[26] Life is a Gift, This Week has been a Gift, and He Is The Gift:)

Hello dear family and friends on this December winter day! (Not so winter here, but it has rained more and it feels great.)

Wow what a week! Life as a missionary is truly amazing :) First of all, if I haven't already, I want to thank the wonderful Activity Days girls and their leaders back home for the sweet Christmas box. It was awesome to be thought of and the little letter, colored stocking and treats made my day! I'm blessed to come from such a thoughtful and loving ward!

Ok, I'll go through each of the days this past week so I remember everything:

Monday

P-day! Very busy washing, cleaning, food shopping, so nothing too exciting.   Beside the writing letters part, which is always fun and reading letters, which is even more fun and being able to be connected with friends and family.  Letters, notes and cards always make a mission feel better because they motivate you to do your best:)

Tuesday

Sister Zimmerman, our sweet Relief Society President took us to lunch at this amazing Italian restaurant in Pismo Beach. It was very kind of her :) The place was decorated for Christmas and looked beautiful with it's holiday lights and red poinsettias. Not only did she feed us, but she had a surprise for us! Before we got there she told our server that it is Sister Reneer's Birthday soon so at the end of our meal everyone came out and sang! It was so cute!! There are so many good people out there helping to lift people up each day.

Wednesday

(J) was interviewed for his baptism! He was feeling so good and so happy.

Thursday

December 11th, I hit my 6 month mark!  Wow - I can hardly believe it!  It doesn't feel that long. (Mom thank you for the 'Sixlets' candies to help celebrate six!:)  And one of the many great things I have learned in this short time is that my Heavenly Father and Savior are always with me, guiding me to learn what I need to learn, say what I need to say and do what I need to do. I'm thankful for this blessing of serving a mission.

Friday

Such an Awesome Day!  Because Sister Reneer's birthday is this month we got to go to the Los Angeles Temple!! The LA temple area is technically out of our mission, but we are so happy that we get to visit the temple for our Birthday month! :) A sweet Sister in our ward, Sister MacClain, said that she could drive us down to L.A and go with us. Sister MacClain is so giving and thoughtful. I love her! 

Our day spent together was wonderful. It was raining a lot on the roads, but it stopped right when we got there! The Lord was aware of us and we even were able to get some pictures ;) It felt like an early Christmas present to be able to go to the temple:) We are so blessed to have temples all over the world. These sacred buildings really are heaven on earth and inside we can feel close to our Heavenly Father.

Saturday

This week in Pismo Beach kept getting better and more amazing! We have witnessed so many miracles. The miracles that are all around us, showing us that Heavenly Father is really aware of each one of us and cares about us. The biggest was (J)'s baptism! It all went so beautifully  :) We had a great turn out from our wonderful supportive ward.  And some of (J)'s neighbors came as well to support him. One is actually a less-active member so it was great that she could be there. Also (C) came. Jeffrey has been a father-figure to him for years so they are very close. Everyone had a great time and there were smiles all around :)

Sunday

Yesterday after (J)'s confirmation in Sacrament Meeting (when he recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost and was officially made a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), he asked to say just a few words. He bore his testimony in front of everyone and The Spirit was so strong. He said that it was the happiest day of his life, which made a lot of us have tears in our eyes. (J) is going to be an awesome member missionary. He has told us he has already shared some things about the gospel with his friends! And that he wants them to feel the same love from his Savior that he feels.  Yay (J)! He told us all in the ward that it felt like a family and that we were all going to be friends forever and he believed we will see our friends, as well as family all in Heaven together.

Transfers!

There is always something both good and also sad about that word.  It means changes, and that means we get to meet new people, which is good, but it also means we have to say goodbye to people we have spent so much time with and care so much about. 

I am staying in Pismo Beach for another 6 weeks! Yay! I love this area and the wonderful members here.  Sadly Sister Reneer is leaving. She has been such a blessing to me. I am grateful that I have been able to serve with her these past two transfers. She has helped me a lot with my confidence and teaching skills. She is a wonderful example to me and all those around her :)  Pismo Beach will miss her, and I will miss her, but I know she will do great up in San Louis!

He Is The Gift

Christmas is one of the best times of the year and I am so grateful for the 'He is the Gift' campaign. What a beautiful way to remember the most important gift we celebrate at Christmas.  Hopefully you've all seen it by now, but if not go on Mormon.org and watch it right now! You'll be glad you did:) 

We've been using pass-along cards to share the videos with everyone. It has been wonderful to share it's message with those around us. I like how it also shows the love that people share together as well.  It's beautiful. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He was sent to us from a loving Father. He really is the reason for the season and I am grateful I can share the message of His birth with others gladly! It lifts my spirits to try and lift others at this wonderful time of year.

My challenge to all of you is to share the He Is The Gift video with family and friends before Christmas! Remember we can share love and let people know that that they are loved.

Love you all! You are in my prayers,

Sister Skinner-Karatassos