Transfers, Christmas, and Fun!

December 14, 2015

Well ladies and gentlemen... the verdict has come., Transfer instructions were given, and tears were shed.  BUT I AM NOT LEAVING THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF HUNTSVILLEEE!!! Wooohooo!!

I get to have at least one more wonderful transfer here and I am so beyond excited.  However my partner in crime, my beautiful Utahan companion, Sister West is leaving :(   This was a complete surprise to us both!! I was so sure that we would have another transfer together since she's only been here for 5 weeks (a transfer but not even a real transfer!)  She was devastated, as was I....We really work well together and laugh so much. I love that girl with my whole heart!  But its okay because I am going to be her Maid of honor when she gets married so its fine.  But still very sad.  And that isn't even the end to the madness.....I AM TRAINING.  yep you read that right.  I am going to get a cute little noobie missionary and I WILL BE A MOTHER.  are you kidding me??/ haha I was in such shock when I heard the news!  But I am super excited. We will have so much fun together and just learn together as well.  I feel really blessed and honored that President Hanks is entrusting me with this huge responsibility!! but I am sooooooooooo nervous. So send them prayers this way por favor.  I really need them.

This week was wonderful though! 

We will first start with last Monday.  We meet an extremely elect girl!! Her name is Ana and she is wonderful.  We met her last week as she was getting her mail! She has been in America for almost a year and is from Mexico and speaks no english.  She is pregnant and is due at the end of December or the beginning of January.  When we met, neither Sister West and I thought anything of it.  But we called her and set up an appointment.  It was SO GOOD. Before we even knocked on her door we were talking to some hispanos outside her apartment,  she opened her door and asked if we knocked.  She was expecting us!! That does not happen very often people!!!  She was so engaged and had some wonderful questions.  The spirit was so strong.  At one point I looked at her and just asked her what she was feeling. She said that she the things were teaching were interesting and different but she said that she had never felt this way before and was excited to learn more.  OH YES ANA! Lets goo!! She is just adorable. 

In the ABM President Hanks loves to hear our Emmaus experiences.  Referring to Luke 24 when the disciples came acrossed Christ but didn't know it was him till after.  and they say "did not our hearts burn within us when he spoke, surely it was the Christ"  Emmaus experiences are basically like miracle moments.  And my friends, Ana was our Emmaus experience this week!

On Wednesday we had Ukulele Choir!  This was our last practice for awhile as a Choir because Christmas is coming up they are taking a break.  So we had a big ole potluck with REAL southern food!! This is one of the few times I have had real southern food because being in a branch its like being not in the south at all so it was so fun!  The ladies were pointing out all the real southern dishes and explained where they originated and what not haha so cute! Afterwards we prayed for thanks and sang Christmas carols!

Thursdays Sister West and I go and volunteer at the Senior Center and this Thursday was our first day! We are lunch ladies!! haha yayy!! We are so cute in our little hair nets and gloves! haha it was a wonderful experience!

Friday was our mission Christmas Party!! Every year they split the mission and have two mission Parties with a talent show and lunch feast and we get to watch a Disney movie!! SO FUN!  The Talent show was so fun!! And we got to watch Big Hero 6 as our movie this year!  

Can I just say how much I love Christmas?? Because I LOVE CHRISTMAS. Why is it so wonderful? Because Christ is in everyones heart.  What really saddens me is that some people don't know why we celebrate Christmas.  A lot of people love Christmas but don't know the reasons we celebrate this wonderful time of year.  It really does make it so much more meaningful when we remember our Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ and His humble birth. 

This past weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the Huntsville and Madison stake put on a HUGE giant Christmas Festival at our building.  They transformed the whole inside and in the gym had tons of nativity scenes (like our Creche back home we sometimes have)  and Christmas trees and homemade quilts!  On top of that there is a wonderful Choir and orchestra from people in both stakes that perfomed concerts each night.  As missionaries we all had shifts we had to be there are do certain things.  Saturday Night Sister West and I were able to attend one of the concerts.  IT WAS AMAZING.  Seriously it was the Motab of the South.  They have been doing this Christmas festival for 11 years and people from ALL over Alabamba come.  not even members!! We invited everyone we talked to and a few actually came!  It was so beautiful.. a great reminder of Christ.

Before all the fun stuff we got to do at the Christmas party we had a Christmas Devotional by President and Sister Hanks.  It was based on a question: 

What can I give the Savior this year?  His answers were

-Our Knowledge of His life

-Our testimony of Him

-Gratitude for all He's given us

-Service to others

-Our very best effort.

That last one sums them all up.  And that's what I am going to do this Christmas.  I am going to give my heart and soul to my Savior Jesus Christ.  Hand it right on over.  Make the necessary sacrifices to come closer to Him.  And I want to encourage you all to do the same.  It is so much more meaningful than any present or gift we can receive. I already see a difference in the way I look at Christmas.

Before I end.

Sister Hanks said this which i LOVE "The best way to make room for Christ is to make room for others.  When we open the door for others, He rushes in with them."  

I know this gospel is true.  Jesus Christ is our brother, our exemplar, our king.  He is Wonderful.  He is there.  He really was born those many years ago.  This is not a childrens story or a fairytale, His birth really did happen.  And how blessed are we to have known it!!  Let us rejoice in it.

Thank you for your prayers and your support.  I cant wait to see all your beautiful faces in just a few short days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love,

Hermana Syringe Molynge