Light the World is Back!

Another week down in Rochester! With the Christmas season getting started we've been out and about using "Light the World" again. I've had many flashbacks of last year and being at people's doorsteps showing them the video. Even if not everyone is always interested, I always feel the Spirit watching it, and know they do as well. It's given me lots of reason to reflect on the past year and the service I've given and have seen been given, and I know it's all under the influence of the Light of Christ. He truly is the Light of the World.

In terms of the week things have been moving forward! Brother Breedlove went to the Christmas devotional broadcast from the church last night, so that was awesome! We pray for his progression, and for everyone else's as well! Brother Rivas received the Priesthood this past week and will be going to the temple this week, which is very exciting!

The Santiago's are still doing well and read the Book of Mormon every day. They always mark how their day goes a little better when they read and when they don't. We are also teaching a Puerto Rican woman named Luz who is pregnant. Something I love that the Puerto Rican's do is say, "Gracias a Dios" after explaining any good thing that's happened in their lives. It's a true principle. Thanks to our Heavenly Father we have what we have, and it's always good to be reminded of that.

Rochester continues to be filled with surprises and we continue finding people every day. 

1. There was a little Christmas tree in the storage so we took it out and now we have Christmas!

2. A very true statement 

3. Closer look

A Week of Gratitude

Hello everyone!

Thanksgiving week was an adventure. We last minute had Thanksgiving dinner canceled on us, so the Evans gladly invited us over for their Thanksgiving. It was p-day that day so we spent some of the time doing scripture study with the Evans family and playing ping-pong. That was a joy, and for sure a memory I will always remember.

We are also gearing up for Brother Rivas to head to the temple to do baptisms, and for him to get the Priesthood, which were all excited about. Brother Rivas is excited to get back to the sites and keeps saying, "I can't wait to get the card that will get me inside the temple." It's the little things :)

We have seen a good deal of direct blessings this past week. As winter approaches I will admit, it's been a little rougher to get up and out there each day when we don't have a car. But the Lord is very aware of our efforts and introduced us to a family to teach! The Santiagos! Seriously, we call them our miracle family. They let us right in from their doorstep in the first contact, but they couldn't meet the first week because their daughter was sick. But we dropped off some little cakes on their doorstep one evening, said a prayer as we were leaving that no animals would get to it, and lo and behold we got a text just fifteen minutes later that they'd gotten them and had been reading the Book of Mormon.

We also are visiting a man named Brother Breedlove, who was a Bible referral and loves Jesus. He has pictures of him all on the walls of his home. He's brother passed away earlier in the year, so he just wants to do all he can to make his brother, and the Lord proud. 

Also, I discovered a miracle that happened. Does anybody remember back in the summer when I wrote about pirate day and Sister Dickey and I went outside to take a picture of us with the parrot and invited a man named Michael to come in and take a tour? His baptism was two weeks ago. I hadn’t heard any news of his progress after sending his information to the missionaries, but there it is! I found out serving with Sister Murdock as she was taking about the baptism they were soon having and asked how they find Michael. She gave me a puzzled look and said, “you and Sister Dickey?” I then exclaimed, “ THAT Michael??” There was much screaming involved.

It's an honor and a privilege to be teaching and have taught these people.

I love you all, and you are constantly in my prayers.

Sincerely,
Hermana Abreu

1. The sisters at the sites got together and do an exercise where we pretended to be Joseph and Oliver Cowdery as they were translating. The Bradford’s graced us with quills as our gift!
2. Panorama of Thanksgiving with the Evans
3. Michael’s baptism with the sisters that taught him :)
4. The Santiago’s daughter taking pictures on our iPads 

A Week of Reflection

There has been a lot of reflection involved in this week. There have been amazing miracles. As I wrote about last week, Brother Rivas was baptized. It was one of the sweetest moments of my mission, if not my life, to watch him step into the water and take that step. During the baptism we sang the song “I Am A Child of God.” Watching Brother Rivas sing out the words of a song he picked, I realized this was a very precious knowledge that he held very dear. The fact that God is our Heavenly Father, and because of that we have a divine potential to return with Him. 

