Spiritual Reunions--Also the Story of How the Log House Burned Down

What a beautiful week. I love my mission, this area, and the sites so much. Being back living in Palmyra is one of the sweetest tender mercies. I feel so much peace here, and so much love. Being a Visitors' Center Trainer has been so much fun. Though there is lots of scheduling and administrative stuff involved, it is all very Spirit focused. Most of our meetings are people centered as well, and it is not until now that I've realized how much our leaders talk and care about us. Each of the sisters names are brought up and their own personal growth and happiness is our goal. What a privilege it is to serve in this calling.

The people of Palmyra and Macedon are so sweet, even if sometimes a little off. We were in a lesson with a less active and he said, "Some weird things started happening after I was baptized. I brought a goldfish back to life..." Sister Murdock and I just nodded.

For anyone who didn't know, Joseph Smith's birthday was two days ago, and so we celebrated by bringing a cake into the log home and singing happy Birthday during our dinner hour. Again, the joys of this mission are unreal.

Last night we visited Michael, the recent convert who I mentioned a few emails ago that Sister Dickey and I found. The Spirit in that room was unlike anything I've ever felt before. To give a little more background now that I've been in this area and have been updated: Michael has cerebral palsy and has gone through some very hard things in his life. He's always been kind of alone. To give a little recap, back in August, Sister Dickey and I were outside the Grandin building and invited him in for a tour. Afterwards he agreed to meet with the sisters in Palmyra. When they first started meeting with him he was very skeptical about it all, but understood what it would mean for there to have been a Restoration, and wanted to know if it was true. After much prayer and time spent in the Sacred Grove he came to the decision to be baptized.

The Harmers, a couple in the ward have done amazing things at fellow-shipping Michael (from waking up early Sunday mornings in order to get him dressed in a white shirt and tie to pass the sacrament, to inviting him over for Thanksgiving dinner, etc) brought him Christmas presents which we opened with Michael. The smile on his face was indescribable. As we talked about the year Michael said, "I've gone to many churches, seven or nine of them, and each time I felt like God was telling me 'move along'. But since coming here, I think I've found a home..." Immediately, he began to weep. I found my own face wet with my tears, watching him, as I realized the chain of events that had taken place. Michael is a very special person and it is an honor to know him.

This Christmas I am grateful for the Savior. I am grateful for the kind of joy He brings that can make a simple room of missionaries, and a few Saints, weep.

With my love,
Hermana Abreu

P.S I know there are tons of pictures, but it’s been an eventful week!

1. Saying goodbye to Brother Rivas my last day in Rochester 😢

2. Sister Murdock, a.k.a the best person ever!! (Seriously though, she’s hilarious and we have so much fun together)

3. Winter in the Sacred Grove—Gorgeous, I know

4. Outside the log home with a cake for Joseph on his birthday

5. Singing Happy Birthday in the log home  (didn’t realize until afterwards we probably weren’t supposed to have candles inside 😅)

6. Reunited with Michael 😊

7. A small video of him watching the digital picture frame the Harmers gave him