one of his concerts! I'm so excited! I'll probably send it home when I get it so I'm not tempted to watch it. He is also helping us come up with Cherokee names. I think I like Spirit Angel. Thoughts? (1 Nephi 19:18)

Church was really powerful. President Tanner talked about the temple. I love him! It was really powerful. I want to go to the temple weekly when I come home! I'm going to do my best. He told us how important it is and what it will do for us. The W are wonderful and have crazy children. I don't like tomatoes but they were in the taco soup she made so I ate it and it was pretty good! M turned 29 too! So we celebrated her birthday with her and she was so sweet. Brother H helped us with our names but I still haven't come up with one. I'm thinking though! (1 Nephi 21:14-16)

So I read a chapter in the Ezra Taft Benson book--Chapter 8 on the Power of the Word. It was so good. He talked about how important it is to immerse ourselves in the scriptures. He said if we do that, everything else will fall into place. We will be more receptive to the spirit and we will be more likely to marry in the temple, better prepared to go on a mission, and our church attendance will be more meaningful. So I challenge each and every one of you to immerse yourselves, as individuals and as families, to immerse yourselves every day in the scriptures. I promise you it's true--you will have the promises President Benson made.

I love you all!

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese

Zone Conference, the Vineyard, and a Miracles

8/24/15

Dear Family,

This week was really great! I love being here and I love Kings Canyon. There is so much potential here and it is great to see the fruits of the labors. I just love being here so much!

Monday we went golfing! It was great. I'm getting okay at it...when we're just hitting balls way out yonder. We also putted for like two seconds. I was okay at that. But not great. We taught the Ounesavaths the Plan of Salvation...and it wasn't the best lesson in the world. I think it was because we were over confident and thought we could do it with our eyes closed...so that was humbling. Then we taught I A. He is a sweet kid. He's a recent convert. He's nine. It was late. But we taught the Restoration. It was really fun! (1 Nephi 7:17)

Tuesday, we didn't have a lot of productivity in the morning but we stopped by Sister L and it was just in time. She had four extra kids in her house and they were crazy!! So we got them to sit down for about fifteen minutes so we could teach them a lesson. It was good even though I wanted to kill the kids. But I was stern with them but not rude. I think. Haha. It was fun! We found a new investigator! Her name is J. She isn't super solid but she is a new one. She's open which is awesome. She has a boyfriend who is also really open. We taught P at the Ounesavaths. I love him. He's such a sweet old man.  I haven't taught someone with that many years on them before. But he's great. We had dinner with the M. They have a son in Alluvial and I totally know him! He served a mission in the Idaho Boise Mission. It is great! We saw the C: H, U, A, and K. We taught them part of a lesson. K wants to be baptized but she is really busy with soccer. She plays defense mostly! I want to see one of her games...it MIGHT be legit if she's an investigator haha. We saw the R family. they are great. We taught them the Restoration and I think Sister R really appreciated us teaching her kids. It was really cool. Then we taught M. She's sweet too. We saw Brother H and it was great that we stopped by because he told us he might have cancer...which is really sad. But he's so optimistic about it. (1 Ne 8:12; Jacob 5:75)

Wednesday was zone conference. I won't spend too much time on it but I loved it! It was probably the best zone conference I've been to. If you have a chance, read "Cast Not Away Therefore Thy Confidence," by Elder Holland. It changed my life. Seriously. I loved it. From that I learned not to fear. I learned that when we make a decision and it feels right, we should stick with it even when we start to doubt because that doubt comes from Satan, not from God. It was really powerful. Something that I've been working on is being more selfless. I learned the key to that is to be more grateful. I thought that was really interesting that Sister Clark talked about that because I really needed to hear that. I have so much to learn in the next few months. I don't know how I'm going to learn all that I feel I need to. But I know if I do my part, God will help me learn what He wants me to learn. OH YEAH GUESS WHAT TOO!! We had car checks and Sister Putnam and I got THIRD PLACE! It was on my mission bucket list! So that was pretty cool. Also, remember J? I taught him when I was in Shepherd for four days almost a year ago--last September. I was with Sister Bennion and Sister Monson. Well, he's getting baptized on Saturday! It's exciting! I won't go but it's still cool. We saw the P. they fed us dinner. It was great! They made spaghetti :) We also talked to this creepy old man who was hitting on us. Except I didn't know until we were in the car. Yeah...it was a little creepy and I hope I never see him again. (1 Nephi 9:6)

On Thursday, we did service for Sister Ounesavath! It was so fun. I absolutely love her. She's the sweetest. We washed her windows and I had a really good conversation with her. She's so sweet and so strong. We saw the F afterward. I love them. They are great. He's opening up more and more. She's due in, like, three weeks. We ate dinner with the G family. they are sweet. Then we saw A M after forever and a day. She's sweet. I really love her. She told us stories. AND she has a whole bunch of books in her family room! I wanted to read them :P (1 Nephi 10:17; 11:22)

Friday we saw Sister Ji and taught her the Restoration. She's so sweet. I really love her. Then we saw J again. But she forgot we were coming so we set up another appointment for tomorrow. We taught P again and we committed him to be baptized on August 29!! We weren't planning on it but at zone conference, we both felt like we should baptize him in August. He was going to be our power of one in September but we didn't think it was right to postpone salvation just because we wanted to reach the power of one in September. God will provide as we take steps of faith. We ate dinner with the P They feed us good food! It's sometime Cambodian. I ate with chopsticks! I sort of had it figured out. It was fun! We didn't teach anyone else though we dropped by a few people. Most were busy though. (1 Nephi 11:33; 12:10-11)

Saturday we went to the grape vineyard! It was SO FUN! I felt so accomplished and experience. Except...and this may not surprise any of you...I cut myself with a knife I was using. And I just about panicked because there was blood and I didn't like it. But Sister Ounesavath calmed me down and told me to go wash it off and get a bandaid. So I did. the guy who gave it to me made a joke about how I only have 9 left so be careful. And I was. But I absolutely LOVE the vineyard. I wish I had appreciated the orchard more because it is similar, I think, except we are picking and not cutting bundles of grapes. So remind me of that next time I complain about the orchard. We went to the Ounesavaths for lunch. the youth were there so that was fun. Then we taught the M. We found out some of her concerns--R's. It was really sad. I love her so much but she doesn't have a very firm testimony. It's sad. We ate with the D. I believe with all my heart that I knew them before. They seem to have attached themselves to us and I don't know why. But they really love us. And we love them. We saw Fs and J. F still won't give up coffee. But we're trying. (Nothing...we didn't study today...)

Sunday was good! Only one investigator came to church but that's okay. P is great. Bishop made a comment in ward council about how great we are so that made my day. We taught the lesson in Gospel Principles. It was good. WE taught about Jesus Christ. Then we were goign to teach the miamaids about chastity but then we ended up combining with the laurels. Sister Haroldsen taught. We taught P at the church afterward and taught him the rest of the commandments so he's ready for baptism! Then we ate dinner with the Hamiltons. They are great. We taught the P next and I am just filled with so much love for them. We talked about baptism and went over the baptismal interview questions to show them what they need to know to be baptized. I think it helped them a lot. And they just love us coming over. It's so sweet. They have changed a lot and opened up a lot. I love them. (D&C 130:2)

I just love this gospel so much and I am so grateful for it. I know my Savior lives and loves me and I know that what I'm doing is the best thing I could be doing. I love all of you and I'm grateful for your support.

Always <3,

Sister Abigail Reese