I received the news of Gabriel’s passing a couple of days later and the same words of the song were ringing through my head. I am a child of God. I know that we are all His children, and His only desire is for us to come back to Him. As is described in Alma, “the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.” This Thanksgiving I am grateful for that knowledge. I’m grateful for a family with that knowledge. I’m grateful for our unity in that desire to live with Him again, and how in this journey of returning, we have each other and I have them to lean on.

I also had the opportunity to sing a musical number, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” for the baptism. As the words left my mouth I was reminded of their truth. He lives to wipe away my tears. He lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives and I shall conquer death. 

He truly does live. He is the way home. And one day, holding faithful, we will see Him again. 

I can’t put into words how much I love you all. 

Sincerely, 

Hermana Abreu

1. With Brother Rivas at his baptism

2. Brother Rivas in the flesh

3. Sister Ingersoll and I in the Frame Home

Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

Hello everyone! 

It's been a week of craziness and wonders that's for sure. So first off, Brother Rivas (or, Fernando) is getting baptized this Saturday!! We are very very excited for him and are making all the plans which has us very busy, but a good busy!

Sister Ingersoll is a fabulous missionary and I'm very proud to be her companion. I'd met and heard about her most of my mission but had never served around her and now I have the privilege to serve around her 24/7. She's very powerful and has a great desire to be exactly obedient. We've been working hard, even in the cold!

Speaking of the cold, the temperatures have dropped dramatically. The other day it was 20 something degrees and in the city with all the skyscrapers and windchill it makes it like fifty bagillion degrees colder. Without a car we still do walking and busing and it's been a little bit of a struggle. The other day there wasn't a warm place to sit nearby, so we stayed inside a high rise building after a lesson and ate our lunch on the floor. And you know, it's moments like those when you're eating Cheetos on the floor and people are giving you weird looks that make you appreciate being a missionary. And I really really do love being a missionary.

I love you all and hope your week is fantastic!
Hermana Abreu

1. Sister Ingersoll and I downtown!

2. One of Fernando’s  texts. We are very happy about his progress as well 😊

3. Sister Ingersoll’s and I’s feet huddled away from the cold!

4. Different angle from the floor 

Miracles at the Sites!

Hello everyone!

Wow, what a whirlwind of a week. Transfers have come around again and I am saying goodbye to Sister Lucas, off to Guatemala she goes! I’ll be staying here in Rochester Spanish and Sister Ingersoll will be my new companion! I am very excited to be with Sister Ingersoll. She’s from Boise Idaho and lots of fun! This is also her last transfer, so it will be my pleasure to be her final companion. We are both Sister Training Leaders, so that should be lots of fun! 

Also Fernando came to the sites!!! He came on Wednesday but wasn’t able to hit everything before it closed so he came back on Saturday. Sister Lucas and I gave him a tour at the Grandin building and it was amazing. On Saturday he came back and the most amazing miracle occurred! A family from the Dominican Republic was at the Hill Cumorah at the same time he was and ran into him at the top of the Hill. Sister Lucas and I were serving at the Smith farm and got a call a Spanish tour was coming. We were slightly worried, because we knew Fernando was coming at the same time, then lo and behold they walk in together. It was one of the most amazing tours of my life, to watch this family just take Fernando under their wing and fellowship him, and share their testimonies with him. 

Another amazing miracle, we met Fernando’s Mom! He’d been slightly concerned about being baptized without her knowing, so we came to meet her and basically taught the first lesson. And Fernando taught with us. It was literally the most amazing thing ever. Needless to say, baptism is on the horizon. 

We continue to find new people and visit more and I am loving every single minute. I love you all and hope all is well!

Hermana Abreu

P.S About three weeks ago I gave a tour at the Smith Farm to James Dashner (a.k.a the author of the Maze Runner) and his family. I keep forgetting to mention that. But anyway, that was a thing 😅

1. Outside near the Book of Mormon at the Hill Cumorah 

2. Eating at Mission Leadership Council

3. All the sisters at Mission Leadership Council! 

Halloween at the Grandin!

Hello everyone! Sorry for the unannounced change of Pday. With it being Halloween they switched pdays so we could all be in by 6 today and not waste any proselyting time on other days. But on to the report of the week!

Ok, so lots happened this week, especially at the sites! With this being Sister Lucas's last week we're really relishing in all the time that we have there. The sites are also getting super slow so we talked to the top of the Hill Cumorah the other day and just read all the inscriptions and things on top. Very crazy that it's been a year now that I've been in New York, and reading everything it just kind of hit me all. These sites will always hold a special place in my heart.

