¡Hola Fonzfam!
Tranfers
The time has finally come for Elder Hadfield as he now prepares to leave this Wednesday for another area in the mission. He's been in the Mt Hood Stake since the week after Mothers Day. He's ready for some change! We've worked hard together making the most of every day we had these last 12 weeks. He's taught me to have a lot of patience and to compromise as the easiest way to come to an agreement. I have been so blessed to serve alongside him, especially over the holidays! I'm going to miss him but I hope he enjoys his new area with his new missionary(He's going to whitewash train and be a district leader).
Rest of Christmas
After talking with you guys(which was the best Christmas present ever! Man, I love you guys!) and playing some games as a zone, we spent the evening at the home of a couple of the people we're teaching in the Tickle Creek ward. Dustin and Breonna are working towards their baptism in February which isn't too far away with January upon us. It was so nice of them to have us over. They don't have much because of the situation they're in, but they made the effort to get us some nice body wash as a present. We shared stories and traditions with them about our own Christmas's back at home. It was a good and humble way to end the eventful day we had and one that I'll never forget.
Scott and Samantha
One of the new families we found to teach in the Tickle Creek ward is Scott and Samantha. We went over to teach them a couple of days after Christmas with one of the members from the ward. Their four boys were pretty wild as anyone else at that age would be. It was kind of difficult for us to hear each other while we taught the Restoration. But the coolest part about the whole visit was when it was my turn to share Joseph Smith's experience of the first vision, at that time reverence and the Spirit settled in. As I began, the boys put their toys down and looked up at me, not completely silent, but noticeably more quiet. I felt the Spirit fill my words and carry it to this young family. They felt it too because afterward the member bore an amazing testimony and invited them to keep learning from us as it will bless their lives beyond measure. They put it on their calendar to come to church the first week of the new year and excitedly accepted a copy of the BoM and the challenge to read it as a family. These kinds of experiences have been rare on my mission, at least with an entire family who is ready and willing to listen and act. Unfortunately, I won't be teaching them anymore with the transfer this week and things going back to normal, but I'll be there for their baptism;)
Cassie
The day after Christmas we went to the temple with Cassie to go do baptisms for her first time. It's quite the drive over there compared to the rest of the mission, but we made it there on time and were able to enjoy the Spirit within the beautiful walls. Cassie's been working hard to find names to take to the temple. She had talked with a lot of her family over the holidays about details of her ancestors, but she wasn't able to get anything solid enough to have any girl names to take, just guy names. Participating in the baptisms was so cool and such a unique experience as a missionary. Cassie said she loved it and she can't wait to go back with more of her family names.
Cassie and her group of friends in the branch had invited one of their friends to church. His name is Carlos and he came to all 3 hours! A couple days before these guys gave him a church tour on their own and told us about him. He gave comments in Sunday School and is super easy to talk to. They're going to set something up for us to come over and teach him more about our faith. Go member missionary work!
2018 is coming to an end shortly. This blackout year has been one that I will remember for the rest of my life and into the eternities. There had been goals that were set and plans that could've been more diligently followed up on, but with a new year ahead of us it's a great time to refocus on what we want to achieve. One direction we can take has been provided by the Church with the 2019 Area Priorities. Here are the few things they invite us to take part in by making our own personal goals and plans:
To become a light unto the world, I will:
1. Become a true disciple and minister
2. Keep sacred covenants and enjoy temple blessings
3. Help the Church grow
4. Encourage the rising generation
Their focus is something that I personally invite you to do this new year. I'm excited to spend half of 2019 as a missionary being able to do my part to ultimately further the work of the Lord. I have a testimony of His loving influence in our lives and His desire to help us reach exaltation. Let's make 2019 a great year to be a follower of Christ!
Cassie at the temple for her first time doing baptisms!
A Christmas Sunset at the end of a memorable day.
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