Merry Christmas Day!!

Merry Christmas!!
As Elizabeth's Mom, can I just say that the most amazing gift received on Christmas Day was seeing Elizabeth's beautiful smile on the tv screen as we skyped her and hearing the happiness and love in her voice. We had an amazing visit with her and feel very blessed that we were able to share that time with her.  We had to share some hard news with her (grandmother dying earlier that day and her cat disappearing) but we were so happy to be able to share those things with her face to face.  She is doing amazing and is so thankful for all the love, support and letters she receives. 

Rely on Christ

This last week, my companion and I went on 2 exchanges. For one, I was here with Sister Davis and for the other I was Albuquerque (City View) with Sister Cook.

It was fun to be in Albuquerque. But it certainly was not the "city" that I expected.

We also had our Christmas Zone Conference. It was great. There was a lot of good music. My favorite song was from Forgotten Carols. It took place after Christ was crucified and someone asked Joesph if that was his son that they killed. He answered, I was not his father, he was mine. It was so powerful.

Our stake also put together a great Christmas dinner. They even gave everyone little gifts. The sisters were extra lucky, because they had had a lot of stuff donated for the sisters, and not as much for the elders. They gave us tons of scarfs and ... We have also felt the love of our wards with little presents from Subway cards, money, packages not yet opened, a homemade scarf, and a Sister who gave us the recipies that she had cooked for us in the past. We have a little pile on our table at home. The love of the wards make me smile! I have a feeling people are going to be stuffing us with tons of Christmas foods soon. Next monday, I will have cookies to put out for Santa to come :) I can't miss out on that tradition.

At the Zone conference, each missionary had sent in a miracle story that S. Marble put into a booklet for us. It is soo cool and very special. I thought about sending it home as something special.... but I decided I should read it first.

Something cool that happened on Exchanges this week- We were leaving Sprint Apartments, when I felt like we were not done there, so we turned arround and went back. We were able to talk to one man and give him a pamplet. Nothing amazing happened, but I know we were suppose to be there to give him that. Then, we got back in the car, but I couldn't decide where to go! Left to this place or right to the other. I even got in the left turning lane (because it seemed logical), when I decided, nope, we have got to turn right. So we did, and we went to visit someone in the ward that recently moved in. Sadly, the parents were not home, but we asked the 3 kids that answered the door, if they knew anyone we could go and teach. I think the kids referred us to everyone nearby that they knew were not members :) Three neighbors and a neighborhood kid. However, when Sis Lindsay and Sis Purcell went back to knock on there doors, one of the neighbors were super interested. They were let right in and able to teach right away! It was so amazing for both of us. I loved seeing the enthusiasm of Children wanting to do missionary work. And I hope they will always remember this.

 

When I was in City view with Sister Cook, we ate at Dions with 2 families. One of their sons (an 18 year old boy) had brought his 17 year old friend. The 17 yr old hadn't decided if he was going on a mission or not. I loved talking to him because I don't tell kids that they have to go on a mission. I tell them to pray, and ask God what he thinks he should do. and then to do it no matter what his background may be. I love that answer. Gods answer is sooo much better than mine.

Church on Sunday was crazy. We have an investigator who came to church because it was important, even if she was really sick. Then we had a less active we were teaching come to church with entire nonmember family and even parents. As her mom and step dad left, the mom leaned over to us and thanked us for what we were doing for her daughter. It was powerful to know the church was changing her life. We hadnt known. You could feel that the entire famaily had felt the spirit. It was amazing! Then we had someone who might move here from UT in Gospel Principles. The class started by asking them if they had any questions. It was sooo funny. The dad was Less active (because he hates utah mormons) and they both had had previous hard hard lives. But its funny, bc people always think they can ask us the super hard you can't answer questions. That there is no way for us to answer. hahaha. He asked us how we KNOW the church is true. We told him that we dont know the church is true. that we can't entirely and fully grasp that. but that is where faith comes in and relying and recognizing the feelings from the Holy Ghost. It was a great lesson. haha, Don't people know that if you ask the missionaries a question, with a pure heart and real intent to know, then the spirit can and will give us the right words to say. Even if those words are that we want to study upon it to give them a full answer! IT is soooo cool! Then we had a former investigator show up in the next ward. She said that she had felt last night, that she needed to pray and fast and come to the Mormon church so that she can decide weather to be mormon or jewish! Wow! That was cool! Its amazing to see how the spirit influences us to be in the right place or say the right thing.

Right now, I have an easier time recognizing where we are suppose to be, and I pray so hard everyday to know what to say and how to be. We are always studying the scriputers and wanting to be better.

 

Oh, btw, I am in Mormon in the Book of Mormon!!!!! Exciting! I will meet my goal of the end of the year to read the entire Book of Mormon.

I love all of you!!!! Merry Christmas!!! I think and pray for each of you everday !!! I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH

Christmas Zone Conference Picture

Santa Fe/Rio Rancho Christmas Zone Conference pic

December 10, 2012

We had an amazing week. Recently, we have had many people who have either dropped themselves or just needed to be dropped all together, so last week, we decided to make it a goal to find 7 new investigators- one a day. We knew it would be hard, but we also knew it was the right thing to do and we were excited to do it. And guess what, we found 7 new, amazing people to teach. People who seem to really be searching. The best part was, that we tried our best and did everything possible to find these people, but in the end, it was always the work of Heavenly Father. Here are a few of there finding stories (using numbers rather than names for privacy sake)

1 and 2--- We had 30 min. left of the night and had found no one. We had tried all of our potentials and still nothing. So, we sat in the car and said a prayer. I looked down at our planners and saw a group of 3 names we had randomly written down the previous night. People we hadn't really wanted to visit. But I knew that was were to go. So we drove over there and I felt like agh! We were not suppose to knock on those houses. Across the street from us, was a young couple waving goodbye to someone. We jumped out of the car and started to talk to them. It was perfect! They were "weirded" out. They said that they had been going through alot and it was just crazy that we were suddenly there. COOL!