Speaking of the sites, Fernando is coming to the sites!!! Over the past week we reviewed Fernando's baptism date with him and he's really felt it needs to be moved down, just because he wants to become more familiar with everything, and also he's not sure if he feels quite ready. Definitely understandable, and what better way to feel the Spirit and become familiar than at the sites? I'll keep you updated about how that goes, he's coming tomorrow :)

With it being Halloween, while at the Grandin building we participated in a trick or treating activity the town was putting on and stood outside and invited all the children to come in a eat some candy (and perhaps persuade them to take some tours ;) It was actually pretty cool because a woman came in with her kid and started looking around and said, "I've lived here my whole life and I've never been inside this building." Sister Rowley later gave her a tour and testified of the Book of Mormon and all that happened there. Just cool to see the small ways we can reach people :)

Sister Lucas and I also gave a tour to the most hilarious family from Ecuador. They came in pretty early in the day but said they were in a rush and needed to be on their way. So we gave them a pretty sad speedy tour, and then just an hour before closing, in they come again! They let us know they'd missed the deadline for where they needed to be and were staying in Palmyra another night, and they were ready for a spiritual experience! They just soaked everything in, making jokes all the while. It was magical.

The sites are magical, people are magical, the mission is magical! Hope you all have a very happy Halloween!!

Hermana Abreu

1. Going out with Emma Nielsen who has her call to Sweden 😲

2. Passing out candy at the Grandin

3. At the top of the very windy Hill Cumorah Sister Lucas’s last day there

4. With the family from Ecuador 

5. A quick video showing their humor 😜

Immediate Culture Shift!

Hello!

Well, things haven't exactly settled down since the mission tour. As President Evans would put it "we're being moved to the next level." It's amazing seeing all the attitudes of the different missionaries as "rules" get tighter, and faith becomes stronger.

Fernando is doing so well! This past week we had a stake conference with Elder Christensen of the Seventy which he attended, and then afterwards there was a Spanish lunch which Elder Christensen attended because he'd served as a mission president in Mexico before. Many Piedmont Branch memories came flooding back to me as people popped out giant bowls full of rice and mangu and other delicious things (and if I'm being honest, slightly made me tear up). I love being in a small little community like this where everyone cares about each other and can feel fellow shipped in their own language.

We had exchanges with the sisters who serve in Henrietta. For those who may not recall, Sister Larson was my Sister Training Leader back in Newark, and here we are in Rochester with the roles flipped. It was lots of fun and we talked to lots of people. Lately we've been chasing people down to be able to talk to them. And even if there are a lot of weird looks and awkward "no's" those simple "yes's" make all the difference.

I love you all lots and hope you know I'm praying for you! 

-Hermana Abreu

1. Our district during the mission tour walking back from the grove
2. The Spanish lunch 😊
3. The lovely sisters we went on exchanges with
4. Saying goodbye to the Bergstrom’s, one of our favorite senior couples 

A Year In The Life

The first week of the transfer has been filled with site time! The

purpose of the Caterina complex last transfer was to be able to cover

the sites and have area time, so this transfer being half and half

again our area time has been cut down by well...half. Though it at

first doesn't seem like the optimal circumstances, it actually really

helps our area because it makes the time that we do have all the more

valuable, and when we are there it's go, go, go!

I also really very much love the sites, and though it's rough working

with less area time,  I can't help but smile every time we drive into

Palmyra. There is such a Spirit and peace that exists there. Lately I

was able to give a tour to a less active family the Elders in our Ward

we're visiting and though I'm not the perfect teacher, the Spirit is.

Reciting the words of the First Vision overlooking the sacred grove

will never cease to amaze me. Also super cool things happen like

President Uchtdorf mentioning his church history trip in a General

Conference as you sit at the Smith Farm watching him reference the

place where you are.

Speaking of General Conference, definitely one of my most favorite

sessions. The Saturday session we were at the Smith Farm and there

were still tours so we didn't get all of it in, but I'm very excited

to look back on what we missed. I'm also very excited to look back on

the sessions I did see on Sunday. Our investigator Fernando came to

the first session and soaked everything in. Fernando is just the best.

He's from Puerto Rico. Every time we visit with him he gives us

cookies and water. He has such a desire to understand and learn more.

