Week 29- The one where we write scripture tunes

Dear Friends,

It's been a hot minute but I'm back! Nothing much has changed besides getting to know Bend a little bit more. I am loving this place more and more each day! It's amazing because it feels like Utah. We are surrounded by pine trees and it looks like spring - its gorgeous!

We have had a lot of member lessons which has been nice. These people are so sweet and my heart grows bigger and bigger for them every day!!

We had a couple lessons with our friends that we are teaching.

We taught E and J Saturday. Though it was a good lesson it was rough. E is one tough cookie! J has the biggest heart and is trying to so hard to get her self back on track. I have never seen someone so in tune with the spirit while trying to come back to living and believing the gospel like J. If you could, please pray for them! Pray that E's heart will be soften.

J is someone else are teaching and is the sweetest lady. We have been able to help her feel calm and try to keep commitments a little better.

I have learned to slow my pace down a lot more with those we are teaching. It's all in Gods timing and I need to be patient and go at His speed.

We have been creative in what we do since we are quarantined. Sister Carlson and I are writing scripture songs and it's been so fun! We wrote a song to her favorite scripture and asked the other sisters in our zone to send us their favorite scripture to make into songs. I will be posting a few on my Facebook Stories so look out for those! If YOU have a favorite scripture you'd like put to music please email me!

Easter was wonderful! We had the Sacrament brought to us which was more special then usual. Sister Carlson hasn't had it for a month so the spirit was so strong for the both of us because she felt so much relief and love from taking the Sacrament. It helped me to appreciate it more then I already do. During this time of quarantine (which has been a whole month from yesterday by the way) I have learned to never take sacrament for granted. It's a special experience that we as missionaries don't get very consistently now with this pandemic.

I finished the amazing book, "Changed Through His Grace" by Brad Wilcox. It's a life changer and has helped me see Christ's love for me in a different light. At the end of the book he talks about grace for grace and what that really means especially when we renew our covenants by partaking the sacrament. We receive grace from our Savior all the time so we need to give it to others. Like the parable "Forgive 77 times 7" we need to give to others what has been given to us. I am going to share what he says from the book because it's perfect...its a little long

"I love Spanish. There are words in that language that mean more and are more beautiful to me than any equivalents in English[...]one of the words I say during those personal moments is gracias. To me it communicates more than thanks. It speaks also of grace. Each Sunday I think if my Savior and my covenant relationship with Him. I promise to remember Him and offer grace to others as He offers it to me. I reflect in my life and ask that I can continue to be changed through His grace. With great gratitude I close my eyes and pray, 'Much thanks for Thy much grace-muchas gracias por to mucha gracia'"

That has been my new phrase, I wrote it on a sticky note and I see it every day when I do my studies. I am so grateful for Christ's matchless love. He loves me eternally which is hard to understand sometimes but it gives me a reason to live and to endure through this life. He helps me in the weakest areas and helps me improve even more in my stronger areas. He gives me second chances to take the action to change and mentors me to know what I can do to be better. He has made it so that all of the things I learn I can take to the next life. He rose so we could. He suffered so we wouldn't have too. He made it so we can progress to not become angels with harps but heavenly begins like our Father!

Truly a beautiful holiday to celebrate every year!

I am especially grateful for my Heavenly Father who sacrificed his only begotten son. Its totally important to focus on Christ during this past week and especially yesterday. We also need to recognize that our Heavenly Father sent his son. What a beautiful thing and something I am grateful for that he did for me as his child. So let's also remember the matchless love and sacrifice that God gave to us so long ago!

I love you all! Keep trusting, keep believe and keep persevering because we have Christ and our Heavenly Father on our side...we can make it!

I love you guys!

Send me all the emails! I would love to hear what's going on back at home:) abigail.fillmore@missionary.org

Love,

Sister Fillmore