AUBURN DID WHAT?! NO I hadn't heard yet! I'm sososososososo excited!
This Week:
So as I mentioned before, we had zone conference this week. My first one, and I loved it! We had training, quite the odd talent show(I didn't have to perform thank Heaven), and a Christmas program for the mission presidency. My favorite part of the conference was was the Christmas program. We sang songs as a whole group (70 missionaries), small groups, spanish-speaking groups, read poems, stories, and testimonies. I was asked to share a personal Christmas story. I racked my brain for some kind of Christmas miracle I had experienced, but none came to mind. Then I thought about the meaning of Christmas and when the meaning changed in my life. I told the story of when I learned that Santa was not real. I can vividly remember the kids at school telling me, but I did not believe. I went home and was sitting by the fire with mom while playing with our musical Santa sleigh that moves forwards and backwards, you know the one i'm talking about. Mom came over to me and asked me how my day was at school. I got all flustered and I clammed up. Mom then asked if something was wrong. I began to cry. Mom came over to me wrapping her warm arm around me and said, "Honey, are you okay?" I responded, telling her my dilemma. She said to me, " Samantha, it's time that you know that Santa isn't real, but that's no reason to be sad." WHAT?! NO REASON TO BE SAD! I thought. Mom pointed to the nativity on the mantle above the fireplace and said, "You see that right there. That is why there is not reason to be sad. The greatest gift of all that we will ever receive is the gift of the savior. The life he lead and the sacrifices he made for us. You can never be sad about as gift such as that." From that day on, Christmas meant a lot more to me. Though I was only 7 or 8, I began to see Christmas as a time of personal reflection, spiritual growth, and outward devotion. As I shared my personal story (which was more in-depth) I could not help but weep for joy as I thought about my savior, my family, and my purpose. I love Christmas!
Because we cover 7 stakes, we get invited to a whole lotta Christmas parties! My favorite so far was in one of our family wards. We were given a bag of candy in which we had to build a sleigh. We had a Hershey bar, some Twizzlers (momma's favorites) some candy canes, some kisses, some mints, and some gumdrops. We hot glued out candy canes to the bottom of our Hershey bar to form the runners. We then glued everything else on to make it pretty. We then brought our sleigh to the starting line of the race. No joke, this party was for racing candy-made sleighs. Like a pinewood derby thing. The kids were so into it! There were stages that you had to get through and an overall winner. Our sleigh was a bust and was the loser of the loser bracket, but hey it was fun!
So the jacket I have on in the puppy picture is from a member. She gave me two coats that her daughters had left behind. Super sweet of her. The members here are great, forreals.
So this mission really emphasizes less active and recent converts. Two families in particular hold a special place in my heart. The Summers and the Hambies. The summers are an army family, but the dad is now retired because he was hurt. He is only in his 30's but he gets to be with his family now. They have five kids and are awesome. The father is a little rough around the edges but is really cool. He was straight up at our first lesson and told me why they were inactive. They have been offended a few times and don't like organized religion. They love the gospel and live it, mostly, but don't see a reason to attend church meetings when they can teach their kids proper morals and respect at home. They do not like the LDS people around here because they are one person on Sunday and another person the rest of the week. He said that they wanted to make sure we understood that if we ever started to preach or judge them then they would not invite us back. He kind of called me out and said, "we'll see throughout these lessons how your character shows through." Well, our first lesson went great and I said, right before we left, "Do you think we can make a return appointment so I can prove to you that I have character." He smiled and laughed, as did his wife, and they said of course we could. I really like people like that. That say it how it is and stand their ground. The Summers are amazing.
The other family, whose puppy pug I am holding in the picture, are the Hambies. They are inactive as well due to offenses. One thing that bothers them is rules. They think that the different laws we abide by in the church takes away our free agency. They do not agree with BYU's honor code and such things as that. They live the gospel and love it as well. They just don't have a full grasp of some concepts I guess you could say. They said we can come over whenever, as long as we don't teach lessons because they already know everything about the gospel. So last night we went over and just got to know them better. We talked about Christmas traditions, dogs, family, scars, broken bones, school, kids, and many other things. They are just awesome and I can't wait to see them again.
Saturday night we had the privilege of going to the BYUI Christmas Concert featuring Nathan Pacheco who sounds just like Josh Groban! The senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Gunther whom we love so very much, bought us tickets, along with tickets for a part member family that we are teaching. It was so much fun and the spirit was so strong. The picture hat looks like we;re in the conference center is where it was. The BYUI auditorium, the Eye Center, was made as a replica of the conference center, just a little smaller. BYUi's campus is way nice, but still to cold for me to ever want to go to school here.
We're going to iJump for P-Day today! It's going to be so much fun! The most energy i'll be able to get out since I left home!
This was another great week and I would like to end it by bearing my testimony. This life is a time of preparation. Each and every one of us is on a path. Some know exactly where they are going, some know a few steps along the path, and some just go day-by-day knowing little to none about what they are here for. I learn more and more each day, as I teach others, the way I can return to my Heavenly Father. I learn of his love and his patience for me. I learn that he is my brother and he loves me and protects me just as Grant would. I am grateful to have some knowledge and to be on a path where I somewhat know which direction to go. This opportunity that I have been given to be a missionary, is that of a shepherd. I am helping and guiding others along with me. I am going with them, hand in hand, back to Heavenly Father. My job is the best! I know that this is th eone and only true gospel and that Joseph Smith did restore the original gospel through Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon. I love you all and your examples and kinds words to me. I keep you in my prayers daily. Let us all be shepherds to others.
