Sister Abby Fillmore - Oregon, Salem Mission

Week 61- The one all the faith.

Friends!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you had a wonderful week this week. I've been out 13 months as of this week. My companions helped make it a special occasion with sweet notes about me! Today is Thanksgiving and our P-day so we are enjoying good food and talking with family!

We had 2 exchanges the last week and a half with Sister Yorgason and Sister Johnson and in the next 5 days, I go on 2 more. Trying to cram them all in before this transfer ends which is in 2 weeks! So many mixed feelings because Sister Hawkes will probably leave me :( some of my besties are finishing their missions but the bright side is my cousin is coming!! I don't know if you remember but my cousin is originally called to my mission and he comes this transfer! The Oregon Salem Mission is ready for Elder Hasleton!

I have been able to feel a lot of peace and happiness with doing the #givethanks challenge President Nelson gave us. His message was one that I needed. I have been really trying to put my faith in the Lord with the work I have been really trying to let the spirit guide the lessons. We are finding so many great people that we have to send to transfer them to the missionaries that work in the areas they live in. It's hard to give away someone who is SOOO golden but by trying to change my mindset and putting all my faith in God's plan I have been able to have a lot of peace and say, "come what may and love it." It's hard, not going to lie, but I am grateful for the chance God gave me to be a part of their journey.

We found someone through our Facebook page! His name is Asa, and I found him through a quick post that Sister Hawkes and I made. I have been talking to him for a good month now and we had a lesson with him right before we listened to the message from President Nelson on Friday and it was amazing! We shared a hope message with a scripture from the Book of Mormon and he wanted to break down the verses which definitely brought in the Spirit. He asked what the difference was with the Book of Mormon and so we taught the restoration briefly. He wanted to learn more so we had a lesson with him Monday. It was so powerful! We had a member join our video call and he was so good for Asa. We taught the restoration and that was probably one of the most powerful Spirit-led restoration lessons I have taught. To make a long story short he wants to learn more and get into the Book of Mormon! He lives in the Salem zone so we are going to pass him off soon to them. Yay for facebook!

One of my past companions shared with me something her grandpa shared with her and it has become such a testimony to me. He told her there are 3 phrases that are the most powerful phrases.

The three phrases are:

I love you

Thank you

I am sorry

I have seen that become so true throughout my mission especially this past week.

We had zone conference and MLC this week and so much spiritual goodness came from both of them.

**We talked a lot about distractions with being a missionary. One of them is Facebook and that's pretty self-explanatory. I learned that distractions can be good things. Just not what we are supposed to do at that time or in that way. When distractions come stop reevaluate and start over.

"Will I feel the pain of discipline or the pain of regret?"

**We also talked about comparison and they gave us so many good quotes. If you want them then email me and I will send them to you. We learned why we compare and some ways to stop the comparison.

We have a natural desire to evaluate ourselves. In order to have something to evaluate ourselves with we compare. It's a natural man tendency. (It's easy to follow the natural man. It takes effort to follow God.)

How we can stop comparing:

1. Practice gratitude

2. Unlock the power of contentment

3. Don't compare your life to others

4. Focus on your strengths

5. Celebrate other people (Alma 29:14-15)

I hope you all got the chance to watch the message from the Prophet recently. If you didn't please go and do that. Please also go and share the video with everyone you know. Also if I could add one more please it would be to keep the #givethanks going. Even if it's just in your home. Gratitude shouldn't be a one-time thing. President Nelson said it's a remedy, not a one-time cure.

Loves to you all!

Sister Fillmore

Look at what my sweet companions did for me this week!

14 reasons for 14 months. Why we love Sister Fillmore!

Working on a Christmas song for our Sacrament Christmas program!

Companions X3!

Love splits!

Week 60- The one with four sisters!

Friends!!

This week was a great week but yay for a new one!

We had interviews this week with President and Sister Wilde which means I got to see two of my favorite people who I love and respect so much! President has continued to help me see how learning new things is essential in our progression here in this life. He has helped me understand more about my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ and it has brought me a lot of peace.

