Mon, 22 Dec 2008: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Dear Fam and Friends,

The last week was crappy--a bunch of bad stuff, but with some really great good stuff to make up for it. I'll just talk about the good stuff--we got a new companion!!! That makes three of us. Yep, just like in the MTC I am now in a trio, and it's fun. Hermana Little is a quiet person--kind of opposite of me--but will randomly and quietly be really funny. She's great. We've had a hard time going to bed on time lately because it has been like a sleepover every night! Don't worry, I'm still getting up on time.

Also, we had our mission Christmas party this week! We all got together at the building by the mission home and had like a devotional with some musical numbers and sweet talks by President and Sister Beck. Then we had an amazing Christmas lunch provided by the stakes. After that, we all went to the temple for a special missionary endowment session! It was amazing. Really calming and strengthening. It was like I had been holding my breath since I got to Phoenix, and going to the temple I was finally able to breath. I love the temple.

We also were able to do something really cool with our ward this week--one of the members--Miriam Segura (remind me to introduce you to her when we visit, fam)--organized a choir and Christmas program to put on at the nearby hospital. It turned out amazing. We were the last group in a series to perform at the hospital over a week, I think, and the lady in charge was blown away by what Miriam had put together. Hna. Corless and I sang a duet. If I can get a copy I'll send it home. :)

The rest of the week was either normal or really bad. For instance, I know I told you all last week that we were going to have a baptism for Patty this week--it didn't happen. She backed out because she was scared. We had a pretty hard time with that. But then we realized that, in the end, after all the testimonies are born and the scripture study and feeling the Spirit and receiving a powerful priesthood blessing, it's up to her to overcome her doubts and fears, and the Lord leaves her to it. I know He gave her the strength to do so--I saw it. But still, sometimes we take our fear and pride over our faith. But hopefully she'll continue letting us come over--we're going over to see her today--because she told us she wants to wait until her whole family is ready so they can be baptized together. Which was weird, because before she told us she wanted to get baptized first when we asked her if we could teach her daughters. Whatever happens, we love her a million, which makes this even harder. But through this dissappointment, we've learned a lot about what is actually expected from us missinoaries to do. We did all that we could, and we did well. But the Lord has taught us a lot about agency, and our role as missionaries to invite, and that we can't push anyone into the truth. They have to accept it themselves. So, well, it was a good learning experience. Looking back is a lot easier than being in the moment. Saturday was stressfull.

So that's my story. Christmas is going to be great. We're going caroling on Christmas Eve as a whole district, and we've got fun families to visit and an investigator or two. I'm excited to open my presents and to see what my companions got too.

I really love this gospel. I could see with this last week the way that sometimes we go through hell a little bit, but the Lord always throws in things around us to sustain us and give us the peace we need to make it through the hard stuff. It's cool, it always works that was when we look for it.

Brian--those fotos are AWESOME!!! That's so cool. I actually only heard abou that the other day, from a member of our ward who drives a truck to Vegas sometimes told me about it. I haven't heard from anybody else in a while. . . Lol.

Esteleen--It's so nice to hear from you. :D I'll send pictures next time, I forgot my card reader today. Merry Christmas!! Tell everybody I love them.

Aunt Mom--I'm excited to use all those recipes. . . someday. . . Lol. That was awesome. And Wendy, sounds like your having a blast really. I owe you a letter, and I'll work on that this week. :D

Please tell President Reed that his email came at a perfect time, and I really appreciated it. And it makes a lot of sense now. We're going to go carolling, so maybe I'll have as good of stories as he did. . .

I love you all, and I really hope you have a merry Christmas!!! I know I will. YESS!!! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Love,
Hna. Crowley