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

Pageant Week #1

Hello everyone!

Oh wow, pageant is crazy, but oh so much fun. At most of the sites we have been doing something called park mode, I may have mentioned before. Basically, there are missionaries standing outside the homes telling the stories, and it goes on a loop all day. I have never been so busy on my mission, and yet we have the opportunity to teach thousands. To quote a previous sister missionary who served here, "today I taught the Restoration to more people than any missionary in the world." And it's true.

About half the tours I take have been Spanish, and oh what a joy it is to speak Spanish. One evening at the Smith farm after we finished park mode (because everyone had already fled to pageant) a Spanish tour walked in so I took them, then just as we were finishing a group that had just been walking through heard me speaking Spanish so they asked for a Spanish tour as well. They were from Honduras, and one in the group wasn't a member. He was just soaking everything up like a sponge, hearing everything for the first time. What a joy it was to preach the Restoration at the very place it began.

One of the most special experiences on my mission was taking the High Point Youth on tour. They caught me at the Peter Whitmer farm, their last stop. It was the coolest thing to see those I knew, but even more special was sharing a few of the stories and experiences that have meant so much to me the past few months, and what they can mean for all of us. I saw myself in them, from just a couple years ago, and knew there was so much in store for those youth. They are amazing.

I have loved every minute of the past few days. Even when my calves (which are becoming very defined) are screaming, or the sun is pounding, or the rain leaks in through my Book of Mormon. The words of the great prophet Joseph Smith are very appropriate for such a time as this. "Shall we not go on with so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth unto singing. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord and let all the sons of God shout for joy!" I have many reasons to shout for joy, and so I will.

P.S. I have not seen Pageant yet, but I will be Saturday, so I'll be sure to report on the experience ;)

1. Dead after a day at the Smith farm
2. Everyone dead after a day at the Grandin Building
3. Picture with President and Sister Baughan from High Point at the Peter Whitmer farm
4. Photo from a few weeks ago the mission gave us--shaking hands with President Uchtdorf and meeting his wife, slightly flipping out

The Calm Before the Storm

Everything's all good in Palmyra that's for sure :) We're all gearing up for pageant (coming at ya the 14th) and it's been oddly quiet at the sites. Still the normal tours, but not super busy, and I know it's the calm before the storm. However, not quiet is the pageant cast. They filed in and set up their tents and I've given some tours to a few of them. They are so pumped and it's making me pumped, and AH! For my whole mission everyone has described pageant as Mormon Disneyland, and there is no more accurate statement. I was walking through the base of the Hill one day during the lull of a pageant rehearsal and there were people casually reading the Book of Mormon in their hammocks, and hymn singing, and Frisbee throwing. I know it will get even crazier as time goes on. During their first day of rehearsal it was POURING, and yet they continued. We took pictures. It was pretty funny.

Also, with Sister Dickey being from New Zealand she doesn't have an American license, so guess what that means?? BIKES! I feel like a "real" missionary (not that that means those who don't ride bikes aren't real, now I just feel legit.) Sister Dickey though, did not know how to ride a bike. But huzzah--I have bike riding teaching expertise *cough* Isa...Anyway, Elder Spencer dropped off our bikes one evening and ever since during exercise time we practice bike riding! Lots of fun for sure!

I've learned a lot about listening to the Spirit while on tours. EVERY tour is different, and should be different, as children of our Heavenly Father we all have different needs. And though I don't technically have an "area" everyone that steps inside the door of the Visitors' Center suddenly becomes my investigator, and with every tour I always feel the special type of love Heavenly Father has for children. He really does love each and everyone of us. I love each and everyone of you and hope things are well :)

-Hermana Abreu

P.S. Please pray for extra strength for this full time site sister as Pageant comes. It will be needed!

1. Pageant Cast dancing in the rain
2.Sister Dickey and I with bikes (Sister Dickey's enthusiam is definitely shown here)
3. House bike picture!
4. Pictures by the canal that didn't make it last week
5. Ditto

4th of July Surprise Guest!

Surprise! It's Pday! Sorry it's so late. Full site life always keeps you on your tours (literally the iPad just autocorrected toes to tours, and I about died laughing, so I'm keeping it). Transfers have come again and I am still full site with Sister Dickey from New Zealand! She just finished training and the best way to describe her is through the cookie she ordered today from Subway titled "Rainbow Gem". She is just the sweetest and most definitely a gem ;)

Unfortunately with pageant coming up we won't actually get a Pday for two weeks. We'll get Pday hours dispersed throughout the week, just know I'll be trying to email next Monday and then the following Thursday, though not for very long.  Then after that, Pday will be on the 26th, the 2nd, and the 9th. Despite this I couldn't be more excited because PAGEANT IS COMING.

