The Week of Secrets

Wow, lots of stuff happened this week, and mainly a lot of secret stuff. Earlier in the week it was Sister Topham's last time serving at the Smith farm so we were basically doing all of her bucket list
things, such as going into the root cellar of the log home. Guests aren't allowed down there, and sisters don't normally go down, but it's not technically against the rules. One of the senior couples,
Sister Bergstrom, let us go down. It was just mainly fun getting to see all the hidden compartments of the different sites. It was also really slow at the the sites, and being bored, we tried on all the costume pieces on display.


My floating head looking up from the root cellar.

In the darkness of the root cellar.

Outside the log home with Sister Bergstrom.

Being fancy in the frame home with our costumes.

Model pioneer.



Looking up the root cellar.

Another top secret thing that happened this week. So the Elders found a Barney shaped pan while shopping and immediately thought of us for some reason. They then proceed to buy packets of grape jello, and this is the result. It was a few minutes before curfew that night when we hear a knock on the door and open it to find this.



Sister Tucker and I destroying Barney.

Completely random and weird, but hilarious. The Elders booked it back to their apartment (they live in the same complex as us, and Elder Holmes, the district leader ripped his pants slipping on ice on the run back) then we were left with the monstrosity. Instead of eating it we just got really fascinated with the jello and played with it. Later, we agreed to keep it from the Elders that we got the jello and have been pretending we have no idea what they're talking about when they refer to "Barney jello". So, everyone who reads this letter, this is top secret information you can never let the Elders know. We are the Barney murderers.

Us with the Barney jello.

We had an activity called Joseph Smith Christmas where one of the senior couples dressed up as Mother and Father Smith and told the nativity story in the log home. There was also caroling in the Frame home, and dancing in the barn, led by the sisters who fiddle. Our responsibility was basically to take groups in and lead them down the path with a lantern, giving facts and little tidbits about the Smiths. It was pretty sweet because it was snowing and felt super Christmas-y. It was also the most I've seen people at the sites, and got me super pumped for summer when there are actually people here. Santa hats were also involved. After the night was over we got all the sisters together in the barn and had a secret dance party (under the direction of the Visitors Center Directors, the Bradfords, of course) with fiddling, and it was the best thing ever.



Sister being silly!

All of us in the barn after our dance party!

Sister Tucker, Sister Andersen (the sister who lives in our same apartment) and

I with the Light the World cards we were giving out.

All of the sisters in the Canandaigua apartment. In order (Me, Sister Andersen,

Sister Tucker, Sister Packard, and Sister Topham).

So lots of fun! Courtney is progressing very well and there have definitely been some miracles involved with her. It turns out she's really good friends with a less active who lives in Naples whose name is Amanda. Amanda really knows she needs to come back to church, and Courtney's baptism could be the thing that brings her back, so keep both of them in your prayers! A little bit of sad news, the Elders investigators who were getting married on the 17th couldn't find all the paperwork they needed, so the wedding has been pushed back until February. Even though it's being delayed please pray for them to stay strong in the wait, and that soon they will be able to get baptized!! On a happier note, the Elders have a famous investigator, John Michock, who was been investigating the church forever, but has been on parole, and thus unable to get baptized. Recently though he just received the permission to get baptized!!! He's met with tons of Elders in the past years, and so they can all be there to see him get baptized, he's getting baptized at the mission wide Christmas conference on Christmas Eve! He asked me to sing Mary Did You Know at his baptism, and it felt like such an honor that "The John Michock" would ask that of me. So that should be really fun, I am get super pumped for that!! Isa is coming home today!! Let her know I love her tons and please send me lots

of pictures!! I love all of you, and even though I won't be there greeting Isa at the airport I will be there in Spirit.

I hope you all have a great week, and Merry Christmas very soon!!

-Hermana Abreu