natalie ann: 2016

Monday, December 26th, 2016

Hello again!

It was so good talking to you yesterday! I had my first white Christmas! It snowed all day! We got like 5/6 inches. My week was good, it was kind of all a blur but I'll try to update you.

Monday we had dinner with the Clarks. He is kind of less-active so it was good. He owns a wood shop and we are gonna make stuff so I'm excited.

Tuesday I was with a mini missionary all day, her name is Caitlyn. She is the shyest person ever so she didn't say much all day haha. We had a lesson with Jessica. She hasn't smoked still! We are so proud. She didn't read again so we read with her. We knocked on a lot of doors but no one was home. We went by a member's and she had nonmembers over making cookies, tons of cookies so we decided to help. I ended giving a Book of Mormon to a less-active and one of the nonmembers wants to meet with the missionaries. She is in the Elder's area so I referred her to them. I know God directs our paths and we just need to be diligent and He will lead us to who we need to see.

Wednesday, Sister Suter and I gave a training on faith unto repentance. It went pretty well. We met up to exchange and I was with Caitlyn again, she was more talkative this day. We had a lesson with Noah, it was so funny. We taught obedience, the Ten Commandments, and the law of chastity. He like could not pronounce any of the Commandments. He kept saying "keep the savage day holy." He got really awkward when we taught him the law of chastity. It was awesome. We shared a lesson with an older woman who isn't active. She was really grumpy when we first came by but then when we left she was so happy. You could tell that we made her day. We had a lesson with a part member family named the Judds but they weren't interested. At dinner there was a nonmember and we had a really good gospel discussion all dinner but said no to meeting with us. But we are planting seeds! We then had a lesson with Rachael, our investigator. We taught the plan of salvation and the Whatcott came with us. It was really good and everything made sense to her. We need to help her feel the spirit cause she just likes the information. We then went caroling with the youth. It was way fun.

Thursday we had a lesson with Tewana and it was way good. It was a really spiritual lesson & she started crying. We then helped her wrap gifts. We then had a lesson with Zach and he is doing good! We invited them to do fhe every week.

Friday all of our appointments canceled of course. I'm so happy the holidays are almost over. We basically just went to members' homes and asked for referrals. At night we went caroling with our district and that was pretty fun.

Saturday we went to a potential investigator's graduation from blue vase recovery. His name is Deshawn. We don't know if he will still be in our ward cause he is moving. We are hoping so because he is an awesome black guy. But the graduation was so funny but long. All these tough guys crying. We pretty much visited members all day but we did contact a referral! It was awk cause she had to go cause she said she was about to have a seizure. We had Christmas Eve dinner at our stake president's house, the Williams. I love them!! She made cafe rio and it was BAE. The kids did a nativity and we had a snow ball fight. It was just a really good night. It started snowing and it was so pretty!!! We then had a Christmas Eve devotional with the zone. It was pretty fun.

Sunday we woke up and went to the Ruberts and had breakfast with them. Then we had church and it was awesome, lots of good musical numbers. We had lunch with the Reidheads and they made really good food. We had dinner at the Halls and she made really good soup and eggnog pie! We played games with them and I forgot how competitive I am. We then went to the Bairds and played spoons and that was very intense. Broke and spilled a lot of stuff...it was overall a good day though. But yay no more Christmases on my mission!

A scripture I love and have been sharing with members is the parable of the lost sheep.

Luke 15: 4-7, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

I have felt this joy of finding the lost sheep. My favorite name of Christ is the good shepherd. He knows us and loves us. We also need to know Him and recognize His voice. Christmas is MORE Christ. Cause mas is more in Spanish. I love that. Christmas is having more Christ in our life. And without the Christ at Calvary there would be no babe in Bethlehem.

"May we give as the Savior gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift. We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given. May we also give gifts that have eternal value, along with our gifts that eventually break or are forgotten. How much better the world would be if we all gave gives of understanding and compassion, of service & friendship, of kindness & gentleness. As the Christmas season envelopes us with all its glory, may we, as did the wise men, seek a bright, particular star to guide us in our celebration of the Savior's birth. May we all make the journey to Bethlehem in Spirit, taking with us a tender, caring heart as our gift to the Savior" - President Thomas S Monson

I'm grateful for that eternal gift - the Atonement. What eternal gift do we want to give to the Savior this year? I know a broken heart and a contrite spirit is something that will bring us closer to the Savior. Let's make 2017 the best year yet.

Happy new year!!