Abbey's letter December 23, 2013

Thank you for all of your gifts! Especially your letters you sent in
the box that went to the mission office. That was so fun to get a
letter from everyone! This week has been a very good one. We have been
very spoiled. I have never received so much love from so many people
in my life! People here are so giving! We had our mission Christmas
party this Wednesday So we were able to go to the temple in the
morning. President Packard spoke to all of us before we went in. He
said to learn to pay attention to others emotions. He talked a lot
about the symbolism in the temple and that it is a journey to learn
all about it and that every time we go we learn something new! This
week things have been picking up a bit. We were able to meet with hope
and her kids this week. We helped the kids clean their living room
before we gave them a lesson. Tariq said, "So are you gonna talk to us
about baptism." And we said yea. Taraja his little sister asked what
it means to be baptized and Tariq said, "it is a washing away of all
your sins." He was a little confused on how we got baptized so we
explained it and asked when he would like to be baptized. He asked if
he could be baptized that day. We told him that probably wouldn't work
so he picked February 15th. We were told that he wasn't too interested
in being baptized but he prooved us wrong. He is such a sweet little
boy. And Taraja will be baptized that day as well. So we will get to
be teaching them every day. We had the ward Christmas party on
Saturday night which was a lot of fun. A family in our ward has a son
that is less active and he is engaged to a girl who has a boy that is
almost a year. He came up to us at the party and said that she asked
him what he would think if she wanted to become a member. So we will
get to start teaching her as well. It has been a crazy few weeks
trying to work around everyone's busy schedules but we have been very
blessed. One of the young men on Sunday asked for a book of Mormon so
that he could give it to his drama teacher. The courage of this
generation of youth never ceases to amaze me. I have a lot more
struggles here in Ellington then I did in Billerica but things are
starting to get better. Some one shared a quote with me this week. JOY
stands for Jesus, Others, and then Yourself. That is when true Joy
occurs when Jesus Christ comes before any thing else in your life. And
then others, specifically your companion or your spouse, then all
others, and then yourself. Our mission president is so big on the
concept of Zion and building up those around us. I feel truly blessed
to be a part of this mission. One of my favorite scriptures has become
2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, re rejoice in Christ, we preach
of Christ, We prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our
prophecies that our children may know to what source they may look for
a remission of their sins."
Here is a quote from our letter from our mission president that I
really liked! He is such an inspired man.
"We keep asking ourselves, “What was Jesus trying to teach us through
His birth?” and we are struck with the thought of Jesus’
condescension. The Jesus who created this world, who spoke to Moses
from the burning bush and who brought fire from heaven, went down,
down, down, smaller and smaller, until he became a tiny embryo, then a
fetus and then a helpless baby who could not swallow solid food or
control his bladder, totally dependent on his teenaged peasant mother.
One of the things that struck ancient and modern prophets so forcibly
is that when Jesus came to earth, he was not trying to avoid suffering
and pain like we do. In fact, experiencing pain and suffering was one
of the primary reasons He came. Of course, He came to give us a
perfect example, but there was something even deeper at play. Through
his life and ministry, Christ created an intimacy with us that
transcends the theoretical. He suffered with us and for us. Isaiah
taught: “In all their afflictions, he was afflicted.” (Isaiah 63:9).
Alma taught: “…and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his
bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may
know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to
their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the
Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon
him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their
transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now
behold, this is the testimony which is in me.” (Alma 7: 12-13). In
these fascinating verses, Alma seems to be saying that Jesus
understood suffering in His head when He was presiding in the
pre-mortal heavens, but He learned about suffering in a different way
when He actually went through it, when He actually experienced every
kind of suffering. The Spirit already knew, but Jesus suffered in the
flesh so that He would know according to the flesh.
Jesus truly understands us. He has been there. He is a God who weeps
when we suffer, who truly comprehends and even feels our pain, and He
truly knows how to help. Sometimes, He knows when to do nothing
because that is what we need. Sometimes, He knows to give us increased
capacity to carry because that is what we need, and sometimes, He
relieves our burdens because that is what we need. He truly has been
there and knows, according to the flesh. That is one reason we
celebrate. God was not just with us in the sense that He was present
on the earth, He was really with us through all our successes,
failures, disappointments, sicknesses, sins, pains, and joys. We thank
Jesus for all He did and for who He is."
I love you all so much and am so excited to get to talk to you on
Wednesday! I love you:) Love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letter December 16, 2013

Only 9 more days until Christmas, which is so crazy! This week was a
good one. Things are starting to pick up here a little. We were
finally able to meet with Gary and Don, this week, our two
investigators. These were our first investigator lessons since I have
been here. We were also able to have a first lesson with Ron who we
met at the library. I was in Hartford on Tuesday for exchanges. I was
with a sister from Argentina. There was a snow storm and it was the
first time that she had ever seen snow which was fun. It is a Spanish
branch there so I wasn't much help but it was a good day. We had
dinner with a lady who moved here from Peru 4 months ago. She has a
three year old daughter and is pregnant with another. She is trying to
learn English so that she can give her neighbors books of Mormon and
share the gospel with them. She is such a sweet lady. This last week
we were at food shelf helping out again and they had some packages of
q tips that they were giving out. One lady when she was leaving was so
excited to have q tips because her daughter has always wanted some but
they could never afford them. It reminds me to stop and be thankful
for all of the little things even q tips something that I know I take
for granted. There is a man at Food Shelf that always volunteers
there. He is probably in his 60's and his wife passed away about 5
years ago of cancer. He spent most of their married life cheating on
her. When she passed away he felt guilty and decided to change his
life around trying to make it up to her. You can tell that he still
has a lot of baggage. Makes me grateful for the atonement but also
that I was raised to know what was right and wrong so that I won't
have to deal with guilt like that later in my life. In our lesson With
Gary he expressed to us that he does not want to get baptized on Dec.
28th anymore because he wants to feel that it is his own decision. So
we are still meeting with him and praying to know how to help him. He
is a very tender hearted and anxious man.
Our bishop spoke on Sunday about the new vision for our ward. For this
year they will work on saving themselves and then next year will work
on saving others. He has asked us to use preach my gospel in every
member lesson to help them do this. I am grateful for this opportunity
that we have to build the ward up. There are a lot of broken down
people here who need a lot of love. We have a good bishop and I am
grateful for his vision. There is a man in my ward, Brother Bohne, who
served in Billerica 51 years ago. It was his first area in his mission
as well. On Monday we found out that Christin was getting baptized
this Saturday and that she really wanted me to come. Brother Bohne had
said that he always wanted to go back to Billerica. So he and his wife
drove me down for the baptism. It was very sweet of them and I don' t
know how I will ever repay them. Christin was 30 minutes late to her
own baptism:) So everyone was already seated when she showed up. When
they walked in we embraced in a very tearful hug. It was very tender.
I didn't know that I was on the program but I was able to bear my
testimony. She was baptized by her Husband! They went into the fount
and kissed before he baptized her and all the kids giggled, it was
cute! What a blessing that she is now baptized! Life is good here. I
miss Billerica but when I was there this weekend I realized that
Ellington is home now and where I need to be. And after all its not
about me and what I want but what the Lord knows is best. I love this
gospel, and the message of hope that it is. We never have to wonder
about what lays ahead of us if we just trust in God. We were able to
go to a catholic choral performance last night that a couple invited
us to. It was very beautiful and I did feel the spirit when they were
singing. But looking around at the art displays of Christ they all
pictured him being very sad and distressed and in turmoil. It kind of
made me sad that that is the only perception of Christ that they
remember. When really he is this glorious being who is all light and
is our savior. Their idea of him stops when he was crucified for our
sins when really HE LIVES and that is the most glorious thing about
it. He wasn't born into this earth just to die but to live again. And
that is why he can look toward our future with hope that we will get
to live with our Heavenly Father again. I love this gospel and I love
my savior Jesus Christ. I know that he is very involved with our lives
and that we should seek to involve him more. I love you all and hope
that you have a very good week!
love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letter December 9, 2013

