December 24, 2012

December 24

Hello Family,

I cannot believe Christmas is here. Christmas came way to fast this year. It doesn't even seem like it with out the snow here. It has been very cold and rainy though. The lowest that I have seen it get is in the low 40's which isn't that bad, but there is sure a lot of moisture in the air here in California. I like it though and it is durable. 

It was so weird to have Sister Davidson call you, but I was glad she did. Yes I will be skyping around 5:00 pm your time. I am super excited to see all your faces and to chat with you all. It will be so much fun. Oh before I forget. I sent a birthday card for Justin in the mail, so hopefully it will get to him before his birthday. Tomorrow we have many places to eat at. Our wards are so good to us. We will be eating four meals tomorrow. Brunch, lunch, supper and dinner! WOW! We are spoiled here. One of the wards even gave us a Christmas package with a bunch of snacks and a bunch of random things such as: tooth brush and tooth paste, floss, lotion, sanitize, notebooks and etc... I have gotten some packages from you. I got 2/3 packages mom that you sent, Karen and grandpa I got yours and I am sure the other ones are coming tonight. Our Zone Leaders said that they have a bunch more packages to give us tonight. I just want to thank you all for sending packages and supporting me while I have been out on my mission. You all are the  best. I love you. 

Alright some exciting things have happened this week.  Yesterday the Erckenbrack's came to church. It was the Christmas program and it was so good and they came on a perfect day. This is their third time coming to church. I think Julie was touched because she was crying through the program. It was really cool because Bryan has been reading the Book of Mormon and asked us questions about it yesterday. It meant a lot to us that he said he was reading and that he is understanding the Book of Mormon. He said that he is enjoying what he is reading and feels good about it too. This family is so great. The ward members have been super great at fellow shipping them and they feel so much love from every one. We have not been able to teach them this week because of the craziness of Christmas, but they do want to meet with us next week for sure. 

We tried to meet with Kelsey this past week, but she just got a new job and has been overwhelmed with stuff. We were kind of bummed, but we have been keeping in contact with her and she still wants to meet with us after the Holiday's. 

We had a baptism on Saturday. Daniel was able to be baptized. This baptism was probably the best one that I have been too. I don't think anything could have gone wrong. Well...this was funny and kind of embarrassing. We had filled the font up all the way and by the time that Daniel was baptized the water had drained and only came up to his knees. The water was draining! We felt so bad, but we all laughed after we had found out what had happened.   Daniel was so excited and had lots of support from family and friends. He is the only member in his family who converted to the church. The spirit there was so strong and it touched many people there. The talks were really good and I even learned some new things as well about the Holy Ghost. After Daniel was baptized he got up and bore his testimony to all of us and it was amazing. He has a strong testimony and knows so much about this gospel already. He is going to make a great missionary when we can go, which he wants to serve a mission. 

We went caroling with the district again on Saturday night. That was fun. Our district leader Elder Brower dressed up as Santa Claus. We caroled to some people with his and the kids were so funny. On of the kids just stared at Santa and his mouth literally dropped to the floor. He was the cutest thing. We  touched a lot of people with the songs that we shared with them. I really enjoyed caroling and it has been fun and we have grown a lot together as a district. 

One of the people that we caroled was with our investigator Robin. She was so touched and started to cry. She really enjoyed us coming by and it meant a lot to her. We also we able to teach her this week about faith and how are faith is like a seed and in order for it to go we need to feed it spiritually. We felt impressed to know more about her belief on religion and more of her background so that we could help her more. We just have been getting a little frustrated because we don't know where to go from here with her and what she needs. We found out that she pretty much believes with everything opposite of what we believe. We also talked about the history of the church and the Book of Mormon and we were able to teach her a little about Joesph Smith. It was an intense conversation, but Sister Davidson and I never got upset or frustrated with her. I knew that the spirit was with us and helping us with what we needed to say to her.

We also met with the Cotten's, our less active family that we are working with. We taught them the importance of family prayer in the home. We shared with them the scripture in 3 Nephi 18:19-21. They really enjoyed that scripture and really want to be better. We have been calling/texting them every night as a reminder to read and prayer as a family. They have been doing really well and have been growing together. This family is so great and there is a special spirit in their home and they always look forward to us coming over and saying with them a lesson on how they can be better with the gospel and as a family.

I just want to end with my testimony. Being away from home this Christmas Season and serving a mission has helped me really realized what the true meaning of Christmas is. It isn't about the gifts that we get or the parities that we have. It is about Christ and his birth. I have been thinking about Christ and all that he has done for me. I am so grateful that he was born and that he did the will of the father. I am so grateful for his great example to us by serving all that he saw and loving them for the way that they were. I am grateful for all the pains and sufferings that he did for me so that I could live a good life and to be able to help those that are around me as well. I am so grateful to be a missionary at this time and to help share the Atoning sacrifice to others and to help them find joy in their lives. I could not be happier anywhere else right now. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father and for all that they do and give me. 

Well this was some of the Highlights of this week. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas. Remember I love you all and thank you all for all the support and love. I have attached some pictures. They are silly ones of sister Davidson and I and one with Daniel and us missionaries.

Love Sister Ackley