I got our new sister this week! Her name is Sister Hinkle and she is super cute. It definitely is an adjustment going from 2 sisters my whole mission to 4 sisters. God has already shown me a lot of things that I can improve on and for that I am grateful. I do love them so much and I can't wait to get even closer to them.

Tami is struggling so PLEASE pray for her.

Kriss is a wonderful blessing in our lives! I think I have already said this but she is like Deepak (our friend in India) ...just so prepared. Her perspective with her relationship with God and science strengthens my testimony. Her baptism date is December 12th and we scheduled an interview for this weekend. It is so surreal for me...I have never gotten this close to a baptism!

We are trying to find more people and we are seeing miracles!! I went on exchanges with Sister Jorgensen and it was so much fun. We came out together so it was fun getting to know another sister out the same time as me. We saw a beautiful miracle when we went out street contacting. We prayed that we would be able to give a Book of Mormon out. It's pitch black and freezing cold...but luckily this guy had a flashlight on his hat so we talked to him and man I have never seen someone look at the Book of Mormon so intently. We showed him a few verses and he just kept looking at it and said yes to meeting with us. Pray that we will be able to meet with him soon.

Our ward is slowly becoming more missionary minded which is cool. Have 4 sisters help the work move forward in the ward so that's definitely a plus to have all 4 of us sisters to move the work forward together!

I have learned a lot about hope this week. With the weather being gloomy and some struggle with keeping our people or having them progress besides Kriss (who is GOLDEN) my hope and faith has been tested this week. I started to study hope as a Christlike attribute and while I was studying I could tell how low my hope was. Just reading some talks and scriptures I could tell my spirit became a lot more happy and positive. In PMG it says, "Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill HIs promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance."

Positivity is something that I am working on more so if any of you have good quotes please send them my way!

I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and Him pushing me to become a better disciple. I am grateful for his constant love and support as I strive to figure life as a missionary out.

I love you so so much!

Love,

Sister Fillmore

P-Day hike to Silver Falls with the 4 of us!

Love it when we get to go out to do service!

Exchanges!

Always a good day when we the Chick-fil-a food truck comes!

The little things that make us happy!

Week 59- The one with all the meetings!

Friends!

Wow talk about STL life...this week was alittle crazy! We had a lot of meetings which means not a lot of outside finding. Which honestly has been a little hard since now it gets dark gotten at like 5:30 pm it's the WORST! But it's also been amazing to be in these meetings and hear from our amazing leaders in our Stake and mission.

We had a wonderful lesson with Kriss! Man talk about being prepared throughout her whole life. Her story and testimony confirmed to me once again that the Book of Mormon is true and this church is true. You can believe those words!

Come Follow Me has also been amazing this week. Mormon 7-9 is amazing! If you haven't read those chapters PLEASE DO!!

The trio life has been wonderful! Our trio will sadly end this week BUT we get to add another wonderful Sister to the area and we are excited to get her.

I GET TO SING! Me and a couple of missionaries are practicing for some Christmas stuff so stay tuned for that ;) I am also going live with my wonderful companions and they are going to ask me questions about my love of music. So tune in at come unto Christ Woodburn Keizer area. I honestly am so grateful God has given me so many chances to share my testimony through song. Its my favorite! It also keeps me from getting out of practice. ;)

We are finding more and more people and it's been through some cool ways. We found someone for the elders in my district and it's all from service and now the women wants to learn more! Peoples hearts are being softened and it's so amazing that we get to be apart of sharing the message to them.

Another cool story happened Saturday while we were in line for Dutch Bros. The guy who was taking our order started talking to us and and we found out he is from Aurora so we asked if he knew one of our members son's who also works at Dutch and he said yes and so we connected that we were at the same funeral for the members grandma. We gave him a pass a long card and he said he would be open to meet up. We are scheduling a time to meet! Yay!

Sister Hawkes and I are content managers for our area's Facbook page. So we are in charge of the content we put out and making sure missionaries video ideas become a reality. Yay for using my videography talents here on the mission! We are going to be making a lot of videos...love being a busy bee missionary! Wouldn't want it any other way. He he- but if you could pray we don't get over whelmed that would be wonderful!

