Merry Christmas

Only 6 days till CHRISTMAS! Love it! Here are the happenings for the week that looking back on felt like a MONTH! So busy and I LOVE it!
1. We have been having meals with members and it has been really fun! This week my companion and I both got sick from a members cooking that I got sick AGAIN from a different member... what are they trying to do to us?! hahah
2. We had our mission Christmas party this week... AWESOME!! They asked us to share a talent and so it was in two parts. One part in the chapel with spiritual talents like singing a Christmas song or hymn, playing piano and such. Then the next part was in the gym with the stage after lunch WHICH was like a legit Christmas dinner with turkey, potatoes and everything. It was a really nice way to get the Christmas spirit and have fun and laugh with each other. I was part of a group talent. We lip synced Oh Happy Day from Sister Act 2 and the I hope they call me on a mission from Popcorn Boppin' CD. It has a rap in that part... i was one of the rappers. Sister Olsen and I were.  SOOO nervous but we looked AWESOME! I have a video. People told us all after us that it was so unexpected and best of the day when we just came out.
3. We watched the Prophet of the Restoration DVD with Sharon this week. She LOVED it! She was all teary eyed and afterwards she just kept saying that she was going to be thinking about that all night and how much he went through. Next time we met with her she just told us how it just confirms to her how we all go through trials and how real Joseph Smith is. I LOVE it!
4. While teaching Orrillius the word of wisdom I was a little nervous. I knew he drank coffee before. As we were having the lesson and we asked him to live it he just goes, "Its the word of God, I have to live it. Yes I will live the word of wisdom" Our next lesson we went over his baptismal date again and again he said yes. It is December 25th. A white Christmas here in Pasadena! I'm so happy for him. His countenance has changed and he is so happy. We talked more about his mother and her feelings about it and he was telling us that he cant deny what the spirit is telling him. Love that faith!!
5. It is amazing to me how much our investigators are helping bring their friends to lessons and such more than members are. makes me feel bad for all the times I could have and didn't. But I am now! :] We were able to get two new investigators from one current investigator. Amazing.
6. I was able to go on exchanges this week... LOVED it! I was with Sister Filimoehala. She is so sensitive and full of the spirit. Love her! We stayed up till 130 talking... 630 came WAY too quick hhaha
7. As we met with Lydia this week, we watched the Restoration DVD with her. We had taught about Joseph Smith but we weren't sure she was fully understanding. She LOVED being able to watch it and seeing it unfold. She told us how she could feel that he was real. She is really starting to open up and ask questions she has or about things she has heard. She is really good. The kids are still all excited and happy coming to church and church activities.
8. I got TWO new pillows!! The Ronald McDonald house lady we work with Vicki gets 10 new pillows every quarter. But this time she got 30. She told us, "Please take one or two!" So we did. I got a temperpetic one and a down feather one with an air thing to make it firm or not... SOOO nice! My pillows were dying.
9. Yesterday was President Becerras birthday and we got invited over for ice cream and cake. We went over and it was the senior missionaries from the office and 3 other sets of missionaries. One of the sets were the assistance to the president... of course they were there. We ate cake... talked then about 9 when we are usually supposed to be home we sat down for a question and answer time with president... it was AWESOME! It was so personal and a good discussion with all of us, president and his wife and two kids. We left their home at 1045... lights out are supposed to be 1030 hahah We got home at 11 and fell into bed happy and blessed.
10. My favorite scripture this week... is really a few. In the beginning of Matthew 2 it talks about the 3 wise men out to find baby Jesus and how they followed the star. And as they got to him the presented their gifts. As our spiritual thought the past week we have been sharing a story about the true meaning of Christmas and the symbols that are all around us and how they all have a true meaning. And as I thought about the star I think about how the light is what we should ALWAYS be going to. As I read the scripture in Matthew though I thought about as we go to judgement and present ourselves... will it be enough? Our gift. I want to make sure that I am doing all I can so it will be enough.
 
LOVE YOU ALL!!
 
Sister Arbogast