Sister Evans came to one of our lessons with him and the Spirit was so

strong. We're excited for him :)

This past week was also my year mark. We were serving at the Hill

Cumorah so we walked to the top of the Hill and reminisced. It has

been one crazy year, and it's even crazier to think it was a whole

year ago that I entered the MTC. I've loved every minute,  the good,

the bad, the ugly, and the very very amazing. I know what is ahead

will provide even more direction and light and I am very excited for

whatever the Lord has in store.

Know I pray for all of you and hope all is well!

Hermana Abreu

1. One year on top of the Hill Cumorah

2. Sister Lucas and I got ice cream to celebrate :)

3. A picture from last week when we said goodbye to Sister Searle and

Sister Redden. Also saying bye to Lucy, the famous mission van that we

used all this last transfer because of the amount of sisters in

Rochester

4. Josephine's out of the hospital so we visited her last week so

Sister Searle could say bye. We definitely love her lots!

5. Going to the waterfall in Rochester today for Pday!

Hill to Home and the Death of Caterina

Transfers have come around again and Sister Lucas and I are staying in

Rochester Spanish, though our wonderful companion Sister Searle will

be leaving us. She's going to Farmington/Macedon, a.k.a Palmyra area.

The Caterina complex has died, so we're going back to being half and

half. There's lots of mixed feelings that's for sure, but I know this

transfer there are going to be so many miracles. Just crazy to think

this is Sister Lucas's last transfer, so we're for sure going to make

it the best one!

This past week was the 190th anniversary of the day Joseph Smith

received the plates on September 22nd a.k.a Plates Day. So in

celebration all of us sisters woke up super early and came together

and walked from the top of the Hill Cumorah to the Frame Home at the

Joseph Smith farm, the same path he took bringing the plates home so

many years ago. It's called the Hill to Home challenge and was

something I'd heard about my whole mission. We each carried two

different twenty five pound weights and passed them around to each

other as we walked. It was very exhilarating pretending to be Joseph.

Though, unlike Joseph we got to celebrate to a pancake breakfast in

the basement of the welcome center. We're slightly spoiled.

Josephine is slowly starting to understand more and more. It's always

been a struggle helping her understand the Restoration, but recently

when a friend of hers warned her of the "dangers of meeting with us",

Josephine testified of the Book of Mormon. It's a slow process, but

she's coming to understand. She's out of the hospital now, so her

health and well being is always in our prayers.

Being a missionary in Rochester with so many Puerto Ricans we've heard

a good deal about all of the natural disasters going on and it truly

is devastating. We also teach a good deal of people who come from

broken homes. I've found myself pondering about what really makes

people want to change their lives, and it's when they feel a need or a

motivation for something they don't have, or want. That motivation is

normally through love. And not a lot of people here have felt any kind

of true love in their lives. But I feel of God's love for them, every

single person we come in contact with truly is a child of God, and

when they understand that, it changes everything. Our role as

missionaries is to help them receive that understanding, and we will

keep trying and keep moving.

I love you all!! Sincerely, thank you for all the support and love!

Have a great week!

1. The daughter of the Wilson family, one of the members in the Ward.

She loved that I had a flower dress so she switched outfits so that

she would match ☺️

2. Sister Lucas and I riding bikes. Being in a walking/bus area we'd

been avoiding it all transfer but one day there was just too much to

do, so we had no choice. I loved every minute!

3. At the top of the Hill!

4. At the frame Home! (sorry, they're both slightly blurry)

The Lord Makes it Happen!

This week has been fairly administrative. A fair amount of meetings

and exchanges, but still so many miracles! I went on exchanges with

Sister Moberly to Irondequoit. For those who may not recall, I came

out with Sister Moberly and was companions with her in Newark. I

seriously love that lady with my whole heart. It was so much fun to be

reunited and see how we've changed and what we've learned from our own

different experiences.

We saw Luisa again this week, but sadly she's on her way to Houston

and won't be back for two weeks, so she will be in our prayers and the

first on our list when she returns. Josephine on the other hand isn't

doing so hot. She went to the hospital to have a surgery but the

Doctors told her she was in too bad of a state to operate, so she's

just waiting things out. The Elders had given her a blessing before

she went to the hospital, then when she went it we paid a surprise

visit. Her face just lit up when she saw us, "It's my missionaries!"

