Well Ya'll...I can't believe that 2007 ends tonight!! What a glorious year it has been! I find it very strange to think that I spend half of 2007 at home and half on my mission! Crazy! But I have been so blessed this year!
I am excited for the new year to begin and I only wish that I could say that I will spend all of 2008 on my mission!...but sadly, I'll be home before 2008 is over. Ahhh...enough of that!
I am so grateful to be a missionary! Life as a missionary is amazing! We just had 4 baptisms on Saturday and 4 confirmations on Sunday! And the work keeps rolling forward! We are working with 2 solid investigators who are praying about a baptismal date!! I am so excited to be serving the Lord in this amazing cause! I know that this is His work and I am humbled daily by the small part that He has asked me to play!
Well, it wouldn't be a new year without new goals. And as a missionary, we are very goal oriented. I have been thinking a lot about what I could do to invite ya'll to help in the missionary efforts! There have been a lot of little tasks that I have considered challenging ya'll to, but the fact of the matter is that the missionary work you have to do is between you and the Lord. I am not going to pretend to have stewardship over you or your areas wherever they may be, but I do want you to know that I know that through prayer each of you can determine what efforts will move the work forward where you are. So...
Will each of you pray to receive inspiration about what you can do individually this year to help bring a family into the gospel?
I promise you that as you pray, that God will answer your prayers and give you the inspiration needed to help bring a family into the gospel! I know that this is true because I have seen it first hand. I love the promise that the Lord makes in Jeremiah 16:16-17. After He declares that He will send many hunters and fishers of men, He reaffirms to us that he knows all and He knows which of His children are ready to hear the gospel. I know that God is mindful of us. I feel that everyday! I know that as you strive to aid the Lord in this work that you will feel His love more in your lives. He promises that he will be with us as we preach His gospel (Matt. 28:19-20).
I love this Gospel!!! And I am so grateful to be a member of Jesus Christ's church on the earth today! What a priviledge and and honor...but also, what an intense responsibility! I pray that you will all strive to accept this challenge. And like the good missionary I am striving to be, I will be following up on January 15, 2008. That gives you 2 weeks and 1 day to determine your goal with the Lord. I would love to hear about that goal. :)
I hope that this letter finds you happy and healthy! I feel your prayers and love you dearly!
Love,
Sister Abbott
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Merry Christmas!!! December 28, 2007
Ok, so before ya'll think that I've gone apostate by e-mailing not on a Tuesday... the library was closed on Christmas Eve so we couldn't e-mail. We received permission to proselyte an extra hour on Monday and e-mail later in the week.
All is well!!! The work is starting to pick up again now that people aren't as stressed with the holidays! And I am sooooo excited for tomorrow's baptism. Simone Whitehurst, Justin Pinillo, William and Da'Kasia Whitehurst are getting baptized tomorrow! They were going to be baptized on Christmas, but then Simone and their dad got married so we moved it to the 29th so that Simone could be baptized with them. On Sunday, the four are being confirmed and the younger two kids (Santoria-7 and Nehemiah-2) will be given a name and a blessing so that they will be on the records of the Church!! Life as a missionary simply doesn't get better than that! We are excited to see this family get one step closer to the Temple! Woo hoo!
I love being a missionary!! Christmas was great!!! We had a brunch with the Hoeppners which was fun. Sis. Hummel did the eggs, I cut the fruit, and Sis. Hoeppner made bacon. It was great! Mine was cold by the time I got to eat it because it was ready right when it was time for me to call home.
Life in North Carolina is great! The weather has been going CRAZY lately. Sis. Hummel and I are so confused! In AZ, when you look out the window, you can tell if it is cold or hot by how much you can see the sun. Here, the sun can be shining and it's 30 degrees. It makes things interesting. But I am sooooooooo glad to have a winter coat (thanks mom and dad!!!!). It makes a huge difference. North Carolina is the most windy place I've ever been in my life. And the fog at night is great! I love it!! Last night we got out of an appointment and looked over this field and it was as if there was a sheet of fog about 4 feet tall. It was pretty stinkin cool!
Have I told ya'll that I love being a missionary?! It is as if the Lord is watching over everything we do! I know that he is truly going before us! People's hearts are so prepared!
Last night we got some interresting news. We got a call from the APs who told us to start to keep our eyes peeled for apartments in town. They want to move us closer to town because it will be more effective. And while it would make it easier on miles and travel time...we really don't want to leave Sis. Hoeppner. Hopefully we will be able to stay with her until April when her husband gets back from Iraq. I love living with a member. We live in a nice home with a family. I'll miss it, but whatever is best for the mission we are more than willing to do.
I feel very strange e-mailing on a non p-day. I appologize if my thoughts seem somewhat scattered, because they are! I can't believe that it is almost the end of 2007!!! At this time last year I was moved back to the home ward and working on my papers...crazy!
