The Week of Holiday Goodness

On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-three of Sister
Cale's previous companions were assigned to her old areas, the sisters
went from being a trio to being a normal companionship, as a
consequence Sister Cale got to sleep in a real bed again and found
herself thinking that it was kind of too big, Santa promised to open
doors for them so they could share their message, the sisters helped
with primary and taught in Young Women's, Sister Cale fulfilled one of
her mission bucket list requirements when they helped someone move on
one of the coldest days of this winter so far, and the Ward took such
great care of the sisters that they really didn't have time to think
about the fact that they weren't at home.

Hello Whos in Whoville,

Guys, Christmas is this week! I don't know if you've been counting
down as much as we have, but that means that Christmas is basically in
THREE days! Three days! Holla! I'm pretty much convinced that this
might very well be the very best week of my mission. I love this
season so much. When people are already thinking of Christ before you
arrive at their door to invite them to think more about him, miracles
happen. Sometimes those miracles are small and they're very nice,
sometimes the miracle is bigger and you happen to get five new
investigators in the course of one night (last Thursday-wonders like I
have not previously seen). In addition to all the mission miracles,
Christmas also means that I get to talk to my family which is going to
be the highlight of the life. We're really excited for this upcoming
week because we have the Mission Christmas Devotional (to be read
Party with fireside at the end of the evening) tomorrow, and then
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We're so excited to bake some goodies
and take them around to all the humans that we love here in
Pickerington. Being completely fair, we probably won't actually get to
take them to all the humans that we love, because we really love a lot
of people here.

Enough about how great this week is though. Let's talk about last week.

I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the fourth time this year.
Can I just tell you how much I love this book? It truly is some kind
of magical. I love that the spirit teaches me different things each
time that I read and how it truly does draw me closer to my Father in
Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon has helped me find
greater peace and comfort and joy during this last year than any other
thing. My mission experience would have been and would be entirely
different without it. I know that it truly is the words of God and
that just as the promise in the introduction states, that in knowing
that the Book of Mormon is true, we can also know that Joseph Smith is
a prophet of God, that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World, and
that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is God's kingdom
once again established on the Earth preparatory to the second coming
of the Messiah (don't get mad if the promise isn't verbatim, I was
going off of memory).

Thursday after we said goodbye to our beloved Sister Davis (who went
with Sister Gordon to Pataskala) we saw miracles happen. It was such a
good day. We were finally able to get into contact with several
potential investigators who we had been trying to get together with
all transfer. We were able to share part of the restoration with an
older woman named Barbara who is quickly becoming one of my favorite
people here in Pickerington, and then the whole first lesson with five
teenagers whose parents we were supposed to be meeting with. Miracles
happened. Our whole last weekend was good. We were able to teach and
serve and we had a blast doing it.

One of my favorite parts of this weekend was Choir practice for the
missionary fireside tomorrow night. I love singing and I love seeing
my missionary friends. All good stuff.

We got to teach the Young Women about inviting others to come unto
Christ yesterday. It was fun. We started out and told them that we
were going to share one of our most favorite holiday treats with them.
Most of them had never tried a chocolate orange. I was so confused by
that, but it made a good link to the concept that we naturally want to
share the things that we love that have improved our lives in some way
with others. When I put my papers in and was waiting for my call I was
decidedly nervous about how I was going to be able to share the gospel
with others in a way that wouldn't seem pushy or obnoxious. During
this past (almost) year I have been given more opportunities than I
can count to share the gospel in small and simple ways because it is
something that brings me peace, joy, comfort, motivation, happiness,
and direction. That has been the greatest blessing.

The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.

Merry Christmas Darlings!

Love,

Jessica