3 and 4-- We had tried all day to find someone, and it was 8 and it was the last appointment of the night. We were going to see 2 other investigators. When we went in, we found that 2 (a son and a roommate) were home! We immediately invited them into the lesson and read the intro to the Book of Mormon with them all. It was awesome! The son was so intensely into the lesson! At the end, we asked if anyone had questions. The son said that he had had a question but that we had answered it! and the father said that it all made sense, of course the Book of Mormon could be the word of God! The whole family of 4 are truly interested! And the gospel is just waiting to bless there lives!

5- Again, couldn't find anyone to teach. We had been walking around the freezing cold apartments forever! When we ran into a man who had worked with hiring return missionaries for there language and other skills. He said he had talked to them a bit and would be find having us come over!!!!

6- For number 6, I was really doubting we could find anyone. So, for a long time we didn't. After 1 hr or so of walking around apartments, we got in the car to leave. My companion expressed her sadness at not finding anyone yet and at how hard we were trying. In that moment, something clicked within me and said, ok, I really have to desire this as well. 2 min later, we were driving and my companion suddenly turned for no reason. She said, we've got to go down here. Who lives down here? What street are we on? Oh, _____, a former investigator, lives here. We stopped, got out, and found out that this woman's family was going through a lot of bad things. That is why we were there!

7- My companion suddenly got sick and we had to run home. we had 1 hr left of the night and were sad not to find someone new. So we decided to go next door and return a plate (and hopefully see the man's brother, who had just moved in) We did, and everything fell perfectly in place. Now we are teaching that man's brother plus, Sis. Lindsay was no longer sick. We were meant to come home that day.

However, we have now decided to try to stick to finding 4 new investigators a week. We have many people now who really need to be strengthened and learn more. We hope to have a good cycle set up to always have a good teaching pool.

I love y'all so much! and i am so proud of y'all! everyone keeps saying "you get to skype home soon!" I smile and nod, but inwardly think that feels like forever away :)

My companion's bday is on the 19th of December

I LOVE YALL SOOOOOSOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! MERRY CHISTMAS!

Mom- I am so sorry for everything that happened. I keep reading the letters that came in the package. y'all have such a strong testimony! share it with everyone! and Amberly! Your writing is amazing! I loved that paper you wrote. i still read it every day! I love Y'all!!!!


LOVE ELIZABETH

Zone Picture

This is the Santa Fe/Rio Rancho Zone with visiting General Authority Elder Paul V Johnson and his wife.  Elizabeth is the 3rd Sister from the left standing. She's in a blue shirt. 

12/3/12

Today I wanted to tell you about something amazing that happened! So, we have been trying to find someone who lived in the Sprint apts but without the address, we just walk around hoping to see them. I have no idea why, but i kept feeling impressed to keep putting that activity in our plans. We were just about to stop and go on to our next appointment, when I saw a black truck drive up. I turned to my comp and said Right there. Someone important is in that truck and we need to see them. The truck parked, and a man got out that was not who we were looking for. The thought of "nope, I was wrong" flipped through my mind. Fortunately, something stronger told me that no, I still needed to talk to them. So we go up and we start talking to this man. He said it would be fine for us to come back a different night and tell him more, but his wife only spoke Spanish. We asked if we could send the Spanish sisters, he said yes. A few days later, we get a call from the Spanish sisters saying that those investigators were golden, that they had been able to answer a question that the women had had for years, and that she had accepted a soft bap. (without a date). it was awesome!!!!!! I feel so blessed to have Heavenly Father work through me in marvelous ways. incredible!

 

On the same night of that phone call, we also received a phone call from an investigator that we had to stop seeing (she was not progressing :( She said that she had felt like something was missing and lost from her since we stopped visiting and the only thing that would help a little is to read the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Now, she has a baptism date and is determined that Satan won't stop her from going to church, being bap, and receiving the gift of the holy ghost. I love her so much! I am so happy that we are teaching her again and that she has the opportunity to come into the kingdom of God again! She is amazing! The day we decided to stop visiting her, we had been in a lesson, and we had all almost started to cry. It was so hard. But we hope that she realizes now that it was not us she was missing, but the Holy Ghost, that feeling.

 

Getting the package was the best thing ever! Because of finals and stuff, I have not gotten much snail mail recently. So I had been praying and praying and praying that I would receive a letter or something. When I saw the package, I actually started to cry, I was so happy. I miss y'all so much. I loved the news about Ron and I do pray for him and his family. Its so hard to see and people like him exist everywhere. There is no comfort in growth, but there is no growth in comfort. Something that we had to tell an investigator last night was that none of us is perfect and none of us is really ready for baptism. But each of us need it.

 

I also love the countdowns. Thank you so much for bringing that tradition to me.

 

Christmas devotional was amazing. We have several investigators that we really hope watched it. I liked what Trent said about how even the prophet was a goofball like him. haha :) he is an amazing man. i was thinking about that year we tried to have cookies and hot chocolate and the devo to start as a tradition and how mad y'all got at me and Eyn and maybe Trent for not being quiet or whatever. it made me laugh. The music was beautiful and the words were perfect. Christ is what the focus needs to be on. I keep hearing a quote about how busy we try to make ourselves at this time of year and what it really is about. I love the beginnings of seeing other people focus on Christ more in there lives. I Love IT. I hope to keep the spirit of Christ in my heart more than ever at this time of year.

I LOVE ALL OF YOU SOOO MUCH! MERRY CHRISTMAS