Christmas!

So, this week was pretty incredible! Christmas was the best. Why? Well, besides talking to everyone, except Allison (yep, I even got to talk to Andrew! haha, I felt so sneaky) WE HAD A PARTY!!! Let me explain this wonderful phenomenon. Yes, it was a missionary party. Yes, we opened presents. And yes, it was AWESOME!!! But first, let me tell you about Christmas Eve (haha).

That day we had a really good District Meeting and one of the activities was a scripture chase for scriptures about the Savior. It really testified to me about how important it is to read ALL of the scriptures. Not just the Bible, not just the Book of Mormon, but ALL of the scriptures. Otherwise, you feel like a dunce when you do a scripture chase and, more importantly, you miss out on reading some of the most touching passages of hope and faith that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with.

So, yeah, read your scriptures! Anyway, later that day, we baked cookies and went caroling with all of the missionaries in our zone! That was super fun because we were able to visit people in each of the missionaries' areas and bring the joy of the season to their front door, along with a lovely bag of cookies! Sister Carroll and I put a cute, hand-made, construction paper Christmas tree on each of our bags to cover up the picture of Dora the Explorer on the bags. Yeah, we felt pretty crafty with that. Caroling was fantastic, though, because it felt like Christmas. I'm not going to lie, this Christmas has probably been the most amazing Christmas I've ever had because, for once, it wasn't about the presents or the snow (the snow was a bit hard to get over, but I got to see it via skype). But it was about bringing the joy of Christ to the people that we caroled to. It was an amazing experience to see their faces light up and the tears in their eyes as we sang about the Savior and the gift that we all were given. THEN we went home, and had a party :)

The sisters in our zone were given permission to spend the night at our apartment so that we could be more unified and so that we wouldn't be alone on Christmas. It was the best! So we slept, (we actually stuck to the missionary schedule, believe it or not) and then we woke up the next morning and made breakfast burritos for us and the other zone that came over to open presents! Yes, we had about 16 sister missionaries in our apartment on Christmas day! It was great and it was really fun to see all of the sisters and to be able to spend time with each other because we're our "family away from family", so that was pretty nice. Unfortunately, the rabbit skinning has been postponed until New Years day, but it's going to happen! I may or may not include pictures.... still deciding.

This week I was reminded of the many gifts that Heavenly Father gives us. I've been a bit sick the past week or so and, because of that sickness, I lost my voice. You know the phrase "you don't value it until it's gone?" (or something like that) Well, I never valued my voice until I lost it. I never realized what an incredible blessing it is to sing, until I couldn't. It made me think of the gifts that Heavenly Father gives us. He gives us so many gifts! I think of the family and I think of how we've all been blessed with the gift of music (even Jon, he plays a pretty awesome Joy to the World on the piano). I think of some of my companions and the many spiritual and physical gifts that they've been blessed with. God gives us gifts to use for the benefit and enjoyment of others. I was reading about spiritual gifts and it explained that, when we don't use them, they are taken from us. It's the same with any gift that we may have.

When we don't use it, we lose it! When we don't play the piano for a long time, we lose the capability to play. When we don't draw for an extended period of time, our drawings aren't quite the same quality as they used to be. Every gift that we're given requires work to keep it. We have to prove to Heavenly Father that we're grateful for the gift. So, my invitation to you all this New Year, is to recognize the gifts that you've been given. It could be ANYTHING. And make it one of your goals/resolutions to share that gift. I promise you, that your lives will be enriched and you will be blessed with MORE gifts! And really, who doesn't want more presents from Heavenly Father?!

I love you all so much and I'm so grateful to be serving the Lord at this time! The work truly is hastening, I've seen it in all of my areas! And it will continue to hasten as we all invite. The true success is in the invitation (and follow-up, of course). I hope you all have a wonderful New Year and that you have a crazy-awesome dance party on New Years eve! That's what I miss. "Just Dance" with the fam during the holidays. And the puzzles. Enjoy them for me :)

Love,
Steph

pics courtesy of Sister Carroll's working camera 1) the two-zone breakfast 2) the white chocolate covered pretzels with crushed candy cane that we made as a present for our zone 3) a couple Christmas Eve caroling pics (not everyone is in the pic)

Christmas!

