I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - YOU CAN COUNT ON ME!

Well, like the title of this email states. Ill be home for Christmas! haha. Wow. I cant even believe it. I dont even know where to start. Maybe with this week was good! We did a lot of finding, and a lot of sharing Light the World. We found this video called "The Christmas Spirit," on gospel library. Its a Mormon message, look it up. We have been showing it to a lot of people and every time we watch it I feel the spirit. When we keep Christ at the center of Christmas, (and our lives) its brings a joy that outlasts the presents, lights, and treats. Its something that never goes away because Christ was born, we can be born again. We can be clean of our sins and live with our families forever in Heaven with God. How amazing is that!?

Honestly, I dont remember a lot of this week. Just a few highlights! One day we had a great day planned. 3 or 4 lessons with some solid people and I was so excited! Well we head out after studies and slowly one by one all of the lessons fall through. haha. So we tract around for a couple hours. We got yelled at and cussed at more than any other street in my whole mission. Then we get a text from another investigator who dropped us which was way sad because he was super solid! And so we had 0 plans. No one to see, but we were sooo happy! We got on our bikes and rode to another neighborhood and tracted some more. We laughed and met so many cool people! And God blessed us with the tender mercy of a beautiful day! It was almost 60 degrees outside! We were laughing so hard about everything that had gone wrong about the day, and then had a cool spiritual moment as we reflected how this is how life is when Christ is at the center. It was a great day! Oh and on top of all of this, I had a cold and lost my voice. That couldnt stop me from talking to people though, although I think I ate a gallon of cough drops and had a few awkward moments at doorsteps when I couldnt stop coughing! The joys!!

About a transfer ago, we were teaching a lady named Patricia. Well Patricia went to California for pretty much 6 weeks and she finally got back. We were able to see her and teach her and it went so good. We sat outside at a park bench and read the story of Enos. It was so cool. Just us on the bench having a spiritual moment in our own little bubble in a sketchy apartment complex. I will really miss the little moments like those.

I am just so grateful that I have been able to serve the Lord for the last 18 month in Oklahoma and Texas. It has been the best, hardest, happiest, heart wrenching, soul changing, testimony strengthening, conversion deepening (did I miss anything) experience of my life. I cant even begin to express all my emotions that I have leaving. I love the people here so much. I love it because its where I learned how to rely of Christ in everything and draw upon his power. I love it because its where I have changed and learned what my true potential really is and who I can become. I mean Im no where near perfect, but I know I can be one day. I have met my best friends in the whole world out here. I will miss being able to focus on others and not myself 100% of the time. I know that my mission will shape the rest of my life. I couldnt be more grateful to my Heavenly Father for putting me here. I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE MY AMAZING FAMILY AND ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE! Its going to be so joyful! Know that I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. That Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and really did see God the Father and Jesus Christ as a 14 year old boy. I know with my whole being that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Christ is my Savior and he is with me every step of the way and because of him, I can be like him one day!