Sister Abbott's new area

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

http://www.cityofec.com/

This picture was taken from an airship hovering over Elizabeth City. The City's expansive waterfront is shown punctuated by a bridge carrying motorists to and from the City and Camden County. The beautiful Pasquotank River winds it way to the Albemarle Sound at the top.

Psych!! October 30, 2007

Well, it looks like I don't get to be the one surprising you with the information about North Carolina!!! I'm glad that you found out so soon though. This morning on the way to the library, I told Sis. Hummel, "My family thinks I'm in VA..." I'm glad to hear that you are more in the loop than that.

So just to fill you in on what happened last week: Monday night we got transfer calls saying that we were all staying. I think I commented on how shocked I was because I was sure that the Spirit had been preparing me to leave. Anywho, the work carried forward and I was at peace with everything, but still a little unsettled. I was questioning whether I knew how to understand the Spirit. I was studying Ch. 4 of Preach My Gospel with much furvor. Then on Thursday, we went to Institute. The lesson was on Jonah, but we spent the whole time looking for similarities and differences between Jonah's life and the Savior's. It was soooo facinating! (We had two investigators there! It was great to show them that everything we do in the church is encompassed by the Atoning sacrifice of the Savior!) Anyway, the Spirit was there and was teaching me so much. One thing at the end of the 1st chapter was that it said that the Lord had prepared the whale... I was so grateful for that. I felt this overwhelming sense of peace that the Lord loves us so much that he takes care of the details. And then at the end of the book, the word prepared was written about 4 times. I didn't understand why the Spirit was teaching me that until the next day. I felt as if no matter what happens, the Lord PREPARES every needful thing. For me, he prepared me to be ready to leave.

Anyway, we were tracting all Friday morning in the rain! :) It was great! Then we were on our way to lunch and checked our voicemail. We had a bunch of messages, but one from Elder Coles. He used to be our ZL but he was just made AP last Thursday. He told us that he was just calling to see how we were doing and that we needed to call back,... "...actually, if you could call the President's cell phone, that would be best..." We were pretty shocked and Sis. Moldy said something about an ET, but we all laughed. We thought it would be strange for them to have an ET when transfers had just happened the day before. Anyway, so at lunch I made Sis. Moldenhauer call even though it was my day. President asked her about the weather and then I heard her say, "Sure, she is right here..." I don't remember all of what President told me...I was kind of in shock. He said that there was a change in the mission. One of the Sisters was having to go home on Monday and they needed me to go to Elizabeth City North Carolina to be companions with Sis. Hummel. He then gave me some very wonderful advice and much needed encouragement.

So long story short--I went from the northern most part of the Mission to the southern most part.This is such a grand adventure!!! Sis. Hummel is from Cottonwood. And Daylight savings is this weekend... we'll see how that goes. Neither of us have ever done it. But it's ok. They just sent sisters down here last transfer and there haven't been sisters here for 6 years. President stressed the urgency of the work down here and told us that we were the pair for the job. In my individual interview he called me a "missionary thoroubread"--I know it's spelled wrong, but I thought it was cool. I'm not sure what it means, but I like it.

I am so excited for the new area, but I have to admit that I miss H-burg. Sis. Moldenhauer said that the first week will be rough and that I will be homesick for it, but it will get better. I know that is true. I feel like that is my mission homebase. I love it there. I love the people! But NC is amazing! Granted I've only been here 24 hours, but I can just feel it.

This is such a grand adventure!!! Sis. Hummel is from Cottonwood. And Daylight savings is this weekend... we'll see how that goes. Neither of us have ever done it. But it's ok. They just sent sisters down here last transfer and there haven't been sisters here for 6 years. President stressed the urgency of the work down here and told us that we were the pair for the job. In my individual interview he called me a "missionary thoroubread"--I know it's spelled wrong, but I thought it was cool. I'm not sure what it means, but I like it.