 Hola Family,
 This week has been a good one! Saturday and Sunday night we had our
big nativity that the ward put on. It was so fun to watch the ward get
ready for it. They did it as an opportunity to do misisonary work and
they were all so pumped. We had many members stay there the whole time
and bishop and his wife were walking around. She invited quite a few
of them to come to church the next day for sacrament meeting. And then
joked that she didn't mention that there was a second and third hour
also. It was a good turnout! We had quite a few non members there
Saturday night and I overheard quite a few of them say that everyone
was so nice. Nice is good so we'll take that! The nativity display
inside the gym was beautiful! We were able to watch the last run
through of the live nativity outside last night! It really brought the
spirit and reminded me of how glorious this christmas season is. I
discovered Isaiah Chapter 53 this week! I think it is one of the most
powerful testimonies of Christ that has ever been written! Yesterday a
man came to church that hasn't been to church since the 70's. He
called the bishop this last week and told him that he was coming to
church. My companion asked him what inspired him to come back and he
said that he never lost his testimony but he just got a little lost.
And the Holy Ghost touched his heart and helped him find the courage
to come back to church. The atonement is a glorious thing. It just
shows how much our savior loves us and that it is never too late to
come back to the savior. We were unable to meet with Gary again this
week. He canceled our appointment with us on Friday. And he was not
responding to us throughout the week but he did come to the nativity
Sunday night. I just have to remind myself that it may take him a
while but he will find the courage to be baptized when he is ready.
This week I am grateful for little tender mercies that help me to know
how to be better and that this is the Lord's work. Little Grantlee and
Rueben, Raquels son from back in Billerica were baptized last night
This week we will start to teach a little 9 and 8 year old in the ward
who are not baptized! I am looking forward to that! This is a glorious
season and there is so much good around us. We work with quite a few
shelters and food shelfs in the area. There may be alot of bad things
in this world but there is still alot of good! I know Jesus Christ is
our Savior and that he came into this world to complete our Eternal
Fathers plan of salvation. He is the light of the world and the only
way to be saved. I love the savior and know that this is his restored
gospel on the earth. And that through the ordinances that we partake
of in this gospel we can become like our savior. I love you all! Thank
you for all of your support! Have a good week:)
Love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letter December 2, 2013

It is good to hear that everyone had such a good thanksgiving! Ours
was very good! We were able to work at the food shelf this week. There
are a lot of good people there who volunteer their time. A member of
our ward took us to the Manchester Road race to watch their daughter
in law and grandson run. It is a five mile race that has been on
thanksgiving for the last 75 years. It is the second oldest race in
the new england area. There was about 15000 people who ran in it. Alot
of people wear costumes and there was some very interesting ones:) We
had a dinner at 1 and then another at 5. It was a good day. Derek, one
of our investigators decided to remain catholic this week. Gary was
not answering our texts or calls and we were getting worried, so we
decided to intervene:) He has a baptismal date for December 28th and
is having a lot of doubts. His family is very catholic and he has
decided to not tell his family about his decision to be baptized. We
dropped by his house on Friday and gave him a talk called "Cast not
away therefore thy Confidence." By elder Holland. So we continue to
pray for him that he will have sufficent faith to go through with his
baptism. He came to church on sunday and someone bore their testimony
on their ancestor who joined the church during Joseph Smith's time. A
boy who was a member of the church came to stay with them and taught
them about the gospel. This woman's family warned her that it would
kill her mother if she joined the church and she said well that is a
price I will have to pay because I know that it is true. So she joined
and her mother did get sick but did not die. Her mother investigated
the church so she could prove her daughter wrong and ended up joining.
It was such a tender mercy that Gary was able to hear that story. He
found out about the church through mormom.org and called the
missionaries a few months ago and said that he was ready to talk
"mormonism". He has read just about everything there is on lds.org and
half of the book of mormon. He knows that it is true. But the
adversary sure is working hard on him. It is however comforting to
know that the light of christ is much stronger than the power of the
devil. I have been thinking a lot lately about my journey to come on
my mission. It is crazy how something that now makes so much sence
could have been so confusing just 5 months ago. I was so confused at
what i was to do and was not completley sure I needed to be on a
mission until I got here. But I have no doubt that I was meant to come
here. I was meant to go to Billerica when they opened the area for
sisters and it has forever changed my life and the way I look at the
gospel. It makes so much sence now but just a few short months ago I
was so confused. It is such a testament to me of the hand that our
Heavenly Father has in our lives. And I am very grateful that the Lord
and my family helped me through that crazy confusing time. Thank you
for that. It is crazy that now I can look back on that and smile
because it makes so much sence now. Shawn received the priesthood
yesterday and will baptize Grantlee this Saturday. They asked me to go
but it is too far to drive and we have the nativity this weekend that
we need to help out with. More little miracles that happened this
week. Two women who are converts and very timid to bear there
testimony in church got up this sunday and bore simple beautiful
testimonies. Also there is a man in our ward who says he has lost his
faith and comes to church with his family but shops on his kindel
during sacrament meeting. His 7 year old daughter got up and bore her
testimony and he didn't look up. I was so mad and wanted to chuck his
kindel out the window. Which is not a christ like thing to do but I
just did not understand why he would not look up. But then two other
children bore their testimonies and he started to look up. So he was
listening. I was very humbled and know that this was a small and
simple step for him. And if the savior were here he would love him
back into the gospel through small and simple things. It was a good
reminder that I need to be more christ like:) I love Ellington and
Sister Barney. My Heavenly Father has been very good to me this week.
I know that he is watching over us. Thanks for all the love from home.
I sure do love you all! And feel so blessed to be apart of this
family.
Have a great week!
Love Sister Rushton