Well I hope you have a wonderful week this week. I hear Utah has been getting snow...we are getting cold and rainy so PRAY for us! I'd rather have snow. :)

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Fillmore

Making mission videos. These Elders are too kind to me!

Love this girl.

And this one too!

Beautiful Sunset with my girls.

Clear face sheilds from the Pace's - not my favorite! ;)

Best bakery!

Nature walk. We wore masks the whole time except for this picture I promise!

Week 58-the one with the THREEE Mga Kaibigan!

Friends!

This week has been crazy but went by super fast. Lots of growing, surprises and miracles! You are probably wondering what, "Mga Kaigian" means...well its friends in tagolog. You're probably wondering why I know that. Well it's because I am in a trio for the a week and a half. Our new sister was reassigned from the Philippiens! Her name is Sister Yorgason and she is soooo cute. She was supposed to train but her trainee is delayed for 2 week so she is an honorary STL for now! It's my first time being in a trio and we are having a blast!

We had a great lesson with Tami and guess what...SHE IS KEEPING THE WORD OF WISDOM! Woot woot! We saw her once after the lesson we gave her on the word of wisdom and she is like a new person! It's the coolest to see how living God's commandments can change people for the better! I have learned the power of prayer, faith and effort. If we want our prayers to be answered we need to pray and then get on our feet and work and do the best I can!

Thursday was a crazy day, let me tell you! We had to be up in Newberg at 8:15am for the training meeting Sister Yorgason was supposed to attend even though she didn't get her trainee. While she was in the meeting we helped Sister Wilde make lunch, I felt like her assistant. New ASW (assistant to Sister Wilde) right here! ;)

MLC was amazing in every way. I love being able to sit in a room with so many spiritual giants, it's the best! I am so very grateful for my mission president and everything he does for this mission and for all the missionaries. He has been helping me a lot with some things I have been struggling with. Even though he has 260 missionaries he is so amazing at ministering to the one.

We have been meeting a lot of people and it's been fun teaching with three people! The apartment is small but we are making it work.

Some thing I have learned from Come Follow Me:

In Mormon 5:2, Mormon says, "I was without hope". The Nephites were looking to him as a leader but he was afraid because they couldn't see the wrong and repent. It was so wicked at the time and he felt like nothing he could do would change anything because the hardness of their hearts.

We were in our district church and I learned that I can't control the world but I can control my own world and my future so I can always have hope in my life. When we are humble and repent, that's a way we can always have hope. Jeffrey R. Holland's talk in April talked all about hope and how that's the last thing we can and should give up. So as long as we carry on and humble ourselves and turn towards God we can always have hope for the future, even if it's just our future.

Assume positive intent!

I love you all so much! Continue to talk with God. He is your Father and He loves you... so talk to him!

Love,

Sister Fillmore

The 3 Mga Kaibigan!

Halloween Trunk or Treat!

Missionary Fairies!

I got to see a lot of my wonderful Bend zone on transfer day.

The nicest lady stopped and gave us cold water on a warm fall day!

On a mission for Sister Wild - Chips and Rice!

Much too fun with these 2!

Week 57- The one with miracles!

Friends!!

This week was full of miracles and it was amazing!

We got to meet with Kevin, the Pastor, this week and it was really cool to meet with him in person. If you don't remember he is the paster that I met on facebook a while back in Bend. We had a few video calls and then he got busy. When I got called to North Marion I found out he is in my area...definitely meant to be! We met with him and their youth pastor from his church and they were both so nice. We all shared a spiritual thought and it all correlated nicely so that was so awesome. We were bold and asked him if we could teach them both more about the Book of Mormon and what we believe. He said yes!! So I am so excited and nervous but it will go well, I know it!

Ok so Sister Hawkes is a certified beautician and right after talking with Kevin, we went over to Abolita's house. She is the cutes little older woman in the Spanish branch (don't worry she speaks more English than Spanish somehow haha) she is soooo cute and HILARIOUS! I had to contain myself because she was so funny. I wrote down a few things she said, here you go:

"It's like I put cow poop on my head."