I was not prepared for saying goodbye to my companions. There were many tears shed. The closing song in RS on Sunday was "God Be With You til We Meet Again". I don't know if Sis. Moldy and I even got out a whole verse. She truly is a sister...my sister! We are so much alike it's ridiculous! It's funny because we have both expressed that we bring out parts of our personality that we thought were dormant. We are both incredibly stubborn! I'm surprised that that didn't come up with her parents. So many stories from our childhood are practically identical! I'm sad that we are both hearing about how you were together this weekend, but we don't get to talk about it. I am so grateful for all the things that I learned working with Sis. Moldenhauer. She is the best missionary I know! If you see or talk to her family again, please let them know how proud they should be of her. She is the perfect example of a PMG missionary. She is great! And I hope that she moves to Phoenix. The plan right now is to go to Utah State, but who knows. But no matter what, we truly will be friends forever, that I do not doubt. Yesterday I cried a little while saying goodbye but was good all the way down. President asked us to find a worthy woman to bring me down so that my comps could still work. So Sis. Reed (the one who knew dad from Phoenix) picked me up and took me to Richmond to meet Sis. Hummel. We had a great chat all the way down! She is an amazing woman!! But once we got to the mission office, President spoke briefly with each of us (Sis. Hummel and I) and then the two of us together. In my individual interview, I was doing ok until I looked up at the transfer board and saw my comps pictures. I had to fight back the tears...let's just say that I lost. He handed me a tissue and said that it was ok to cry. He laughed and said that Sis. Moldy and I were truly two peas in a pod. His next comment was that I "shouldn't worry, you'll get to serve around each other again." I suppose that we won't get to serve together again, but I just hope I get to see her at a conference or something before she leaves in April. But if not, all is well!

Anyway, church on Sunday was amazing! Both wards had their primary programs! Talk about amazing. There was one YSA there who has expressed that his goal in life is to be a husband and father. He is so sincere, and that was his first Sunday at church. I think it reelled him in! I am so excited to hear about how that works out. Pat decided to postpone her baptism. But she is still going to be baptized! Oh, tell Sis. Lott THANK YOU so much for the halloween package. I don't know if I will get to write her today because I have to unpack, but please let her know.We went to the ward party on Sat. with Pat. We had carved our Jalloween pumpkins on P-day and brought them. We won the pumpkin carving contest hands down!! Everyone in the ward was so impressed. And our WML was so excited because I asked if he wanted the tools for carving. We brought them to him on Sunday at dinner.

I feel a little scatter brained today. Possibly because I hadn't slept from Friday until last night. Oh, and we are living with members here in NC! Crazy huh? She is a woman around our age, with a 3 year old little girl and her husband just left for Iraq. It's very different, but will be very good.

I love NC already! Elizabeth City is the "Harbor of Hospitality"! How funny...I went from the Friendliest City to the Harbor of Hospitality! I love it here!! And Sis. Hummel is so excited because her last 2 comps had to go home because of health reasons. She hasn't been tracting in 2 weeks. But we went out for a long time yesterday! It was great! The people are soooooo nice and accepting! We tracted into these men who were roofing yesterday. They were drinking beer and told us that they didn't feel it was right to talk about God while drinking. We had a great conversation, left some passalong cards, and asked them to call when they were sober! It was great!!!

I love this gospel! I love that the Lord trusts such simple men and women to carry His message to the world! I know that this is His work and that miracles happen everyday if we are willing to put our faith to action!!!

My new address is:
Sister Katie Abbott
312 Tracis Dr.
Elizabeth City, NC 27909

Well, off to do the work!! Woo Hoo!!! In your prayers this week, please pray that I will become acclamated to the new area. I know that it will come, but I could use all the prayers I can get.
I love you all!!!

Sister Abbott

Transfer Calls! 10/23/07

Well this week has been absolutely fabulous!!! Transfer calls came last night, and contrary to what we thought would happen, we are all staying in Harrisonburg! We are all really excited to get to spend Halloween and Thanksgiving together up here. It has been a relatively warm fall so far, and the locals keep telling us the color changing leaves are just beginning. I’m excited to get to stay for the whole season. I feel very mixed emotions though. All last week I felt as if I would be the one leaving. I’m not sure why, but I felt that the Spirit was preparing me for that. And then yesterday morning, I felt as if no matter what happened I would be ok. That made me feel even more that I was leaving and that the Spirit was just giving me a heads up. Little did I realize that I was just being prepared to be ok with all of us staying. Oh well, who knows why I felt that way. All I know is that I get to stay in H-Burg!!!!! Woo hoo!!!

Alright, on to this weeks miracles:

Wednesday 10-17—We did the Stop Smoking workshop with one of our investigators, Pat! She was very excited and is still going strong!

10-18—Today I got to meet the Area Director for CES here. He was very nice and it didn’t take long to find some connections. When Dad was looking at the Chapel Hill position, he would have replaced Bro. Clark. And then I mentioned that Dad had been interested in the NY position last spring. Did I tell you that the man who is in that job now is the uncle of my MTC comp? Strange coincidences! But it was good to have some good CES chats.Oh and I got the greatest package from Mom and Dad! My comps and I love our socks. We actually wore them this morning because it was pretty cold.