Something else is coming...well actually came, and for the past two weeks I've had to keep it secret which has been killer. But now that it's happened I can tell you. PRESIDENT UCHTDORF CAME TO OUR MISSION. His family was here on vacation and he took the time to gather the mission and speak to us. We each shook his hand and met his wife, and seriously, what an honor. Even more of an honor was the fact that Sister Packard, Sister Embley (each sisters I love very dearly and serve at the sites with often) and I had the chance to perform the musical number. We'd been practicing for weeks but just a few days before Sister Embley got really sick. The night before President Uchtdorf came she was in the hospital and President and Sister Evans had stayed up the whole night with her. There was lots of prayers and lots of fasting. Randomly, the morning of, her illness just went away. She came and sang and her voice was amazing and it was SUCH an honor to watch it all and be a part of that miracle. "Abide with me Tis Eventide" was very appropriate, because the Savior is truly with us

through every single moment of our lives. And this was such an amazing reminder.

Now more than ever I am so pumped to be at the sites! I was called last night to give a tour to a couple in Spanish. At the end of the tour outside the window of the Grandin building I saw fireworks

peeking out and buzzing behind the woman as she bore her testimony of the Book of Mormon and it really all just hit me where I was and what I was doing. I really really love my mission.

I love you all and hope you've had a happy fourth!

-Hermana Abreu

1. One of the last days with Sister Canova

2. Pageant set!

3. Sister Dickey from New Zealand!

4. Pday lake activities--fancy photo creds to Sister Nielsen

5. Being majestic at the locks

Basketball and Bruised Fingers

Hello everyone!

It feels like centuries since last p-day, and yet here we are! So much craziness!

I can't remember if I've mentioned, but recently I'd been attending lessons for a woman from El Salvador named Blanca, with the sisters who serve in the nearby area of Farmington. It's a rather funny sight because Sister Canova comes as well, and the Farmington sisters are already a trio, so we just show up--five sister missionaries on her doorstep. Anyway, we went again this week, and she dropped us hard core. So is life, but to our grand pleasure, huzzah--on the way out we noticed some kids playing basketball so we decided to go up and make a deal with them. If we won a round they'd listen to our message. So we get to playing and we were WHOOPED. (I was particularly whooped,

received a jammed finger that later turned into a huge black and blue elephant blob). There was thankfully a kind neighborhood child named Rocky that said "even though we beat you, we'll still listen..." Oh proselyting, what joys.

Even still, being full site continues to be amazing. The other day was Sister Canova's birthday and also happened to be the day fourteen buses from different youth conferences were scheduled. What a day! We did park mode again (where each sister was parked at a certain spot telling stories, as opposed to taking individual tours) and halfway through it started pouring so we were all soaked. My Book of Mormon also got fairly soaked, but it gives it that "well-worn" look, so no harm no foul.

We had the chance to serve at the Whitmer farm twice and the senior couple, the Nielsen's drove us for one shift. They have a DVD player in their car so we watched, "O How Marvelous a Possession" which just told the stories of people affected by the Book of Mormon. One of those stories was about a man from Cecily who found the Book of Mormon in a garbage can in New York City without a title page. After reading the whole thing he completely believed. He happened to be a preacher, and he began preaching to his congregation from the Book of Mormon. Upon doing this he was excommunicated from the council of priests he belonged to. For years he held strong to his testimony, and eventually discovered where the book was from and who it belonged to, but was

blocked from baptism until close to the end of his life. In the end his patience won out.

Later while serving at the Whitmer farm I was studying in the Doctrine and Covenants and realized it was there, in Fayette, where the revelation to leave for Ohio was given, right where I was sitting.

This revelation is given in D+C 36 and at one point the Lord says, "And I will give it unto you for the land of your inheritance, if you seek it with all your hearts." The man from Cecily sought the promised land with all his heart, and the Saints, leaving everything behind to form Zion, learned to consecrate themselves and what it means to "seek with all their hearts." It means we give ALL to the Lord, no matter the cost. When we do, the Lord will return anything we "gave" ten

fold.

I love you all! I hope the rest of your week is fabulous!

Hermana Abreu

1. People setting up for pageant!

2. There's secret storage behind the Hill for pageant set that's

slowly coming out, so here's a picture of me beside a piece

3. On top of the world!

4. On top of the world featuring companion!