So, this week was similar to Amy's. The exceptions being that I didn't get shingles or a ticket for my zone leaders :) However, Sister Carroll and I were really really sick this week. But, we won't talk about that. Let's talk about the miracles!

This week we met with the Ingos. I absolutely love them! They are preparing to go to the temple to get sealed and they are just so amazing and adorable and I just love them so much! They took us to see the temple lights and it was super fun! I also got to see Sister Diwiggans while I was there! (from the MTC) so it was great!

This week was my official year mark (happy anniversary mom and dad!) and I was blessed to be able to go to the temple on the 18th! While I was in the temple, I thought a lot about everyone. I thought a lot about my mission so far. Honestly, the time has flown. Also, I'm feeling a huge sense of urgency. I thought that this time would never end, but now that I'm reaching the home-stretch, I don't want it to end (even though I love you all dearly). There is no greater cause than to be serving the Lord and helping those of his sheep that have strayed to return to him. I feel so much love for the people here and I feel such a strong desire to help them in whatever way that I can. It was just a reminder to me of how God feels about every one of us. I love this feeling and I love doing the Lord's work in Arizona!

I also absolutely love the Christmas season! I love it so much because it really isn't about the trees or the lights or the "presents, boxes or bags" Christmas comes without those things. Christmas came in the form of a child. A Savior. Something so small that became so great. This Christmas, think of the seemly small things that we can give to the Savior every day.Think. And I mean, really, THINK about something that you can give the Savior. It could be gratitude. It could be a smile to a stranger. It could be opening a door for someone. But no matter how small it is, remember: By small and simple means are great things brought to pass.

 I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Steph

Twas 2 weeks before Christmas

Hi everyone!

This week was pretty good! We had three miracles happen this weekend that I'm overjoyed about! The first one was with two of our less-actives, Nancy and Marilynn. They are recent converts and have had a hard time coming to church because of health reasons, but we were able to visit them and talk to them about Patriarchal blessings and they are so excited to get theirs! It makes me so happy! And they came to church! They're just stellar.

The second miracle was with another less-active named Patty. I'd met her once before on exchanges and she hadn't seemed very welcoming at all, but when we saw her this weekend and shared a scripture, she said that she used to have the missionaries over every Monday and that she wanted to start that up again! She was happy to have us over again and really nice! I was shocked, but I felt so much love for her in that moment! It was amazing!

The third miracle happened with a former investigator named Melanie. She is Pentecostal and, when we contacted her on the street, she said she would definitely go see the Christmas lights with her granddaughter, but she didn't seem very interested in learning more. Well, a few days later, we had the impression to give her a bag of oranges that a member had given us. So, we bravely took the oranges over and knocked on the door. When Melanie answered it, she didn't look very happy to see us, but her expression immediately changed when we gave her the oranges and asked if she was feeling any better. Seriously, that frown turned upside down and she came and talked to us for almost 30 minutes! We were able to answer her question about the godhead and she kept saying, "I've been looking for a church for my granddaughters" and we were standing there thinking "It's across the street!!!" So we invited her to come to church and she was really excited about Sunday School for the kids (I've never met someone that was excited about all 3 hours of church) and she said that she would come with her granddaughters next week! There are definitely some prayers being answered here!!

Also, I really love the Christmas season. It's one of those times where there is a palpable change in the air as people focus more on giving and as people focus more on Christ. That's why the season is so joyful. Christ brings us joy and his Atonement brings us eternal happiness. May we all remember, not only his miraculous birth, but his mission and his sacrifice for us. I love you all and I'm so excited to talk to you on Christmas! I don't have a set time yet, we're still trying to work out a place, but it'll probably be in the afternoon sometime on Christmas day. I'll let you know.

In other news, any Christmas packages that have not been sent yet need to be mailed to


After Christmas, everything should be sent to the mission office :)

Love,
Steph

Hi EVERYONE!!!

Sorry I didn't write on Monday. The good news is that I'm still alive. Also good news, I have no bad news! In other news, (haha so much news) I was transferred!! Yep. I had to move all of my stuff 2 blocks away into 20th ward. Haha I didn't move too far :) I was really touched on my last Sunday in 25th ward. They announced in sacrament meeting that I was leaving and there were so many people that came up to me and talked to me and thanked me and several people cried. I was stunned. I didn't think that I had that much of an impact in the ward, but I was really really touched. Also, 20th ward is going to be fun! There was a member that randomly texted us and asked if we wanted a Christmas tree. That night, she dropped off a lovely 5 ft tree complete with lights! I was speechless!

