Christmas and Happy New Year! :)

Aloha!!

No, I'm not in Hawaii, but tomorrow evening our ward is having a HUGE luau for members and non-members to welcome in the New Year, make a bond within the ward, and find more people who are open and ready for the gospel.  So my mind is kind of in that mind-set right now :)

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope it was a wonderful and heat-warming day for all of you!  I had an amazing day!  Of course the best part was being able to talk with my family and see them via skype.  What a happy bunch they were! :)  I didn't get to open any packages from home that day because they were all delayed from the storm in Texas and being forwarded to my new address, but I got the best gift from home I could ask for - being able to see my family and feel of their love for me and our Savior.  Oh it was so happy, and I didn't cry until my Mom asked me to share my testimony....then it all came out :)
The rest of the day, as well as Christmas Eve, was filled with service and love.  We raked leaves, sang songs (lots of songs!), got to deliver some gifts to a less-active, and visited many people.  The members we spent time with made us feel right at home and showed us a lot of love.  It was such a happy time, I can't even describe it!  I didn't need the physical gifts to have a happy day.  It was happy because I was loving people and being loved by them.

Then our "white" part of Christmas came yesterday, on Sunday.  [Our wonderful investigator] was baptized.  He was so happy and just smiling the whole time.  It was a happy time for me, but Sister Benjamin and I were talking about how it's not the baptism that's most memorable.  As I look back over the time I've been out here, and the people I've been able to help guide to the waters of baptism, it's not the actual baptism that sticks out in my mind.  The moments that stand out are the ones when you could see that they understood what you were teaching them, when they overcame habits or challenges that they had, when they chose to move forward with faith even though there were reasons they could have doubted or feared.  Those are the moments we remember. :)

Seeing lives change is the greatest blessing. :)  As we start a new year, it is natural to think about change - the changes we want to make.  I want to invite you to look back and see the changes you have made this year and before.  How far have you come on your journey?  How have you grown?  Whose lives have you been able to influence?  Look for those good changes you have made and then decide on a change you want to work on next.  I just had interviews with my mission president today, so I had the opportunity to reflect and then look forward.  I know that the Lord "gives the increase" as we chose to work with Him. (1 Corithians 3:6-7)  He has given us the invitation to "come, and let us reason together" (Isaiah 53:3-5)  He is patient and willing to work WITH us.  Are we willing to work WITH Him?

I love this gospel and know that it is true.  I know my Savior lives, and I love Him so much.  I know He loves us.  He loves loves loves us.  I hope you can feel that.  If not, pray to your Heavenly Father with all of your heart and I know He will surround you with his loving embrace and fill your heart.  I hope you all have a wonderful week as we welcome in a new year!

May THE force be with you all!  Love you!