I have come to the official conclusion that missionary Christmases are the best kinds of Christmas.
We woke up at 6:30 and opened all our presents. Holy, thank you! I have the best family and friends ever. I am definitely spoiled.
We went and had breakfast with Elder and Sister Parkinson. Sister Asper called home first. Her brother is engaged!
I got to talk to my family and it was great! It didn't make me all sad and homesick and all! It was like, "YAY! I love my family!" And then I went about my normal day.
We had a Christmas dinner at the church with the Parkinsons and Kathy and Wade. We were hoping for a better turnout, but it didn't quite work out the way we wanted. But. it was great. Sister Asper played the sax and it was great.
After dinner we took the leftovers and took them to our friend Crystal out in Fennimore. We got to visit with her and her two little girls and it was so fun. We read the story about Jesus I had just gotten and then we read about Nephi building a boat in the Book of Mormon. And then we gave them each a copy for Christmas. It was so precious. I loved helping people feel God's love on Christmas. It was awesome.
Christmas Eve was cool too! We had district meeting and then had dinner with a nonmember family. They got us presents and everything! So nice! And I sang Justin Beiber karaoke with the 12 year old girl because I felt like that was an acceptable thing to do on Christmas Eve. We've spent a lot of time with that family. We went there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and yesterday for my birthday. They are the nicest people and I have been so thankful for them. I'm working on building trust so that they will be more open to hearing more about the gospel.
Speaking of which: the Lafave family set a baptism date!!!! March 1st! It's funny, when Sister Asper and I were praying to discern a date for them, December 28th kept popping up. But then we never felt right and the opportunity to invite them to baptism never came around. And then ON DECEMBER 28th, they set a baptism date. The Lords timing is great.
I am so excited for them!!!
My birthday was great! We were supposed to get a bad freezing rain storm, but we didnt! Yay for birthday miracles! We went to church and it was so great and I cried because I just love the PDC branch and they always bring the spirit so strong and I received a lot of answers to questions. We did studies and I read Jacob 5 and it was so great. Jacob 5 as a missionary is SO much more powerful. I spent a whole hour just reading that chapter and cross referencing it to PMG and Conference talks and Jesus The Christ. Those kind of studies are my favorite. It's gonna take me forever to get through the BoM again, but thats okay.
One day this week was HOT. Seriously, I carried my light coat around all day because wearing it was too hot. Guess what temp it was? 40 degrees. hahahahhahahaha.
I had the best time ever volunteering at the nursing home on Friday. I helped my friend Orva write letters (she can write or speak very well) and she is the sweetest person ever. I just wanted to cry with love all day long. Her letters were all so positive and so faithful in God and seeing her family again in a better life. She kept saying, "you are such a precious soul", "may you be most blessed for your beautiful heart". It just tore my heart right open.
Basically this week I have realized how blessed and fortunate I am. I can speak on my own. I can write my own letters. I can walk on my own. I can have snowball fights whenever I want. haha I have a bed and food and a warm apartment. I have people who throw me birthday parties because they know that I don't have family here. I have the knowledge of the gospel. I know who I am and why I am here and where I am going. I know there is a God who loves me and a Savior who died for me.
What can be better?
NOTHING, my friends.
Nothing at all.
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