Abbey letter November 25, 2013

 Hello Family!
My knew companion is Sister Barney! She is 19 and is from Salem, Utah!
She is a very cute girl! Leaving Billerica was very hard but I have
said many prayers and my love for Ellington has grown. It is a very
cute town. We cover alot of area, about 5 or 6 towns! The ward is
small but very excited about missionary work and the Bishop is all
about it. We have a big nativity activity a week from Saturday! They
have done a lot of advertising in the community so we are hoping to
see a lot of non members there. I havent gotten to meet any of the
investigators yet but the ward members are very nice and welcoming!
One cool thing that happened! This ward building is very small and if
this ward were to split it would be a little tricky to fit another
ward in here. In ward council on Sunday Bishop was talking about a
meeting that he had with other bishops and leaders in the area and
with the mission presidency. He said that because of the expected
expansion in china and the increased need for buldings the church is
saving supplies and money and will not be building any more church
buildings here in the East for a while! Crazy exciting! The Lord truly
is hastening his work! There is a temple being built in Hartvord
Connecticut and a member of the mission presidency was confused why
becase the Boston temple is usually pretty empty. So he kept asking
the Lord why another temple is being built in New England. The answer
that he kept recieving was that the Lord is hastening his work and
there will be a need for it! Something amazing is happening here! And
I am blessed to be apart of it! Yesterday we had an appointment with a
newly wed couple for dinner and their power was out because of a bad
wind storm. So we had a candle light dinner in the cold, and then ate
ice cream! They are a samoan couple. She was raised in the gosple but
left it for a while! He is convert! They live so humbly but yet are so
happy and were sealed in the temple five months ago. There is an older
gentleman named Al Waite who just started coming back to church. He
lives on a hillside in the middle of no where in this beat down house
and looks like a mountain man. He is the sweetest guy! He baked us an
apple pie that looks better than any woman could of cooked it! It was
the funniest thing! This week has been a good one! I have realized how
much I have to learn and how much I need to rely on the Lord! I know
that through him all things are possible! I love all that I am
learning out here and the frienships that I am gaining! I know that
the Lord is very mindful of us and what we need! I love you all! Happy
Thanksgiving!
Love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letter from November 20, 2013

Hey there family,
Transfer texts came in this Saturday and I am being transferred to
Ellington, Connecticut. My new companion will be Sister Barnie. I was
really heartbroken at first but it gets a little easier every day. It
is crazy how fast you can come to love people in such a short amount
of time. This truly has felt like my home, and I feel so blessed to
have been able to serve here. It is comforting to know that this is
the Lord's work. The Lord is very mindful of us. I had two letters in
the mail on Saturday when I went home and had 16 emails in my inbox
today. I am sure feeling loved. Billerica has truly changed me and I
will never be the same. Last week was very eventful. Christin had a
little hiccup with the baptismal interview on Monday. She decided that
she needs a little more time. I think she was a little thrown off at
how fast Shawn switched gears and was all of a sudden all in. She is
still progressing though. When we went over on Thursday Grantlee
bounced down the stairs and told us that he wants to be baptized! He
will be baptized this Sunday with two other 8 year olds. His dad will
receive the priesthood Sunday Morning and will then get to baptize him
Sunday night. Shawn was baptized and confirmed Saturday Morning. We
had doubts on whether he was ready or not because his conversion
process was so fast, but we were quickly humbled! He is very
intelligent and every gospel principle just made sense to him
mentally. And so he knew that it was true. But on Saturday he felt it!
The baptism was late starting and so Brother Koyle suggested that we
take pictures so the baptism could start, he asked if he could go say
a prayer. Before he was baptized he stood up and thanked everyone for
being there and said that he had never before felt so loved and
invited in his life. When he went into the baptismal font he said
another prayer with Brother Wright. The man is so tall he basically
had to curl into the water:) His countenance seemed so different after
that. The spirit was so strong when he was getting confirmed! After
the service he was talking to us and got emotional when he was talking
about his 12 year old daughter not being to interested in the gospel.
He was saying that he now has to tear down that wall that he has
built. I think that she is a little confused since he was so
antagonistic and then converted so fast. Shawn said he has only cried
a few times in his life. He shed happy tears a few times that day!
Shawn said that he didn't feel anything when he was baptized into a
church a few years ago. When Sister White and I were leaving he looked
at us and said, "I know now, I know now!" Ah he knows its true and
wants nothing more than for his family to join. I know that they will
get to be sealed together in a few years. I have so much love for that
man! Once he recognized a small truth in the gospel he took a huge
leap of faith, wanted to know everything, and was baptized a week
later. Raquel and Reyni were also baptized on Saturday! All three of
her boys were there. Rudy the 15 year old opened up to Sister White
this week. He will come around it just may be a while. We got to stand
in the bathroom by the door to the font when Raquel and Reyni were
baptized. Reyni was baptized by Nathaniel Decker, one of the priests
in our ward. After Reyni was baptized us four embraced in a huge wet
and tearful hug. It was a beautiful baptism and a lot of people came,
they were confirmed on Sunday. Zone conference with Elder Nielson was
very good and I got a lot of good take aways. His biggest stress to us
was not to waste one minute of our mission. I wasn't going to tell
many people that I was leaving but Brother Lazenby a high council man
from our ward announced it from the pulpit! haha so there have been
many good byes and some of them tearful. People have been too good to
me. After so many goodbyes part of me is just ready to get it over
with and leave.  Being a misisonary is not a sacrafice at all because
of all the love you receive. We receive many blessings everyday. I
hope I will never forget what I have learned here. Yesterday I said
goodbye to Sister Kohler and Dante, Raquel and Reyni and the Hoffmans.
The spirit hit me really strongly yesterday that this is why we do
missionary work. So that one day we can again be in the presence of
God all together. I sure do love them. Saying good bye to the Hoffmans
was emotional, Shawn excused himself because he was getting emotional.
He then followed us to the gas station because our gas light was on,
and insisted on pumping our gas for us. What a guy! I sure have loved
the time that I have been given here. On Monday Ann Marie found out
that her mom has muscle degeneration and will likely pass in a year.
She said that all she wanted was a drink, and we begged her not to do
it! poor lady has a lot on her plate! We went to Cryss' and she said
that she has lost her faith. After that I was really scared to leave:)
But they have been doing better and Ann Marie has been strong! Its
good to know that the Lord is on our side. I have said many prayers
and the Lord has blessed me to feel a lot better about leaving. It is
sad but it feels right. I know that Ellington is where I need to be.
And that this new sister is what Billerica needs. I am going to miss
Sister White. She is pretty crazy! And has kept me laughing:) She has
definitely taught me how to relax and enjoy all the little things in
life. We have had some pretty crazy happenings together. I know we
will be friends for life. Life is good! And I sure do love being a
missionary! I do appreciate all of the love and support I have been
receiving from back home. I am truly blessed. I pray that everyone is
doing well! Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming! I am so excited:)
Love you all! Brother Lazenby reminded me that the church is true in
Ellington too, so all is well:) Have a great week!
Love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letters October 28, 2013 and November 11, 2013

Not sure how I missed posting the letter from October 28,  thought I had.  Guess life is a little busy. 

