Abbey's letter February 3, 2014

Life is so good here in Ellington,CT. We had a good lesson with Don this week about the Savior. We read scriptures about him and then shared our feelings about the savior through different pictures of him. Don has such a tender soul. I don't know how soon he will be baptized but I know that he will be and that it is just a matter of time! He is progressing at his own rate but he loves what he is learning and is really seeking to learn for himself with an open heart. He is one of the most giving men that I have ever met. Sometimes I feel like he is my grandpa. He likes to take good care of his missionaries. Gary was unable to meet. But he continues to look for the faith to act on what he knows is true. He is such a sweet and timid man. I pray that he will be able to see the truth in what he has learned and find the faith to act on it. James is loving the book of  Mormon and what he is reading in it. We had a training during our interviews with president and were taught about the Book of Mormon. And the book of Mormon is really what should be doing the teaching with the missionaries backing it up with testimony and not the other way around. It really is a powerful thing and is our true and lasting conversion comes. Missionaries testifying is great but the power of the Book of Mormon is even better. We are excited to get to use the book of Mormon more in our lessons.
On Tuesday we went to visit our friend Theron who is 94 and we knocked on the door and no one answered so we were about to leave when a women pulled up. Turns out Theron fell and was in the hospital so his friend who's daughter lives across the street came to bring him some food. But Theron wasn't home from the hospital yet and I really had to go to the bathroom so we went across the street to her daughters house to use the bathroom. So we get talking and it turns out that her nephew is Martin Faber is a boy from our ward that goes on a mission on Wednesday. So they got to know us and see that missionaries are normal people and Martin isn't getting into anything too crazy. And we got to see them at his going away party on Saturday as well. So that was exciting! Kind of funny how the Lord works.
So live is a funny thing! Erin Palmberg and Ryan Devaux were in my ward Fall of 2012 and Winter of 2013. So the Devaux family is in my ward and Ryan is home from school. So that is cool but Ryan's little brother is 20 and just started coming back to church. His fiance is Kelly, who we are starting to teach the lessons to. Crazy, so we dropped by the other day and Erin was there because he lives 10 minutes away from Ryan. It is a crazy world. We went there for dinner last night before the super bowl and they were both there. It is fun but kind of weird at the same time to see some familiar faces from the burg:)

Yesterday at church Chris got up to bear his testimony. He was in his work clothes since he only gets about an hour before he has to go back to work. He bore his testimony on church and how he fell away but then saw that this person who he loves so much comes to church more then him when she is not even a member. He talked about how he wants to raise his children in the church. We talked to Kelly about taking the lessons so she can learn more and she said that Ryan wants her to become a member so that they can get sealed in the temple. So we talked about experiencing and discovering things for ourselves. And invited her to learn for herself. So we are going to teach the lessons to both her and Chris. They are scheduled to be married in September and are thinking about going to the court house here in a few weeks and then just having the party in September. Which will be a blessing because then she can get baptized sooner. We are so excited to get to work with her. Sister Barney and I are very excited to finally have a women investigator. It will be a change from only ever teaching men:) haha

Things are picking up here. We love the Ellington Ward. Many miracles are happening. We have an amazing bishop and the ward is so excited about missionary work. There were three people who have been inactive for a very long that came to church on Sunday so that was a tender mercy. We had a very good testimony meeting this Sunday. So many people bore such sweet testimonies. The Lord truly is hastening his work and not only in those who do not yet have the gospel. But also in those who already have it and are still learning and being converted. It really is exciting to get to watch. I love this gospel and I know that my savior lives. And that this truly is his work. And it doesn't matter how inadequate we are or feel because the Lord is there to guide us and will lift us up in times of need. President told me to read Mosiah chapter 4 verses 11 through 14. It talks about how when we have come to a knowledge of our God we then need to recognize our own nothingness before him. And realize that all goodness comes from him and without him we are nothing. Then the Lord will bless us to become something more. And we be more like him. We will begin to resemble him and be a blessing to those around us.

We were able to teach Seminary this week. They are in Alma on the story of Ammon. So we talked about the conversion of King Lamoni and how Ammon was able to help him through his conversion. We challenged them to be a missionary for a day. To wear church clothes gives someone a book of Mormon with their testimony in it and give up one thing. It could be a phone, TV, or music. We then read them a quote that we found. And I wanted to share it with you. So here it is! I love you all so much! Hope that you all have a wonderful week!

Love Sister Abbey Lou

The Fellowship of the Unashamed
I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast! I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tainted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I now live by faith, lean on His
presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, and my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear! I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up stored up, and paid up of the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till I know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear.
Henry b. Eyring