I don’t know what your morning temperature is, but it sure feels pretty
cold here! I haven’t had to scrape any ice off our windows yet so at least
there’s that. I almost had to though! Sorry to hear that you all caught the
stomach flu. Definitely doesn’t sound like a fun experience and I’m glad I don’t
have it! I heard that you had to speak in church from Dad too and he told me to
ask you to send me a copy of your talk. I would love it if you sent me a copy! I would also love a picture of the Christmas
tree since you seemed to forget that this week J
Our sweet members left us a little Christmas tree on our porch the other night
so at least we have that now! As for gifts, I’m fine having them directly shipped
to me. I just won’t open the box and I’ll stick it under the tree. One other
request, can you send me the words to all the verses of O Holy Night? I just
can’t seem to remember all of them.
This week has been a good one. Thank you for the Thanksgiving card and
the music! That was a lovely surprise J
Monday night was a little bit of a sad one because we had to say goodbye to
Jonathan as he left for El Salvador on Tuesday, but it was good too because he
is needed down there. He has to bring the gospel to all of his family and
friends!
Tuesday brought a little miracle! We have been trying to contact this
lady named Carmen for ages and we finally got in with her on Tuesday night! She
was a referral and the Elders taught her once, but with the area change she
fell out of contact. We’ve probably tried her house 50 times or so and that
night it just finally worked. We showed her the temple video and she loved it!
We are going back tomorrow to teach her with her husband and son J She is the sweetest!
We have our ward party this coming Friday and really hope she comes to that! We
also want her to go to the Mesa Temple Christmas lights! But that’s a little more
selfish of a desire because we just really want to see them and can’t without
an investigator. But ultimately it will be most beneficial for her because she
can go through the Visitors’ Center and see the temple and the lights and just
feel the Spirit of Christmas
On Wednesday morning we got to go to the temple which is always just the
greatest! I love it. But I’m also really excited to when we can go to the
Gilbert temple. It’s just gorgeous. The member that drove us was so kind! We
are still living far so we had someone in the Nielsen’s ward take us. She told
us a little about her life and how her 2nd husband (that she is
married to now) is not a member. Then later that same day we had a visit with a
less active whose husband is a member, but wants absolutely nothing to do with
the Church. It was just reaffirmed to me how much I want to find a future
husband who has a really strong testimony and is temple worthy. It’s just so
much easier when you both want the same things! Especially when it comes to religious
beliefs.
Just a hilarious story that the Elders shared with us. They were giving
their investigator, Angelica, a blessing to help her stop smoking. Her little
boy Andres (who is probably 6) comes running in shouting “MOM! MOM!” but then
all of a sudden he stops and the Elders said they just felt his hands on
theirs! He wanted to help haha. So cute. He had placed both his hands on top of
theirs and bowed his head too. He doesn’t exactly have the Priesthood, but
Angelica said it meant a lot to her because it was like he was supporting her
My Spanish has certainly gotten better and I can communicate and speak
and understand just fine. Usually. Haha but on Friday we visited a sister in
the ward that our Relief Society President suggested we visit and she is from
Puerto Rico. She talked so fast and her accent is much different than the
Mexican one I am used to so that was interesting and a little hard to
understand. But she was so sweet! She looks a little like a Hispanic version of
Victoria haha.
Saturday morning we went to help this white family move. They are
awesome! They are the ones that came up to us at Stake Conference and told us
that they have a family for us to teach! A family of 8! That excepted the
invitation to talk with us! So exciting. I just hope I don’t get transferred next
week so that I can still be there to help teach. Si Dios quiere!
A tender mercy of the Lord that just shows me that He even cares about
the little things that matter to us. It happened Saturday. We went to the Elder’s
baptism and our WMLs little girl was there. Now she loves missionaries. Every time
she sees the Elders, she lights up. But she doesn’t seem to grasp the idea that
we are missionaries too. But then at the baptism, she started laughing and
smiling at us! And then that same night we went to give Hno. Garay the progress
record and she shook our hands!!!! Seriously made my day J It was made possible
by the Minnie Mouse shirt she was wearing and I told her about the blanket I
used to have that had Minnie Mouse all over it. Remember that thing? But
basically Ellie and I are best friends now J
She even brought me Apple Juice and Vanilla Wafers. It’s okay to be jealous
haha.
One more thing along the same line. Last night we went to drop off a
thank you card at the Hardts for Thanksgiving. (Better late than never, right?)
We shared a message and then were getting ready to go and they let us go see
and HOLD the 10 day old puppies that Dog just had. They were adorable!!! Hey,
we can’t hold babies, but we can hold puppies! So cute. I want to get a dog
someday J
It’s decided.
Christmas time is great and I love it. It’s been a little harder to focus
when I think of all the things I would normally be doing at Christmas and the
family all together. But I realized this week that although I miss those
things, I don’t miss any of it more than I would miss this. What I’m doing
right now. I would miss my mission, my chance to serve the Lord, more than I
miss school and Christmas shopping and Christmas trees and all of that. Of
course I miss you and all the family, but I know that you will always be there
and this chance to serve won’t. So I’m glad I am here. And I am happy.
Remember Moroni 8:3! Read that
in my personal study this morning.
Con amor,
Hermana
Baria