We very much love Josephine.

We continue to do lots of finding and are constantly meeting people on

the bus. With the bus people are getting on and off and it's so

important to testify and invite quickly, but sometimes despite our

best efforts people fall through our fingers. On and off before we can

really say a word. But they never fall through the Lords fingers.

There was one woman I sat next to on the bus and started talking to,

but the next thing I knew we had to get off, so I handed her a card

and said "please call us!" Then off we went. Then AMAZINGLY we got a

call from a random number today, sure enough it was her. If it is the

Lord's will, He will make it happen.

Some funny moments: Sister Searle and I were contacting a referral but

her husband answered the door. We talked some and he proceeded to sing

"Amazing Grace" to us, then closed the door. The more time we spend in

the city the more people become familiar with us. There's a few bus

drivers were friends with and the usual crazies, and they're always

cheering us on. One is a guy who rides the bus pretty often and so

while I was talking to someone he shouted, "Misionera!" then realized

what I was doing and said "what you talking to me for, do your thing!"

Also while walking to an appointment with Sister Lucas I got a

mosquito stuck in my eye. Very dramatic.

Anyway, I love all of you! Keep doing your thing and know I'm cheering you on!

1. We put a Restoration pamphlet in one of the mini "libraries" you

find around town. You take a book and put one in, I think ours is the

better deal 😉

2. Remember the picture from a few weeks ago with the free empanadas

that guy gave us? We ended up going to the restaurant where they're

sold, Munchies. We're tight with the owner now.

3. As missionaries we talk to everyone!! 😜

4. A video of Sister Moberly and I being reunited and listening to our

theme song

Fish Fry for Days

Repentance is something that happens over a gradual process but even

the smallest of steps bring the biggest smile to a missionary's face.

For example, I can't remember if I've mentioned Josephine, but she's

one of my favorite people to teach. She's a Bible referral who suffers

from a lung disease whose been told she's going to die soon. We've

been focusing a lot on what will happen after we die. It's hard

keeping her focused in lessons, but the other day when we were going

over the Plan of Salvation she brought out the pamphlet we gave her

and found she had circled a piece she liked. Seriously melted Sister

Searle's and I hearts.

Repentance is essential as a missionary as well. We are constantly

relying on the Savior to help us speak when we need to speak, move

when we need to move, and humble ourselves when we are in need of

humbling. I went on exchanges with Sister Canova. Definitely a fun

reunion! She reminded me of this principle in the way she boldly

approached those in our path. We street contacted downtown in the same

place President Evans takes all the new missionaries (never thought

that same place would be my area) and it just felt good to testify.

Testifying and being a missionary truly go hand in hand, testifying

especially of the scriptures. It is so much easier to let the Book of

Mormon speak for itself. The other day we got stopped by a man who

wasn't very fond of the Book of Mormon, though it was apparent he

hadn't read it. What softened his heart was a scripture we read to him

found in Heleman 3:28 that says, "the gate of heaven is open unto all,

even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ." There

truly is a power in the Book of Mormon.

We had dinner with a member named Emma who has kind of a speech

impediment, but is the sweetest person ever. She made us fish fry, but

wanted us to leave with leftovers that she was still frying. Upon

finishing the spiritual thought I said something along the lines of

"sadly we'll have to get going," and she jumped to her feet and said,

"Not before your fish is fried!" For some reason that was just the

funniest thing to Sister Searle and I and we couldn't contain our

laughter, then Emma laughed with us, and then we left with an army's

worth of fish fry. We tried making a dent on exchanges with Sister

Canova and so there we were, awkwardly eating cold fish out of tin

foil next to the bust stop. It was a good conversation starter though.

I really love being a missionary, and I really love all of you! Have a

great week!

1. Dinner with Emma :)

2. Being reunited with Sister Canova

3. Found a flower while walking with Sister Searle

4. For zone Pday today Sister Searle, Sister Lucas and I decided to

match (fancy photo creds to Sister Nielsen)

5. Serving at the Grandin (thanks again to Sister Nielsen for fancy photo)

Tender Mercies :)

If there's anything I've learned this week it's that the Lord is

anxious to supply us miracles, we simply have to be on the lookout for

them. I may have mentioned last week our investigator Dazjor. He is

one of the sweetest people ever, and very humble. He attended the

baptism of someone in our zone and came to church this past week (he's

the one who missed last week, but still tried running). It was fast

and testimony meeting and every testimony felt as if it were centered

on him. A woman named Sister Wilkerson stood up and shared her

testimony by singing "Amazing Grace." I really love the Rochester 3rd

Ward.

