"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

Caterina—A.K.A Rochester Spanish

Many developments, much craziness. Allow me to explain.

Transfers have come around. President kept us all hanging by our toes because he had a meeting on Sunday so we got the emails this morning. However, I did get a call yesterday afternoon. I was told I was being flushed into an area where there had never been sisters, half Spanish and English, in a trio with another Spanish speaker, and that I was going to be an STL. LOTS to take in, but that left the question, WHERE???

Drumrolll please...Sister Lucas (from Guatemala), Sister Searle (past full site sister), and I will be flushing Rochester Spanish South. Cue me: AHHHHHH.

President tried an experiment these last couple of transfers with the companionship of sisters who proselyte in and around Palmyra. They had a trio, and one sister they would drop off at the sites while the other two stayed in the area. They were commonly nick-named Sophronia (one of Joseph Smith's sisters). Well, President has decided to do some more experimenting and we know will have a Rochester hybrid of this, US! We've decided we will be called Caterina (the Spanish version of Katherine--Joseph's other sister). Every day one of us will be at the sites while the other two are in the area, either driving with other sisters who serve in Rochester down to the sites, or driving them. Meanwhile, as we proselyte, we will have no car, but bikes, and buses, and feet! Cue me: yes, Yes, YES.

I am PUMPED. Spanish, and city, and buses, and people, and street contacting. May I repeat: AH! So today we are serving at the Smith farm and we don't technically get a pday until next week, but we've been allowed emailing time, so this will be fairly zippy!

There have been many tears shed this week. Six sisters are leaving, including my amazing mother Sister Tucker (pause as tears stream down face.) One of the amazing things about serving at the sites is how much all of these sisters become a part of your life. I know I will always find a friend in each of them, even if never having been companions with them. I have learned so much from all of the sisters who have served here, who all seemed so old when I first came into the field, and now are leaving me. My heart breaks, but I know friendships like these will last forever, and it is not goodbye, but simply: until next time.

Just on the topic of cool experiences that happened this week. We were in the heart of Palmyra at the Grandin building this week when it was Palmyra Pirate Day! I don't know why it's a big thing in Palmyra, but it is. There were pirate decorations all around town and in the evening as we were driving home we saw a different kind of Palmyra mob making their way through town on a "treasure hunt". This place is slightly crazy, but I love it so much. Anyway, on the topic of this day, Sister Dickey and I went to take a picture outside with our own little parrot decoration, and just as we finished a man in a motor chair zooms close to us. Being missionaries, we stopped and talked to him, then offered him a tour inside. Wow, what a cool experience. His name was Michael, and he couldn't speak very well because of physical impairments, but he had a grand sense of humor, and love talking with us. Quote Micheal upon finding out Sister Dickey was from New Zealand "What a treat for me to meet someone from so far away." Such a sweet man. He also didn't know much about the church or the Grandin building for living just a block over.  Sister Dickey and I decided to tag team the tour (never thought I'd say it would be odd actually teaching with my companion).

As we explained the message of the Book of Mormon a warmth filled my heart, because it's message touches the lives of people all the way on the other side of the world in Russia, and can also touch the lives of those living right where it was printed. Michael accepted the invitation to meet with missionaries, and so my prayers are with him and the sisters in his area.

Being full time at the sites has allowed me to grow in ways I never thought possible. It has allowed me to feel the Spirit in ways I never thought possible. It has allowed my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and more importantly, my testimony of the Savior, to strengthen in ways I never thought possible In other words, I never thought joy like this was possible. Luckily I will not have to say goodbye to the sites, but I will NEVER forget my experiences in Palmyra, and what it meant to call this area home.

I love you all, until next time!

Sincerely,
Hermana (emphasis on Spanish- HERMANA) Abreu

1. Pictures of all the sisters at the first site meeting (during summer they are split in two--I was serving at the Hill so I got to be in both pictures)
2. All of the sisters in the second site meeting, the one I attended. You can't see from the pictures but my eyes are puffy
3. A few of the departing sisters
4. Las picture with Sister Tucker
5. Photo taken with parrot just seconds before meeting Michael
6. A good chunk of the full time site sisters congregating to the Smith Farm the morning of transfer emails (ignore the disheveled sweaty appearances). Also, Sister Searle is the blonde one in the hoodie

Fireflies in the Grove!

Hello everyone!

Full site life is always providing miracles, and it's been another

wonderful week serving here. I've given a fair amount of tours to

returned missionaries and in one instance there were two missionaries

who had served in the Philipines. With the door open to the log home

they both recited the First Vision in Tagalog, and then I recited it

in Spanish and English. My whole point was this: the Restoration of

the gospel is something that touches people EVERYWHERE, and it will

continue to touch people in even FARTHER stretches of the Earth.

