Christmas

This week Sister Malekamu and I decided to eat lunch at Foco Cafe....it was so good! I had such an enjoyable time..a man there was playing the bag pipes. And they have healthy food! If anyone ever wants a healthy, good, cheap place to eat..Go here!

Sister Malekamu and I try to make funny faces to help cheer up our sisters this is one of our funny ones.

We decided also "On Wednesday's we wear pink!"

On Christmas Eve, we found out Sister Malekamu might not be getting her package till after Christmas,mission office never got a package for her..but it turned out after much prayer and even having a ward member get her some gifts secretly on my part. We came home Christmas eve night and there was a package from her family on the table. Christmas Eve we rode in a limo with the Stevens and looked at the lights in Foco. They are good company! I love them. And they got me a stuffed elephant. (:

Christmas was so very nice, not because of the gifts I got. But because all day, all we did was work. It was really sweet to see how members and others tried to make it special for us.

She loved the cow calendar from Chick-Fil-A. It was such an amazing day...I couldn't say if I had a favorite gift, I was grateful for each of them. This Christmas was special. Although I don't really like Christmas out of all the holidays, this one was different and I think a lot of it was that because we didn't watch movies or do any of those "worldly" things I was able to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, and share my gifts with others..I shared my treats from home with others..that was nice. Especially since I need to eat healthy.

This morning I was reading in one of the books I was gifted "Its better to look up" I read the story "act well thy part" and I feel it describes my Christmas this year. Wearing the name of Christ on my chest and invited others to come unto him was a tender blessing if I must say so myself. Christmas this year, I learned its all about my attitude. We spent Christmas day visiting people and helping their faith grow. I loved how the focus wasn't on ourselves. Skyping to loved ones was a treat..last time doing it as a missionary...weird huh? (January 1st we hit our 15 month mark)

My heart is full of love for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father. I love this gospel and the true joy it brings. I appreciate and love each of you. Thank you each for all your continued love and support. Church has started to become more of a spiritual relief. I'm grateful to have spent this bit of time focusing on what I'm grateful for. I love this gospel, I know without a doubt it is true. I feel blessed to be apart of this work. So many exciting things are happening. I love being here, and being with some many amazing people I can't believe its already week 4 of this transfer!

some miracles from this last week..

1.) Ben & Susan -from my last area got their clearance to get sealed in the temple!

2.) We taught 25 lessons -the week of Christmas!

3.) I Got to ride in a limo for the first time ever!

4.) Brandts and Allreds have had their babies in the last week!

5.) We were lead to those who were in need of service. (wrapping gifts like a boss, cleaned some of a house before a member moved)

6.) We didn't get in any car crashes...4 wheel drive! yah!

7.) I'm a missionary! I made it this long...never would have thought that last year!

8.) Sister Malekamu is amazing, and I am learning so much from her.

9.) I am learning every day that I need to escape my comfort zone so I can keep improving!

10.) In the process of helping others...my heart is continuing to be softened.

What E're Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part

Continued Blessings and Progress

This week I went with Sister Malekamu to Fatshack it was fun. Monday we found these cute pillows at Wal-Mart. "Be happy and Love "yourself" The photo says that see it?

Tuesday I got to see Sister Waters and Sister Jenson at Zone Conference. It was our Christmas zone conference and it snowed so much that day, what should have been a 22 minute drive to that building took an hour. But everyone got there safely and it was so nice. I always love being able to see so many others. We had an open mic testimony meeting at the end, I loved hearing others and opportunity to bear my own testimony. Especially that of prayer and how missions bless our families so much!

Jenny Daknis got her mission call to Taiwan!! She leaves January 27th! Super exciting!

We did exchanges with one of our five sets of sisters and I was with Sister Maxwell. I love this sister so much and even though it was last minute planned I know Heavenly Father was able to lead and guide us in this exchange. We went to Chic-Fil-A where I got my companion her Christmas gift, shh! Don't tell. It's wrapped hiding under my bed!

I am sick, but my fever has went down. We will see if it keep going down...currently it's a roller coaster....ill feel good then I crash. This morning was rough. That's for sure! Yesterday I made it through church but that was rough. Sister Thompson, an amazing lady whom I love, felt bad that I was sick and brought soup to our house for me. It was very tender. I love her!

News from Wellington

-we are moving Brooke's baptism.

-Dale wants to take us to lunch in January when he finishes the lessons

-Amy and Mike (investigators) want us to come over Christmas Eve - told us to come hungry!

-Donna has opened up about more of her concerns.

-we got stood up by the same person twice in one week.

-stake Christmas Devo was fun, next time we will not sit in the back....

