It was so wonderful talking to all of you for Christmas!! I wish good luck to Jennifer in trying to figure out what emails I sent last week to post and which ones to circulate, if you have questions let me know, I'm only an email and a world away ;-)
Christmas here was so special. As I already mentioned I've spent way to much of the month of December not actively involved in the work and these last two weeks have been hard. But last Sunday following the advice of my district leader I got down on my knees and I had a long conversation with my Heavenly Father about why I wanted to be healthy for Christmas. I told him that Christmas is a time of so much joy for me, but I didn't know how many native missionaries would be feeling merry and I wanted the strength to share the joy of Christmas with them. I shared that for the first time in my life I was given the opportunity to share my testimony of the savior through song and I wanted to sing and share with all of my heart. As I ended that prayer I didn't know what would happen the next day, but I knew the Lord's will would be done and more importantly that I was okay with whatever would happen. I was so grateful the next day when I woke up with what I needed to do the work.
For Christmas Eve my mission president led us in painting a school in the morning and Christmas festivities at night. I loved painting the school, but I think my favorite part came when Pres Moon came up to me and said "now you've been sick deary, remember to rest" oh I love him and his wife. Anyhow thank you to all I love who made this Christmas away from home very special. I received a lovely fat envelope full of pictures from Jennifer, way too many packages from the nucleus fam (the advent candy still tastes delicious) and the spaghettios from Mom and Grandma were delicious for Christmas morning.
But my favorite part came in singing. I was so nervous, I mean really nervous, but as I walked up to the front I remembered my prayer with Heavenly Father and knew he had given me strength for this purpose, I had better not waste it. I thought of my savior who died for me, who knows my pains and my joys and I thought of a little baby coming to earth, God's gift to all of us. With that in mind I poured my heart into song and I wasn't scared anymore. I am so thankful for Heavenly Father reminding me that He loves me and that he delights to bless his children with the desires of His hearts.
One last tender mercy. So my comp and I haven't been out of the house very much the last week which meant we were running out of food. In fact after lunch yesterday we didn't have anything that hadn't come from a package from the states left in the house. But yesterday I didn't know this, all I knew was that after resting for the mid afternoon I needed to be about the work I was called to do. So I prepared and we headed out the door so we could help an investigator. We never made it instead we were called to a Family Home Evening. I enjoyed the time with the members and recent converts and building relationships with them. And then the blessing came, she served us dinner... I know when we are about the work of our Father and when we do our best to overcome our limitations the Lord with always bless us, in ways we can't imagine.
All my love Chi Dao,
P.S. I hope to have a more investigator heavy email next week :-)
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