A Lot of Food and Finding

Familia!!!

First off, SUE congrats on a healthy baby boy! I so wish I could be there to meet him. I would love to see some pics! And I also want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas back home! I have felt tremendous love between varying packages and letters. But I have felt that through the week my greatest source of strength has been through the prayers offered for the comfort, safety, and happiness for the missionaries. I appreciate anyone who has kept me (named or unnamed) in their thoughts at this time- I feel so loved and empowered.

Time here is so weird. Just a couple days ago I was speaking to my companion about how much progress we have made in the last 3 weeks that we have been together when I pulled out the calendar to only see that it had been barely a week and a half! I feel like I have been here forever but never want to leave. I also feel like I arrived fresh faced yesterday, but couldn’t tell you what I had for breakfast this morning either.

As far as teaching is concerned, this week has been difficult as everyone insists they are busy with the holidays so no one can make any appointments, and the appointments that we do have are being cancelled. Our current teaching pool is small with 4 Investigators, but the contacts that we have found this week are really encouraging. Our District Leader has encouraged us to reach out to the less actives in the area (there are a lot of them), and though we have tried, I really would rather use our time to find and teach- especially since the less actives are never thrilled to see the new set of missionaries at their door (if we call them to let them know we having been thinking about them they avoid us like the plague). Oh well. I am hoping that with the holidays ending, people will consider more the importance of our message- time will tell! One of the great things about FL is that everyone is Christian. It is easy to find common ground quickly here. But once you mention faith in Jesus Christ, many wish to talk over you expressing that “Jesus has made everything possible” and “I have already baptized so I don’t need to go to church but I know that Jesus gives me everything”. I think it is interesting that after having so many of these conversations that though many people have complete faith in Christ, many don’t understand how Christ has indeed already bought the price of our soul- and the effort it takes to progress.

Christmas was really good. We woke up as normal, exercised, studied for an hour, did companionship study, but then opened presents. My companion thought it was so thoughtful that you gave her a little something! My favorite part of the packages that yall sent where the letters. I felt so much love, support, and prayers sent to the missionaries this week. Consequently, the members here have felt the need to feed assumingly starved and home-sick missionaries. Haha, though I certainly don’t fit in the category, I was fed quite a lot this week.  After 15 meals in 3 days (Christmas eve eve, Christmas eve, and Christmas day) I have learned that tums and laxatives are missionaries’ best secret weapon. Haha, but it really is so encouraging knowing that people desire to make sure missionaries feel taken care of.  I loved skyping the family! I feel I had to use my “Get Out of Jail Free” card early, but it was still rejuvenating to see your faces and hear of your Christmas. It certainly helped some that a FL Christmas looks and feels very different than a FL one.

Mom- the church just released a new program to promote family history. It goes along with a pamphlet called “My Family- Stories That Bring Us Together”. This pamphlet is something our area is wanting missionaries to complete asap. I am needing the Name, Any notable stories or Memories, birth date/place, death date/place, marriage place, and a picture with my Mother, Father, Siblings, Grandparents, and Great-Grandparents. I will also need to know if they have been added to Family Search and if they have their Temple Work Completed. I know there are quite a bit of steps here, but I am hoping with Grandma Vance and town and Grandma Kathy so near that I can be sent this info asap. Can you check into this for me?

Dad- the address of my apartment is 1603 Brendon Lake Drive #206 Orange City, FL 32763. But I serve in Lake Helen and Deltona. I really think it is beautiful. The homes here are very humble, and it is very common to hear ambulances and police sirens- nevertheless I feel very safe here.

One miracle that we saw this week just happened yesterday when we were on our bike to our first appointment after church. By the time we were already an hour into biking, all of our appointments for the day, including dinner cancelled. We were now stuck in an area that would be very hard to get home from with no plans. However, trying to make the most of our time, we continued biking and eventually stopped because there was a huge tv in the middle of our side walk. We hoped off our bikes when we saw many devices outside a humble home, including a c.d. player. We approached the home (as me and my companion had just discussed the need for one of the families in our ward), when the owner of the home came out to speak with us. His name was Chris, and we ended up taking for an hour. He was a very intelligent, charming father who was selling many of his things to cover the expense of Christmas. After we expressed to him the “coincidence” of finding this needed cd player, he offered it to us without charge (good thing I had my basket on my bike ;) haha). The real blessing though was how prepared he obviously was to hear and accept the gospel. We gave him an on the spot lesson of the restored gospel, to have a return appointment very soon. He was an incredible father, with a fascinating story. I have been praying and praying to find those whose hearts are being prepared so that I can maximize my time by speaking to those who are ready to hear the gospel and act on it’s teachings. Chris is one great example of this.

Times out. Got to go. But I love you all. I love being a missionary. When there have been hard moments I have had a small voice whisper that there was someone praying for me. When my legs have screamed for having to bike up one more hill, I have been able to recognize the beauty in the FL weather with diverse people. I love the work that I am a part of, and feel such a sense of urgency and importance to find those who need the truth that I have an undeniable testimony of. Until next week!