October 28,2013

Cryss is getting baptized! President
Haight the second counselor in the mission presidency was able to call
her and talk to her about the baptismal interview, and she has had a
softening of heart and has decided to be baptized. She had her
interview on Saturday and everything is good to go. She will be
baptized this Saturday at 3. Jakai and Jaiden will be baptized the
week after that. And Raquel will be baptized the week after that. We
had a lesson with Raquel on Tuesday and she said that her daughter
Reyni wanted to be baptized. We are teaching her the restoration
tonight and are shooting for her to be baptized on the same day as her
mom. The Hoffman's are doing well! Kristen said that her husband only
had good things to say about church last Sunday. He has not agreed to
be taught the lessons yet but has agreed to continue to come to
church. The primary program was yesterday. The primary presidency
asked all of the children and their parents to invite their neighbors
and friends to watch it. We had 30 non members in church not including
children under the age of 8, it was pretty incredible. It never ceases
to amaze me how missionary minded this ward is. The four of us
missionaries got up and sang with the primary kids. We were pretty
nervous to get up there and sing in front of 300 people but it was a
very spiritual experience. There are over a hundred primary kids and
they all stood up and sang the chorus with us. They were all beaming
as they sang, "we are as the army of helaman, we have been taught in
our youth. and we will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world
his truth." The spirit was so strong in that room, it was a great
experience. Most of these kids are already so good at sharing the
gospel with their friends in simple ways, they are truly amazing. I
have come to realize that with being a missionary you have an instant
fan club! The primary kids love you no matter who you are. We have
been able to help little Alexa with her Halloween costume and we will
go over on Thursday to help her get ready for Halloween. It is a sad
situation in that home, and it breaks your heart. It sure makes me
grateful for what we have. Everyday it gets harder to imagine leaving
this place. It has become my home away from home. I have come to love
many people as family. The ward is so good to us! We love it here and
we love being missionaries! thank you for everything! have a wonderful
week.
Love sister Rushton

November 11, 2013

Hello Family,
This week has been a crazy but good one with many exciting and
unexpected blessings. Jakai and Jaiden were baptized on Saturday. It
was such a testimony that this gospel is going to be what saves and
determines these little boys lifes. They have had a rough go of it
before this. But, they will never be the same. Their Grandma, and aunt
and uncle came to the baptism, which was such a blessing and an answer
to our prayers. For the musical number about 10 primary children went
up and sang a baptism song. The ward mission leaders daughter who is 2
decided she wanted to go sing because her two older sisters were
singing, so the parents let her go up with them. She knew every word.
She looks like a doll and cant be more than 2 feet tall. The spirit
was so strong in that room. Jakai and Jaiden's grandma was smiling at
her the whole time. After the song Brother Koyle got up and said that
feeling that you feel is the Holy Ghost and the grandma nodded. That
little Koyle girl is a miracle worker!
We had MLC on Wednesday with President Packard and the zone leaders
and sister training leaders. They had a big discussion on whether or
not it is a good idea for elders and sisters who are in the same ward
to team teach investigators. It has really worked for us. They were
thinking that they would make a mission wide rule that investigators
should not be team taught but have decided to leave it up to the
individual missionaries to decide. I did not know this but this is not
a common practice at all. President went to a meeting with other
presidents a while ago and most of them do not put sisters and elders
in a ward together and some of them give their elders and sisters
different p-days. So this is a new thing. And i think that we are
being watched a lot closer than we think, to see the pros and cons of
it. It is definitely not perfect but we have seen the blessing that
have come form it. President said that this is the ideal, so we
continue to figure it out and work our best to correlate well with the
elders.
This Saturday we got a call from Sister Wright. Shawn Hoffman was at
their house until 4 in the morning asking questions about the gospel.
He had read the whole pearl of great price and into second Nephi in
one day. He asked before he left if he could be baptized the next day.
They decided it would be best to wait a week so he will be baptized
this Saturday and 11 in the morning. His wife desires to be baptized
with him, but is still unsure so we are working to figure that out. I
think that she wants a little more time. In a 5 week process he will
have gone from being antagonistic about his wife going to church to
progressing farther than she has and being baptized. What a miracle.
We still can not believe it! He has taught himself just about
everything he needs to know and desires to start this new journey to
come closer to God. He will most likely be able to baptize his two
children and possibly his wife with in the next few weeks.
Raquel and Reyni are still planning on being baptized this Saturday at
five. Reyni will be baptized by one of the priests in our ward. We
were over there this week and we gave Rueben who is 9 and Ricky who is
five their own book of mormons. Ricky wanted his name written in it
and I told him to put it in a safe place. So he put it under his
pillow and then told his mom that he had a surprise for her. So he had
her close here eyes and he walked her over to his pillow. He was so
excited to have his own book of mormon. I love that sweet little boy.
When we got here the bishop did say that Billerica would have 8
individuals and a family join the gospel before the end of the year.
Raquel and Reyni will be 7 and the Hoffman's will be the family. The
Lord has truly worked miracles here in Billerica. The Benders continue
to progress. They came to church on Sunday which is a big step for her
with her anxiety issues. They are also working on prayer right now. We
are going over on Tuesday to teach them another lesson. There are so
many people who have been prepared to hear the gospel and the Lord's
work will not be stopped. There may be a few bumps along the way but
miracles are happening. There is a man who has been investigating for
a long time and knows it is true but lacks the faith to act on it. It
is interesting to see that the only difference between him and the
other individuals, is faith. That is all it takes for us to be
accepted into the Lord's gospel, and he will make up the rest.
This week we have Zone Conference with Elder Nielson from the seventy
which we are looking forward to. This Wednesday we are going to the
temple to do baptisms for the dead with Ann Mare, Cryss, and Marilene!
I hope that I get to stay here in Billerica. I think the thing that I
have learned the most is the kind of relationship that I personally
can have with my Heavenly Father and that others can have! I love you
all! Thank you for everything:) I hope you all have a good week!
Love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letter October 21, 2013

