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.