December 12th
Hi everyone!!
Only
13 more days to Christmas, and I`m so sad it`s coming so soon! Christmas
time is such a beautiful time of year, when everyone`s hearts are a
little softer as the Christmas spirit works its magic and we don`t want
it to end! We have found so many people this week who are prepared to
hear more about the Savior, and it`s been perfect as we have shared the
church`s video (on mormon.org) about how we can be a light to others, and the light is contagious!
This
week has been so busy, we`ve gone on three exchanges with the other
Sister missionaries in the area and it`s been so fun to learn from them,
watch them teach, and then talk together about how we can both improve.
These Sisters have taught me so much! From one Sister I was reminded of
the importance of saying (and meaning) «we love you» to the people we
teach and the members we visit. You can never say it enough. Over the
past few months, I`ve found a new favorite phrase in French, it`s
«est-ce que vous savez combien je vous aime?» which translates to, «do
you know how much I love you?». And people love it! Each time we tell
them, or we remind them, they are always touched by our expressions of
love. And we always do mean it, because as missionaries, I swear, we
have this special, enlarged capacity to love others, in ways I have
never felt before. You could meet someone for the first time, yet
instantly feel that Christ-like love for them, and I`m convinced it`s
because Heavenly Father wants us to realize how important all of His children are to Him, how much He loves them.
So He lets us, as missionaries, feel just a little tiny particle of how
much He loves His children. It`s a love that can`t be our own. And
that`s the spirit we should be focusing more on this Christmas.
And
we were recipiants of that loving Christmas spirit this week, as
another Sister and I literally walked (unknowingly) into an apartment
building`s Christmas party. We were on the hunt for someone who lived in
the building that other missionaries had recently contacted, and our
search was ended as we found the whole building in their basement/party
room. It was hilarious as we walked in, and everyone turned to look at
us, and as we stumbled around talking about how we were looking for
Jacqueline. Well, then we found her, and she said she was not interested
at all in talking with us about our message of Christ (again while
everyone was still staring at the few strangers who just walked into
their Christmas party) and as we were about to excuse ourselves, the
host of the party comes up to us and screams, «You`re just in time for
the cake! Stay and party with us as we celebrate this Christmas
season!!» The other Sister missionary and I had a hard time not freaking
out as we were led to a table where a few other women were already
sitting, they all welcomed us with open arms as they started to ask who
were were. Then we had cake together and they sang, and it was honestly
one of my favorite Christmas parties ever. By they end, we found a few
women who were interested in our message, and we talked to Jacqueline
again (who`s demeanor had totally changed through the course of the
night) and she said that we could come back another time after she got
back from her Christmas trip to Haiti. She was so cute. Oh it was
wonderful to see all these people just open up to us, love us so freely,
receive us and give us cake, and goodies. That was definitely a
miracle.
And to close I wanted to
share a scripture I found yesterday morning as I was studying for the
people we would see that day, and I found a perfect scripture that
simply and beautifully tells us of God and the mission of our Savior
Jesus Christ.
It`s found in Doctrine and Covenants section
20: 17-26, where after speaking of the Holy Scriptures, the Prophet
Joseph Smith recorded:
17 By
these things [the scirptures] we know that there is a God in heaven,
who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same
unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which
are in them;
18 And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them;
19 And
gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the
only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they
should worship.
20 But by the transgression of these holy laws man became sensual and devilish, and became fallen man.
21 Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him.
24 And
ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to
reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father;
25 That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved...
How
perfect are those scriptures? Tears came to eyes as I read and
understood the Plan of Happiness our Father in Heaven has given us, and
how essential Jesus Christ is to that plan. It is through Him we are
saved, and it is He who we should remember at this special, special time
of year.
Have a great week, but most importantly, remember the Savior.
Love,
Sister Thomas
We forgot our cameras this week so no pictures! :( sorry! Next week for sure.
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