Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Familia!
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| Awkward Merry Christmas from me |
The semester at BYU officially ended on Friday, so everyone's
gone. This place is like a ghost town. It stinks because that means most of our
investigators are gone, but we're making the most of it and spending a lot of
time in the two family stakes we cover. But this was our last week with all of
our people here until January 6 or so! That's so long. I already miss
them.
This is pretty much our relationship
Tuesday we met with Stephanie. It didn't go so well. We ended
up arguing about various things and the Spirit wasn't there and it was just a
really unproductive meeting. I texted Bro. Adams afterwards because we were
feeling really discouraged. Stephanie's friends have been telling us they felt
strongly that she was going to get baptized on December 14th and they had so
much faith and were so sure it was going to happen. But we didn't have the same
feeling as the date got closer. Sister Cha and I were feeling really down and
wondering what we were doing wrong. Were we lacking faith? Were we lacking in
obedience or diligence? What were we doing wrong? Was Stephanie not getting an
answer because of something we'd done? He said, "She'll get her answer when
Heavenly Father wants her to have it. At times we need to remember that we
cannot do it all. We can only do our part and that's all Heavenly Father wants
for us to do. Now is the time for faith and patience. Put your trust in Him and
you'll never go wrong." That made me feel better. Still bummed, but better. We
saw her again on Friday and the feeling between us was back to normal. She had a
chat with one of her law professors who joined the church when he was at BYU and
she talked to us afterwards. She realizes that it's more likely than not that
her answer will come as a feeling of peace and comfort. She'll know she's gotten
her answer when she feels good about baptism, but right now she feels good about
waiting, and that's okay! We're not really "teaching" her anymore, but we're
there when she needs us and we're going to continue to visit her and support
her. Stephanie is the best.
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| Mama Cha and me the morning of the sealing! |
It was really neat. I'd never been to a sealing before! First, Eduardo and
Veronica were sealed. And then the children came in. I'd never met this family.
I'd never even seen them before in my life. But as the family knelt down around
the altar together, I started crying. Shoot, everyone was crying! The Spirit in
that sealing room was incredible. I felt so strongly God's love for that family.
They put their hands on top of each other, and they became sealed as a family
for time and all eternity - stuck like glue forever and ever. The sealer had
them hug and kiss and stand in front of the mirrors and see the generations that
were now so positively effected. It was seriously the best. I can't wait to (one
day) go to the temple with my husband and be sealed forevz.
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| Garcia family at the temple! |
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| Reunited with my mom at the sealing! |
I love this time of year so much! The presents, and lights,
and songs, and glitter, and parties are all wonderful parts of Christmas, but
it's important to remember that the reason we celebrate this season is because
we celebrate the birth of our Savior! I know that He lives, and loves us. I'm
grateful for the time I have this year to share that with the world (or at least
Provo). The best gift any of us has ever received is the Atonement of Jesus
Christ. He is the way back home to our Father. This is one of my favorite quotes
by Elder Holland, "There is not a single loophole or curveball or open trench to
fall into for the man or woman who walks the path that Christ walks. When He
says, 'Come, follow me,' He mans that He knows where the quicksand is and where
the thorns are and the best way to handle the slippery slope near the summit of
our personal mountains. He knows it all, and He knows the way. He is the
way."
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