December 19, 2011:
Christmas Time!
Man. Can you believe that Christmas is already here?! I get to hear your voices this week! Man, I can’t wait! I hope the calls work out. They used to do test calls, but they stopped this year, so keep your fingers crossed. Ya'll are used to calling long distance, though, so I'm sure it'll be fine :).
This week was good, not the best, but good. Since it's Christmas, everyone is really busy and don't want to hear our message. It's funny... kind of. We have to make it funny, because hours of being out in the cold get old without humor. So we [used to say], “Hi, we are here to talk about Christ.” [and now we say], “Hi! Do you celebrate Christmas?” Aaahaha, ok we don't do that every time, but [sometimes]. Sister Brimhall's idea. Because of course… that’s why they’re in a rush. But sometimes people still don’t understand that the reason we have Christmas is because of Christ. Even though people here think that Baby Jesus brings the presents. Haha, oh gosh, I love it here.
Christmas Time!
Man. Can you believe that Christmas is already here?! I get to hear your voices this week! Man, I can’t wait! I hope the calls work out. They used to do test calls, but they stopped this year, so keep your fingers crossed. Ya'll are used to calling long distance, though, so I'm sure it'll be fine :).
This week was good, not the best, but good. Since it's Christmas, everyone is really busy and don't want to hear our message. It's funny... kind of. We have to make it funny, because hours of being out in the cold get old without humor. So we [used to say], “Hi, we are here to talk about Christ.” [and now we say], “Hi! Do you celebrate Christmas?” Aaahaha, ok we don't do that every time, but [sometimes]. Sister Brimhall's idea. Because of course… that’s why they’re in a rush. But sometimes people still don’t understand that the reason we have Christmas is because of Christ. Even though people here think that Baby Jesus brings the presents. Haha, oh gosh, I love it here.
This week we lost two of our Elders in the District. Elder Meiling became the Assistant to the Mission President (AP), since the current AP is going home for Christmas, and then Elder Park is going home for Christmas as well. So we got a new Elder, Elder Page, but overall we have one less Elder now than we used to. We got it approved to have Christmas at our apartment together as a District, so we are planning a dinner, and everyone gets to open their packages from family around our CHRISTMAS TREE! It's fantastic. Yes. We got a TREE! Sister Brimhall finally caved. And we saw a camel this week... but that's for another time. Our Christmas tree is darling. Absolutely fantastic. It is decorated in all of Mommy's dollar store ornaments, and they are the CUTEST. And we got some Christmas lights from the Francis’ apartment. I can’t wait.
Our Christmas tree with some of the ornaments.
Christmas is here! It even snowed. Obviously Christmas isn't anything like it is at home, since family isn’t here with us, but you know what? This is my Christmas on my mission. I only have to do it once, and I bet I'll have great memories from it. So we are going to live it up. This Friday we are going to Prague with ALL of the missionaries in the mission, and then Sunday we all get to hang out as a District and eat and open presents etc. We also get to watch movies, and I of course submitted “MEGAMIND”, because I am dying to see it again, and guess what, President approved it! So now I just gotta convince my Elders that they really want to watch it, haha, because it’s so new, none of them have seen it. But we're all very excited, and we shall have a grand old time.
This week I saw a camel. It's true. We were walking, getting ready to meet up with the District for lunch when to my right I saw two hairy humps. I stopped dead in my tracks, and when Sister Brimhall turned around, said, "Sestro, co to je?!" and we ran over, and it was indeed a real live hairy camel. Made my week. Who cares if people don’t stop and talk to you? God sends us funny things like real camels in the middle of random streets to make you smile even bigger. I love that.