This week has been good despite the low moments. Things are going good. I love Wellington and this time I have to serve the Lord. Sometimes it hard being away when my thoughts take me everywhere but focused on where I am. But I know this is the happiest I've been. Ever. I wouldn't take it back for anything. I love being a missionary. I love the Lord, and I'm coming to find who he needs me to be. And I'm grateful for that. Life is good. I know this gospel does bring true happiness. And I know as we focus on our Savior we can find true and ever lasting happiness.

Continued Revelation in His Work

This week whats to talk about...

We had MLC's which was super great! I always love it, not just because I get to see other missionaries but because I love being able to council with others and see how we can each help each other to grow.

The group of sisters is the Sister Training Leaders in the mission and Sister Brown. I love each of these sisters and am inspired by their desire to serve and love others. We had our ward Christmas party this week....it was so pretty and of course I had to get a picture with Santa and my companion. Santa helped us get out of some awkward conversations....overall it was a good party. WE have a new member named Brother Bears and he knows where Paintsville is, and use to live there. He knows a lot of people with the last name Castle.

We had zone breakfast at President Fosters, it was really sweet. After we tried to get a picture...they mostly all turned out blurry. But here's a good one I think. After the breakfast it was snowing and was coming down pretty good. So here is me and my companion....snow picture.

For the last week or so I haven't been sleeping to well. So I will lay in bed and think back a lot on different things...One night in the last couple weeks all I could think of was a house we tried when I first got into the area....But I couldn't remember who lived in the house...(member, nonmember, dnc etc) so I tried not to think to much about it seeing I didn't know where to find the house... because Sister Helsing got transferred to Sidney, NE. I can speak to her on the phone since we are her STL's. So this week I was speaking with her and told her this might not mean anything to her, and she might not remember because my memory was very foggy about it. But she DID REMEMBER. And we were able to go by and see this person. It wasn't a good time(shes sick) , but I know we were suppose to go and see her.

So many great things happened this week. I know there is a reason I'm still here. Although I may not know why I do know Heavenly Father has his reasons.

I've been studying in the gospels this last week and I'm so amazed at the love Christ offers all of us. And the need we each have for the Atonement. I couldn't be more grateful for the Atonement. For a Savior who knows what I am feeling and how to truly help me. With anything. I know he knows each of us and wants us to be happy. Our Savior wants us each to return to him....RTC (Return to Christ) I love being a missionary even on the hard days and what seems like the darkest days. I had a teacher in high school who told us "Nothing easy will ever be worth it" I am learning every day what that means. I've gained strength by reading a talk by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles titled “Trust in the Lord.” He said: “Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding and compassion, which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain” (Ensign, Nov. 1995). He wants to help each of us, and is waiting for each of us to ask.

I know many of you may know but if not my grandma Peggie isn't doing very well. And is in need of prayers. She will be having surgery this week.

New Companion: Sister Malekamu

Tomorrow I get a new companion...Sister Malekamu!!! She was in my MTC group. She is going to be my 4th California companion.

This week was crazy, I for sure thought I was getting transferred. I'm glad I didn't though. I love Wellington, even if I don't really like small towns, especially since I come from a small town. Wellington is different.

This week we finished exchanges it was fun, I got to be with Sister Gardner for the first time ever on exchanges. She is a very sweet sister from Southern Utah. I decided on exchanges we'd go contacting potentials and it was great we were able to teach six lessons total, two of those were to active members (dinner and our very last one) but it was great.

When we exchanged back we had dinner at Annogs in Laramie, WY its a Thai place. So good! I whipped out and got pot stickers. They were so good!

This week we got to see Sister Lane who is an active member whose not been able to come because she hurt her back some how or another...its been really hard on her. I was so grateful we got to see her. It was really neat to hear her bare her testimony to us of how this trial has strengthened her testimony of the Atonement.

We had a really cool experience were I had to use the restroom and we decided to just stop at a members house, and this member was finishing up some stuff so we sat there and waited...we then listened to her tell us whats been going on, we shared a Mormon message with her it was so good. And we asked her two sons, (age 5, and 3) what they love about their mom, it was so sweet. I am a firm believer that hearing the people you love tell you some of the many reasons they love you is the cure for everything. If your mad at someone but you look at why you love them, you will not be mad at them much longer. If you feel burdened down by things ask Heavenly Father to help make his love known unto unto you. Your view changes. I know Heavenly Father guided us to them.

I'm grateful I have this time to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. Sometimes I wonder if I have more to give because I feel so drained but I know Heavenly Father helps me push myself even more.

I know Heavenly Father loves all of us, and we are of so much worth. "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." A quote I've come to love is from Sister Dalton..."She know who she was, and whose she was." I know when we come to know our Father in Heaven better we come to know ourselves better. I know he knows us, he knows our stengthens, weakness and how to help us overcome our fears. He is there for us. We are in his arms. Always.