One morning last week at the Smith farm there was a super intense

rainstorm. We live close enough to the Smith farm to walk, but it's a

good little trek on the way over there. Judging from the clouds and

the mist we didn't think it would be awful, but about halfway through

it starts POURING. New York does that sometimes. Our measly umbrellas

were not enough to shield us. and our shoes were soaked, literally

walking in puddles. So this week we have taken lots of tours in the

rain with sturdy shoes and umbrellas!

So if you've noticed, we've served a ton at the Smith farm this past

week (ironically expect for the days when Sister Holmes came to the

sites and dropped off a package for me. I was at the Whitmer. Quick

shoutout for the package, it was very sweet!!) If anyone has ever been

to the Smith farm in the evening time, they probably know about the

legendary fireflies in the grove. I took the last tour of the day, a

single woman who simply wanted a spiritual experience. At the end the

woman mentioned how she hadn't seen the fireflies before, so we walked

back together through the grove. When President Uchtdorf was here he

made a comment about how we are like fireflies, that we "are flashes

of goodness and light" to those we come in contact with. This not only

applies to missionaries, but members, and those with the light of

Christ in their lives.

In the grove, the fireflies are fairly spread out, but they make a

path so even despite the darkness we can make our way out. As I was

walking back I was thinking about that metaphor and what it meant if

we were the fireflies; it would mean that with our collective efforts

we make a path for Heavenly Father's children, to eventually lead and

guide them. We never know how we can be a light for someone else, but

if we are striving to live the gospel continually, our Father in

heaven will NEVER lead us astray. And the light eventually grows

brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

I know this is a shorter group email, but I really have loved every

last minute of my time serving here. I love all of you and hope you

have a great week!

Sincerely,

Hermana Abreu

1. Rainbow after storm at Smith Farm

2. Getting a package from the family dropped off by Sister Holmes

3. Taking fancy pictures with Sister Nielsen's camera again

4. Another fancy picture

5. Fancy picture with Sister Dickey!

Pageant Week #2

68,000. That is the number of guests we received this year as a result of Pageant, and what a miracle it was, and now we're all kind of feeling the effects of it. Though exhausted, it was still strange on

Monday walking into the Hill, sitting down, and waiting. Kind of made me a little fidgety. I would still love to relay some of the experiences here.

Pageant was one amazing experience. We served at the Hill on Saturday and saved seats in the morning, then walked over at the end of the day. The pageant itself was loud, majestic, fast-paced, energetic, and very beautiful. The scene of the descending Christ appearing to those in the Americas brought tears to my eyes and again made me realize how Jesus Christ is not only the Savior of the Old World, but the new world, and the WHOLE world. His love is never ending, and outstretching, and so REAL. I felt it for everyone who walked into the sites, all sixty eight thousand of them.

There were sooooo many tours that came through, and picking the experiences to share is pretty rough, but I'll share a few that really stick out. At the Whitmer farm there was a tour of youth from a stake in Philadelphia and they were awesome. There's something about youth groups that kind of just fill me with energy. They are always so willing to learn and prepared for a spiritual experience, and being young, are humble enough to realize these sites can have an impact on their lives. The stories of the people we tell are more than just stories, but ways we can realize how to repent and how to change, and these youth were willing to do that.

The first day after Pageant we still had all the pageant crowds going back home. While serving at the Grandin, three Spanish tours came in a row, and then another youth group from Florida. It's all kind of a blur, but it honestly felt like something came over me, and that something is the Spirit. It transformed me and guided my words, Spanish or English, to help those understand the message of the Book of Mormon in the way they needed. I often find myself inviting people to read the Book of Mormon every day, especially at the Grandin--the place where it was published. And for those who have not seen Pageant, it is the story of the Book of Mormon. The people in the Americas, their prophesyings, wars and contentions, progressions and change. In the same way they changed because of Christ's influence, we can be as well. But in order to learn how it is so necessary to read from

this book. So an invite to all who are reading this, please read from the Book of Mormon--each day. In it there is safety for the soul, and a power that comes into our lives.

I love you all, and also am very thankful for the prayers of energy this way. They were very much felt. And though it is sad to see such a wonderful time in my mission end, it will always be treasured. In the words of Oliver Cowdery, that I may or may not have used before, "These were days never to be forgotten." Truly they are.

Love from the shadow of the Hill Cumorah,

Hermana Abreu

1. With Sister Dickey under the Pageant stage!

2. Taking the youth group from Philadelphia

3. With Abinadi :)

4. We can now say we met Joseph Smith!!!

5. New facsimiles of the original manuscript pages we touched before

they were put on display

6. In the corn fields near the Martin Harris farm