Steadfast & True,
Sister Fredrick
This Week:
So as I mentioned before, we had zone conference this week. My first one, and I loved it! We had training, quite the odd talent show(I didn't have to perform thank Heaven), and a Christmas program for the mission presidency. My favorite part of the conference was was the Christmas program. We sang songs as a whole group (70 missionaries), small groups, spanish-speaking groups, read poems, stories, and testimonies. I was asked to share a personal Christmas story. I racked my brain for some kind of Christmas miracle I had experienced, but none came to mind. Then I thought about the meaning of Christmas and when the meaning changed in my life. I told the story of when I learned that Santa was not real. I can vividly remember the kids at school telling me, but I did not believe. I went home and was sitting by the fire with mom while playing with our musical Santa sleigh that moves forwards and backwards, you know the one i'm talking about. Mom came over to me and asked me how my day was at school. I got all flustered and I clammed up. Mom then asked if something was wrong. I began to cry. Mom came over to me wrapping her warm arm around me and said, "Honey, are you okay?" I responded, telling her my dilemma. She said to me, " Samantha, it's time that you know that Santa isn't real, but that's no reason to be sad." WHAT?! NO REASON TO BE SAD! I thought. Mom pointed to the nativity on the mantle above the fireplace and said, "You see that right there. That is why there is not reason to be sad. The greatest gift of all that we will ever receive is the gift of the savior. The life he lead and the sacrifices he made for us. You can never be sad about as gift such as that." From that day on, Christmas meant a lot more to me. Though I was only 7 or 8, I began to see Christmas as a time of personal reflection, spiritual growth, and outward devotion. As I shared my personal story (which was more in-depth) I could not help but weep for joy as I thought about my savior, my family, and my purpose. I love Christmas!
Because we cover 7 stakes, we get invited to a whole lotta Christmas parties! My favorite so far was in one of our family wards. We were given a bag of candy in which we had to build a sleigh. We had a Hershey bar, some Twizzlers (momma's favorites) some candy canes, some kisses, some mints, and some gumdrops. We hot glued out candy canes to the bottom of our Hershey bar to form the runners. We then glued everything else on to make it pretty. We then brought our sleigh to the starting line of the race. No joke, this party was for racing candy-made sleighs. Like a pinewood derby thing. The kids were so into it! There were stages that you had to get through and an overall winner. Our sleigh was a bust and was the loser of the loser bracket, but hey it was fun!
So the jacket I have on in the puppy picture is from a member. She gave me two coats that her daughters had left behind. Super sweet of her. The members here are great, forreals.
So this mission really emphasizes less active and recent converts. Two families in particular hold a special place in my heart. The Summers and the Hambies. The summers are an army family, but the dad is now retired because he was hurt. He is only in his 30's but he gets to be with his family now. They have five kids and are awesome. The father is a little rough around the edges but is really cool. He was straight up at our first lesson and told me why they were inactive. They have been offended a few times and don't like organized religion. They love the gospel and live it, mostly, but don't see a reason to attend church meetings when they can teach their kids proper morals and respect at home. They do not like the LDS people around here because they are one person on Sunday and another person the rest of the week. He said that they wanted to make sure we understood that if we ever started to preach or judge them then they would not invite us back. He kind of called me out and said, "we'll see throughout these lessons how your character shows through." Well, our first lesson went great and I said, right before we left, "Do you think we can make a return appointment so I can prove to you that I have character." He smiled and laughed, as did his wife, and they said of course we could. I really like people like that. That say it how it is and stand their ground. The Summers are amazing.
The other family, whose puppy pug I am holding in the picture, are the Hambies. They are inactive as well due to offenses. One thing that bothers them is rules. They think that the different laws we abide by in the church takes away our free agency. They do not agree with BYU's honor code and such things as that. They live the gospel and love it as well. They just don't have a full grasp of some concepts I guess you could say. They said we can come over whenever, as long as we don't teach lessons because they already know everything about the gospel. So last night we went over and just got to know them better. We talked about Christmas traditions, dogs, family, scars, broken bones, school, kids, and many other things. They are just awesome and I can't wait to see them again.
Saturday night we had the privilege of going to the BYUI Christmas Concert featuring Nathan Pacheco who sounds just like Josh Groban! The senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Gunther whom we love so very much, bought us tickets, along with tickets for a part member family that we are teaching. It was so much fun and the spirit was so strong. The picture hat looks like we;re in the conference center is where it was. The BYUI auditorium, the Eye Center, was made as a replica of the conference center, just a little smaller. BYUi's campus is way nice, but still to cold for me to ever want to go to school here.
We're going to iJump for P-Day today! It's going to be so much fun! The most energy i'll be able to get out since I left home!
This was another great week and I would like to end it by bearing my testimony. This life is a time of preparation. Each and every one of us is on a path. Some know exactly where they are going, some know a few steps along the path, and some just go day-by-day knowing little to none about what they are here for. I learn more and more each day, as I teach others, the way I can return to my Heavenly Father. I learn of his love and his patience for me. I learn that he is my brother and he loves me and protects me just as Grant would. I am grateful to have some knowledge and to be on a path where I somewhat know which direction to go. This opportunity that I have been given to be a missionary, is that of a shepherd. I am helping and guiding others along with me. I am going with them, hand in hand, back to Heavenly Father. My job is the best! I know that this is th eone and only true gospel and that Joseph Smith did restore the original gospel through Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon. I love you all and your examples and kinds words to me. I keep you in my prayers daily. Let us all be shepherds to others.
Steadfast & True,
Sister Fredrick
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