"And he knows when I am ticked off, MALICHI!" (that's her cat)

"I am style'n and don't forget it either."

She is my favorite!

MIRACLES!

Ok, so Wednesday we got a message from our Relief society president saying that she sent a lady our number because she wants to be baptized....WHAT?! Sister Hawkes and I couldn't believe it! We called her the next day and she said yes she wants to and since she lives in Aurora with her dad (who is a member) we can teach her! God is amazing, I love Him!

We taught Tami a lot this week. She has been struggling with the Word of Wisdom and then she said that her heart is softening so that was good. We talked about going to church and it has been a struggle for her because she doesn't feel worthy and she feels like she doesn't know enough to go to church. We got her to commit to coming to a church tour but that day she had a panic attack and so we calmed her down and then later she said she can't come. We were so bummed but during dinner, I had the impression to say a prayer and ask for a miracle that Tami will come, so we prayed and honestly pleaded so much with God to have it happen. I know that we can all have the faith like Nephi, I learned that early on in my mission, so I told God that with the faith we have and the effort we will put in we know Tami can come. I got the impression to go to Aurora and either call or knock on her door at 5:30. We did and it took some talking but she said she would talk to her kids and see if she could get away. Our member pulled up to give her a ride and so we were talking with her and then the door opens and Tami comes walking down the stairs with her purse...WHAT?! I was so so excited to see her and just so grateful to have our prayed answered. She loved the church tour and felt total peace. God knows her and wants her to come to Him. With our faith and effort, God performed a miracle!

We have been able to talk to so many people and many are letting us come back so PLEASE pray things go well! I love being a missionary. Honestly, there isn't anything else I would want to be doing right now. I am so grateful for this time where I can submit to the Lord and have Him use my talents, strengthens, and weaknesses for His work.

I love the Book of Mormon and I know it is true. I know God calls living day prophets and that they lead and guide us and THANK HEAVENS because the world is having a hard time right now...those are only the nicest words I can say. ;)

I LOVE YOU!

Love,

Sister Fillmore

Visiting Abolita while Sister Hawke's gave her a haircut!
I think I laughed off 5 pounds!

Beautiful sunsets here!

Doing service!

Bun Heads!

After our day of MIRACLES!

This book means everything to me!

Teaching Kevin and Hope. They are so great!

Week 56- The one where we talked ourselves out of quarantine...

Friends!!

Yes the title is real...we almost got quarantined because we were with someone when they got the call that their family members got COVID who they were with that weekend...we were so nervous that we would have to be quarantined too! We called our DL and then called the nurse and after some talking and telling her that we were only there for 5 minutes and wearing masks she said ok letting us not be quarantined. THANK HEAVENS because I can't be stuck inside again!!

ZONE CONFERENCE!

I LOVED zone conference! It was fun but very long too! We got to go to Monmouth and train the Monmouth zone and then we drove back to our zone and sat in on our zone conference while the Hermana STL's trained as well. It's so fun to train!

We exchanged twice this week! One with Monmouth and Oakdale and I exchanged with SISTER CARLSON!! It was so much fun to be with her and do a little singing video :)

I saw one of my big weaknesses turn into a strength this week and it was so cool. As you may or may not know, going outside and talking to people has been a struggle for me. I can talk to people just fine. It's the initial going up to a total strangers is what KILLS me! Well ever since being with Sister Hawkes my confidence with talking to people has gone up because she is so good at it. I have seen that rub off on me. On Saturday I had an exchange with a sister who literally had the exact struggle I had a few weeks ago. So to be able to help her be confident and have her tell me that really made me realize of how FINALLY God has made that struggle and weakness in me turn into a strength. I thank God for showing me that and how Ether 12:27 is real which means the Book of Mormon is real which shows that God is real and He loves me!

I had my wonderful friends from back home and come and visit me for a few minutes on Sunday morning. It was so good to see them, LOVE YOU JARDINE'S!

Things I learned this week:

-Patience is the purifying part of His work.