10-19—Happy 29th Anniversary Mom and Dad!!! Today’s miracle was that we went to contact a Media Refferal only to find out that she has been coming to church with her boyfriend. She said, “I guess I’m going to be part of your church soon.” We start teaching her this week. Plus I got my Jalloween package from Jessie!! Woot Woot!!!! My comps and I are excited to get started on that today! There is a pumpkin carving contest in one of the wards…I don’t think they’ll know what hit them!

10-20—I was in charge of planning today. President Millburn told us to fill our days with appointments, and tracting is supplementary. Well, I was so happy because we were going to back to back appointments all day long and didn’t have to tract at all!!!!! I don’t think that has ever happened or ever will happen again.

10-21—Tonight we taught Pat about the Plan of Salvation! And then at the end I asked her if she would follow the example of the Savior and be baptized. She wholeheartedly accepted and we set the date as Nov. 3!!!!!!!

10-22—Today’s miracle is that we all stayed and are going to stay in H-Burg!

I don't know if there is anything else to tell you all about. Oh, the leaves are so beautiful! We drove to West Virginia on Saturday and the views were amazing! What a grand place to be serving!! I love this work so much! There are definately days when I feel very overwhelmed and inadequate, but that is when I remember Pres. Eyring's talk... We are inadequate without the Lord's help. I have been reading Jesus the Christ lately and it is amazing! My testimony grows with every sentence that I read. It is coming slowly especially since I am working on the footnotes too. I usually get a page and a half a day or so. Right now I am working on the New Testament, Preach My Gospel, and Jesus the Christ. Between those and using a study journal, there isn't much time in the hour we get in the morning. This gospel is so amazing! I love it so much!! Woo hoo!!

Love,
Sister Abbott

It's FREEZING!!!! And pretty.... 10/16/07

Hey all!!

Today will probably be a short one, we took a wrong turn on the way to the library... Well all is well in Harrisonburg! My comps are great! I love them more and more everyday!!! Our investigators are progressing! My door approaches are SLOWLY improving!

As promised: this weeks miracles:

10/9-- We watched a video on Temples with a less active couple. My testimony was strengthened about how the Temples truly bring us closer to God, and prepare us for eternity! I miss being able to attend the Temple!
10/10--We got to teach an achievement days activity. We did "a day in the life of a sister missionary". It was so much fun. The girls got a kick out of keeping track how often we pray. Apparently on a very slow day (only one appointment), we pray 22 times. Cool huh?
10-11--We went to institute tonight. It was great! That morning I had been studying Pres. Eyring's talk called "Rise to your Call" (thanks Jessie :))... And the lesson was on Mantles and how we can fill our responsibilities. The Spirit told me some things I need to work on. How great is that?!
10-12-- We were able to uncover some underlying concerns of one of our investigators. She is great and we are now able to move forward.
10-13--We had a lesson with NO distractions!!!! The Spirit was uninterrupted, and it was soooo powerful!
10-14-- One of our investigators who we didn't think could, came to church!
10-15--We had a FHE with an active family. We helped them set goals to how and who they would share the gospel with! It was amazing!!!!
10-16-- I was studying this morning and I was able to find the answers to some questions that one of our investigators was struggling with.

I know these don't sound like miracles, but I've been able to recognize that anything that happens with the help of the Lord is a miracle! How great is that?!

I love you all and will hopefully be able to write more next week!!

Love,Sister Abbott

WOO-HOO Email from 10/9/07

Man this week has been AWESOME!!!!!!!!

We had Institute on Thursday night, District meeting on Friday, Conference on Sat. and Sun., and then Interviews with President Millburn on Monday!!!! Talk about walking on the clouds! How awesome is it to be a missionary at this time! Something that has been really moving forward is the member missionary work. We have now started to do what we call AMI's or Active Member Instruction where we instruct members on how to utilize Preach My Gospel and then roleplay situations where they could share the Gospel! It is just beginning but we feel so good about it. There is definately a "best" way to do the Lord's work...and that is His way. This work should be done through the members. The Lord understands this, we as His missionaries are starting to implement it, and once every member truly does become a missionary no one can stop us!! What a marvelous time to be in His service!!! There are so many feelings of my heart that I wish I could express in e-mail, but alas it doesn't work that way. But the best way for you to understand is to get involved in the work. Dad, I am so proud of you! I know that you understand and I can promise you that you are a missionaries dream WML! Life is crazy, I understand that, but we all need to be working within the family to make our home a gospel sharing home! Dad, is there anyway that you can send me a couple copies of Elder Ballard's talk from the April 2006 conference about a Gospel Sharing home?

