I sent Alexis a package that had the cutest little Christmas tree and little ornaments to go with it. So cute! I couldn't resist. I had finally finished a bag she had asked me to make and sent that as well.
The 12 Days of Christmas is a family tradition we have. We buy a 12 piece nativity set and wrap it pretty and attach a note to each piece that tells what the piece represents in the Christmas story. Then, 12 days before Christmas, we deliver each piece one by one, with the last piece being baby Jesus because he came on Christmas Day (I know that isn't his actual birth date though). It is a knock and run deal. After about the 3rd night, the family you are delivering to know the next piece is coming and you have to get more creative at every delivery. By the time the family has all the pieces, the Christmas Story was told. Lots of fun.
The 12 Days of Christmas is a family tradition we have. We buy a 12 piece nativity set and wrap it pretty and attach a note to each piece that tells what the piece represents in the Christmas story. Then, 12 days before Christmas, we deliver each piece one by one, with the last piece being baby Jesus because he came on Christmas Day (I know that isn't his actual birth date though). It is a knock and run deal. After about the 3rd night, the family you are delivering to know the next piece is coming and you have to get more creative at every delivery. By the time the family has all the pieces, the Christmas Story was told. Lots of fun.
**************************************************************************
I got the package!!!! Super cute :)
My companion got a kick out of it too. All I had to do was pull like two things out and she started laughing. "Ya, you're definitely a crafty family" I grinned with a lot of pride! The Tree was set up on my dresser before the end of the night. And we're totally going to do the 12 days of Christmas. My companion loves the idea :)
I got really sick Monday night after I opened the package. We went to a dinner appointment and had planned to stop by an inactive family to read the scriptures with them. But I was surprised I made it through dinner. I felt like I was going to pass out. And also my head was going to explode (and my neck and my back.... all of it!). And I felt like I was going to throw up. When I stood up I was so dizzy. It was miserable. I think I complained a lot about it in my hand written letter.... So I'll save my time and write of my other things.
Haha, would you laugh at me if I told you that I have an outline for this letter? I have all these points I want to address and stories I want to share and I don't want to forget any of them! I definitely understand how you said that you always have all these ideas of things to write and then you never remember them. That's me too
:p So I write an outline. And it's in the form of "lessons that I've learned"\
Lesson one that I learned this week - overall, people are really nice. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed and think that no one wants to talk to missionaries and that it is so impertinent that we are randomly talking to people. But that is totally a thought from Satan. Honestly, we're all children of God; we're all inherently good (though I admit there are some people in the world who choose not to be). We went tracting for the first time this past week. Tracting is knocking on doors of people that we do not know, for anyone who might not know what that is. It's a hard thing for a lot of missionaries to do. It's definitely not in a normal comfort zone.
When my companion pulled over and said "Ok, lets go know on doors" I had a momentary panic. How scary :s right? Some people weren't home. And some people though not interested, are very cordial. People actually decline politely! Imagine that. And some people say yes. We ask if we can come back and leave a blessing on their home and family in the form of a prayer. So for anyone preparing to serve a mission (I know there are quite a few in our ward!) don't be afraid of the talking to people part. Talk to them as if they are your brothers and sisters, because they are. Sometimes our brothers and sisters can be rude, I'm not saying that won't happen. But overall, people are really loving.
Lesson two - there are always people I will meet that I will just know need someone to talk to and that need the atonement in their lives. On Thursday we went to eat at the Senior Center with the other missionaries in our district. The goal was to spread out and talk to people when we got there, but that was quickly determined impossible because every seat was full and they had to set up a whole new table for our group. I love spending time with the other missionaries in this area. It's neat to get to know them and hear of their experiences and truly learn from them. So a lot of the time I just listen to their conversations or I lose myself in my own thoughts. That's a fortunate thing because of Thursday when we were at the Senior Center. We had already finished eating and were getting ready to leave, as we were walking towards the door my companion and five Elders just kept talking, I fell behind a step. And that step behind them was where God needed me to be. I glanced over and seen an older gentleman sitting along. I smiled and said hello. He attempted a smile and said hello as well. Go talk to him. I did and I was able to ge to know him. I learned why he wasn't smiling. I immediately felt love for him as he told me his story. He had a great life if it were measure physically. He was born in Spain, grew up in South America, worked in California and Wisconsin and in so many other places that I can't even remember. He had a great education - in linguistics and English literature. He was married at on point and had two daughters. But the physical stuff isn't what defines us. That education he received was exemplory! No one would hire him; he was too qualified. He lamented to me that it doesn't matter what you know, it's all about who you know (so true!!) He doesn't see his family often even though they live only five minutes away from him. Physical things, in the end, are worth nothing. All that matters is the love that we feel in this life - from others, from ourselves and from our Heavenly Father. Had time permitted (and had we not been interrupted) I would have taught him about God's love for us and the joy in the plan of salvation. He doesn't live in our ward area so I will see what I can do about sending the missionaries to him. I just wish I could have hugged him and told him that he really is loved. But, not only would that have been awkward for him... I am definitely not allowed to do that.
And Lesson three, this one really surprised me this week - Sometimes God sends us to certain people, and sometimes God sends certain people to us. As we were walking through a large apartment complex that we cover a repair man called us over. He quickly introduced himself and started talking with us. And then... he expressed his desire to learn more about God, and invited us to come to his home and visit with him and his two sons! My companion and I both walked away in awe. God really does know what he is doing and I am so glad to be a part of that. We will probably go by there tonight and see them and see how we can strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ.
Ok... so that's a bit of a report on my week. Honestly there is so much more but how could I ever put it in an email!? :) But I do try.
I love you so much mom! Your testimony is an inspiration to me. We really can do hard things when the Lord is guiding us. You are always in my prayers. The whole family is!
Love you lots!!! Have a great week then tell me all about it!
-Alexis
No comments:
Post a Comment