Hi everyone!! Merry Christmas!!! MY FAVORITE WEEK OF THE WHOLE YEAR IS FINALLY HERE!!! Thank you for all the birthday wishes! I'm so excited for this week even though I'm not supposed to know what is going to happen on my birthday but that makes me even more excited.
This week was a little bit of a hard week not because of anything big but we were able to finish out with two baptisms of Andressa and Anderson which was such a happy moment and yesterday we had a miracle Sunday and so everything is going to be okay :) The families we had been working with decided to come back to church and we are finalizing some plans with them tonight This transfer we have so much to look forward to :)
My companion and I have given four trainings together now and we want to stay together until the end of our missions! This week we built sandcastles out of flour with a district and related it to being obedient and looking on the bright side. The pictures should be on my blog - it was so funny and ended up being a really positive training.
This week my comp and I spent the majority of our time singing in this missionary choir and it was fun! I even sang some solos! As much as it was nice to have a change of routine, it took up our whole week! We were stressed about being able to have everything ready for the baptisms but everything worked out.
I love these two kids that were baptized. I love them so much and it really was such a special experience being able to be there for them right now. My heart broke for them this week knowing they aren't going to be able to stay together because of a difficult situation at home. I just really wish there was more we could do for them. It comforts me to know that we brought them the gospel and taught about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They also will have the Holy Ghost to comfort them during hard times and that brings me comfort as well. We gave them Christmas presents - an easy to read Book of Mormon and CTR rings and they were so happy.
Because Rafiela and her husband moved to the other side of the street they were not able to be baptized into our ward and we had to give the reference to the Elders. I asked for permission to be able to attend their wedding or at least their baptismal service and the President said no. I was so sad because I really wanted to be there for her. But then on Sunday we brought another family to church and the temple presidency came! My companion and I had an idea that maybe we could ask the president and his wife if they could bear testimony to this family. They seriously had a million things to do that day and a bunch of meetings and we were nervous to ask or bother them. But the President didn't even think about it for a second and said "Of course! We would love to - come let me grab my wife." They came and bore such a powerful testimonies and helped the family decide to get married and prepare to be sealed in one year. I was so grateful for them and they were willing to take a few minutes but they will never know how much they helped! We are writing them thank you cards with a pic of the family at their baptism.
I think that is all I have for this week! Thank you for all your love and support. I am realizing that this will be one of the sweetest Christmas's in my life and am trying to take advantage of every minute. It is going to be one of the best because it's going to be all about my Savior. I have come to know Him this year in a way I never could have imagined. He did for us what no one else in this world could have. It is because of Him I will live with my family forever and because of his everlasting atonement everything that has been unfair in this life will be fair in the next. He loves each of us so dearly and so personally. My love and gratitude for His birth, His life, His ministry, His atonement, His character, His church, His example, and His love go beyond words. I sang O Holy Night for people this week and wanted to share the verse that touched me: A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees. Oh, hear the angel voices.
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient lane.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King. Before him lowly bend.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and remember how much I love you!!
Sister Arbuckle
This week was a little bit of a hard week not because of anything big but we were able to finish out with two baptisms of Andressa and Anderson which was such a happy moment and yesterday we had a miracle Sunday and so everything is going to be okay :) The families we had been working with decided to come back to church and we are finalizing some plans with them tonight This transfer we have so much to look forward to :)
My companion and I have given four trainings together now and we want to stay together until the end of our missions! This week we built sandcastles out of flour with a district and related it to being obedient and looking on the bright side. The pictures should be on my blog - it was so funny and ended up being a really positive training.
This week my comp and I spent the majority of our time singing in this missionary choir and it was fun! I even sang some solos! As much as it was nice to have a change of routine, it took up our whole week! We were stressed about being able to have everything ready for the baptisms but everything worked out.
I love these two kids that were baptized. I love them so much and it really was such a special experience being able to be there for them right now. My heart broke for them this week knowing they aren't going to be able to stay together because of a difficult situation at home. I just really wish there was more we could do for them. It comforts me to know that we brought them the gospel and taught about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They also will have the Holy Ghost to comfort them during hard times and that brings me comfort as well. We gave them Christmas presents - an easy to read Book of Mormon and CTR rings and they were so happy.
Because Rafiela and her husband moved to the other side of the street they were not able to be baptized into our ward and we had to give the reference to the Elders. I asked for permission to be able to attend their wedding or at least their baptismal service and the President said no. I was so sad because I really wanted to be there for her. But then on Sunday we brought another family to church and the temple presidency came! My companion and I had an idea that maybe we could ask the president and his wife if they could bear testimony to this family. They seriously had a million things to do that day and a bunch of meetings and we were nervous to ask or bother them. But the President didn't even think about it for a second and said "Of course! We would love to - come let me grab my wife." They came and bore such a powerful testimonies and helped the family decide to get married and prepare to be sealed in one year. I was so grateful for them and they were willing to take a few minutes but they will never know how much they helped! We are writing them thank you cards with a pic of the family at their baptism.
I think that is all I have for this week! Thank you for all your love and support. I am realizing that this will be one of the sweetest Christmas's in my life and am trying to take advantage of every minute. It is going to be one of the best because it's going to be all about my Savior. I have come to know Him this year in a way I never could have imagined. He did for us what no one else in this world could have. It is because of Him I will live with my family forever and because of his everlasting atonement everything that has been unfair in this life will be fair in the next. He loves each of us so dearly and so personally. My love and gratitude for His birth, His life, His ministry, His atonement, His character, His church, His example, and His love go beyond words. I sang O Holy Night for people this week and wanted to share the verse that touched me: A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees. Oh, hear the angel voices.
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient lane.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King. Before him lowly bend.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and remember how much I love you!!
Sister Arbuckle