MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

December 23, 2019

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Hello everyone!

Merry Christmas! Yay! The past few weeks have been super busy for us so I haven't been able to email. I'm sorry to all my fans and subscribers who were probably really disappointed ;)

Good news! Eboney and Cierra are on date to be baptized in January! We did have another person on date for January, but she dropped us 2 days ago. That was sad, but we are so excited for Eboney and her kids! They have been coming to church every Sunday this month and we have become a part of their family. Family home evening is exhausting with her kids, but so much fun! They always say how much they love us and want us to stay forever. We made sugar cookies with them this week and talked about how following the recipe is like following the gospel!

I have been able to recognize when the spirit is testifying of truth through me every time I bear my testimony about simple things like families, the Book of Mormon, Jospeh Smith, and repentance. It's really a cool experience to see people be touched by the things the spirit helps me to say. I don't like getting emotional, but I'm learning to embrace it as my testimony grows. I just can't help crying when testifying of the restored gospel. Its just so awesome! Being a missionary is so cool because I can tell when someone's spirit is yearning for the gospel and when something begins to change inside of them.

Seeing Eboney try her best to be a good example and mother to her kids has really touched my heart. A few weeks ago she was having a rough day. When we went over to her home for a lesson she started to sob and said, "I just feel like a terrible mom. I want to give my kids what they ask for, but I just can't." She was very overwhelmed with trying to get a car, and a job, and take care of her 4 kids, and get them presents for Christmas! She says that as she has started to live the gospel she isn't as stressed out about all of that, and she knows that everything will all work out. When we left her house that day I started to think about how much our loving Heavenly Father wants to give us what we ask for. Because he is our father he wants our success and our happiness. When we pray we can secure the blessings that he is already so willing to give us because he loves us! Just like how Eboney wants to give her children what they ask for, Heavenly Father wants to give us what we ask for. Something super great is that Heavenly Father has all the means to do it! God is the very best gift giver because he know you and I perfectly! Jesus himself teaches us this principle in 3 Nephi 14 when he says,

"Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Heavenly Father's very best gift to us all is the gift of Jesus Christ. Christmas is such an awesome time of year to reflect upon the many doors that Christ has opened for us. He overcame death and sin for us, and he took upon himself all of our pains, sicknesses, and infirmities, so that he would know how to support us! Jesus Christ is the gift that keeps on giving! I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and the knowledge I have that he lives. I love you all! Have a Merry Christmas and think of some ways you can grow closer to your Savior in 2020!

Love,

Sister Butler