I'm not apostate...P-day changed!

Holy Cow it has been an amazing week!!!!!!! So much has happened! I suppose I'll start with last Friday! We had Zone Conference and the Tree of Life fireside!!! Zone Conference was AMAZING as usual! I love President Millburn! He is such an inspired man! One of the changes made...as you can tell...is that Preparation Day is now on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. It was funny how it happened. I was talking the car czar before the meeting about getting our oil changed. I told him that we would take care of it on P-day--Tuesday. He made a comment about how it wouldn't be on Tuedsay. I was a little confused but then as part of the Conference they showed a video of bike safety. I started getting sooooooo excited thinking they were going to put us on bikes. I started making a shopping list off all the thinks that I would need in order to be a biking sister (split slips, helmet, etc.). They didn't say anything after the video, but Elder McMurdie (AP) said he had a proclamation to make. He started reading this mumbo jumbo stuff that had been altered from the preamble to the Constitution. And about half way through, I realized as clear as day that P-day was going to be on Wed. I turned to Sister Moss and told her, but she said I was crazy. But sure enough...it was. So now we have P-day on Wednesday...but sadly sisters are still in cars! :(

Zone Conference was amazing! Jessica Millburn shared some great insights that I really needed! It is so fun to see her now! She spoke of how often times we look at the missionaries in Alma and how they baptized thousands and it is easy to get a little discouraged. Especially when we look at our goals to baptize monthly and we didn't do that. But she pointed out that it didn't say that they baptized thousands in one transfer. I don't know why, but that gave me comfort! I love the Millburns!

I loved getting to see all the sisters at conference! There is a special love that we sisters have for each other! It's like how the spanish missionaries describe it--a mission within a mission!

After Zone Conference, we had an appointment that ended up falling through, but their neighbors were sitting outside and we ended up having a lesson with them and setting up a return appointment. We were able to meet with them on Sunday afternoon with a member of the ward. It was sooooooo amazing.

But after that we went to help set up the Tree of LIfe Fireside! It was soooo awesome! President Millburn and Jessica spoke and we had "Lehi" read 1 Nephi 8! The Spirit was sooooo strong and there were about 120 people there. Lots of investigators! Our Bishops mother in law who is not a member had an amazing time! She went home and read 1 Nephi 8-12 and then decided to start from the beginning of the Book of Mormon! We are going on Monday to have a lesson with her before she goes back home! I love being a missionary!!!!

We also had a member of the ward come up to us at the fireside and say that she didn't feel totally comfortable sharing the gospel with those around her but she wanted to...so she is coming out with us for a few days to get in the mode and Spirit of missionary work!!!! I love the Salem ward!!!!!!!

I feel so blessed and loved! I feel like Heavenly Father has blessed me with the 3 greatest areas in the mission field!!!!

Then on Saturday we had a pioneer day picnic that was way rad and awesome! Sis. Saldivar had orded the Speed Stacking cups when I told her about them, so it was fun to see all the kids get into them! We are taking them today to the tri-zone p-day!!!! I'm sooooo excited!

Tuesday we had our District meeting which was really good. We were all pumped up about the work and our district set 4 people for baptism yesterday!!!!! Tonight we are going to invite a young woman named Milagro Sillas (Miracle Chair in spanish!) to be baptized! We are pretty excited. Oh and last night we had an amazing lesson with another investigator! She is praying about her baptism date and when she gets back from Cali next week we are going to sit down and schedule her baptism!!! I love being a missionary!!!! Woot Woot!

Oh, remember the girl who was set and then wouldn't return our calls? We went by last week and there was a note on the door that said, "Sister Abbott, please do not come back or bring others back". I told my companions that we should go on splits so they can go teach her since they didn't kick them out. I find that the majority of people here remember my name, but not my comps. Probably because mine is the easiest to read and pronounce! But the cool part was as we were leaving there was a woman standing in front of her door. Sis. Hopoate went to talk to her. We spoke for a while and set up a return appointment. As we were about ready to go, she looked at my nametag and said, "Abbott...I'm an Abbott!" It turns out that is her mom's maiden name! She is from Jersey and is black, so I doubt that we are very closly related. But that is the 2nd black woman who has claimed relation with me! I thought that would make Meg happy!

In all sincerity, I love being a missionary! I love serving the Lord and I am so sad that I can't serve full time the rest of my life! But that is why there is an urgency in the work! I know this gospel is true! I know taht the fullness of Christ's church is here and that we are a part of it! We truly are his hands here on the earth to prepare the way for His return! How great is our calling!!!

Love,
Sister Abbott