this week has been so lovely. we have seen a lot of miracles and have visited a lot of members and investigators. The joy of Christmas is so great, especially to be a missionary during this season. It will be a little different next year when I'm not wearing a nametag, not having the mindset of finding people and testifying every single day. I don't want that to change though; I will still have Christ written on my heart and I can still testify and bring others to Christ even though I won't be an official representative of Christ. Missions don't really end, right? :(
Let's see...Tuesday we had District Meeting, then went and visited Sandra, an inactive member. She just found out she has cancer and she needs to have a surgery. She is really just not happy and it's so sad to see her depressed so we go over once or twice a week to cheer her up and share a message with her and always invite her to church, but she never comes. She is in a lot of pain so that doesn't help. well, we won't stop going over, even though every time we leave her house smelling like we smoked a joint or two (she lives with her friend who smokes) but we love them and smelling like smoke tends to be a thing as a missionary :) after that we biked over to Ikea where we had a lesson with our investigator named Micky. Micky is a hoot. He loves talking. He has been to church twice now, so he seems like he's really liking it and he has read all the way to the end of Alma in the Book of Mormon...so this appointment we taught him the rest of the Plan of Salvation, and when we got to the life on earth part we paused and asked how he felt about the steps we need to take in life in order to return to God (faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) and he was like, "ja, ja, het klopt en ik ben er mee eens" (yeah that makes sense and I totally agree) and we were like...well how do you feel about getting baptized? do you feel you are ready? and bless his heart, we think we scared him because he seemed a little confused/freaked out but we both agree that it was needed so he knows why we are here, and why we meet with him! we taught him the rest of the lesson and it went well. We hope and pray that he comes to know the things that we teach him are true. I mean for Heaven sakes, he's almost done reading the book of mormon and he's come to church a few times and has made friends with the members. we'll get him. after that we went to a senior member christmas dinner at the church where we had indonesian/chinese take out and it was delicious and sister SC and I got volunteered to sing a christmas song while a member strummed the chords on his guitar. yay.
On Wednesday we had another busy day, going from appointment to appointment, sharing christmas messages with members through singing "Stille nacht" (silent night) while sister stewart-chester played the guitar and they always love it. We visited 2 investigators, Anna and Piet. Both were great lessons. Anna has a handicapped daughter and she was there so we weren't able to get through the first lesson completely (she and we thought it would be a good idea to go through all the lessons again to prepare her more for baptism) she really wants to be baptized, she just has a problem with smoking and her boyfriend is living with her so we are praying and helping her see the importance of living these commandments from God. But she is really just the sweetest person ever. She is from Poland and has lived here for 15 years. I love her so much! Something I witnessed this week more than any week in my mission was the love that God has for His children. every person we visited this week is such a special child of God. and everyone on earth :) I sound like such a sister missionary...maybe it's because I AM ONE hahaha... "i just love everyone!" "i love all the cats in the world!" k anyways..
On thursday we spent some time in the morning to bake some lekkere dingen to bring around to our neighbors...we have been feeling like we need to get to know them better so we went around and tried...we didn't have much time though. we will still continue to try however.
on Christmas day we visited Sandra again, and a few other members, then had a huge Christmas dinner at an older woman's house who is a member here in Groningen. she lives alone because her husband passed away a few years ago so she has the missionaries over every year. So she had us, the elders, and the senior couple over! we had a 5 course meal...it was delicious. Then we went back to the Romigs and skyped you guys! that was wonderful. I am so grateful for my family. I am so happy you support me and pray for me every day! I really feel those prayers. Thank you. Ik hou van jullie!!!!
The rest of the week went well, and Anna came to church for the special christmas program but she sat out in the hall because her daughter didn't want to go inside so i sat out there with her and talked with her. she really wants this. there are just a few things that need to be taken care of. The adversary is really working hard on her. Please pray that she will have more happiness in her life, especially through keeping her commitments we give her and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The work up here in Groningen has been amazing and the Lord is blessing us with miracles everyday. I love this work. I love being a missionary. every day is literally an adventure, and it's the best.
I love you all! sorry for the super long email...i figured it was time to update you a little more on the people we are teaching here. Also we finally got ahold of Nasu. she was out of town for a few weeks and forgot her phone and then she came home and got the flu so we haven't been able to meet with her still but hopefully this week.
Have a great week! There are miracles everyday. Satan wants us to think otherwise. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. We are all human and we all have doubts. just remember to doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith (President Uchtdorf everyone).........and remember that WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM. even though Christmas is over, we can still celebrate Christ everyday. He was born and He was the perfect example for us. He died so we can LIVE. I know that. I have a testimony of that and it burns within me. I don't have any other desire than to share that will these people. Come unto Him and let Him CHANGE you. I love Him. I love my Savior.
Zuster Harris out.
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