I realized last week that I can no longer say, "A year from now I'll still be on the mission." What a crazy realization! There is such an urgency in the work! It was good to realize that I don't have forever...I only have 12 months left to fulfill the mission that my Heavenly Father has sent me here for. Time has already flown by and I would imagine that it probably won't slow down. Time to get to work!...well, I've been at work, so I suppose...time to kick it into a higher gear!!!!!
Thank you all for your loving support! I love being a missionary! I can't fathom doing anything else with my life right now! What a marvelous work we are engaged in?!
I hope all ya'lls Christmas was merry and bright! And we are excited to celebrate a white Christmas tomorrow! It may not be snowing, but baptisms are better than snow! Woo Hoo!!!
Love,
Sister Abbott
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Happy Pre-Christmas!!!
Ok... once again making it's December debut...Daily miracles!!
Now that I am back on board and a little more settled in...here are the weekly miracles:
12/5--We had a lesson with the RS Pres. and I had the most amazing realization of the importance of working with members to ensure that recent converts stay in church.
12/6--I received a blessing because I've been pretty sick. In the blessing my body was pretty much told that the Lord's work was the most important aspect of my life right now and being sick just wasn't going to work. I feel much better now!
12/7--Simone quit drinking tea,coffee, and smoking!!!
12/8--We had an appointment to introduce someone we were teaching to the Elders. His name was Leroy Brown :). But both of us spaced until 10 min after we were supposed to be there. Which since ya'll know me...that NEVER happens!! But when we got there, there was something off. No one was there, and we didn't feel good at all. We literally ran out of the neighborhood. I don't know what happened, but I know that we were protected! The Spirit is so amazing!
12/9--Long story, but I am so grateful that the Lord answers prayers through other people! OH, and I had to teach Relief Society last minute and it was pretty good.
12/10--We were giving a woman a Book of Mormon and explaining Moroni's promise. I told her that I knew that the Lord would answer her prayer. She looked surprised and said, "Really?" What a humbling experience to be able to tell her that I KNEW that God would answer her prayer!!! Isn't being a missionary amazing!!!
I love being a missionary. Sorry I'm kind of rushed today. The computer is being crazy! I love this work and I am soooooo excited to have 4 baptisms on Christmas!!! I know that God is excited too!:)
I hope ya'll are having a wonderful holiday season!
Love,
Sis. Abbott!!
Now that I am back on board and a little more settled in...here are the weekly miracles:
12/5--We had a lesson with the RS Pres. and I had the most amazing realization of the importance of working with members to ensure that recent converts stay in church.
12/6--I received a blessing because I've been pretty sick. In the blessing my body was pretty much told that the Lord's work was the most important aspect of my life right now and being sick just wasn't going to work. I feel much better now!
12/7--Simone quit drinking tea,coffee, and smoking!!!
12/8--We had an appointment to introduce someone we were teaching to the Elders. His name was Leroy Brown :). But both of us spaced until 10 min after we were supposed to be there. Which since ya'll know me...that NEVER happens!! But when we got there, there was something off. No one was there, and we didn't feel good at all. We literally ran out of the neighborhood. I don't know what happened, but I know that we were protected! The Spirit is so amazing!
12/9--Long story, but I am so grateful that the Lord answers prayers through other people! OH, and I had to teach Relief Society last minute and it was pretty good.
12/10--We were giving a woman a Book of Mormon and explaining Moroni's promise. I told her that I knew that the Lord would answer her prayer. She looked surprised and said, "Really?" What a humbling experience to be able to tell her that I KNEW that God would answer her prayer!!! Isn't being a missionary amazing!!!
I love being a missionary. Sorry I'm kind of rushed today. The computer is being crazy! I love this work and I am soooooo excited to have 4 baptisms on Christmas!!! I know that God is excited too!:)
I hope ya'll are having a wonderful holiday season!
Love,
Sis. Abbott!!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Katie... I mean Rachel
Rachel was having a fun time playing with the "Katie Cutout." Even though Sister Abbott is on a mission, Katie is still with us here.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
STAYING!!! 12/04/07
I know that you all were up pacing half the night wondering about transfer calls...oh wait...that was me. Just kidding! But we got the call... Both Sis. Hummel and I are staying in Elizabeth City! We called our top investigator this morning to tell her and she said, "Well of course you did. We all prayed for it last night!" All is she and her 5 kids and her fiance! So all in all we aren't done here yet! I was so excited about that, plus no one else in our district was transferred! I'm really excited to really start to settle into this great place!
Our district leader then told us about what was going on with the other sisters in the mission! I was TOTALLY STOKED to hear that Sis. Moldenhauer is training!!! What a lucky greenie! I am excited to hear about how rockin' that's going to be!!!