I have some Conference goals that I would like to share with you. And you can keep me accountable. I am working on being a better example, but I'm not sure how I can fully do that yet. A more specific goal that I have after listening to President Eyring is to document my daily miracles. I don't always write in my journal, but I have committed to keep track of at least one miracle a day that we see in my agenda. Then at the end of the week, I am planning on writing to you and informing you of them. So here we go:

-Saturday October 6, 2007: We had one of our investigators come to the second session of Conference. We had decided to go to dinner that day and asked Kelsey Failes if she would join us. We went to this great place called Panera Bread where I got a bread bowl with Brocolli Cheese soup (doesn't hold a candle to mom's). During dinner Renna and Kelsey talked a lot about what intrigues them about the church. And Kelsey shared her conversion story with Renna. That cafe transformed into a Temple as Kelsey shared her testimony that the Book of Mormon answers prayers and that the fruits of the church speak for themselves! It was awesome! And then we went with Renna to the Bishop's house where the YSAs were having a girls night with the Bishops wife. It was awesome! I was able to have the annual Girls night during Priesthood!

Sunday October 7, 2007: This morning during companionship study I told my comps that I could literally smell the coffee cake that my mom always makes on Conference Sunday. We laughed and moved on. I wasn't homesick at all, just grateful for the traditions that we have. Then in the first session of conference Sunday, I was tapped on the shoulder. I turned and to my utter surprize, Sister Hales was standing there. I was totally stunned! My companions said they wished that they had a camera to capture my face. I slipped out into the lobby and talked with the Hales for a minute. I think it took about 20 min. for it to really sink in. But Sis. Hale kept saying, "I have your breakfast!" I had no clue what she meant. She then handed me the blue tin, and said that it was my mom's coffee cake. I was in utter disbelief!!! I cannot tell you what a tender and grand experience that was! Truly a miracle! Words cannot express my gratitude for a loving supportive mother and father who sent a care package to me on that blessed day! It does not take much for me to understand how much my Heavenly Father loves me, because I feel that love so much from my parents! I love you! But perhaps the most amazing miracle that occured through this interaction is something that only God could have known. During the talk right before Sis. Hale came, my mind and heart were brought to thoughts of Meg. I don't know why, but my heart offered a silent prayer that the ward would be taking care of my family. I felt a little uneasy at the thought of my sister without the care of a loving ward and although I know how great our ward is, I felt as if I needed a confirmation. So I wrote down on my inspiration page that I needed to write and ask how the ward was doing. Not 10 min. later I was speaking with Sis. Hales. She said one sentence that brought peace to my heart and testified to me of the love of my Savior. She was telling me how she came to know where I was serving. And she said, "I was over at Meg's scrubbing her floors..." At that moment, my prayers were answered and my fears were laid aside! I know that the Lord loves us. I know that He cares for us each individually! I know that He has promised to take care of my family. I know that He answers prayers! So thank you for sending the care package, it was a miracle in so many ways! PS-- We have had some for Breakfast everyday this week. The slices are thin, but we want it to last.

Monday October 8, 2007: Today's miracle is simple... our ride to Interviews called and cancelled last minute and we couldn't find a replacement, so we had to drive to Waynesboro. We had someone call us right before we were about to leave and offer to take us, but we felt that we needed to drive--we never turn down rides, but the Spirit directed us that we needed to drive ourselves. Well, it was a good thing, the meeting didn't get over until almost 7, instead of the 5pm time that we had intended. We were so grateful that we didn't have to have a member wait so long for us.

I doubt I will write that much for each day, but I wanted you to know how much the Lord is working in our lives. The more we recognize it, the more he blesses us! I am so grateful for this gospel!

So something funny happened last week while we were e-mailing. Sister Moldenhauer laughed, and turned to me and said, "Sister Abbott, my sister saw you in the newspaper!" Afterward we realized that she had seen my picture in the Beehive and recognized my as her sister's companion. Kind of funny huh? Sis. Moldenhauer has a sister in Mesa and one in Kingman. I think her parents are coming to Mesa this week. She says that they are planning on calling the family to get to meet you. That'll be funny. I want pictures!

:) Alright, well I think that is all I needed to write about! I love the work! I love the Lord! This is truly the BEST time to be a missionary!!! Woo hoo! My prayers are with you, but I know that God is watching over you! (D&C 100 vs. 1-3).

