I can't believe
Christmas is less than a week away! This week had a lot of ups and downs. I really thought that the spirit of Christmas
would soften people's hearts but nope not here in Falls Lake. People yell at us literally every day. 😳 But
it's okay. Some good things that
happened this week were
-Dinner with Gabby
Cabrera. She is a returning less active.
She is so awesome! She has quite the
story. She is Dominican and has tons of
energy and passion. She is hilarious too! She is raising her son Jacob who is about 6
months old by herself. She is
incredible!
-Went on exchanges to
Wake Forest 1st ward with Sister Skalla. (As STL we go on exchanges every
week). It was so weird to be back in that
apartment sleeping in the same bed! I
got to see the Schnegelberger family, and Sister Coombs and Sister McGannon. It was a good day.
-We had our relief
society Christmas Dinner on Thursday night and Lashima and Imani came with us. Which is also where I found out little Clark
had been born!!! Seriously I was so
shocked but really happy to at least know before Monday!! Earlier that day a sister in our ward asked
one of us to share a Christmas memory or story that helped you find the true
meaning of Christmas or something like that. I have the story of the "Other Wise
Man" a photocopied version, with me so I just read that. I could feel the spirit just fill the whole
room as a read about Artaban and his quest to find the King. That story is so familiar to me since we read
it every year, but the same spirit and emotion comes to me each time I read it.
Fast forward to Sunday at church and a
sister, Sister Howell, comes up to me and says "Merry Christmas!" and
hands me a hard copy of "The Other Wise Man.” She said "it's really hard to find since
it's out of print but I found a used copy on Amazon. Now you can have your own copy instead of a
photo copied one.” I was stunned. I literally had met this person only once
before at dinner at her house. It was
seriously the nicest thing ever!!
-We tracted a lot this
week. One day it was particularly cold
and we knocked on this woman's door. She
answered and her son was at the door as well. They already have a church they attend so they
weren't interested but were very kind to us. We kept knocking and the son walks up to us,
he's probably only about 11 and says, "I think it's great what you guys are
doing spreading the word of Christ, go get yourselves something warm," and
gives us a gift card to Starbucks!!! I
just love nice people.
-We finally have set a
baptismal date with Alex and Alexus! January
7th. They are such smart, good kids. Pray that her mom will soften her heart and
allow them to be baptized!
I have had a lot of
good studies lately and this morning I studied about the life of Howard W.
Hunter. I didn't know a thing about him
but he was a pretty phenomenal guy! Here
is a quote from him:
"The Savior
dedicated his life to blessing other people.. Never did He give in expectation
of receiving. He gave freely and
lovingly, and His gifts were of inestimable value... We should strive to
give as He gave. To give of oneself is a
holy gift. We give as a remembrance of
all the Savior has given...This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the
earth. Speak your love and then speak it
again." -Howard W. Hunter "The Gifts of Christmas"
I am so incredible
blessed to be a missionary during the most wonderful time of the year. This week I was so touched by the simplest
acts of kindest others gave to me. I
realized that I have been far too focused on myself. The only true peace can be found through the
unselfish service we give to others as we strive to emulate the Savior's
perfect example. I am reminded and
humbled over and over again that I will never be perfect, but that the only
true peace that I have felt in my life is through living the principles of the
gospel. I hope each of you will place
the Savior at the center of this Christmas Season and every other time in
between. I testify that He was born, He
died, and lives again to give us resurrection, salvation, and eternal
life.
I love each of you!
xoxo Sister Dearden
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