The Gift

I hesitate to say this, but i'm going to go ahead and say... this week has been one of the best weeks of my mission!!! I mentioned last week that we found a new investigator and started teaching her. She is all set to be baptized on Christmas Eve! The day after we met with her she was struggling so much to stay strong and optimistic. Satan was working so hard on her! We taught her about trusting the Lord and letting Christ into her life, to strengthen her. She has had a hard time trusting people because of her past experiences, but we helped her to see the power that our Savior Jesus Christ has and the love of our Heavenly Father. The next day she was so peaceful and truly felt that things would work out. Every single day (because we met with her almost every day) she had more and more confirmation that this gospel is true. With her faith growing every day, she started to see the potential that she has as a daughter of God. As we taught her the commandments, she knew that they would help her to be strong and to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost. She went to Salt Lake for part of the weekend and we were even able to skype a few lessons with her! I am so grateful for technology! It has been such a whirlwind, but at every turn, we know by confirmation of the Holy Ghost, that she is ready. And just in this short week, she has seen her life start to turn around.

We have been meeting with another family, neighbors of a member of the church. They recently moved to Utah from California, and they love it here. Their neighbor invited them to come to church. The lady and her cousin are living together, and her daughter's home burned down in California so they moved out here to live with them. They are suddenly taking care of all the grandchildren, and it has been a lot to handle. Still, when we meet with them, she says "I just feel like the fire was a blessing. They needed to come here and have a new life." They loved church and we have met with them twice. They are so eager to learn, and they often talk about how they are just looking for the truth. We taught them about Joseph Smith, and how he had that same question. When we explained that he translated the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, we told them that after the great apostasy (also known as the dark ages) Heavenly Father knew that we would need more scripture to guide us. They both turned to each other and in unison said "That makes sense!" When investigators have that revelation, that this gospel really does make sense, it is the best feeling! You know that they are ready to receive it. 

With both of these experiences, it made me think of a principle that I have learned as a missionary. We are encouraged to keep in daily contact with our investigators. This helps them to feel the spirit more often and not forget what you have helped them to feel. It was once said that if an investigator is not ready for daily contact with a representative of Jesus Christ, then how can they be ready for daily contact with their Savior Jesus Christ? This has helped me to recognize those who are truly prepared to repent, change their ways to align with God's will, and commit their lives to follow Jesus Christ. And with both of these new investigators, they want to meet with us every day if possible. The sooner the better! They recognize the importance of this gospel, and they don't want to waste a minute in their journey to learn more and feel of our Heavenly Father's love.

Live Nativity!

I am so grateful for this time of year, to remember and celebrate our Savior's birth. To think that it all started in the most humble circumstances, a baby in a manger. To know that Jesus learned as he grew, through the power of the Holy Ghost, that He was the Son of God. To know that He faced temptation, but stood up to Satan and said in Matthew chapter 4 verse 10, "Get thee hence, Satan". To know that He struggled as He suffered for us in the garden of Gethsemane, and said in Luke chapter 22 verse 42, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." To know that His love for us is never ending, that is the gift. He is the gift. And I am so grateful! 

with a CAMEL!

I love you all and I hope that you are smiling because it's CHRISTMAS!

xoxo

Sister Boman