Last Thursday we met with the person in charge of giving foreign officials tours of the MTC to prep us for meeting the head of immigration in Mongolia. Coming out of it, I was even more nervous than before (there's just a lot we can't talk about, shouldn't talk about, and things to remember to talk about), but I know it will be fine because this is the Lord's work and as long as we do our best the Lord will take care of the rest. Still a lil nervous though. Next week I will give a full report, so stay tuned.
On Sunday, Sister Richter and I gave the Relief Society lesson on "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts" which, as we were planning it, seemed like a topic that everyone has talked about and we wanted to make it different and interactive. We ended up drawing a flow chart on the whiteboard, showing how everything in our missionary purpose is connected to one another, and also why we need to baptize converts and not just people. The sisters had really awesome comments and scriptures, and we asked them how they have seen the blessings of repentance and baptism in their lives, and Sister Maccabee (who was baptized when she was a teenager) talked about her conversion story and made us all cry, and then one of the wives of the MTC presidency that was visiting our RS also talked about an experience that she had had and the spirit was so strong and it just felt so right and good. The really cool part was that we didn't really follow a tight lesson plan, I felt like our lesson went where it needed to go and it was really great to be a part of it.
Monday was Christmas Eve and in the evening we watched little primary kids act out the nativity all dressed up as sheep and shepherds and it was adorable and made it feel like Christmastime. We watched A Christmas Carol and then had some free time before lights out. Sister Richter, Sister Dixon and Sister Thompson and I (and Sister Bowers and Gering because they don't have another companionship in their room so we invited them over) had our own little Christmas party. We drank hot cocoa, sang Christmas songs, read Luke 2, opened presents and talked about Christmas at home. It was really nice. Different from home but really great.
Christmas Day was jam packed with surprises and the spirit and it was definitely a Christmas I will never forget. Our general authority speaker was Elder Bednar (called it!) and it was such a good talk. He talked a lot more frankly and openly in his talk than he does in his conference talks, and I loved it. He talked about a few things, but my favorite was when he talked about personal revelation. We sometimes worry, especially as missionaries, when we will know when to do or say something. But as long as we are being good and trying our best, we will be directed to where we need to be. Sometimes we expect some huge revelatory experience to tell us what we should do, but that isn't usually how the Lord works. He talked about President Nelson, and how everyone thinks that the changes in the church have all come just in the past few years. But in reality, everything that has changed so far has been in the works for a long time, with different prophets receiving revelation line upon line like we all do, until the change is ready to be made. Elder Bednar also said to buckle up because they aren't done yet haha.
After the devotional we got to Skype our families and it was wonderful!! I cried when I saw their faces and it made my heart happy to finally be able to see them and talk to them. I bore my testimony to them about the atonement in Russian and it was great. I love them so much and goodness do I miss them like crazy.
In the evening we had a "special guest" which ended up being David Archuleta (hence the title of this, it was a Christmas of Davids haha)! He sang a bunch of his Christmas songs and Glorious and talked about his mission and it was SO GOOD. His voice is so beautiful. At the end, because he is the nicest person, he literally shook every missionary's hand. So yeah, I've met David Archuleta, nbd. It was a great way to end a great Christmas.
This week, as it is with all weeks, had its ups and downs. And as I went through them I've noticed that my prayers asking for comfort are almost always answered through other people giving me a hug or sharing a thought with me or just cracking a joke. I am so thankful for the sisters and elders in my branch that are there to help lift one another up. Sometimes this work is a little discouraging and hard, but I know that this is the Lord's work, and he knows each of us and loves us with an infinite love that is always there no matter what we do. It is through the hard and the discouraging that we see the true goodness of others and of our Savior.
I love you all and I urge you to look for ways that you can be an instrument in the Lord's hand to help lift and comfort others!
Happy almost New Year!
Love,
Cectpa Kropelnicki
My district ready to light the way
Christmas eve in our room
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