Called To Serve...in Houston, Texas: December 23, 2013 Feliz Navidad!

Hola Familia! Como estado? This week has been filled with the wonderful christmas spirit! Let's begin with the highlights....

The weather in Texas is bipolar...On Friday it was 78 degrees and right now, it's 30 degrees burrrr!

Saturday morning, we were blessed to be able to take Jo Ann Stanford to the temple for her first time! Hermana G was here for her baptism so we were allowed to go :) Since Jo Ann is too weak/sick, she didn't participate in baptisms for the dead. Instead she watched as a girl from our ward acted as the proxy for Jo Ann's female relatives. We sat on the front bench so we were closest to the font. Jo Ann was soo precious...every time they would put the name up on the screen, Jo Ann would lean over and whisper, "that's my baby sister...that's my aunt...that's my grandmother...that's my mother..." Jo Ann prepared the work for her entire immediate family to be done! She's so amazing and it was such a special moment to sit next to her and watch her family member's work be done

..I realized that if we bring just ONE soul to the waters of baptism, we're really opening up the doors for THOUSANDS to enter the kingdom of God. I have gained such a testimony for temple work..I know that it is so important for each of us to search for our ancestors and prepare their work. Our hearts must turn to the the hearts of our fathers..We need them just as much as they need us! They are our protecting angels that have charge over us and are always with us. After all of Jo Ann's family names were finished, we went into the confirmation room and Jo Ann was able to be the proxy for that...We finished that and went back upstairs to change out of our white dresses..We knew Jo Ann would take a little while to change so we asked a temple worker if she could take us to the Celestial Room..She opened up the door into the beautiful, empty room..Ah...I love the Celestial Room...It's where heaven and earth are connected and there is such a sacred peace you can feel! It feels like coming home.

On Thursday, we made a deal with our catholic neighbor that if we went to a mass, he'd come to sacrament meeting...So...we went to a mass in the morning! And it sure was an interesting experience! it was my first time going to a church that wasn't lds! It must've been really strange for the people to watch three girls with mormon missionary name tags walk into a catholic service haha! I have great respect for those who go to mass every morning...People always say that catholics make good mormons! Hopefully one day, they'll find the rest of the missing puzzle pieces in their lives.

Friday...we had the mission christmas conference! usually, the entire mission meets together but there's too many of us so they had to split the mission party into two :\ There's a grand total of 280 missionaries in the mission...130 sisters and 150 elders! The Lord is hastening His work! During the conference...President Pingree told us that he feels impressed that the mission can raise the bar a little higher..The goal for this past year was to baptize a family every month..Well, he thinks it can be better...So for this coming year, he feels that we can baptize someone EVERY WEEK. Yeah...that's a mighty goal but it's possible with the Lord. (Luke 1:37) This goal will take some time, but it's achievable. My sweet trainer, Sister Schellhous was at the conference as well so I got to see her!

We're continuing to teach our investigators and I must say, the Lord has really helped me with Spanish. I'm comfortable teaching now and I don't freak out when I'm about to speak..The words just flow on out! It's funny though because I really can't have a normal conversation...I can only talk about the gospel haha...But I love being an instrument in the Lord's hands!

Last night, we drove out to the country and went caroling with the Carr family..They invited all of their family and friends and so we loaded up in a trailer that was pulled behind a truck..We caroled around the neighborhood and froze out buns off!

I love this Christmas!! I love caroling and making people happy! I think that this is my favorite christmas ever! Why? because i'm able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas! I'm not focused on material gifts but rather, spiritual gifts! Bringing people the gift of the Gospel is the best gift we can ever give!