Hey all!
Well, it's been another typical week in Silverdale. We saw a few miracles, did some service, went to a couple Christmas parties, and got our tranfer call - this transfer is a week shorter, because of Christmas. Next transfer will be an extra week.
Tuesday was our mission Christmas "celebration" (we can't call it a party...haha!) and that was awesome. Last preparation day was so much fun, because I spent all of it just putting stuff together and wrapping gifts, mailing gifts, and everything, getting ready for Christmas and for our "celebration." I love Christmas! :) It was fun to be able to be with all of my mission peeps, and talk with friends I don't get to see very often. It truly is incredible the friendships you make while on a mission. Some people you just have to go on a mission to meet!
Thursday evening, we went on a few visits with Sister Noble, a member of the primary presidency. (You know what's weird? She reminds me of Lisa. She participated in a musical number on Sunday, and even when she was singing, I was like, "Dude. She sings like Lisa! It was weird.) She's the one who is in charge of the baptisms for the 8 year olds, so we were visiting families with children who she hasn't seen in awhile who are 8 or will be turning 8 soon, in an effort to get them prepared for baptism. We planned it so we could invite them to the ward Christmas party, as well. So, we went out, and one of the families we visited just kind of...made everything worth it. It was AWESOME! We knocked on their door, they openned it, and Sister Noble started talking (she's really good at talking) and mentioned the Christmas party, and that she was the counselor over baptisms, and she was there to help plan and coordinate for the time their daughter was prepared to be baptized. The parents were like, "Yeah, we totally need to start going to church! That needs to happen...like immediately." So, the father pretty much committed himself, without us even extending and invitation - which...pretty much never happens - that they were going to start coming back to church that very Sunday. He said that if they came to church for the next 4 weeks, they'd invite us over for dinner - that was their incentive. They have a very busy life, and the mom has some back problems, so it's really hard for her to sit for an extended period of time. And, it's really hard to make the decision to go, when it's so easy just to stay home. So, I invited them to read the scriptures as a family, every single day, promising that it'd give them the strength to make the decision Sunday morning to go to church.
Saturday, we saw them at the Christmas party.
Sunday, they were at church. They told us they had read scriptures and prayed as a family every single night since we've been there. They said we had come at the right moment, when hearts were softened, and it made all the difference.
The humbling part...we didnt' even do anything. Their name was on a list that Sister Noble made. We went. We were just...there. The Spirit did all the work. You guys...this is the Lord's work. It's HIS. All He asks of us is to listen to the Spirit. He will work through us. And, where it started from? Us, a couple weeks ago, struggling to find something to do, so we openned up the ward directory, and there was teh Noble's name, righ thtere, on the street that we were on. We showed up, and things happened where we planned these visits. And, we went out, working with a member of the ward council. It was AMAZING! God put forth all that work, laid out all of that, to bring one family back to church. How incredible is that?! It was a good reminder for me that it's not all about baptisms. Baptism is SO important. As it says in John 3:5, "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." So, it's something Heavenly Father wants to see. But, He wants ALL of His children to be with Him - including the ones who are baptized, but have forgotten what that means, or maybe have gotten a little bit lost. He wants ALL of His children to feel His love. To grow closer to Him. And that also is my role, is to help Him in all of these things. I needed that reminder.
Then, we got transfer calls. I'm staying, but Sister Stokes is heading up to Port Angeles. It's a zone up from Silverdale, and about as far north as you can get in our mission. My new companion will be Sister Bevan. She'll be hitting her year mark in January (when I'll be hitting my halfway mark. I haven't been out that long, have I?!) so I guess President Weaver likes to put me with seasoned missionaries. All but two have been out a year or longer! She also will be coming from just being an STL for the past 4 transfers - the sister training leader. Kinda like a district/zone leader for sisters, since we can't go on exchanges with elders. So, she's a pretty bomb missionary. I'm excited, but also a little bit intimidated to be working with her. Everybody loves her, and she seems like a ball of energy. She'll be fun to work with. I'll definitely learn a lot this next transfer! Maybe I'll actually stay with her a second transfer, instead of getting another new companion AGAIN! Haha!
It's going to be a good transfer. It's going to be a good Christmas - 9 days, you guys! 9 days! YAY!! (be sure you're extra nice to missionaries. It's the time for getting homesick, after all! Give them candy canes or something! Or peppermint ice cream...I might have to buy some...) Remember, Heavenly Father loves you! Jesus loves you! I've begun reading Jesus the Christ, for the second time, during lunch and decompression time, as well as the New Testament. I am loving it, because my mind is just being openned, and I'm gaining new understanding for all that our Savior has done for us. I love Him so much. There are no words to describe the feelings I feel for Him. The gratitude; the love; the overwhelming desire to become like Him - I've got a long ways to go! But, that's what I'm working towards!
I'm not going to lie...it's been a bit of a rough transfer for me. But. It's worth it. It's something Sister New taught me - just over a year ago, actually, when I was in Flagstaff. It's ALL worth it. SO worth it! I love it! I love this work. I love being able to put that nametag on, every single morning. I love being able to bear my testimony of my Savior. I love seeing the spirit touch someone's heart, so that, even if at that time they are not ready, I can tell they are going to be ready in the future. Although, it's hard to have people reject this wonderful message, it's a joy to be able to talk with people who ARE ready. To be able to see people's faith strengthened. There is no better feeling in the world than feeling the Savior work through you to do His work. It's a very humbling feeling, because you understand it has nothing to do with you. I love it. I love being here. Despite the trials, the cold, the wet, some people's rudeness. There is nothing better than being able to participate in God's work.
I love you all. Thank you for all you do for me, and for all you have done. I love being out here. It's the best! I love the WA-TAC!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
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