Merry Christmas Family!!
So the MTC just let
us know this morning that we would be able to email our families for Christmas!
How fun! Es ist ein Weihnachten Wunder as we like to say (a Christmas miracle).
So this morning I woke up at the normal 6:30, showered, and then got dressed
and opened my Christmas gifts! Thank you all so much! I love it and I love seeing everyone's pictures inside! That's
something the mission has definitely made me appreciate so much more, pictures!
How was your
Christmas morning? Did you get to take lots of pictures?? I'd love to see! This morning we
got to have sacrament meeting as a whole MTC together, all 2,120 missionaries.
It was really impressive to see how they were able to accomplish it. Elder
Bednar also came with his wife to attend our sacrament meeting and talk to us.
He and his wife did a fantastic job! Elder Bednar talked to us about turning
towards others instead of focusing on ourselves like the natural man. He
explained that Elder Neal A. Maxwell said once that "There would have been
no atoning sacrifice without the character of Christ." Elder Bednar said
that the character of Christ was in the midst of affliction he turns outward to
help others instead of focusing on himself. Cookie monster, he said, is the
perfect example of the natural man. And Elder Bednar proceeded to talk like
cookie monster," me want cookies now,
me want baptisms now, me want investigators now!!!" while pounding the podium. It was quite
funny but it got the point across. Something interesting about German is the
word to repent means to turn around or turn back. Elder Bednar was saying that
when we repent we're turning back to God so that our focus can be on others. He
challenged us to lose ourselves in the work of serving others before we can
work on ourselves to have the character of Christ more upon us. when we do that
we tend to find ourselves in the service of others without intending to. Then
at the end he gave us a blessing and said that according to our desire and
diligence we will increase in our understanding of the character of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and with that will come every gift of the spirit that we will
need for the rest of our lives to never fall away and lose this gospel from our
lives. It was really a wonderful spirit and he said so much more but I'll share
with you all some more through letters! Having him speak to us was like drinking from a
fire hydrant but it was WONDERFUL! I really learned a lot about Jesus Christ
today and what kind of person I need to be. I am really far from there but I'm
excited to change my focus onto others and be a better disciple of Christ.
We just had our
Christmas lunch of turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. It was fun to eat a
semi-homey meal. We then walked up to the Provo temple one last time, took some
pictures, and now I'm emailing you all! I'm pretty much all packed. I got all
of it done yesterday and right now I'm under on both bags. One is 45 and the
other is 48 lbs. (When flying, if their luggage goes over the weight limit, they have to pay extra) I did not count in the fact that I have used a lots of things
that won't be coming with me to Germany. I miss you all very
much and hope that y'all have a really fun Christmas filled with love and
smiles and laughter and perhaps a fire!
Dad make sure you play "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" on the piano . I was
thinking about that the other day how I used to sit with you and sing along
while you played. Mumma I'm sorry I'm not there to help with cooking. Dad said
you're having lamb for christmas! I hope you all enjoy it and fill your bellys
with wonderfulness. Be sure to share with me all your Christmas stories and all
the events that have transpired between today and tomorrow morning when I get
to talk to you. (Missionaries can get to call their families from the airport when they are going International. Ariel plans on calling from the Salt Lake City airport before her flight)
I love you all. Have a fabulous Christmas day! Remember
Christ today and I'll talk to you all TOMORROW!!! Oh meine gute, I may just wet
my pants with excitement!
Love you all,
Ariel Nell
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