Enough about transfers... guess what?!?! I want you to think about what the greatest miracle/present for a missionary would be for Christmas..... Yeah, that's right...a baptism?! Or maybe 3?!!!!! I am probably not making any sense. So we started teaching a family last week, and set the three oldest children for baptism. We asked if they would be baptized on December 29, and they asked if they could be baptized on Christmas! We are still working out the logistics, but it's looking good. Sadly their parents are still overcoming some pretty crucial obstacles, so it might take a little longer. But they are so excited! I don't know if there was anything sweeter than to hear 3 young men and women (12,11,and 10) tell of how they felt as the prayed and asked God if the Book of Mormon was true! They were so sincere! This family is so prepared! I love this work! I love it because it is the Lord's work and I am merely an instrument in His hands!
As we have been working with this family, I have learned a lot. But the biggest lesson I learned, I would like to share with you all. I don't know if I have written about them at all before, but we met their mom at a gas station north of town. We stopped in to visit with a ward member who can't come to church that often because she is the manager there. As we were walking out, I saw a minivan pull up and a few kids pop out. I felt the prompting to give the mom a Together Forever pass along card, but we were running late for out next appointment and so I pushed it aside! But my wonderful companion then instead of walking to the car, went to another man and started talking to him. I figured that if she was talking to him, I should go give the woman a card. I gave it to her, we started talking and set up an appointment to meet with her. Now three weeks later, she and her whole family is working towards baptism and confirmation! What a disheartening feeling I had when I realized that I almost didn't even talk to her! I have now devoted myself to do better! We never know who is ready to accept the gospel, but God does. So as we listen to Him, He can lead us to where we need to go.
I would write about the other miracles, but that is the one I want to leave with you for this week. I know that this work is God's work! I know that as we strive to follow all of the commandments of God, we will be blessed. I know that my Savior loves me and each of my brothers and sisters! I know that He suffered, died and was resurrected so that each of us can eventually live with God again! That sacrifice is something I cannot even begin to comprehend, but my gratitude for it grows each time I strive to apply the Atonement into my life! I am so grateful for the scriptures! I am reading in the New Testament right now and I see my testimony growing daily! I am gaining a respect and love for Peter! I want to be a servant like Peter!
I am so excited to be a missionary at Christmas time!!!
I love you all and hope that this finds you well!
Love,
Sister Abbott
Our district leader then told us about what was going on with the other sisters in the mission! I was TOTALLY STOKED to hear that Sis. Moldenhauer is training!!! What a lucky greenie! I am excited to hear about how rockin' that's going to be!!!
Enough about transfers... guess what?!?! I want you to think about what the greatest miracle/present for a missionary would be for Christmas..... Yeah, that's right...a baptism?! Or maybe 3?!!!!! I am probably not making any sense. So we started teaching a family last week, and set the three oldest children for baptism. We asked if they would be baptized on December 29, and they asked if they could be baptized on Christmas! We are still working out the logistics, but it's looking good. Sadly their parents are still overcoming some pretty crucial obstacles, so it might take a little longer. But they are so excited! I don't know if there was anything sweeter than to hear 3 young men and women (12,11,and 10) tell of how they felt as the prayed and asked God if the Book of Mormon was true! They were so sincere! This family is so prepared! I love this work! I love it because it is the Lord's work and I am merely an instrument in His hands!
As we have been working with this family, I have learned a lot. But the biggest lesson I learned, I would like to share with you all. I don't know if I have written about them at all before, but we met their mom at a gas station north of town. We stopped in to visit with a ward member who can't come to church that often because she is the manager there. As we were walking out, I saw a minivan pull up and a few kids pop out. I felt the prompting to give the mom a Together Forever pass along card, but we were running late for out next appointment and so I pushed it aside! But my wonderful companion then instead of walking to the car, went to another man and started talking to him. I figured that if she was talking to him, I should go give the woman a card. I gave it to her, we started talking and set up an appointment to meet with her. Now three weeks later, she and her whole family is working towards baptism and confirmation! What a disheartening feeling I had when I realized that I almost didn't even talk to her! I have now devoted myself to do better! We never know who is ready to accept the gospel, but God does. So as we listen to Him, He can lead us to where we need to go.
I would write about the other miracles, but that is the one I want to leave with you for this week. I know that this work is God's work! I know that as we strive to follow all of the commandments of God, we will be blessed. I know that my Savior loves me and each of my brothers and sisters! I know that He suffered, died and was resurrected so that each of us can eventually live with God again! That sacrifice is something I cannot even begin to comprehend, but my gratitude for it grows each time I strive to apply the Atonement into my life! I am so grateful for the scriptures! I am reading in the New Testament right now and I see my testimony growing daily! I am gaining a respect and love for Peter! I want to be a servant like Peter!
I am so excited to be a missionary at Christmas time!!!
I love you all and hope that this finds you well!
Love,
Sister Abbott
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