-Choose today to be 100% obedient

-A mission is temporary but discipleship is forever.

-There is no middle ground. Choices have to be made.

-Obedience brings JOY

ECL 12:13, "13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

☆Make getting a temple recommend as or more urgent than finding a lost wallet.

-Lift where you stand!

-Assume Positive intent (we all are not perfect, assume they are trying to do their best like you.)

☆Priesthood power helps us persist in righteous living.

Well I love you all!

Keep loving and showing love for everyone.

Love,

Sister Fillmore

Zone Conference day!

Sister Carlson! Love this girl! Did you see our latest song?

Treating ourselves to dinner at Sharis after ZOCO. YUM!

Halloween Socks!!

Sister Atwood on Exchanges.

Week 55 - The one with the "Sister - Merries"

Friends!

This week was really good here in the North Marion area!

Some fun things that happened:

-More meetings

-LINCOLN CITY with Sister Mullen for exchanges...she taught me some spanish, say hello to Hermana Fillmore ;) JK!

-We wanted eggs so we called a member who has chickens and she gave us FRESH eggs!

-Started to rain A LOT so I am trying to get over it ;)

-Weekly CHICK-FIL-A food truck for the win!

-We went LIVE on our page, go check it out!

-Lots of finding and lots of canceling from people which stinks but I just need to continue with patience...

-Wonderful members who I love and appreciate. One little boy calls us the "Sister-Merries" - Ha Ha. Also, fun birthday celebration with a future missionary - See pictures!

-Pumpkin carving and sushi for district p-day!

This week I really learned about patience! Coming from 6 months in an area with people I knew well to only being in Woodburn for 2 1/2 weeks and wanting to know everyone right away, I've had to slow down and take things one step at a time and have patience. But I love the ward and have gotten to know a few that already have a special place in my heart. I just need to have patience and realize that success is in the effort not the outcome.

I love you so so much!

Email me....I MISS YOU ALL! (Abigail.fillmore@missionary.org)

Abby

Future Sister Pace! She always tells us how much she wants to be a missionary so we
made her little name tag for her birthday so she could look more official. :)

Hermana Mullen - absolutely love her! We had so much fun going on splits in Lincoln City!

Ah... the beach!

One of the best things about being an STL is that we get to go on splits and I get to meet
some amazing Sisters that will be my lifelong friends.

Fresh ombre eggs from Members!

Chick-fil-a food truck for the win! ALL the missionaries know when the food truck is in town!

My new motto - thank you President Nelson!

Love Sister Hawkes!

We LOVE our ward members that take good care of us! They know us as the "Sister-Merries". :)

Week 54- The one with General Conference!

Friends!!

This week was so much fun! We went out alot this week and talked to people and everyone is so nice!

As an STL we have a lot of meetings which I wasn't expecting but it is fun to train and meet with other missionaries and get new ideas!

I went on my first exchange as an STL and it was the best thing EVER! First off I went with one of the sweetest sisters ever, Sister Cloward! Her love for the Lord and His children is beautiful, definitely a great example for me. The second best thing was getting to see my sweet companion, Sister Carlson again! It was a great reunion, she is the best. ♡

We are trying to get consistent lessons with people so for right now lots of finding but I am excited for the future. Tami is doing well...she is understanding more of how important this is and how she needs to make it more of a priority, yay!!

General Conference was amazing in every way! Some of my questions were answered and I am excited to put it into action. I loved so many talks! The topics of love, unity, the temple and our Savior Jesus Christ was what I and the world needed to hear.

I loved what Jeffrey R. Holland said, “Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable. The path to holiness and happiness here and hereafter is a long and sometimes rocky one. It takes time and tenacity to walk it. But, of course, the reward for doing so is monumental.”

Life is hard! But God has given us the tools to endure it well so let's use them. We have the prophets of old and the words of the prophets today...please everyone read past General conference talks. Study them, apply what they say and God will magnify your efforts. This is something that I have realized and that I am going to start to do more of.

I love this work and I love my Savior and Heavenly Father!

Love,

Sister Fillmore