Basically I can't think straight because President just emailed and said we can use skype. Sister L had told me that he didn't like the way it made missionaries so homesick and so they didn't get to use it before, but I am SOOOO excited to be able to see you all!! OH my gosh I can't even express how excited I am!!! Here is the email bit from president, "We have just received the guidelines for Christmas day communication with family. You have one hour to either talk on the telephone or Skype with parents and immediate family. We are allowed one call, so try and get as many family members together as possible on one call. To Skype, we suggest you work with a member family to use their computer. As always, companions are to stay close-by while on the computer. If using the telephone, you may also try and work something out with a member family to use their phone. Our Church phones should not be used because of high costs during the weekdays. So you might consider getting a calling card if calling out from a member phone, or calling collect to family. Also, your family back home might consider their own calling card to use."
Missionary work here: we are lately doing a lot of reactivation. We keep knocking into members who the ward here doesn't have record of. So we are doing a lot of that, but it is nice. The worth of EVERY soul is great in the sight of God. Also the ward members are amazing! We got 6 referrals this past week! SIX! that has never happened for me before! Some weeks we get none but this is so nice! We do have a bit of a slower load with a lot of our inv. being students and them going home for the holiday, but it is just time to focus on finding! But the work is amazing, this Church is true, and I am loving it here!
I am over my sickness now. Slowly my appetite came back. We had interviews with President on Thursday and he told me that I looked different and asked if I lost weight. Wowzer right? But I am feeling well now!!
I'm not sure what else to say so I'll just attach pictures now! love you all! Merry Christmas!
Picture of me with L's kids with hand puppets :) Santa and reindeer.
Picture of the tree one of our investigators gave us! Nicest, softest tree ever! The bow on top and then me too!
Love you all!!
Guess what?!? We woke up to SNOW this morning!! How crazy is that!! Very fun for us here, since we have been having weather in the 70's most of this December. It was just enough snow to cover the ground, and I'm pretty sure it will melt by the end of the day, but it made it feel like the holiday season for once!
Mom, I forgot to tell you I did get your Christmas package at the Christmas Zone Conference, I brought it back to the apartment and didn't open it for a full day until Sister Smith realized her gifts were all wrapped, so then I opened mine to see if my gifts were wrapped (which they were!) And we put them all out under the tree! I still am so excited to be able to have my real Christmas gift: To talk to you all!!! I am so excited, and it feels like it won't be real and I know it is going to go by way to fast, but I'll cherish it nonetheless.
Well my updates for the week is that I know the new diet! It's called lose about 3 pounds in one week! Do two days of fasting and then have 3 days of being sick with no appetite and wala: before you know it you can see all your ribs! Yep, I got sick this weekend! And I was doing so well at not being homesick and nothing brings more thoughts of home then being stuck in bed all day! All I wanted was my mama. :( But I am feeling much better today and am going to get right back into the swing of things so that my thoughts will be busy again. And I'm not sure what I was struck down with. I never actually threw up, but I sure did not want to eat, and standing up made me woosy, and I had the chills (so much fun right?) I slept about 16 hours on Friday and after not being able to concentrate during our two lessons that night I went home and back to bed and slept till 11 am the next day. I then got a blessing from the elders (there is nothing worse than being sick as a missionary, you are limited to what to do with your extra time, and it just does nothing for any of your purpose) and went back to bed after the elders came for about 3 hours, and then kept myself awake so I could sleep at night. I then got a 12 hour sleep that night and went to church yesterday. Breakfast before church was the first real meal (yes cheerios) I had basically had all weekend. So then after church we went and visited a few people and I went to bed last night and had another 12 hours of sleep. I dunno what was up with me, but I am feeling more normal today. Which I am so grateful for. This weekend was awful, but now that I have put in my sick time, I call that I don't get sick for the rest of my mission (a girl can hope right?)
So with me being sick this weekend I have seen the proof that nothing works quite as well as work. We only had one investigator at church on Sunday. :( Yes, it is up to them, but it would have helped to have us there to invite them. But it just puts a new fire in me to do my best this week.
