letter to ward

Hey guys! Looks like you had a great Christmas! I did too! I loved talking to you guys! We didn't have a lot of lessons this week but we did see a lot of people and give away lots of cookies! That is what I did on Christmas day is bake and decorate cookies! Also one of our investigators, Tim Forsythe got baptized Saturday! (the Guy on the left is Tim and the other guy is his friend who baptized him) It was so good and a lot of fun! Our other investigator, Drew, also cam to Tim's baptism! It was awesome! Saturday was also transfer calls because this Wednesday will be transfers. And the results... Dun dun duuuuuuun..... I will be staying! But Sister Hayden will be leaving me and I will be getting a new companion. He name is Sister Gadi and she is from California. I don't know how I feel. I am excited and nervous and just ready do go to work and work some miracles! 

Anyways,

Here is my message to the Ward....

Claresholm Ward, 

Greetings from St.Louis! I hope you all have had a very Merry Christmas filled with family and Christlike love. I must say that Christmas time is the best time to be a missionary! The message we share with people at this time of year is so good and is completely centered on Jesus Christ! The Spirit of Christmas is just unreal!! Christmas time can get very busy with buying presents, sending out christmas cards and letters, decorating the house inside and out, baking christmas goodies, preparing christmas dinner and on top of all that we have our personal lives to worry about! We've got jobs, church callings, your own personal goals, hobbies and new year resolutions. That is a lot of stuff to worry about so it is no wonder that people can stress about the holidays. With all this stuff we have to worry about it is easy to forget about what christmas is really all about. The first gift of christmas. “The first gift was not wrapped, had no bow, wasn’t purchased online or in a store. The first gift of Christmas was a simple gift, a sacred gift. It wasn’t gold or frankincense or myrrh. It was a gift of love and life and peace and hope given by a Father to all His children. ‘For God so loved the world.’ And so loved you, and every single one of us. He gave His Son. He is the Christ. He is Christmas. He is the Gift...." 

I am sure many of you have seen the He is the Gift video on the home page of lds.org or the home page of Youtube or all over Facebook but I just wanted to share this message with you. And if you have not seen this video please check it out on christmas.mormon.org! 

We have a loving Heavenly Father and He is aware of every single one of us. He knows us each individually. He knows us better than we know ourselves. We are all his children. And our Heavenly Father has given us a gift. "He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) It is the greatest gift he could ever give us. A gift given to you so that even you can return to our home in heaven and live forever in happiness with our Father and our families! How great is that!?

This New year is a new beginning. To start over and set new goals. I encourage you to find ways to discover the gift, to embrace the gift and then to share the gift of Jesus Christ. One of the many things that I have learned on my mission is that people are amazing! I have realized that some of the most spiritual people I have ever met are less actives and non-members. Spend less time judging and reach out to everyone in the ward and outside of the ward and you will learn so much from them. Just love everyone! There are so many good people in this world and so many good things in this life! We are so blessed!! Follow the teachings of the prophet, love others and walk HOW Jesus walked. I promise you that you will find so much joy and so many blessings of finding yourself from serving others. I know I have.  

Okay I am done my lecture :) I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It blesses families and changes lives! I know that there is a God and He listens to us and answers our prayers. I am so grateful for everyone in the Claresholm ward; for my sunday school teachers, priesthood leaders, seminary teachers and the youth of the ward! You have all blessed my life in a special way and have got me to where I am today. I love you all! I miss you and I wish you all a Happy New year! 

Love, 

Sister Brittany Fisher