Dear Family,
Marilene was baptized this past Saturday. Her friend who first
introduced her to the church was able to fly down from Arizona to
baptize her. Her husband who is not interested in joining is a
classical pianist and performed a music number. Her other friend is an
opera student in Cambridge and he also performed a musical number. She
is a very intellectual lady and so it was a nice service for her. She
was radiating! Cryss also came to the baptism. Bishop called and
invited her, and she CAME. We are still unsure how to progress with
her and what will happen but we know that the Lord is very much
involved and it will work out how it is meant to. The last two
baptisms have been very eventful in the Billerica ward. A family in
the ward, the Carderellis used to live about 20 minutes from the
church and they prayed that they would find a house closer to the
church. They found one right next to it! There backyard is basically
the parking lot of the church and they were hesitant to move that
close but took it as a blessing and moved there. They have saved the
day for the past two baptisms. With Ann Marie's the elders forgot to
fill the fount so they grabbed a house from The Carderellis and hooked
it the the sink so we had two water supplies filling the fount. It
filled in an hour just in time for the ordinance to be performed. Last
Saturday Brother Koyle, our ward mission leader stopped by the church
at 10, 4 hours before the baptism, to grab something and heard water
running. He turned the corner and saw a river of water rushing down
the hall. A pipe in the boys bathroom had burst just minutes before.
The water was turned off and they called in the ward to try and clean
it up in time for the baptism. So the elders knocked on doors and
found 3 hoses which they connected from the Carderellis house to the
fount and we were still able to have the baptism:) The Lord's hand is
most definitely in all things. On Saturday President Haight, the
second counselor in the mission presidency was there. During the
baptism I had a lot of strong feeling of all of the people that need
help and love in this area whether investigators or ward members,
turns out Sister White was having those same feelings. After the
baptism he said that during the service he was looking into our eyes
and knew that we were both meant to be here at this time. It was a
tender mercy, and I needed it. There is a lot going on and it is a
good reminder that the Lord has asked us specifically to do it and
trusts that we can get it down. I know that he is with us in all
things. Jakai and Jaiden are preparing for baptism as is Raquel. We
were able to have another lesson with Kristen this week. She said that
she woke up last Sunday and got ready to go to church and her husband
said that they were not going. We fasted and prayed this week with the
Wright family, who is their fellow shipper, that his heart would be
softened. Kristen and her husband with their eight year old boy were
all in church on Sunday! It was such a blessing. We had two families
investigating the church along with Cryss and David, who are also
investigating in church on Sunday. It was a wonderful day. It was ward
conference and Bishop spoke. He was speaking directly to Cryss and
Kristen. They both needed direct guidance and he was able to give it
to them while speaking to the whole ward. He is a very inspired man.
We are continuing to work with many part member families and in-active
families. We are hoping for Niel a previous Investigator and Kristen
to have a baptismal date by the end of the week. I know that this is
the Lords work and that his hand is in all things. Many of these
people have been prepared for years to hear the gospel. And just by
members of the church being good examples and showing how the gospel
has blessed their life. Sister White and I have had many humbling
experiences this week and have a lot of goals to be better. I have
come to realize the weight of the responsibility that we have as
missionaries, and also members of the church. But the Lord has
intrusted us with great things and will not leave us helpless. I am
striving to recognize the Lord in all things in my life. We have had
many tender mercies this week. We were able to do exchanges with the
sisters from Merrimack this week. It was an emergency exchange, they
are having many problems in there companionship. It makes me all the
more grateful for Sister White and that we get along so well. I
couldn't ask for a better companion. The Elders are also a huge
blessing. We have seen miracles happen as we work together and take
turns teaching all of our investigators. There are four wards in our
stake that have a set of elders and a set of sisters. It has proved to
be a success to have all of the missionaries work together instead of
splitting up the areas. Our president is very big on the concept of
Zion and striving to have it in all of our relationships. In my last
interview with him I told him that I felt I needed help turning more
outward, and focusing more on others. He had me read Moses chapter 7
and I learned a lot from it. A lot more seems to work out when we try
to have Zion with the elders and in our companionship. Thank you for
all of your support. I love hearing how all of you are doing. I love
you all and am grateful everyday for my family. I often wonder how I
got so lucky. Love you all. Have a great week.
Love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letter Oct. 15, 2013

Abbeys letter is pretty short this week because the library was closed for the holiday on her p-day and they had a lot of things they needed to get done on Tuesday.  But enjoy the few sentences she did write!


Dear Family,
Things tend to cange alot here.
We know have Elder Rogers with us. Marilene our investaigator who has
been taught by the longfellow park elders but who lives in Billerica
has decided to be baptized this Saturday, which came as a surprise.
She has had many struggles with the Billerica ward but she has come a
long way. Jakai and Jaiden have also decided to be BAPTIZED. Their
grandma has agreed to let them be baptized and they will be on
November 9th. We are very excited to see them get baptized. Our new
investiagor Kristen was all ready with her kids to come to church on
Sunday and her husband decided that he did not want her to go. So, we
are praying that he will allow her to decide for herself what church
he wants her to go to. We are still working with many inactive, less
active, and part member families. The progress is slow, but we are
starting to see results. Joan, a lady who took the discussions a few
years ago has asked us to come with her to her daughters grave today.
This is a big step, and we are so excited to have an opportunity to
talk about the plan of salvation with her. We were able to go to the
temple yesterday, and then headed into Boston! We were able to see
Elder Rogers which was exciting. It was a neat experience the be in
the temple and realize what all of these people we are working with
have to look forward to. It is good to hear that so many exciting
things are happening back at home. I love it here in Billerica. We
have alot of hopes for good things to happen this week. Thank you so
much for all of the emails. Sorry today has to be a short one. I love
you all.
Love Sister Rushton

Letter from Abbey Oct. 9, 2013

Dear Family,
Transfers will be tomorrow, and Sister White and I will be staying
here. We did not think that we would be leaving, but it was still very
exciting when we found out that we would be staying. Sister White has
been asked to be a sister Training leader, which means that she will
be over 8 other sisters in our surrounding area. With this we will get
the chance to do splits with one set of sisters every week. I will
most likely be staying here when we do that so that will give me an
opportunity to be in charge and lead the area, so that will be fun. It
has been a crazy week, but a good one with many emotional roller
coasters. The highlight of our week was that ANN MARIE GOT BAPTIZED ON
SATURDAY. The Wednesday before that she called us and left a voice
mail saying that she wasn't able to get anything done because she was
so distracted due to excitement about getting baptized. She said that
she was high on the holy spirit:) funny lady. She is already doing
missionary work with her financial consultant and her parents! The
elders forgot to fill the fount until 30 minutes before the baptism
started:) The fount miraculously filled in an hour and she is only 4
foot 10 which proved to be a blessing. She was radiating that day! It
was a simple and beautiful baptism. We took her to the temple the
Friday before she was baptized. We took her into the waiting area and
she put her hand to her heart, because she could feel the spirit in
there. we were able to explain a little bit about what she has to look
forward to. We have lost a few of our investigators this week but have
also gained some. Chris was supposed to be baptized tonight at 6 but
she dropped us on Monday. She does not agree with the baptismal
interview process. She knows that the book of Mormon is true, she
loves the prophet Joesph smith, and said that she will continue to
read the book of Mormon but needs some time, so we continue to pray
that her heart will be softened. Jakai and Jaiden's grandma, the two
little boys we have been teaching has decided that she does not want
them to be taught any more but will allow them to come to church. We
are still however continue to teach the Bender family, and they came
to conference on Sunday! A previous investigator by the name of Raquel
decided to meet with the missionaries again after the women's
conference. She is being taught by the Spanish speaking elders. And we
also started to teach Kristen who is married and a mom of two. She
knows a lot about the church from many friends and already knows that
she wants to be baptized, she just wants to wait to have the support
of her husband. She is one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met.
Sister White and I feel very strongly that this is the family that is
going to join the gospel by the end of the year. The family is being
broken up. Elder Bradly has been transferred. We really are a family.
We team teach a lot of the investigators and it has proved to be
successful. We have been able to share many wonderful and spiritual
moments together. I don't think that i will ever forget our little
family. yesterday Sister White and I had the opportunity to pick up a
sister from the airport. She is a visitors center sister from Nauvoo
and her flight came in 2 hours later than all of the other
missionaries. Traffic mad us late so we ran to the gate and than found
out that her flight was coming in on the opposite side of the airport.
so we ran there while trying to look professional and not totally
crazy:) And the poor girl was sitting there by herself waiting,
thinking she had been forgotten:) haha we felt so bad. It was not
funny at the moment but we must have looked pretty hilarious in
dresses, running, and out of breath. It was a fun experience though
and we got to drive through downtown Boston. Sister White told me we
were going to drive right by Fen way park. When I asked her what kind
of park that was, haha she told me to never ask that question again to
any one and that my secret would be safe with her:) I really need to
get my sports basics covered, cause they take it real seriously here:)
I love being a missionary and can feel the Lord's hand in my life and
in the life of others every day. I pray that you are all doing well.
Tell the grand kids that I love them and miss them, and pray for them
daily, as of the rest of you. I know that this is the Lord's work and
his restored church on the earth. I know that our savior is very
mindful of each and every one of us. I know that the power of the
atonement is very real. I love you all and hope that you have a
wonderful week.
Love Sister Rushton

