MERRY CHRISTMAS!! CONGRATULATIONS TO KELLY!! LIFE IS SO GOOD!
i really am just so happy this week. it's been full of changes and adjusting and miracles.
my new companion is sister park. she is korean and adorable! she came on island with my companion sister hill, so i met her for a minute at the orientation meeting back in july. she is seriously so amazing. she is simultaneously learning english and chinese. so i'm speaking chinese all the time. which is good. she is amazing and i love serving with her. her family in korea has 7 people-both of her older brothers are currently serving missions in korea. she is so humble and says ganxie like 20 million times a day. having sister packard leave was a little hard- she is my dear friend. but i'm really grateful that Heavenly Father has given me this movecall with sister Park. i feel so blessed that i have the opportunity to serve with her during the movecall that i might not originally have had. it's really special to see the ways the Lord is blessing me this movecall. i am so grateful.
Christmas time is so special as a missionary. we watched the christmas devotional and it's special to see people, who previously had no idea why we celebrate christmas, understand what this time of the year is all about. we're getting ready for the christmas activity next saturday and i love working with the ward. the two wards are doing the activity together this year and that's really special. they have asked the missionaries to do a little skit during the activity and talk about mission work. i'm so grateful for the elders and members here. it's been really fun. we also had the opportunity to talk about Christmas and traditions at our english class. all the missionaries shared a family tradition and how it brings us closer to Christ. it was really powerful. we also talked about WHY we have a star, a chirstmas tree, give gifts, set up lights. it was really interesting and fun to help people understand. i hope that now, when they see the decorations and everything, they can remember Christ and the story of Christmas.
we went and visited a less active family this week- she is vietnamese and they have 2 little boys. they come to church occasionally and want to come more frequently so that they can prepare to go to the temple. we went over to their home and taught the story of Christmas with pictures. the two kids were a little crazy but Chen JM, thier mother, was listening really intently. teaching her is really special and her eyes just glow. she started telling us how the gospel and coming to church has really changed her family. she said her children are more well behaved and she was so proud. i love families
i am so grateful for the power of the Atonement. when we are serving others and praying for them and seeking the spirit, we are changed. i am so grateful that we can really change. sometimes the change is really slow. i was really impatient and bossy and judgemental at the beginning of my mission. am i'm still changing. but i have seen a difference in myself. i know it is because of Christ. i know that He makes our weaknesses strengths and i feel so grateful for His atonement. this is a really special Christmas because my eyes have been open to how Christ's birth and life have changed me.
i love you all so much and i'm so excited to talk to you next wednesday. i'm praying for everyone's finals. blake kenzie kelly rob davis luke and carli. i love you all. mom and dad i love you. thank you so much for your prayers and love and emails!! they are the best. our famil is the BEST. hands down. and dad makes a stellar santa.
all my love and prayers
sister newman
No comments:
Post a Comment