So, it was Christmas this weekend! It didn't snow at all after Tuesday!! And so by Christmas all of the snow was melted. I can't remember what I wrote to you in my letter that got sent out yesterday, so I'll just tell you everything.
As a District we brought all of our presents and snacks to our classroom on Christmas morning and a few of the Elders had skipped breakfast and set up the classroom with a tree and everything! It was awesome! So, we opened presents and sang and had a really fun morning. It really felt like Christmas morning should feel. We got lots of interesting things and we have spent like 2 straight weeks just eating our snacks. So, I've probably put on a few pounds (Just for you, Josh).
Oh, I forgot to tell you about Christmas eve! Our teacher let us decorate our classroom! It's pretty rockin'! I'll send pictures as soon as I can! We had a great, amazing, fun, spiritual devotional that night and then we went caroling with some sisters in our zone and they put on an awesome nativity for us and we had a testimony meeting.
Russell M. Nelson came and spoke on Christmas afternoon, night, and they were here the morning of the 26th as well! And sister Nelson brought her best friend Sheri Dew with her as she spoke in Relief Society! Aaaannnd, I got to shake Sister Nelson's hand and I got to hug Sheri Dew! Her skin is so soft! Haha... ok, so I'm weird... oh well.
I just feel like this week I have been so spiritually uplifted and fed. More than anything I'm beginning to understand the love and selflessness of my Savior. He has done EVERYTHING in the world for us! Everything. I don't even think we can comprehend all that the Lord has done for us... and the only thing he asks in return are things that bring US joy and bring joy to others. I think I understand when Mosiah says in Mosiah 2 (verse.. 21?) that if we serve Him all the days of our lives yet will we still be unprofitable servants.
Christmas night we had a special Christmas Carol play. And I started thinking about how God works with His children. And I started thinking about the things he does to get us to change and to improve. I know that God didn't appear to Ebenezer Scrooge... and I know Mr. Scrooge isn't actually a real person. But, how many times in our lives has God obviously intervened and taught us a very profound lesson in order to help us realize what we need to do and how we can be happy? God plays SUCH an active role in each of our lives and will do ANYTHING, except for denying us agency, to bring us to Him again. That is an amazingly empowering thought to me. The most amazing and wonderful and powerful being in the universe cares enough about me, Lauren Jones, to personally teach me and lead me to salvation. I may not always understand and I may not always agree, but since when do children ever understand the lessons their parents teach them, or the reasoning of their parents. I am just so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who will lead me individually by the hand to find the greatest joy and happiness... more joy and happiness than I can yet fathom.
Alright... now I'm going to tell you a little bit of what Elder Nelson told us. He said that just in the past few months 8 countries are now open for missionary work! (Don't ask me what they are, he spoke very fast and they were all weird names). He also had a few really really funny quotes. I hope they're still funny out of context. He said: "If I want to quickly be excommunicated from the church, I would practice polygamy. The other sins take longer." He also retold a conversation where a man asked him, "You don't believe in the Bible, do you?" To which Elder Nelson replied, "Of course I do. Our members wrote it."
Elder Nelson talked a lot about having your message prepared ahead of time and being able to answer questions simply, quickly and very concise. And at the end he invoked the blessings of Heaven on us!! How often does that happen?! He blessed us to feast upon the words and pray, to be safe in our journeys, to extend love to our families and to be instruments unto the Lord. Amazing!
Other things I learned this week: I should not feel like an outcast. I think we all have moments where we feel like we don't fit in. I feel like that more and more every day, it seems. But Sister Nelson said that we have no right to feel like that. As long as we are doing our best and spending our time serving the Lord and doing His work, we are doing exactly what we need to be doing. So, all of you who read this, do not let yourself feel like an outcast or awkward. You are an amazing creation of God! You have divine heritage and unlimited potential and opportunity! Focus less on what you can do and more on what the Savior has already done and what He is willing to do for you!
Sister Nelson also gave us an assignment. She told us to find all of the answers to life's problems in the scriptures. She said that we need to take our scriptures, humble ourselves and plead with the Lord to have the Holy Ghost and then ask the Lord specific questions. Then, read the scriptures until you have your answer. It won't take very long... but just read until you find the answer. In 2nd Nephi it says to feast upon the words of Christ, for the words of Christ will tell you all things that you should do. There are no qualifications.
I hope your Christmas was amazing! I wish I had time to tell you every detail, but I only get a half hour. It was the most spiritual Christmas weekend of my life! I wish you all could have been here! I definitely got a little homesick... but I know I'm doing the Lord's work and I'm exactly where I need to be. I love and miss you all so much!