Another tender mercy! While I was at the sites Sister Lucas and Searle

ran into the nephew of a member of the Spanish group the day before

church. They invited him to church the next day, and HE CAME! Miracles

all around. His name is Christian, and he, Dazjor, and a man named

Brother Taylor made their own little crowd, and Brother Taylor was

explaining what was being taught, and it was the sweetest thing ever.

Watching people make these very small but significant changes in their

lives is something I will never forget.

Rochester continues to be crazy. The other day Sister Searle and I

were tracting/street contacting around a particularly ghetto

neighborhood and we met a man named Pablo who gave us empanadas. As

little and silly as it was, it was definitely a tender mercy from the

Lord.

I also had the chance to attend my first MLC (mission leadership

council). It was one of the coolest things to see a side of the

mission I never have, and also learn firsthand from President Evans

and the different leaders in our mission. Most definitely a privilege

and very needed. We were trained a good deal on using the Book of

Mormon in contacting. It's easy to forget how much power is in the

Book of Mormon. I carry around a Book of Mormon with me that I show

people, and I can show it and point to it, but the real power comes

when we open it. So here's a scripture I wanted to share with all of

you I've recently come to love. Found in Heleman 3:28 and it says,

"Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to

those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of

God." Heavenly Father wants all of His children to return to Him, and

He has provided the way, all we have to do is take it.

I love you all very much!! Hope your weeks go great :)

Hermana Abreu

1. First MLC!

2. President Evans taking a very blurry selfie

3. Dazjor and Christian with Brother Taylor at church :)

4. Walking with our empanadas, tender mercies 😉

"Cuando Tratas Tu Best..."

Shout-out to any Weaver drama kids who took Spanish senior year, this week the anthem of our life is "Cuando tratas tu best pero no succeed..." To those who maybe aren't familiar with this phrase, this is a Spanglish play off the song "Fix You" by Coldplay with the lyrics "When you try your best but you don't succeed..." It's more funny than anything, and it's kind of become the anthem of my mission when anything falls through or something dumb happens. Being in a Spanish area, we use it a lot. We try our best, and sometimes things are just no going to go as planned. However, that does not mean we do not succeed. Rochester Spanish South is seeing miracles!

There was one particular day with Sister Lucas and I where nobody was home, all our appointments fell through, and I sang to myself "Cuando tratas tu best..." Then lo behold there was success! Heavenly Father put us right where we needed to be to talk the people He needed us to talk to. On the bus we met a man named Jose who seemed a little rough around the edges. I asked if he had a belief in God. "Kinda," he said. "Would you say you have a belief in Jesus Christ?" I asked, trying to get a little more to the point. He gave a shrug and repeated, "Kinda." We talked a little more and soon discovered his wife and son were recent converts (he even showed us his son's baptism picture and we knew the Elders who taught them!) However, for Jose he said, "It's not really for me." Then the bus stopped and he got off. Soon Sister Lucas and I found ourselves in a very Hispanic populated part of town, with bachata blaring from the tall tops of people's windows (which we will return to!) The family we were trying to meet weren't home, so as we're waiting for the bus, we stumble into Jose again! Eventually we get talking again and he asks something along the lines of, "What makes you so sure there even is a God?" This time on the bus something changed about his face. His eyes were focused, he hung on to every word. When I invited him to meet with us all he said was, "yeah, I'd like that."

Another cuando tratas tu best day: Sister Searle and I were out and it started pouring. Being missionaries does not stop, rain or shine. So we trekked through the rain. One of the most fun days of my mission, and so many miracles. We met so many people, and lots who were commenting on our wet appearances. Doing the Lord's work attracts attention.

In terms of people we are seeing. Kazmere is a man Sister Lucas met on the bus who we've started to meet at this cute coffee shop. He brought his friend Dazjor to the first lesson and they both are just soaking everything in. Baby steps, but steps. They had their own cuando tratas tu best moment. They made plans to come to church this Sunday, however they took the wrong bus, and halfway into church they call us and say, "We're still coming! We're just gonna run!" I have never seen such enthusiasm.

