He Is the Gift!

So I'm super short on time but I will do my best to update you all! First I would like to say I've been out 5 months today! WHAT?! I feel like its been MAYBE a month! How is it already Christmas?! Next week brings in 2015!!!! Where is time going?!

So for Christmas we go caroling as a zone on Mondays. Its an adventure to say the least... Ha but anyway we went on exchanges on Tuesday! It was so AMAZING! I went to Lacey with Sister Dunster (who just happens to be from St. Joseph, Mo. and her home ward is my new ward as my parents just moved in there! Crazy!) We had a great day together. We discovered we know all the same dancers at BYU-I and were even at the same game night without even realizing it. Small world! Somewhere in the 24 hours we were together something clicked for me that I probably won't ever be able to explain but I can say that Grace is real. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Something I've always gotten stuck on is that Grace makes up for the rest after "all we can do". I could never get it out of my head that there was more I could do and I would become frustrated with myself when I fell short. Its so great to know and feel that we don't have to be perfect because we can learn from our imperfections and continue progressing. I love the Savior and His gospel.

Tomorrow is our Christmas party and I'm kind of bummed about how long it is. Its from 9 am to 4pm. That's a long time not to be working. But it'll be fun. I get to see all the missionaries I love (well those still here). Its amazing how random strangers become family within seconds. Even before I know them I love them! I'm out of time though so I'm just going to say I hope this email makes sense and that everyone has a amazing Christ centered Christmas!!!!

Love you all!

One slow week

Well there really isn't anything to report on this week. It has been very slow moving week. We are currently in the finding phase so hopefully the work will pick up!

The ward had their Christmas party and I have NEVER seen a ward go as all out as OLY 4th. They are serious about their ward parties. The relief society was working from noon until 5:30 pm decorating the table with elegant table centers along with the stage, the piano, and the food tables. It was all very impressive. We spent a good bit of time helping and had a lot of fun with that.

The Christmas Devotional was absolutely great last night. I really enjoyed all of the talks. If you didn't get a chance to watch/listen to it I'd encourage you to go find it on lds.org.

Well sorry this is so short but like I said there really isn't anything to report on. This coming week we have president interviews and I always enjoy my conversations with President and Sister Blatter so that'll be fun. Hopefully next week will hold more exciting details for you all to read but until then I hope you all are doing well!

Gratitude means having a great attitude

So there's not too much to share this week.

We ended up pushing Alyssa's baptism to December which worked out for the best as she got the flu a few days beforeSaturday. It'll be good as she'll have more time to prepare.

We've begun teaching the sweetest little boy named Charlie. He is 8 years old and comes from a rough home. He is always hanging out at Regina's and started sitting in on our lessons and has come to church the last two weeks. Its really sad to see his home situation but it makes it even more apparent how much the gospel blesses our lives. He is loved by everyone at church and he already is singing all the songs in primary and answering questions! He is a way outstanding little man. Charlie has already informed us that he can't wait to go on a mission in 10 years! We're hoping some of his faith will rub off on his parents and brighten things at home for him.

Thursday was the longest park day I've had yet. We ended up using the Elders bikes the first half of the day. I never realized how intense the hills were here while in a car (other than the ridiculously steep drive ways I walked up my first transfer). We didn't bike too much maybe 7 miles or so but it was an adventure.

Transfer calls came on Saturday with a surprise. Sister Kramer and I will both be staying in Olympia for the next 6 weeks. Everyone here is very pleased. The Relief Society women actually cheered when we announced that all 4 of us missionaries were staying. OLY 4th is really catching on to missionary work and it will be really great to watch how much more they will grow here in the next few weeks.

Pretty sure every week comes with at least one funny comment towards us from somebody. This weeks was from our lovely Regina. She was talking about how she understands how we must have felt watching her learn and prepare for baptism as she was getting to do that with Charlie and she said it was just so amazing. She continued talking about how great the church and gospel are and said she had been hooked the first time we talked to her. She then looked at us very seriously and said, "You two are like my gospel dealers." Sister Kramer and I had to take a moment to process what she said then busted up laughing. I never expected to be compared to a drug dealer. Especially while on my mission. I guess it sort of works. The knowledge of Christ and His gospel is something you want to be fully dependent on. Leave it to Gina to give us the weirdest analogies! Haha!

This week was full of miracles. Last Sunday on conference call President Blatter announced that he was going to set goals that if we could reach them we would be able to attend transfer meetings whether we were being transferred or not (which was a big deal because so many amazing missionaries are returning home this week). Sister Kramer and I really focused on the goals president set and it was by miracle alone that we actually reached them all!

My testimony on prayer and fasting was really strengthened this week. Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers the way we expect but He DOES answer them. All you have to do is ask and then be willing to accept the answer He gives. We may really wants something but He knows what is best and His answers are SO much better than what we wanted. We simply have to let Him show us how.

Anyway that's all I have to say so I hope you're all doing well. Love you all and don't forget to pray!