The Savior's Birth and Other Good News

Feliz Navidad mis queridos!!

  Christmas was a pretty emotional day but I loved seeing my family and having the chance to share my testimony with them. SOooo much happened this week. First it was the week of crazy occurences. Monday we taught a golden family, Tuesday my trainee had a serious allergic reaction to hidden peanuts and we had to cancel our appointments the rest of the night, Wednesday was our first big snow and it was exciting to see Hermana Coleman get really excited, Thursday was a last minute trip to Temple Square, Friday was I don't even know, Saturday our bathroom flooded and we spent all morning getting help and cleaning it up, then later that day turned into a finding day of miracles, and then I'll talk more about Sunday and Monday. There's just too much to say like always so I'll try to pick a few choice experiences. 

  As we walked through an apartment complex I had a missionary reward moment as we ran into a girl we had contacted before. Last time I had invited her to look at a conference talk but walked away feeling like she hadn't really been interested. But that day when I told her, hey I remember you, she suddenly thanked me and said she had actually read some of the talk I left her and said that we had been a light in her life that day and felt like someone actually cared about her. It was really cool to know that I had actually helped someone I didn't think was interested. 

  I love my companion! Training is hard and good. But we help each other out a lot and we saw a lot of miracles just trying to be diligent and keep finding people. God put people who speak Spanish into our path who we could talk to simply as we tried to talk to everyone! It was fun to knock doors and share Christmas scriptures and occasionally sing a carol. We learned to just laugh off the awkward moments of people trying to figure out ways to get rid of us haha. But most people have been nice lately. 

  I enjoyed Christmas Eve as I got a bit of my Alley Family Christmas on and ding dong ditched gifts at people's houses. :) The bishop entrusted us with handing out some anonymous donations so that was cool. And I already told this story to my family, but that evening we went to an investigator's house where a lot of their friends from Colombia were over and we were able to share a message about Christ with a full room of people. There was a special spirit as they all paid close attention, and I realized there was nothing I would rather do on Christmas Eve but bear my testimony of the Savior! Christmas we woke up in the morning and attempted to carry on the traditions of our families by taking turns opening the packages we had received. 

  SHOUTOUTS: Thank you to those who sent thoughtful cards and gifts! Geneva Ward Elders Quorum, Sister Hohman, Sister Hamilton, the Pack family, McMarrows, Deems, Aunt Tina, Grandma Alley, Spokane and Propser Alley families and Mom. Love you all! 

  It was also pretty special to go to Temple Square Christmas evening :) The people we brought loved the Plan of Salvation video. I know that families can be eternal and that God is just waiting to bless us as we only obey Him. The Church of Jesus Christ is so true and I feel it in my heart. God sent His son to earth not to condemn the world, but that we may be saved through him. "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony last of all that we give of Him, that HE LIVES"! (D&C 76:22)

Feliz Navidad y les amo a todos!!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Alley