It being memorial day weekend the sites have gotten super busy. Tour after tour after tour. It is honestly very exhausting. I come home every day and just collapse into bed. A good description of what it feels like is this announcement that Elder Bradford, our site director, wrote to all the site sisters: "As it warms up please always stay hydrated, wear sun screen (and a hat if necessary), watch yourself for ticks, wear mosquito repellent when necessary and have a fabulous time determining what people's needs are and having the Holy Ghost tell you how to meet those needs." Yup. Also, last week I mentioned Elder Bradford riding around in golf carts. Thought I'd include a picture of that here:
At the beginning of the week we had training for all the new sisters and their companions. It definitely brought back memories from my first week here and how overwhelmed I felt, thinking I would never learn anything. But Lo! Here I am eight months in, and the sites sincerely feel like home. It rained both days at the Grandin and Smith Farm, but that didn't stop us! Here are some pictures of all the sisters in the rain and my loverly companion Sister Canova! (who is the most chill and awesome companion. Casually taught English in China, no big deal) Fancy photo creds to Sister Jacobsen and her fancy camera.
While serving at the Smith farm I gave a tour to family from home. The Allens! Their backs were turned and I approached them with the question "Where are ya'll from?" on my lips, and as soon as I hear Greensboro North Carolina and they turn around I go, "I KNOW YOU!" It was very sweet and a great experience to share a piece of my mission life with people from the good old "Boro.
This week has very much made me appreciate my mission so far. Since there are so many full time site sisters this transfer (7 of us!) they have a few of us attend the Canandaigua ward now instead of Palmyra. It was so much fun to come back and see so many familiar faces and people I've come to know and love. Also, just yesterday I was giving a tour to a family at the Grandin and up from the elevator walks Glen Baker. Who is Glen Baker you might ask? Glen is a member of the Lyons ward we'd have dinner with every week, and there are lots of memories of dinners at Glen's. I waved him over and he joined for the last little bit. After the tour we caught up with each other and he asked if I was the missionary who gave him the invitation to read the Book of Mormon every day. I was--slightly surprised he had even remembered the invitation. He then looked at me and said he hadn't missed a day since inviting him. You never know what kind of effect, big or small, you leave. Kind of made my day.
We've served quite a bit at the Grandin building and with me being pensive and looking back, it made me wonder how Joseph would have felt when the first page of the Book of Mormon was printed. All important characters were present. Joseph, Martin, Oliver, Grandin, and a few others. Fresh from the press, they passed the large sheet between their circle, and Joseph--I can only imagine how he was feeling. Generations of work, civilizations of people finally having their story told. Joseph himself had spent the past almost ten years of his life preparing for this book to be received in the world. Someone present said, "...passed it to the prophet himself, who seemed to be examining every letter, and without speaking gave it into the hands of his father and Harris..." So much had been done, yet there was still so much ahead. I feel a little like that, and only hope I am able to cherish every last second.
I love you all and hope you know you are in my prayers, and I can feel yours every day helping and moving me along! Take care this week!
-Hermana Abreu
P.S The Grove is gorgeous. Enjoy.
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