President asked us to use some of our e-mailing time to go onto Mormon.org this week to know what we are asking people to look at. So I have to go! I love you all!!!!!!

Have you gone on any exchanges with the missionaries this week?!

Love, Sister Abbott

Email from 10/2/07

Thank you for all of your letters this week. I wish I had time to respond to all individually, and if I finish this and do have time, you will find another letter in your mailbox.

First off-- The baptism was AMAZING!!!! There were so many people show up that we had to switch from the Relief Society Room to the Chapel!!!!! Talk about ward support! Kelsey was beautiful! I will be getting pics developed by next week and will definately send some. She is so amazing!!! I got to speak on the Holy Ghost. Not necessarily the best, but the Spirit was there.

From left to right:

Sis. Moldenhauer,
Kelsey Failes,
Sis. Abbott,
Sis. Bergren

After the baptism, the Hartmans and the Failes took us to lunch. It was very fun!!! Then we were back to work.

We have had soooo many miracles this week. I love it! We tracted into a woman who just graduated from JMU. She is great! Very intillectual and is looking forward to learning more. She came to the RS Broadcast and enjoyed it very much! Next, a little while ago we were street contacting at Food Lion (a local grocery store chain), and I talked to this woman for a long time. We discussed about the need for one religion for a long time and then she had to leave suddenly. I think I might have written about this before, but we tracted into her last monday and it was soooo exciting. She said that we must be sent from God because no one knocks on her door. She was touched and we were able to teach her on Saturday. Then she came to the Broadcast with us. We are going to be teaching her again tomorrow. I am so excited!! She is amazing! That is just two of the phenomenal stories from this week!!!!

I need to ask a favor of all of you. I know that for health reasons some people (*cough* Meg) can't do this, but everyone else should. Talk to your missionaries and offer to go on exchanges with them. Work with them until you can find a day that will work. Please please please do this. It will only take a couple hours and it makes the WORLD of difference!!! We need members to testify. The Lord needs you to testify!!!

Ok, so here is some exciting news... I set a goal to read the Book of Mormon from start to finish within my first two transfers (3 months). And guess what?! I finished it this morning. I want to share something very special with you all. As I read the final verses, I knew that I needed to take Moroni's challenge (Moroni 10: 3-5-- pg 529). I went into the back bedroom of the apartment so that I could be alone and I prayed. I will not share the exact experience, but I will say that it was choice. I will never forget this morning as long as I live. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I knew it before, but I am filled with a renewed testimony of it's fullness. I know that so many amazing men and women sacrificed their lives to preserve this record. I know that the Lord allowed the record to be preserved so that we can read it. As I prayed I felt ashamed that I did not cherish the words before now. I knew they were true and accepted the doctrine as correct, but I now have a relationship with the Prophets of the Book of Mormon. They saw us. They saw me. And for that they sacrificed all that we had to share with us their testimony of the Savior! Pick up the Book of Mormon today! Pick it up and read it. And then pray to have the Spirit witness of the truthfullness again. God will always reveal truth no matter how many times we ask. He promises us that in Moroni. I know that this is the Savior's church and I am so excited to begin the New Testament now. God loves us so much that he has given us 3 testaments of the Savior. I love my Savior and I am grateful to be His servant! The work continues onward!! I love working here! I love it because I know that it is right.

Just a heads up...my companion Sister Bergren was supposed to be coming home on Dec. 6 this year, but her family just got the travel plans and she isn't going home until Jan. 16. I don't know what is going on, but it looks like I might be in the field an extra transfer. I am not sure how this will affect ASU stuff, but I am not worried. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear, right? I've prepared before I came on the mission and the Lord will provide. It might mess my scholarships up, but in that case, obviously the Lord needs me elsewhere or to go through something different that what I had planned. How exciting that the Lord has better plans for me than I have of myself?!

On a more funny note... Sis. Moldenhauer's sister sent her the funniest Green Eggs and Ham Book that has been mormonized!! It is great! I'm going to write it down and send it eventually. Sooooo funny and great to use in active member lessons. Harrisonburg rocks!!!!! I love it here! Fall is definately upon us. Only a few trees have turned so far, but I am soooooo excited to see the mountains covered in yellows and reds instead of the green!!!!! Yeeee Hawww!!!!!!!

Woot woot! Isn't the work amazing?! Keep me posted! I love you all!!!!!!!

Love, Sister Abbott