I'm not sure what else to update you on. The ward is doing amazing! This week we have dinner appointments every night! We are getting referrals like crazy which means that our time is being well spent which is so rewarding! Our investigator teaching pool is great, if we can just get people to come to church. It is all about their desire. My favorite thing is when our investigators start giving us referrals. It is a sign that they are being converted when they want others to know their happiness too! It is the best!
Oh! One excitement from this week is that before C left to go home he had us meet with his friend who has been telling him how awful our church is. She just wanted to bible bash, and it was quite nerve racking, but we held the meeting at a member's house, and after they left they said we did a good job. We taught her the plan of salvation, and until we taught her I have never realized the whole truths we have. Or I guess how confused some people are. She said that angels and humans are different. Like a dog and a human. That they never get bodies. And people get really worked up when we talk about works. How we need to have good works, but they say it is only Jesus Christ that saves us and our works don't matter. But when we really do turn to Jesus our works will change? Which is such a hard concept to grasp. I am so grateful that we have a clear perception of the "primary" answers to allow us return again to our Father in Heaven. She had me shaking out of nerves by the end of that lesson, but hopefully one day she will remember and see the things that ring true. All in a days work right?
Mom I am grateful for your thought about faith in God's plan. It's true. This is difficult, but it's like a message Kate sent me: "Every day on your mission you think about home, then every day for the rest of your life you think about your mission."
I love and miss you all! I love you all! Merry Christmas!
xoxoxo Sister P.
The reason I am writing today and not yesterday is because we had Christmas Zone Conference. We didn't know about it last Monday or else I would have let you know. We had it in Lubbock with half the mission! And I hung out with the sisters the whole time. Sister L (prior companion) and L (MTC companion) were there, too, so that was fun, but also there were lots of sisters I have never met, but we all connected and had a grand time! So excited for future transfers to be able to get to know and work with these other sisters!
Also be happy I am being put to good use. I led the caroling songs (about 7 songs) yesterday. My arm was tired by the end, but I was not nervous so it was good! :)
AND great news! I did not know for sure last Monday BUT WE HAVE SISTERS HERE IN CLOVIS!!! In my old apartment! I call them my sisters of salvation! Because I have NEVER served around sisters and this is an answer to my prayers! To be able to spend the holidays with them, and to be able to talk to them! Such a blessing in my life! Plus they are both new to the area and I know Clovis since I started there! That is another tender mercy. That I can actually help because Sister O is like me and just got done training and is now training Sister G. Everything happens for a reason and this is such a blessing in my life! We all drove together to Lubbock yesterday and I just love it!
So this week has been amazing! But super abnormal too. Like I got thrown up on, by a lady's daughter during the prayer at the end of our lesson. Yep, right on my skirt! We went straight home and I showered. So great!
And Sara has been MIA until last night when she told us she has strep... So I'll keep you updated on that.
BUT the best news of all is our investigator C. His friend, a member, texted us and said her friend wanted to meet with us. So we did, and the first words out of his mouth were "If I join your church do I have to give up iced tea?" It really reminded me of Granddad and how he said that was the hardest thing to give up! He had dated a Mormon and knew a lot! And also some funny things too! Like he was CONVINCED we had a secret handshake in the church. Like to get into the temple we are all hip-bumping and pounding eachother to get through the doors. COULD YOU IMAGINE all those sweet old people doing a long involved hand shake of fun? Too great! So we met with him and last night had our 3rd and most amazing lesson! The Spirit was so strong and he admitted to himself that he knows this is true! It is seriously the most amazing thing! His current hang up is his family. His dad is a preacher, and all his friends are from Bible camps. He knows that he might lose everything for this decision. But he is willing to make it! He has been now contemplating BYU to get out of here, and I have told Cami to FB him. I just want to help him in ANY way that I can. This is such a hard step in his life, and I am so in awe of him! I am also trying to convince him to go on a mission! Wouldn't that be amazing! One day I hope to introduce you all to him. His conversion has been a life changing event for me. This Church is the one true Church, and this is the most amazing work in the world! I am just so grateful to be living my life in a way that Heavenly Father has blessed me with the opportunity to be His instrument.
Well I could go on for hours, and can't wait to one day tell you of all my experiences, but I have to jet. I love you all! Merry Christmas! Today it is like 70 degrees, so enjoy the snow for me! Love you! xoxoxoxo
