Oh
man, I cannot believe Christmas has come & gone in the blink of
an eye and now it's almost 2016!
I
really don't have much to report on this week since I got to SKYPE MY
FAMILY on Christmas day, which was the best ever! Being on a mission,
away from your family for so long makes it a very strange experience
when you have the chance to talk to them face to face, even over
skype. Although it was strange, it was the best strange I could've
asked for. That was my 3rd time skyping my family on my mission &
I don't know about you, but that was my FAVORITE. Just one more skype
session to go & I'll see you all in person a couple weeks later
:)
 |
| Sister Helms |
 |
| Hermana Whitten |
We
went on a couple exchanges this week, which were AWESOME!
Wednesday
I stayed in my area for the first time with Sister Helms, who was
Sister Anderson's MTC companion. She is SO SWEET. I just love her &
really enjoyed the day with her. &
on Saturday I was in my area with Hermana Whitten. She's sooo funny.
I'm really liking going on exchanges with the sisters :)
Christmas
eve was so great! during the day we were able to find an old folk's
home to carol to. They brought some of them (just about 10) in the
dining hall & we sang for about 20 minutes. It was the toughest
crowd I've ever sung to. We found out as we were leaving that it was
not your ordinary old folks' home, but a home for those who have
mental deterioration such as Alzheimer's or Dementia. After
we knew that, we understood why the audience was the way they were.
Later
our recent convert in YSA, (Young Single Adult ward) Desiree, texted us & asked if we could
have a lesson with her. We took Hanna Schulthess & after the
lesson Hanna brought Desiree back to her house & we had Christmas
Eve dinner with the Schulthess' & the Schaeffer's (bishop, his
wife & 2 kids)
My
little spiritual thought for the week is about repentance & the
sacrament.
I
was reading from an old ensign this week--the April 2007 general
conference edition. I read "I Am Clean" by President
Hinckley. In it he tells a story from Joseph F. Smith & a lesson
that he learned--cleanliness is next to godliness. And he quoted this
scripture that really hit home for me.
“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
“Learn to do well; …
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:16–18).
Sometimes
as a missionary you feel as though you need to be perfect. We're held
to very high standards & sometimes it's a daunting task to
measure up. When we fall short we can easily become discouraged &
feel that we could've done better. This is kind of the way I was
feeling at one point this week. But I know that the Lord loves me &
will forgive me & strengthen me when I come to Him. I know it's
the same for you. He doesn't expect us to be perfect now. He does
expect us to do our best, but He knows we will fall, we will fail.
With our fallings & our failings comes feelings of guilt &
sorrow. However, this scripture states it perfectly. The Lord wants
us to come to Him & reason with Him. The best way to do this is
through sincere prayer & partaking of the sacrament. The
Sacrament is the Lord's way in telling us our sins are forgiven. I'm
sooo beyond grateful for the sacrament. It meant more to me this
week, as I've been studying repentance, than in recent weeks.
A
challenge to all: the next time you feel down & out because of a
mistake you made, a harsh word you said, a thought you might've had,
stop & pray & ask the Lord to forgive you & help you be
better. I promise He will. Then take the sacrament knowing He has
forgiven you & not only that, but He strengthens you to do better
& to be better.
Welll,
I think that's about it for this week. I'll talk to you in a quick
week when it is WEEK 6. Can you believe it? only 2 more weeks of this
transfer! ahhhh.
talk
to you next week!
Until
then, stay gold.
xoxo
Sister Viraldo
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