The Best Gift Ever!

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone had a beautiful Sabbath yesterday. We had 4 investigators come to church, which was a miracle because we figured no one would show up since it's the holidays. But they were there! It was the best gift we could have gotten! Speaking of gifts, the elder's investigator got baptized and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday. He was on cloud 9! The members are amazing and brought us lots of little presents- Sister Wilcox really appreciated it...she's been feeling a little homesick, but your first Christmas away is the hardest. We're kind of on opposite ends of the spectrum right now because all her "firsts" are my lasts! It's weird. It was SO wonderful to get to Skype with my family. We spent the day at our bishop's house and opened our presents from home, did a white elephant exchange, and played games. AND taught some people! Surprisingly enough, people wanted to hear about the gospel on Christmas! So we taught a few first lessons and have some solid return appointments! 

A recent convert in the church asked us to go over and teach her daughter about the gospel, and we were SUPER excited for their referral! So we go over and have a really good lesson about the Restoration, and then out of nowhere she pulls out, "My apartment is haunted. Can you help me?" So we ask her a few questions about why she thinks that, and she explains some pretty weird stuff. Usually if things like that are going on, you're doing something to invite those bad influences in your home. Then she says, "Well, my girlfriend is a Satanist, but I tell her not to do her rituals in the apartment." *ding ding ding ding* Well there you go. If having someone who worships Satan live with you doesn't make you feel like there's a bad presence in your home, I don't know what will. We explained the elders could bless her home, but that you can't keep out something that's being continually invited in. So that was an interesting experience this week. But she wants to be baptized, so that's cool!

I just want to bear my testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the Light of the World and every good thing comes because of and through Him. I love being able to celebrate His birth, but there would be no Christmas without Easter. His birth would be incomplete without His glorious Atonement for our sins. I know it's only because of Him that we have the opportunity to live with our Father in Heaven again. Sometimes keeping the commandments feels hard, and making righteous decisions seems impossible. But the Lord never asks us to do something we can't accomplish. I'm so grateful for his unending grace and mercy that satisfy the demands of justice if we do our part. 

***ALSO transfer news: I'm headed to Minneapolis! I'm going to be a Sister Training Leader on the University of Minnesota campus! I'll be in a YSA ward...holla!!! Since school is still on winter break I'll be over there in a couple weeks instead of Wednesday, so I have sufficient time to say goodbye to everyone! #blessing  

Shout out to the Young Men and Young Women at my home branch for sending the sweetest care package! Love y'all!