Letter from Abbey September 30, 2013

September 30, 2013

Dear Family,
I need to tell you before I forget that next week is transfers week so
p day will not be until Wednesday. So once every six weeks I will not
be able to email until Wednesday. It is such a blessing to hear that
Mark has been baptized. Life as a missionary is so great. Last Sunday our bishop asked us to extend the baptismal date of October 13th to
three people. On Monday our elders asked Ann Marie to be baptized on
that date and she accepted. Sister White and I were over there on
Thursday. Ann Marie was having a very bad day so we were over there
for most of the afternoon. She was telling us the pros and cons of
getting baptized and that she was not quite ready to give up coffee
and alcohol, and also lower her pool of eligible men to date. Sister
White felt inspired to ask her to be baptized sooner and she after a
few minutes of contemplating accepted. I was a little hesitant at
first, but Ann Marie's feeling of anxiousness of getting baptized have
turned to excitement! It felt like Christmas when she told me that she
was excited to get baptized and she gave up all of her coffee makers.
It is so cool to see how her life has been blessed since she decided
to get baptized sooner. So she is getting baptized in between sessions
on Saturday. I was on splits in Belmont on Saturday. But sister White
was able to go over to Cryss's house and give her a lesson. Cryss
asked how soon she could get baptized and will be baptized on
Wednesday the 9th. She is so amazing! On Friday night Ann Marie was
having an interview with President Haight, the second counselor in the
mission presidency. The elders and us were at the church entertaining
her little boy Scotty during the interview. We were supposed to go
have a lesson with Cryss but were running out of time so we had her
come to the church. She is preparing for many medical surgeries in
October. She has four rare diseases that make daily life very hard.
President Haight was able to give her a blessing. Before the blessing
he asked Cryss if she had the faith to be healed. She said that she
did but did not feel that she would be worth of it until after her
baptism. She said that it took her illness to come unto God and that
ever since then she has been going from church to church trying to be
healed. But realized a few months ago that her soul has been healed
from past experiences and that this is enough. So she was no longer
looking to be healed and then she met the Elliots who introduced her
to the gospel. In the blessing he basically promised her that after
baptism she will healed. We receive not the miracle, until after the
trial of our faith. On Sunday, we had testimony meeting. Marilene, an
investigator who was taught in another ward and has had hard feeling
about coming to the Billerica ward, bore her testimony. She has been
struggling with setting a baptismal date for a while. She bore this
very sweet beautiful testimony. Cryss also got up and bore her
testimony. She was very sick that morning and needed help getting up
to the pulpit. She bore her testimony that this church was true and
that Joseph Smith was a prophet and to never doubt it. It has only
been 10 days since she first heard of the gospel and Joseph Smith and
this was her first Sunday in church. We had one previous investigator,
one current investigator, and an inactive family who were in church.
Many of these individuals are struggling with their testimony and it
was a surprise that they were there, and I know that they were touched
by here testimony. We have been very blessed this week to be so
involved in the Lord's work. It never ceased to amaze me that these
individuals hear the gospel and instantly recognize it as truth, when
it takes many of us who grew up in the church to receive a testimony
of our own. I love this gospel, and know how much we have been
blessed. I am so excited for conference it is crazy to think that six
months ago I was not sure if I would even be serving a mission, and
now here I am. I know that the Lord is very much in the details of our
lives. Thank you so much for all of your letters.
Sister Rushton

 

(my personal note:  I am including this letter that Abbey wrote her dad because she shares such a good message on true conversion)

 

Dear Dad,

I cant believe that Mark has been baptized! And you got to baptize him! That makes me so happy. It is very uplifting and exciting to meet people here and watch how the gospel changes and enriches their life. But it is an entirely different kind of feeling to hear that some one who you love back at home has decided to let the gospel bless their life. And I know that yours and moms nonjudgmental support was crucial in his decision to learn more about the gospel. If you see him please send him my love and tell him how excited I am for him. I love this gospel and everyday I realize more and more how blessed we are to have it. The topic of true conversion has been on my mind a lot lately. It is hard to watch some people who have served missions and yet are still inactive. I think that I have decided that it comes down to true conversion. And that our own personal conversion is something that we can never stop working at or stop protecting from the attacks of the world. my mission president talks a lot about consecrating your self to the Lord. We are forever consecrated. Even when I come home from the mission I am still consecrated to the Lord and his work. I was always a little timid to share the gospel before my mission. And Id like to say that when I come home I will not be scared anymore. So everyday I pray that that will be true. I love you dad, and am so grateful for the man that you are. Have a wonderful week.

Letter from Abbey Sept. 23, 2013

Dear Family,

This week has been a good one. We had our first lesson with a member referral last Thursday. Her name is Cryss, she is 48 and has severe health problems. We though that we would just be getting to know her a little and find out what interests her about the church and teach a little bit about the restoration of the gospel. But when we went there she had so many questions. We taught about the restoration and the plan of Salvation. She just could not get enough. Everything we taught her, she would say "that makes so much sense." She has gone through a lot of religions the last few years and has been seeking. She has a lot of chronic pain and she said that a few days before we met with her she was listening to a pastor and just had this feeling to hang on and keep going because something good was about to happen. She was crying the whole lesson and was full of so much joy. She was amazed that we would devote our lives for 18 months to share a message about Jesus Christ, and take the time to come to her personally and teach her a lesson. After we taught her the plan of salvation and the three degrees of glory, she looked at us and said, "I don't think you know how lucky you are to have this knowledge at such a young age, I have been searching for this my whole life." It was such a humbling moment. We walked her dog with her yesterday and answered some of her questions. She is already reading in the book of Mormon. We taught her about baptism and invited her to pray to know for herself if she should be baptized into the Lord's church, and she accepted! We will teach her again this week and we are going to invite here to be baptized on October 13th. Cryss has given me such a testimony that there are individuals out there who have been so prepared to hear the gospel. Sister White and I had dinner at our bishop's house last night. He wants us to invite three of our investigators to be baptized on October 13th, so we are praying about who the other two should be. About two months ago the bishop was in his office with the elders and felt very impressed that a family would be baptized in the Billerica ward before the year is over, so we are also praying to find that family. The elders that we work with are so amazing. Elder Faver just graduated form high school this year and has already been on his mission for two about two and a half months. His testimony is so strong and he is such an example to me. Sometimes he will say the most random thing in a district meeting, and it catches me off guard:) Then I just have to remember that he has only been out of high school for 3 months! I love sister White. She has only been out for 4 months but is such an amazing missionary. We get along really well. Yesterday at church an in active Sister Kohler came to church. She has not been to church for several years but came two weeks ago because someone picked her up. We dropped by this week and she had gotten her car fixed and said that she would drive herself. AND SHE CAME AND STAYED FOR ALL 3 HOURS. We were so happy. And another less active family came to church. The father was baptized 6 months ago and they had him roast the pig for the camp out this weekend. He took a day off work which meant he sacraficed alot of money. The day after he decided he was going to take the day off work he got 3 checks in the mail from previous jobs that he never though he would get payed for. I think that he is starting to realize that blessings come when you sacrafice something for the Lord's church, and that he will bless you. Miracles are happening here in the Billerica ward. I see the Lord's hand in my life everyday. On tuesday we got lost coming back from a meeting out of our area because our gps was dead because our cigarette lighter in the car was not working. So we just decided to make some phone calls while we were at a gas station. We called the man in charge of our cars and asked what to do about the cigarette lighter. He said that it was under warranty so that we could take it to a Toyota dealership. And what was across the street from where we were, a Toyota dealership. It was such a blessing:) I love being a missionary! Thank you for all of your letters. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letter Sept. 16, 2013

