Abbey's letter May 5, 2014

This week has been a good week! Don is set to be baptized this Saturday! His is getting really excited:) We just have to work on stopping coffee this week:) We had stake conference this week and it was all about hastening the work of salvation:) It was a really good stake conference. President Packard got to come and speak. We had four sister missionaries go home this week because of health reasons. Sister Klecker will likely be going home in a little bit if they can' t get her allergies under control. She went to the doctors and found out that she is allergic to 70 different things:( Poor girl. I am grateful for good health. Out of my 5 companions I have only had 1 companion who has not had health issues. My MTC companion also is not doing well but hopefully she will get to stay out. Really sad that so many missionaries are struggling.
We had transfer texts on Friday. This whole transfer I have really felt like I would stay since Sister Watts will have only been in the area for 4 and a half weeks when transfers happen on Wednesday. But a few days before I was pretty sure I was leaving. I think that was the Lord preparing me. A few days before I found out I was leaving I had a realization. We watched a video the other day and there was a quote from Elder Holland where he said, "I have every confidence that the Lord is fully capable of doing his own work." We are literally HIS hands helping him with HIS work. On Wednesday of this last week I was talking to my companion and kind of broke down a little. I was thinking about James and Gary and how the only think I wanted was for them to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and agree to be baptized before I left. Just to know that they will accept the gospel. I have had the opportunity to teach James, Gary, and Halie in this area all of who I know felt the spirit. And Gary has looked me and my companion in the eye and told us that he has known that this church is true since the day he picked up the Book of Mormon. It is hard to see him push away from us and the gospel. I can' t imagine what Heavenly Father must feel like. It is hard to understand and recognize that this may not be there time. It's hard to see how much it could bless their lives and to see them turn away from it. This area has been very different in that way from my first area. It has taught me a lot. I think I appreciate this gospel a lot more now than I did before. And I know that God is very capable of doing his work. And he will not forget about James or Gary or Halie. Even though I think that I love them and want them to accept the gospel more than anything I know that Heavenly Father loves them more than I could comprehend. Maybe two new missionaries who both don't know the area very well is what this area needs.

Even though those three have not chosen to accept the gospel I have seen so many miracles. So many people have come back into the fold of God. I have seen how much youth sacrifice just to live their standards in a world that teaches very different things. I have gotten to see Don transition into accepting the gospel. He sure is quite the guy. He had is baptismal interview with President on Sunday. President pulled Sister Watts and I in for a few minutes and asked Don what his process of joining the gospel was? Don said that it started when the Jehovah witnesses knocked on his door and he couldn't turn them away and not listen to them but their message didn't seem complete. When he married Audrey who was a Mormon he started bringing his grandson to church so that he could grow up going to church. He then through 8 months realized that there was nothing about the church that didn't feet write. President Packard talked to Don about covenants and promises to God and Don is so excited and ready to make this step. I sure love that man!!! I wont get to go to his baptism, but just that he is getting baptized is all that matters.

I am sure going to miss Ellington but am excited for my new area. Remember when i said that I really wanted to serve a service mission? Well I have been transferred to Nantucket which is an Island off of the coast of Massachusetts. It is about a 2 and a half ferry ride to get there from the coast of Cape Cod. Their have been sisters there for about a year now. It is a service mission and they do about 43 hours of organized service a week. There are 7000 people who live there and we aren't allowed to proselyte to them. But there are normally 77000 people in the summer since it is a tourist island so hopefully we will get to do some contacting during the summer. Their is a twig on the island. They are part of the Brewster Branch which is on Cape Cod. Their are thirteen members on the island and we will meet in someone's home for sacrament meeting. President said that there are more nonmembers than members attending sacrament meeting right now which is really exciting!!!!! I was shocked when I found out that I was going there. It is going to be really different. I can't remember what my new companions name will be. I don't know my new address yet but I will let you know when I get there. Just warning you I have heard that mail takes about two weeks extra to get to the island. I guess we will see when I get there. It will be an adventure! I am really excited to get to talk to everyone on Mother's Day. I love you all and hope that you have a fantastic week:)

Love Sister Rushton