We also had zone conference! Sister Lucas and I gave a training where we cut up a puzzle and hid a few pieces in the room. When people came in we would give them all a few minutes to find the pieces and put the puzzle back together. In the amount of time we gave them, it took all the effort of the entire group to get the work done. That's how it is with members in missionary work. This is a work we can't do alone, we need all of us to find those lost puzzle pieces. Missionaries will try their best, and will succeed, but we'll have a lot less of those "no succeed" moments when we work together to build Zion.

Lots of crazy experiences, lots of learning, and lots of fun!

Con todo amor,
Hermana Abreu

1. Sister Searle and I getting caught in the rain
2. What is your purpose? We might have a few answers to that question :)
3. Some graffiti I thought my Piedmont peeps might find funny
4. Today is my 11 month mark and a random lady at the transit center gave us coupons after we gave her a Bible, one of them being for a Croissant-which meal from Burger King. We did indeed celebrate.

"It Takes Faith to Come to Rochester"

Rochester is a place of dreams and miracles. Lots of ghetto, lots of

Spanish, but LOTS of fun. Sister Lucas has served in Rochester before

so for this first week every day Sister Searle and I have switched off

at the sites. The Brighton sisters, who border our area, are in the

same trio boat (they call themselves Lucy) so we each of us have a

companion from that other trio that is our site companion, who we

drive with and serve with at the sites every day. I'm with Sister

Niselen and she is the sweetest sister on the face of the planet.

The days in Rochester honestly feel like a different life. Since the

car is taken to the sites each day we walk and ride the bus and we

talk to SOOO many people. Just hop on the bus , one of us gets in the

front, one in the back, and find the one. All buses take you downtown

to the transit center (which feels like an airport) and the you

quickly find your next bus to get where you need to go. It's easy to

feel lost, but Sister Lucas is a pro. The  first day we were together

she told me "you've got to follow the Spirit, it's the only way to

know with all these people who to talk to."

Relying on the Spirit is essential. It's impossible to do this work

without Him. This was especially shown one day when we went contacting

during a bike race in downtown Rochester. There was just this huge

hoard of people. So we found a corner, bowed our heads and started

with a prayer, and off we went. It wasn't going so well so Sister

Lucas and I decide to sit at a bench and take a sec to think. When we

regained our composure, Sister Lucas saw a man on he bench next to us

who she recognized. Turns out when her and Sister Searle were in the

area a man on the bus was yelling at them about the trinity and

another man was watching, and the sisters noticed, rather upset with

the other man. But then came the bus stop and they didn't get a chance

to talk to him, but now there he was on the bench! His name is Robert.

We talked to him about our purpose as missionaries, and how Christ was

reaching for him. He looked up at us and noted, "man, it takes faith

to come to Rochester." It sure does, Robert, and that faith drives us

to many more places then the streets of Rochester.

Anyway, like I said, the Spanish work is everywhere. We're currently

working with a less active from Puerto Rico named Enid. What a joy to

sit in a Spanish lesson again. As we walk the streets lots of Puerto

Ricans and Dominicans roll their windows down blasting merengue or

whatever else it might be. The Rochester 3rd Ward is filled with

Hispanics. They've been trying to get a branch started forever, but

lots of families keep moving out, or there's not enough Priesthood. It

sounds fairly familiar, that's for sure 😉 For now they use headphones

and the missionaries translate (Elder Vizcaino from Mexico usually has

got that covered, but maybe one day I'll be one of the fancy people

whispering in the back!) There's a Sunday school class in Spanish, and

I felt like I was right at home. It's really just a smaller version of

Piedmont, and I know there are miracles ahead!

Every night we come home we come as a companionship and tell each

other about our days, and sometimes I'm fighting to keep my eyes open,

but I'm so happy. Elder Moreno from the District captured the feeling

really well when he said something along the lines of "I'm exhausted

all the time, but I'm so happy. I don't get it."

I'm so happy to be in Rochester.

Mucho amor,

Hermana Abreu

1. Being thugs on the streets

2. More city!

3. Map to the bus systemAll of the inner green is our area, and very

confusing. We'll get it 😅

4. The crowds of people at the bike race, AHH!

5. With Sister Nielsen, my site companion