Christmas Christmas Christmas!!!!!!!

Hey everyone!

This week has been so Christmassy! There's no other way to describe

it! First off sister Ballard is just a champ. She plays the piano so

well, so she was asked to play in like 3 Christmas parties this week

and I was asked to sing in two of them, so that made the week very

festive in deed. Even though it's been like 80 degrees here, people

still try to make it seem like Christmas with lights and songs and

pretending it's freezing cold when it's like 70 degrees out hahaha

Californians are so adorable. It rained a lot yesterday (that's a fun

story) so it started to rain like crazy when we got done with dinner

from a member with the elders, so we ran to their car but they said

they couldn't take us anywhere because they had a lesson to get to and

they didn't want to drop us off in the rain. So we drove to their

lesson and they told us to not get out of the car because it was a

sketchy area and sisters are technically not supposed to be there. So

we were studying in the car, when sister Ballard said she had to go to

the bathroom so badly, and she couldn't wait. There was a grocery

store just at the end of the block so we RAN through the rain, jumping

over puddles, and made it to the store, and back soaking wet. It was

kind of fun! The Elders didn't even noticed we left at all, so it all

worked out fine.

Also, some good news I hope you all will enjoy- Maria is getting

baptized!!! Aaaaahhhhh I'm so excited for her! She excepted the date

January 30! It's been 10 years that missionaries have worked with her

on and off before, but she finally opened up to us and told us her

real concerns for being baptized and we were able to help her work

through it and give her a plan of how she will reach her goal. There's

a really good scripture you should read if you have trouble with

feelings of inadequacy, guilt, or a long for relief, Mosiah 26:30.

"and though repentance is not easy as we strive to obey with all our

hearts, he gives us this promise, 'Verily I say unto you

notwithstanding your sins my bowels are filled with compassion towards

you, I will not utterly cast you off, and in the day of wrath I will

remember mercy.' The savior wants to forgive." Elder Craig  A. Cardon.

This Christmas season is a time to remember why we need a savior. I

love being on my mission during this time especially because it helps

me focus on Jesus Christ more and understand more and more each day,

how much God loves us despite our imperfections. That is true love,

and that is true joy. I love my Savior, I love my Father in Heaven. I

can show my love for them everyday on my mission, and I challenge

those of you who are not on a mission to look and pray for missionary

opportunities to serve those around you and to share what we know to

be true.

I love you all! Stay warm! Keep smiling :)

Sister Plumb