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