An Unexpected Call...

Hello all!

Apologies this email is so late! So I have some pretty sad news, a sister in the mission named Sister Rae is going home early for medical reasons. She has full intentions of returning when it is all figured out, but until then--I have been emergency transferred to be companions with Sister Barret, her previous companion. I am super excited because I love Sister Barret lots, she was VCT when I came into the mission. I'll be leaving behind lots of memories though. The past month of my mission has honestly been the best. I will miss the trio lots. Sister Barret is also a full time sister, however she lives at the White House closer to the Smith farm, so today has been filled with packing and scrambling around.

Saying goodbye to Lucy (the van for all the sisters living at the old White House--named after
Mother Smith and her gaggle of eight, later nine children):

Since the other White House is super closer I didn't pack everything in the suitcases and just threw lots of things in the car, this is the mess that ensued:

On the sunny side the new White House is literally on the Smith Farm property (for anyone who has visited it's the houses by the parking spots), and the Sacred Grove is LITERALLY my backyard. Again, I am astounded by my mission and the opportunities and experiences afforded here.

In terms of this week the sites have been a little slower, but the tours that have come in have been some of the best tours ever! A group of youth leaders from a stake in Virginia came into the Hill inspecting everything for an upcoming youth conference with these fancy "Ask of God" binders. Almost thought they were from Salt Lake for a second. We start talking to them and Sister Tucker begins to explain her conversion story, and this group of five or six adults literally sit on the carpet and listen to Sister Tucker as if she were their pre-school teacher. The tour that followed really got us all pumped up for the summer when their youth group will be coming!

Us with the fancy binders and cool adults:

At the Smith farm I was able to give a tour to some past ward members in the Lyons ward, the Dors. They are a sweet family with lots of girls (one who is named Nauvoo, very pretty name), and they were just a delight. One of the daughters kept picking up the flowers that are popping up in all the meadows and handing them to me. By the end she commented on how I looked like a bride.

Me with all my flowers:

And just today while serving the morning shift at the Smith farm a group of young adults walk in looking pretty windblown and to be very frank---very cool. They then begin to explain they are biking through the U.S and this was one of their stops. I was very intimidated by their cool cat hipster-ness so I grabbed Sister Tucker along and it was one of the best tours EVER. They were all members of the church, most returned missionaries, except for their friend they brought along named Roberto. He was from Tijuana Mexico. Sister Tucker and I both shared the First Vision in the log home in Spanish and English and--wow, really those are the only words. What a privilege it is to be here.

Here are some more pictures of the week:

A group house picture, so many memories in this house!

Being our true selves, there's Hurmunah again:

There are super pretty tulips outside the Smith farm I needed to take a picture. Gorgeous:

A story I'm making more well known as I serve at the Smith farm is that of young Joseph Smith--a mere ten years old. As his family was traveling from Vermont to Palmyra to escape a particularly cold winter (albeit, it's not that much better here), Mother Lucy ran out of money on the last leg of the trip and their driver abandoned them. They were able to hitch a ride with a family by the name of Gates, traveling on sleigh. Sadly, Joseph, still recovering and limping from his leg surgery a few years prior, was on the last sleigh and one of the Gates boys knocked him over. His family far ahead, and unable to arise himself, in his own words he said, "I was left to wallow in my own blood." By the grace of a loving Heavenly Father though, a stranger stumbled upon Joseph and gathered him in his arms. He carried the soon to be prophet the last few miles into the town of Palmyra--the cradle of the Restoration. We don't know that man or what happened to him, but his act of kindness forever effected Joseph.

This week, take time and think of ways you can lift a fallen person. I promise you there are many, and the Lord will guide and prompt your thoughts as you pray for opportunities to--you never know what may come of it.

I really love you all! All my love from the sunlit Smith farm!

Hermana Abreu