Oh my goodness gracious, where do I even begin with this week? It
has been absolutely incredible.
It started with our Christmas Devotional where President and
Hermana Egbert spoke and it was amazing. Seriously, so good. I might have cried
a little bit, or a lot. Everytime they speak, the spirit is so strong and I just
love it when we have capacitaciones (training) or devotionals. Incredible. He
talked about ¿que me hace falta? or “What lack I yet?” In regards to this New
Year and making goals and thinking about what kind of missionaries we want to
be. I’ve thought about it a lot this week and I am definitely going to set
apart a time to think about what kind of person I want to be, and what I lack
to be the better person who can better help others. But truly, he is an
inspired man and truly knows what’s up.
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| President and Hermana Egbert |
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| Tecamac II Zone |
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| Elder and Hermana Ramos (Office Secretaries) |
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| Tecamac II Zone |
2014
Christmas Devotionals
Theme:
"What Lack I Yet?"
- Matthew 19: 16-22
Agenda:
All Zone Leaders helped set,
decorate and clean up! Nice job everyone....
Zone Picture: 1025 am
Welcome: Senior Zone Leader
Opening Prayer: In English
by a Native Spanish Speaker
Items of Business: (Asuntos)
Hermana Egbert: Examples of
Menu Ideas, Importance of Shopping for Groceries, and Health Reminders
President Egbert: Bicycle
maintenance, Financial accountability, Protocol of missionaries in a public
place,
President Egbert: Parable of
the Talents and using with “effort” the talents and abilities we have been
blessed with to further the work here in the mission; not wasting them and how
that applies to those called to serve in leadership positions. Some arrive to
the mission with 5 talents, others with 2 and others with 1. What are we doing
with ours?
Five Minute Break
Opening Song: Page 126
“Cantan Santos Angeles”
Opening Prayer: In English
by a Native Spanish Speaker
Introduction of Christmas
Devotional Theme and for 2015: President Egbert
Holiday Message: Elder/
Hermana Ramos (Office Secretaries)
Holiday Message: Elder/
Hermana Cano ( Senior missionary couple- Fridays devotional only)
Special Musical Number:
Specific Zone
Hermana Egbert: Holiday
Message (The Value of Service)
Special Musical Number:
Specific Zone
Holiday Message: President
Egbert (Experience of Christmas when he was 11 years old)
Closing Song: Page 123 “!
Regocijad Jesus Nacio”
Closing Prayer/Blessing on
Food: In English by a Native Spanish Speaker
Holiday Lunch provided by Jose Gonzales
Passing out of Christmas Cards from the First Presidency
Distribution of holiday boxes from Family
Distribution of small gifts from the mission (significant work by Elder/Sister
Ramos)
-Hand towel crocheted onto a ring for each sister
-Shirt Protector (bib) for each Elder (Idea stolen from
Hermana Call/Elder Dove)
-Temple Recommend Holder
with a pictures of Christ / and Pachuca
Everyone headed back to
their areas by 230 pm
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| Simona - 20+ year church employee who cleans the mission office/home |
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| Dr. Hernandez in the white shirt is one of the mission doctors. He's a very busy surgeon, but always has time for the missionaries. |
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| Elder and Hermana Cano (Senior Missionaries) |
I GOT THE CHRISTMAS PACKAGE!!! Oh my gosh, you have no idea how
much it meant to me to get it. When President Egbert handed it to me, I just
hugged it and almost started crying. Seriously, anything from home is the best
thing ever. Thank you so much! One interesting thing though, is that there was
a bit of a hole, and every package of candy was broken open and there was
powdered sugar everywhere. Haha. It was pretty funny to dust everything off
from the candy powder and set it under our tree. Every time I put a piece of
candy in my mouth, I just close my eyes and I’m home. Oh this package,
seriously, is the best thing ever.
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| A package finally made it to Mexico! |
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| A little damaged, but it made it! |
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| A little messy, but it made it! |
We put all the presents under the tree, right? Some were already
broken open, others wrapped completely - it was a lovely sight. One night my
comp and I were talking about opening just one package, one for each of us. So
we began to open just one, then one more, then one more. So... we’ve already
opened all the presents. And they are the greatest most incredible gifts we
have ever received! I really want thank you SO MUCH for remembering that I had
a companion, that every gift truly was for both of us and I can’t thank you
enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We took turns opening one, then
another, then another. We’ve worn our bracelets every day since and we LOVE our
gifts.