This last week was pretty fun! We were in a trio for the week and guess who our companion was?! Sister Carambelas! For those of you who don't know or remember, we were in the same MTC district!!! She's super funny and light-hearted and she's staying in 25th ward, so they'll be in good hands. 

This week we received a DVD copy of "He is the Gift" and the "Nativity" Bible video to use for proselyting purposes. I may or may not be watching both videos every night before I go to bed. There is so much peace in knowing that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that he loves us enough to send us a Savior that enables us to return to live with him again. I get so happy when I watch those videos because, really, it's amazing! 

I was reading in Alma this week (my goal is to finish the Book of Mormon again before the end of the year) and I came across a few verses in chapter 37 that really stood out to me. It's verses 44-46 and it's Alma telling his son that it's easy to  "give heed to the word of Christ". My first reaction to that was "Nuh uh! We are asked to sacrifice so much!" But then, as I was thinking about it, it made sense. It's really easy to keep the commandments and do what God has asked us to. SO, Basically, this life is an open book, multiple choice test. He's given us EVERYTHING that we need to succeed! For an open book, multiple choice test, are we going to be prideful, disregard the book and just answer "C" throughout the whole thing? NO! When we have a test like that, we use ALL of the tools that we are given, regardless of what we think we know (humility), because we want the highest grade possible! This life is our test. The way really is EASY! God has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED! We just need to let go of our pride and do what he asks. Why? Because that's when it really becomes easy. Eternal perspective. Live it, Love it :)

Love you all so much and I'm so excited to see you on Christmas!!! It'll be the best!

Love,

Steph

December already? woah. Time flies when you're sharing the Gospel!

Hi EVERYONE!!!!

I hope that your Thanksgiving was phenomenal! We had a total of 4 dinners/lunches/desserts scheduled, but we narrowed it down to 2. Our first dinner we actually ate with an investigator! She has a son on his mission and has decided to learn more about the church! Anyway, when she had initially invited us over for dinner, she had forewarned us that her parents would be there and that her dad is anti. So, when we got there, we totally expected him to go off on us, but he didn't. Why? Well the first thing that came out of his mouth was, "Oooo pretty ladies! Come sit by me!" So, the only thing that we had to worry about during dinner was him being flirtatious instead of being anti. Yep, the joys of being a sister missionary. Also, I thought that I would be totally fine eating tiny portions of everything and still have room for our 2nd dinner. Ah yes, some hopes and dreams become completely shattered when you realize that they've made ALL of your favorite Thanksgiving things. SO, my plate was very very very full. AND I was able to try fried turkey for the first time! It was pretty delicious.

Earlier this week we had a zone activity on monday to, you know increase unity and such. WELL, we played sports!! We played Ultimate Frisbee, Ultimate football, and gatorball (which actually turned into soccer for the last 15 minutes) for 3 hours! We were exhausted, but it was so much fun!! However, it is difficult to guard Elders, so I guarded Sister Hurst, so we were able to play a little bit rougher. It was awesome!

We had some really amazing lessons this week. We got to meet with Olivia again and we were able to teach her the Plan of Salvation. Honestly, that's my favorite lesson to teach because it brings people so much hope and it testifies to me of the incredible blessing that we've been given. This life is a blessing. And, honestly, it really is only a short time in the eternal scheme of things, but it's so critical to our eternal happiness. I was reading in Alma 5 today and it's Alma reminding the people of how much God and the Savior have done for us. He is constantly asking "do you not remember?" One of my focuses my entire mission has been REMEMBERING (you've probably noticed that about my emails). But, all too often, we forget our Savior. We forget the tender mercies and daily miracles that happen  in our lives. We forget the importance of the Gospel because we're so caught up in the world and in the busyness of our schedule. For that reason, something that I would invite you all to do is to take a minute or two (or 5 or 10) to remember the tender mercies and the small blessings that you have received during every day. It really helps to change our perspective and to align our thoughts with God's. I love you all so much and I'm so grateful that I can be here, in Mesa, serving the Lord and having your full support. It's one of the greatest blessings that I thank God for every single day.

Love,
Steph

pics (again, no camera) So these are from the dinner and zone breakfast at president Palmer's house