Dear Family,

It has been a very good week! The leaves are starting to change here and fall is definitely coming! I am so grateful that everything with my nose is done! It definitely does not look quite like it used to but it is better. And honestly if I was hope I would probably be really concerned by I haven't been to worried this whole time. It has been a huge blessing. We went to district meeting on Friday and the poor elder that threw the ball was so concerned that it wasn't as straight as it used to be. I catch him staring at it quite often, poor kid. He keeps telling me that as soon as he gets home he wants to pay for me to have plastic surgery. haha I keep reassuring him that no one else can tell and that my nose was never straight to begin with. This last Tuesday we had our weekly planning session with the elders and made goals to find new people to teach, and it is amazing how blessed we have been. There are so many people in this area that are ready to hear the gospel that I sometimes wonder how it can all be done! But things always work out and we have been able to keep up with it between the four of us. This week we got to teach the Jansun family. They went to our temple in Boston and tried to go in. So their information was given to us. One of the young women in the ward wanted to go out tracking but we decided to take her to this appointment with us as a last minute decision. We went to their hope and sat down with them. They were so interested by the Mormon religion and just wanted to learn more. They moved from China about 6 years ago and have been in the states every since. They joined Christianity when they got here. He said that in China even though they are taught that there is no God, he said he always knew that there was a higher power. They are so ready for the gospel it is incredible, and I cant wait to teach them again. The moment the lesson changed was when Isabell, the young women we brought with us bore her testimony. He was very touched that someone so young could have such a firm believe in something. The youth in this ward are amazing. There are two young women that come to activities that are interested in the gospel, and a young man that is going to start coming. We were able to teach the mission prep class last night for them. I love the youth in this ward! There are 4 laurels in the ward and each one of them have agreed to come out with us every other week. We are the missionaries but it is really the ward that is doing the missionary work, just by being good examples and sharing the gospel with people they love. The Billerica ward has really caught onto this idea of member missionary work and really taken off with it. It is so amazing to watch. Me and sister White had the chance to go to our stake leadership training meeting with President Packard this last Saturday. It was all on how the ward can use the missionaries and the youth to do missionary work. My eyes were very opened.

This week me and sister White have had alot happening. we had two doctors appointments for me, and she was sick. We got a flat tire and had to go get that fixed. Our gps stopped working and when we got a knew one our power outlet in the car stopped working. It felt like many forces were working agianst us but we were so blessed this week, and we saw many tender mercies and miracles happen this week. I know that the Lord is very much in the details of our lives, and that there must be opposition in all things.  I love this gospel so much and everyday feel my knowledge and appreciation of it deepen. Life is so good. We have this goal to contact one person a day, and share our message with them. On Friday is was 9:00 at night we were on our way home and my companions throut hurt really bad so we stopped to get her a frosty. We had not contacted anyone yet so we approached a group of 5 guys that were sitting at a table outside the door. We just talked with them for a few minutes, told them that we were missionaries and asked if we could share a message with them. The whole conversation probably lasted about a minute and the whole time they were just laughing in our faces. We both walked away smiling because even though they thought we were ridiculous because we could feel the spirit with us. And it didn't shake our believe in the gospel because they didn't like what we had to say. It never ceases to amaze me that everyday I am uplifted with strenght to do this work. Our Lord is so merciful, and without his help this work would be nothing. This week we get to teach 3 investigators the lessons and are working with many others. I hope and pray that everyone is doing well. Have a wonderful week.

Love Sister Rushton

Abbey's letter Sept. 9, 2013

Dear Family,

It is hard to believe that I have only been here for 10 days. It has become such a big part of me that it is honestly sometimes hard to imagine life before I came to Billerica. We have been blessed to meet a ton of the ward, and have had a lot of success with the inactives in the ward. We were able to get a sweet lady by the name of Sister Kohler who hadn't been to church in a year to church. A year ago a mob broke into her house and shoot her grandson in the kitchen. She has had a rough life. Also we already have 3 investigaor lessons set up this week, and have two more potential investigators that we are working with. I feel that this week I have learned alot about myself and how much i need to rely on the Lord. We are teaching two little girls the new member lessons, and one of them her name is Alexa. Her mom struggles with many mental illnesses. She just recently lost custody of them so they are now a ward of the state. The grandparents are the foster parents for now, but probably for not much longer. Its crazy how much I have come to love this little girl in just a matter of days. Getting to go to visit people in their homes and see their struggles has shown my how much I have been blessed and that there are many things in life that do not matter. We went to visit an inactive couple and their home felt very empty and had a weird feeling. And I had this really strong impression that it was because they had made choices that kept the spirit from residing their. It really reminded me of how important the role of the spirit is in our lives. It protects us day to day and is our guide in this crazy world.

So I just got back from the doctors office. Right after I wrote you last Monday we went to play sports with our district. We were playing ultimate frisbee and then went to paly softball. I was batting and saw the elder throw the ball overhand and the next thing I knew it was in my face:) So it hit me on the left side of my nose and moved it to the right a little. So now my nose is straight because the bottom was croocked before and now the top has moved over but it is not where it should be!!! haha:) So I went to see the mission doctor on monday and he looked and it and set me up with a nose doctor today because they coulnd't do anything until the swelling went down. And I am waiting to here from the mission doctor today to decide if he wants me to go back and have it readjusted. So if that happens they will numb me stick a little hammer up my nose and have at it until it is back where it was before!!! :) So I will let you know how that goes. My time is up but I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Thankyou for the letters!

Love Sister Rushton

Letter from Abbey September 2, 2013

Dear Family,

I am in Boston!!!!!!! And I love it here it is like a city inside of a forest, which is crazy! There are trees everywhere. My hair seems to have grown in size, it is really poofy:) So much has happened since I last emailed. I loved the mtc and the things that I learned there it seemed that every time my spirits were down something happens that lifts me up and reminds me that I can do anything with the help of my Heavenly Father. We got to teach a less active in the mtc and when we came out of that lesson I feel like I finally realized what it feels like to teach by the spirit and not worry about what you going to say because it is truly the spirit that teaches. The night before we left the mtc the elders in our district gave everyone a priesthood blessing. I was reminded in that moment that I am meant to be here at this time, and that every mission is divinley planned out. 