But I really want to talk about my personal gift. I truly don’t
have the words. I opened it and realized just what exactly it was and just
started crying - uncontrollably crying, because it was the greatest gift I have
ever received. I am so, so, so thankful. As if being full of the spirit of Christmas
wasn’t enough to make a girl cry, you just had to put on top of that the
greatest gift ever! Haha, but really truly, I wish I could take the time to
thank each and every one who wrote something in it. I wish that I could
adequately describe how much this book means to me, but instead, here I am
lamely trying to thank you all at once, but I am so incredibly thankful! I also
want to talk about how amazing my parents are, always thinking about other
people and making this Christmas one of the best ones ever for me. This gift is
so full of love, and I truly can’t explain how much it means to me. So, so, so
amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love each of you. I have read from
the book every day in the mornings and I cry every time, tears of pure joy.
Thank you mom and thanks dad and buddy and everyone who contributed to the
book! You are truly incredible and the effort I know you put into making this
book is the greatest gift of my life and it means more to me than you will ever
know. I want to take it with me everywhere and read it constantly. Thank you so,
so much.
So on a lighter, hopefully funnier note, we were in our home
(and all homes are connected, right?) and our next door neighbor sneezed. And
of course I said ¨salud!¨ (bless you). Of course it was more of a joke for my
comp than anything, but he actually responded with a gracias! Bahaha, we
laughed and laughed at how funny it was. Hahaha!
This week I was thinking about how everyone we’ve talked to in
the street has a problem, needs hope, and benefits from our visit and our
message. So I was thinking, hey, we sure have the spirit going strong for us,
right? Then I started thinking a little more, and realized that every single
person needs this gospel. Every person needs this hope. Every person has
challenges and will benefit from this gospel. It isn’t that we are divinely led
to these people, however some are because of this. But more, it’s that every
person needs this gospel, but we just need to find those who are willing and
ready to make these changes and accept this benefit. It’s truly a beautiful
thing to believe this and it shows all the more importance of talking with
absolutely everyone, because everyone needs our Savior and the knowledge that
He exists and loves us.
We had a reunion in the church a few days ago, with all of the
ward and it was a big party and dances and it was so much fun and our district
had a total blast. The elders in our district and my comp and I are especially
close friends. we do practically everything together. And at this party we had
more fun than I have had thus far in my misison. We were getting ready to leave
and the elders don’t have bikes, so we started biking away, but our district
leader ran up to the back spoke of my comps bike and started riding straddling and
standing at the same time! Oh my goodness it was so funny. So of course his
comp hopped on mine and we rode off in the night and we were laughing so hard we
couldn’t breathe. We eventually collapsed from laughing so hard and it was
seriously so fun. These two elders, Elder Caamal and Elder Muñoz are the
greatest. We four are the best of friends. Today we went and played soccer with
them and the other young men in the ward. I am determined to come back and be a
pro soccer player! It’s gonna happen! But as of right now, I am absolutely
awful and everyone laughs and says that I play like a white girl. Haha, but I
am going to learn. :)
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| It's not snow, it's piñata dust |
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| Elder Caamal and Elder Munoz |
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| Scissor candy tongues |
So things here in Mexico are seriously the best ever. I love these
people with all my heart. I love that I get to know them, hear their
stories, and laugh with them. To laugh with these people are the greatest
moments. To help them in times of hardship is such an incredible experience. I
feel like I am actually living, you know? Like every day is such a gift and I get to live in the most incredible way there is!
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| I don't know what kind of pepper this was, but it was extremely hot! |
I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS!!! I can’t even explain
it. So. Stinking. Excited. Holy smokes.
This week we’ve talked a lot about traditions in our families
and frankly, it’s made me miss my family so much. I’ve thought about our pjs,
our sleeping by the fire, making/delivering treats for friends, going to Grandma and Grandpa's house, dressing up for the nativity, Grandpa reading about Christ's birth, the white elephant gifts, going on our Christmas hike, and our happy jar and oh man, how I miss you.
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| A love note to Grandma and Grandpa Borup and prayers to heaven for Grandma and Grandpa Anstee |
Ok well, I hope you all feel my love and complete gratitude for
all you do and who you are. And mom and dad...we are going to talk in 3 DAYS!!! THE
25TH!!!! Ahhhhhhh!
I love you to the dark side of the sun, and then to the moon,
and then to our house, and then to mine. Mwah!
Hermana Anstee :)
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