Talk about a crazy week!! First, let me say that Christmas is my favorite time of year. The Spirit of Christmas has been so amazingly strong this year. Christmas all goes back to Christ's Atonement. He did something truly amazing for each of us so that we may return to live with God and Christ again. THAT is why His birth is so important.
So last Monday after P-Day was over, we went into Sealy and visited the Lambros family. I was able to cut Sister Lambros Hair and we had dinner with her, her 2 son's and her mom and step-dad. We shared the Christmas story and I feel like we were able to touch her mother's heart. (Her mom lives in Casa Grande. Sis. Lambros will be there and in Southern AZ this week!)
Tuesday. OH MY. This day we baked cookies. We baked 337 cookies/Rice Krispies and frosted 126 sugar cookies. We did this in 5.5 hours. THAT was a crazy day. We did this at our branch president's home for some families in the branch that just need some love and support. we then found out that Sister Dhener was able to get into a Rehab/Detox Clinic! This was a blessing for her! She really wanted this and she knows that God is looking out for her. Erika is so ready to receive His word. She's taking the steps on the road to happiness. She will get out today and we cannot wait to see her!! We got to talk with her last night. She's just scared that Satan will overpower her. She has a lot of faith and we know she can do it. God is there helping her every step of the way. She was able to share 2 chapters of the Book of Mormon with another patient. She's so awesome!!
Wednesday we were on exchanges!! I was in charge for a day!! That was crazy and kinda overwhelming. Sister Ririe and I visited a bunch of families in the Sealy area before heading to Brookshire to visit the O'Hara Family. They are such a cool family!! they have 9 kids: 7 boys and 2 girls. Their daughter Kieran, who is the #5 child, looks up to me. She's such a little helper. It was great getting to play with her. We taught the kid's the Christmas story to help entertain them as Sister O'Hara finished fixing dinner. We left just before to go and re-exchange companions.
Thursday we had weekly planning. After we planned the next week we went over to the Pora and Downy home for Dinner where we had the BEST meatloaf ever. They've been so good about keeping things gluten-free for me. It's a blessing. The branch, since it is so spread out, helps us out by buying us groceries that we need. It's amazing how thoughtful they are when even some of them have so little. It humbles me and makes me so grateful for all that I receive. After dinner at the Pora's, we went over to the library to set up a family history class that we do every other Thursday. We haven't had an amazing turn out lately because of the holidays, but we will still be workin on it. (I fixed Grandma Haws' line on my tree!! It's been correct the past almost week!!! Exciting!!)
Friday!! My Package day!! I was so excited when I got home to see that here! :) Thanks family! I cant wait to open what was inside tomorrow! Friday after studies I was able to cut the Moore kid's hair! The Moore's are a gluten-free family. Gracie, 6, got a a-line bob that was SUPER cute, and Danny, their 17 month baby got his first hair cut!! He looks like a little boy now! :) Completely adorable. On Sunday, Gracie gave me some decorated GF (gluten-free) cookies and drew me a thank you note. So tender!! That night we played volleyball with the Spanish Branch. It was way fun! After, we practiced with the elders for our musical number we were performing on Sunday. Talk about talent. Elder Whitney plays the piano AMAZINGLY!! I just am in awe. and Sister Sheldon plays the flute. The piece was so beautiful.
Saturday we went out to Weimer where we got to visit Johnny! This was our last lesson with him before he met with President for his baptismal interview! Johnny is so ready!! We left there confident in him and the fact that he just knows. That is the power of God working in him. After that we went to a ballet recital for an inactive family's children. We are meeting with them this Saturday to cut hair and have dinner. After that was all said and done, we went to visit Robbin who is preparing to enter the temple. She is such an amazing woman. Her story is pretty crazy. She found the church when she was 20-ish and living in Germany with her ex-husband. She fell away soon after and started coming back to church earlier this year. She is 56. I am so grateful to have met and know her. She doesn't just want to read the gospel, she wants to study it, and by study I mean sit down and drink deeply from the scriptures meaning. She is amazing.
On Sunday, we had early meetings and practice for the musical number we would be performing. The musical number we did was a collaboration of Angels We Have Heard on High/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. It was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed singing it. After church we came home to eat dinner at the Turners with the Dhennet family. After dinner we went to a fireside in Katy put on by the missionaries. We helped set up and Johnny came to have his interview with President Pingree. From what we could tell of it, it went quite well!! The 'Christmas in Katy' fireside was amazing. It focused all on Christ, His birth, and His Atonement. Phenomenal!
Monday we had our Christmas Mission Conference! This is why I am emailing out on a Tuesday instead. We left the house at 6:30 to be able to get there on time. It was wonderful to meet 1/2 our mission and to be able to get to know a few of them better. We also performed in the musical portion of the conference. We did a rendition of Hark! the Herald Angels Sing. This was such a spiritual experience for me. As I walked up I knew I was not warmed up enough. Through a quick prayer, I was able to feel as if an angel was singing with me. The Lord was able to bless me so much and I really appreciate the talent He has given so freely to me. Talk about a beautiful experience to know and feel that you were singing with an angel!! I am SO blessed. We also visited a few members in the evening.
It was wonderful to be able to get to know so many more people and to be able to share with them the truthfulness of this gospel! I love Christmas time and being able to share my testimony of the Christ who came down to earth to die for each of us. As you come to understand His atonement, then you cannot help but share the gospel with all those you meet. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have come to learn the past 2 days. This was the theme yesterday at our meeting. I have become so very passionate about the Atonement and the more I study about it, the more I realize that I don't understand how infinite His grace and mercy extends.
Remember this as you celebrate Christmas tomorrow. Remember the Reason for the season.
Remember Christ.
--Sister Carling
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