So we had a Christmas Concert this week! It was really great, but stressful, haha, so I was in the choir, and they asked the missionaries to perform “Deck the Halls.” It was a boring version, so I asked the Elders if they’d be ok making it funnier. They said they’d be ok with that, and so we practiced BOUNCING, and oh my gosh it got so out of hand I was just cracking up. So I made them bounce, and they thought it was the dumbest idea, but then they started coming up with their own ideas, and oh my word, it was a riot. Everyone loved it. One Elder popped up out of the audience to start conducting us, and we moved around and oh my... It's probably just really funny since I helped make it, but everyone was laughing. So that was on Saturday. Friday night we were talking in the apartment, and I realized that we were inviting SO MANY people to come to the Church building! So we went to WORK and got SIX posters done about the Book of Mormon, missionaries, Christ, free English classes, and the young single adult program as well as family history. Everyone loved them, and people took pamphlets and read the posters. Man. It just made me realize we can’t take any second for granted out here, [because we need to be] finding people who want this TRUTH!!! I can’t tell you how much the gospel really does make a difference. It shows.
I will keep praying for Mummi and Grandpa. Man what a hard week! I am glad Mummi is back from the hospital. I love them both so much! I am also grateful that Grandpa is healing so well.
Something I really liked this week while reading my scriptures (I started the Bible from the beginning and Book of Mormon from the beginning and read them alternating daily at night) was how the "wildernesses" that people go through are a lot like life. I love how God is always helping people get through the wilderness! So yeah. Man time flies! I am home in a YEAR?! What on EARTH.
This week I really am focusing on getting a better grammatical understanding of the language. Pray for me. I need it. But things are starting to click. Slowly. I want to learn this language. Memorizing things has always been hard for me though, so it’s an obstacle Heavenly Father is going to help me overcome. If I put in my best efforts I know it can happen.
I also have a testimony that God strengthens you to be able to do the things you need to do. Every morning I wake up just EXHAUSTED. It's hard to get up, and I just keep thinking I'm going to collapse. But guess what? After I shower and get going, the days SPEED BY, and at night I am full of energy and can’t believe it's time to sleep again. Keep praying. I sometimes forget to pray with my whole heart. But when I really think about how God is listening, and when I realize that this time I have here to pray to Him is just a continuation of our already existing relationship… that's when my prayers become meaningful. And that’s when I gain so much inspiration and strength.
I know God lives. I know He loves His children. And in Andrew’s [letter] last week he said something beautiful. He said that God lives and His Son's name is Jesus. It was so simple, but it touched me. It's true. His Son's name is Jesus, and I know He lives. He is my brother and my Savior, and I am so blessed to dedicate this time to Him and to proudly wear His name on my chest. I love you all and want to wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Love always,
Sestra Izatt
Something I really liked this week while reading my scriptures (I started the Bible from the beginning and Book of Mormon from the beginning and read them alternating daily at night) was how the "wildernesses" that people go through are a lot like life. I love how God is always helping people get through the wilderness! So yeah. Man time flies! I am home in a YEAR?! What on EARTH.
This week I really am focusing on getting a better grammatical understanding of the language. Pray for me. I need it. But things are starting to click. Slowly. I want to learn this language. Memorizing things has always been hard for me though, so it’s an obstacle Heavenly Father is going to help me overcome. If I put in my best efforts I know it can happen.
I also have a testimony that God strengthens you to be able to do the things you need to do. Every morning I wake up just EXHAUSTED. It's hard to get up, and I just keep thinking I'm going to collapse. But guess what? After I shower and get going, the days SPEED BY, and at night I am full of energy and can’t believe it's time to sleep again. Keep praying. I sometimes forget to pray with my whole heart. But when I really think about how God is listening, and when I realize that this time I have here to pray to Him is just a continuation of our already existing relationship… that's when my prayers become meaningful. And that’s when I gain so much inspiration and strength.
I know God lives. I know He loves His children. And in Andrew’s [letter] last week he said something beautiful. He said that God lives and His Son's name is Jesus. It was so simple, but it touched me. It's true. His Son's name is Jesus, and I know He lives. He is my brother and my Savior, and I am so blessed to dedicate this time to Him and to proudly wear His name on my chest. I love you all and want to wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Love always,
Sestra Izatt