December 23, 2009

Buon Natale a tutti!
I'm sorry that I didn't have time to send everyone their own individual Christmas card. Turns out we don't have much free time on the mission. But know that I'm thinking of you and love you all and hope you have a great holiday season!
Another great week on the island. We had a lesson about the Plan of Salvation with Luisa and she loved it. She just kept smiling the whole time. As usual, she analyzed everything and understood it all. She's so great. We're focusing on helping her recognize the Spirit. She's friends with a member in the branch so hopefully he and his family can help us out.
We had a lesson with Marisa and Sara. They're so fun! We sang Christmas carols around the fire, and then Marisa recounted the Christmas story. Well...kind of. I don't know if she's actually ever read the Bible, so there were definitely some made-up characters in her version. And she even had names for all of the hotels that Joseph tried to find room in. (like The Grey Bear Hotel) It was great! But she got the main idea of the story, so it was okay.
About a week and a half ago we talked to a man on the bus about english class. We talked just for a few seconds about the Church, but mostly we just talked about random things. Two days later he showed up for church! He loved it and came again this last week, too. He started meeting with the Elders and is soaking up the Gospel. It really made me realize that you never know who is ready for the Gospel and how much of an impact you can have. This man didn't seem to have any interest at all about spiritual things, and now he's been to church 2 weeks in a row.
Another little experience...there is an inactive family in the branch who we had never met. One day, about 6 weeks ago, we decided to call them just to say hi. As soon as the husband answered the phone and we told him who we were, he started talking about how they haven't been to church in a long time and how he really needs to start coming back. I didn't even say a word, and he said "Thanks for the call. I really needed that. I'll see you at church on Sunday." He and his 2 kids have been to church every week since! It's so amazing how the smallest little things can have such a huge influence on someone else. Often times we don't even recognize the influence that we can have.
Monday night we had dinner with the District President and his family, who are amazing! They taught us some phrases in Sard (the dialect here on the island). Then one of the elders did impressions of all of us missionaries. Turns out I'm pretty bossy! Who knew? :)
Yesterday we had a little birthday party for less-active Susan. We asked her what she wanted to do to celebrate, and she wanted to watch Joy to the World. Caterina was able to come this time and they both loved it. They both really recognize the true meaning of Christmas.
We also had a great lesson with Isabella yesterday. We talked about the Plan of Salvation. She's so cute! She understands well. She has a hard time recognizing the Spirit, so we're going to help her more with that. We also need to help her wake up on time for church! She's a typical 21-year old so you can't blame her too much.
Life is great! Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I'm so grateful to be a missionary this holiday season. We watched the First Presideny Christmas Devotion a few weeks ago, and I loved with President Eyring said:
"We can choose this Christmas and every day to create a small part of the Christmas story in our own lives. We can accept the invitation of living prophets to help those who are lost along the pathway, and have wandered, to come back to it. We can offer the gospel, which is the only way home, to all we meet along the way. We can lift up those who are tired and hungry and lonely, as the Savior did and now invites us to do with Him. As we do, they can feel how much the Savior loves them and wants to lead them on the way to the God He loves.
In the stories of Christ’s birth, we can see and feel who He was and who He is. That lightens our load along the way. And it will lead us to forget ourselves and to lighten the load for others. That can make every day feel like the best of our Christmases past."
It is through service to others that we feel the Spirit of Christmas. And we can feel that same way every day of our lives, as we strive to serve each and every day. I know this Gospel is true. It is the only way. I love my Savior and my Redeemer.
Buon Natale! Vi voglio tanto bene!
Sorella Hawkey