On tuesday we left for Boston!!!!!!! When we were getting on the plane Mitt Romney walked on. So when we were loading he was sitting in the fourth or fifth row back and the line was stalled right when I passed him so HE TALKED TO ME. He asked me if i was going to the Boston mission an told me that I was very lucky! So be sure to tell Devin Bowman that we are now best friends. I wanted to write letters this week but just did not have time. There was a family sitting behind us in the airplane that was asking us questions so we gave them a mormon.org card. It is so interesting to see how the mitt romney election has put a spotlight on the church here in Boston. When we got to the airport the Packard family was there to greet us. Their family is so loving and I look up to President Packard in so many ways. He had interviews with all of us to recieve revelation on when we should be placed. He ususally has the interview that prays and then decides when to place the new misisonary. I walked in for my interview and he had me say a prayer and when i was done he said that when i was praying he knew exactly where I needed to go and who my campanion was going to be. We had our interview and then he said the closing prayer and it was all about me. It was like he was telling the Lord everything he knew about me, it was a neat experience. 

On tuesday we were told were we had been placed. I am in the Billerica area. It is one ward that covers 5 or six surrounding towns and is located in Billerica, Massachusetts. My trainer is Sister White who has been out for three months. This ward only had elders and they just placed us in so we are learning the area together and there are know two sets of missionaries in the ward. This ward has not had sister missionaries for a very long time and they have been praying for us to come. About a year ago the elders were taken out of this area and just put back in about six months ago. the bishop called the mission president and begged for sister missionaries. this ward has alot of struggling single and elderly ladies that we will be able to help. The ward has been so welcoming and the are so excited about missionary work. The Lord's work really is being hastened. When I came out here I expected to be tracting but all we do is member work. We visit ward members and encourage them to do missionary work and then follow up. All but one of the current investigators is a member referral and two sets of members came up to on sunday with a referral so we may have two new investiagors! The Elders have been so nice and have already given us so many people to teach, they have decided that it will be a team effort adn we help teach eachothers investigators. I can feel it here in Boston that the Lord truly is hastening his work. On Wednesday they dropped all of the new missionaries off at the Boston Commons and had us street contact for a half and hour. It was really scary but a good experience. Everyone we talked to knew alot about the mormon church and some were quite impressed with how much much effort we put into missionary work. there were some that wanted nothing to do with us and made that quite clear. I can feel so much love here in the Billerica ward and how much faith the ward has in us. They are keeping us very busy and I often feel like there is not way I am going to remember everything but I know that it will get easier. I love this gospel and know that the Lords hand is in everything. Every time my spirits are low something seems to lift me up again. Have a wonderful week! Tell Lucas that I will send him a letter for his Birthday. I will send one for you two David!! I love you have a wonderful week. 

Letter from Abbey

My Dear Family!
The first few days here at the MTC was a spiritual and emotional and very stressful roller coaster for us new missionaries! But they do say that Sunday is the hump to get over and if you make it till Sunday then you are going to be fine. And I do have to say that Life has been much better since Sunday. My companion Sister Hyoung is from San franando Valley, California and she is a piano performance major at BYU. We are very different but have come to find that we are a lot alike also. We have already gotten to teach our investigator Simon three times know (he is really our teacher Brother Morris, but we just pretend like were fooled:). We successfully got him to pray last time which was exciting. We also got to teach our investigator Victoria for the first time yesterday. I believe that she is a member of the church and we are teaching as before she was converted but we have to treat it as it is real. We only got to spend 20 minutes with her but she shared her story with us and it was incredible. She was abused by her Grandma and when she was telling us these stories she was crying and you could feel the pain. I just want to be her friend in real life.

   For church we are put in branches and me and my companion got called as the sister training leaders, so we work with the zone leaders. We get to meet with all of the new missionaries in our branch tomorrow night and kind of show them the ropes, so that will be really fun. I remember thinking that our zone leaders on the first night we were here could have no way only been here for a week because they actually knew how things worked at the mtc and seemed like they werent stressed. I guess that is because the mtc can be a lot to take in at first:) So I am really excited for that. I feel as if I have learned so much but still have so much to learn. They teach you a lesson and then you implement that into your teaching and think ok I got this, and then they do that again the next day. So it is a lot to take in but I am glad to be learning so much before I go into the field. On Saturday we were at a zone meeting and were working in partners and the teacher Brother Barton came over to me and started asking me my questions that I had about getting investigators to pray when you meet with them and he helped me a lot and just talked to me for a while. I think that he was inspired because it meant more than he could have known. We got to watch the attributes of Christ talk by Elder Bednar on Sunday Night. He gave it here on Christmas Day and they only show it in the MTC. That talk was literally life changing. He talked about how the atonement was only possible because of the attributes of Christ. He shared examples of how when it is our human nature to turn in, it is the saviors nature to turn outward. It was beautiful the way that he described it. He explained that It is not about us and the only way success can happen in the mission field if we recognize that. But we also cannot think of the blessings that we will get when we forget ourselves because then we won't get them:) Makes sence but something I had never thought of before. He said that we can not just have a testimony but need to be converted unto the Lord. I love the MTC and all of the things that I am learning. Yesterday was a rough day in the district and we were all tired, and struggling to implement what we were learning, our spirits were low, and we were getting on eachothers nerves. So my teacher just sat us down and gave us a lesson on stress and how to deal with it, and it was very much needed:) I found it very funny that there is a lesson in the mtc book they give us on dealing with stress. But I guess that stress is a good thing. It is nice to know that it is a normal thing at the mtc and that it is not just me. My teacher caught onto the fact that I am a perfectionist, which I thought that I was pretty good at hiding but I guess I can't hide who I am:) My companion struggles with the same thing so our teacher just looked at us as we left class and reminded us that we are loved, and that it would be ok:)

   After the first few days I never thought I would miss the mtc, but I am going to miss it a lot. The spirit here is so strong. A man, I don't remember his name, but he is an lds sports anchor in New Jersey, and he came to talk to us on sunday. He talked about missionary work and how important his mission was to him. After wards we singing called to serve and there was almost 3 thousand missionaries in the gym and in the middle of the song we all stood up and were singing at the top or our lungs and the spirit was so strong. I love this gospel and I am so excited to go teach it to the people in Boston. And I know that all of my strength and knowledge comes from my Heavenly Father and without him I am weak, but with him I can be strong. 

 Thank you so much for the package! It came on Saturday but I didn't get a chance to go get it until today. We went to the temple as a district today and it was a really good experience. I love the new temple video, I feel like it makes a lot more sence now! We got our flight plans last week!!!! We will be flying out next Tuesday at around 9 in the morning and will arrive in Boston at 4:35!!! SO ONLY 6 MORE DAYS AND I WILL BE IN BOSTON!!!!! We dont really get a p day next week since our assigned day is Tuesday so I am not sure I will be able to email but if not I will write letters. They may let us email on Monday but I am not sure. 

    I have seen Sarah a few times, and a few of my byui freinds, but no Trevin:( I also met another Sister Rushton! Which was so fun I don't know how we are related but we are somehow!  Let me know when Cassie has her baby, that poor lady! Please forward this email onto Cassie, Karie, and David, because I don't have their email addreses. Also please tell Kamery and Lucas Thank you for the drawings they made my day. 

   Thank you so much for your emails!  I love you all and pray that you are all doing well, I am glad that you made it home safe. Have a wonderful week! 

Love Sister Rushton:)

August 14, 2013

We took Abbey to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo.  It was a "happy" sad.  She was excited to get going.  She has been planning and preparing for this day for several months.  We are looking forward to her first letter.  I have posted her address at the right if anybody is interested in writing her.