my dearest family, so many new BABIES in the fam that I just want to squeeze!!!! thank you thank you for the pictures! I am so happy they are all here safe! maybe you could just give them a little smooch's for me :)
what an incredible week!!! I love CHRISTMAS time!! a time where we have an excuse to sing to people on the streets.. I think im carrying that one with me throughout my whole mission! there was a day, I felt like I just wanted to sing everything. so I said the next nice person we talk to... we're going to sing silent night. we met a lady and I was like hey! let us sing to you before you go!! so we did, and man, thank you Nauvoo auditions for making me have singing lessons. it was good for one thing. we could have been on American idol. the wind was blowing, the birds were chirping, the lady was smiling peacefully, i don't know where im going with this. but it was beautiful. silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is BRIGHT! literally, I felt the power in those words that day.
this week I have learned the power of a SMILE. we believe as latter day saints that the gospel of joy has been restored in its fullness because of the restoration. the prophets speak "there is hope smiling brightly before us" there are so many reasons to smile. you can tell anyone ANYTHING if you are smiling! there is no way anyone can take that away from you. no one can take the feelings of joy and happiness we feel as disciples of jesus Christ, away, no matter what. so keep smiling, and go about doing good!
I learned something new about the prophet joseph smith and how his smile changed everything. "one day the prophet was visiting his parents home in far west, when a group of armed militiamen came in and announced they had come to kill him for a supposed crime. Lucy Mack Smith, his mother, described his gift for peacemaking. Joseph looked upon them with a very pleasant "smile" and, stepping up to them, gave each of them his hand in a manner which conviced them that he was neither a guilty criminal nor yet a cowering hypocrite. they stopped and stared as though a spectre had crossed their path." joseph sat down in the conversation with them and explained to them the views and feelings of the people called Mormons and what their course had been. after Joseph left, two of the men went home with him to guard him. the power of a smile saved his life. and because of his smile, he was able to do missionary work among those that came to kill him.
Jesus Christ is our greatest example. he shows his example of a smile in 3 Nephi 19:22-25. "and it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did SMILE upon them, and the light of His countenance did shine upon them and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness there of did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness there of." as we smile, people will see that it truly looks like we believe!
it's been a crazy week full of miracles! we decided to do a 12 days of Christmas for our investigators. with the help of some ward members allowing us to be in their homes to get it all done. it has turned out wonderful and has made me so grateful for this season. "just like jesus, we came down from heaven to do the will of our father." Christmas is living the way he did. serving the way he did, and LOVING the way he did.
we have still been teaching Ellie and Jacob. (mother and son) they are doing incredible! Jacob loves the social aspect. and ellie knows the book of Mormon is true. they are a miracle I will never forget as we were walking on beacon and talked to them. Jacob told us yesterday that he wants to go on a mission to Rome. if that isn't the cutest thing, I don't know what is!! they are praying about January 2 for baptism!
family, the work of the Lord is moving quickly. I am so grateful to be on my mission during the time of the hastening. I LIVE for missionary work. and I will always cherish it. I challenge you to find joy in missionary work at home. pray for a desire, and act on your prayers. mom, I am so inspired you invited a YSA to be in our home over Christmas. the spirit led you to invite her, and it will be a memory she'll never forget! I hope she wakes up early and keeps that tradition, since I can't ;) I hope to be so welcoming to my home, just like you are.
Jesus Christ said it, "Pray on." 3 nephi 19:26. that's what I do, each and every day for you. you'll never know how much I adore and love you. there will be NO empty seats in our family. I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas!! be ready to share the miracles in your life!! muah muah!
xoxo, Hermana Ovard
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