Week 74: "Soy Discipulo de Jesucristo"

Querida Familia y Amigos,
          Sorry I am a day late.  They switched our Pday so we could attend the temple.  

Last visit to the Seattle Temple

Not sure where to begin.... so I will begin with best thing that is happening right now.  It's Christmas time! And the Church has released it's new video for the year.  If you haven't seen it, watch it now.
https://www.mormon.org/christmas  If you haven't sent it to a friend, send it now.  Discover why He was born. Discover why He is important to you personally.  The Prophet and Apostles and other leaders of the Church are giving us such great resources to be member missionaries. How non-threatening is a video? Very.  And it is so simple, yet powerful.  
          Christmastime is the best because there are so many activities to invite people to and peoples' hearts are softened for about 3 to 4 weeks of the year.  If you are thinking about inviting someone to church, here is your opportunity.  The chances of them saying yes are much higher this month.  It's so great!  And one of my favorite things is that when we knock on doors right now, we just tell people that we are singing Christmas carols and sharing a message about Jesus Christ.  Almost all of the doors stay open and quite often we get invited in.  One guy even started a fire for us to stay warm!  Plus I love getting to sing praises to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
          We had a good, quiet Thanksgiving.  We ate with the Santisteban's.  They joined the church about four years ago so we talked most of the time about their incredible conversion story.  They were given lots of anti-Mormon material early on in their investigation of the church, but they overcame it and found the truth.  We also got together as a mission that day and had a musical talent show. I ended up singing "The Lord is My Shepherd" with Sister Partridge and Hermana Oliphant playing the piano.  Who would have ever thought that I would sing in front of group of peers?  I didn't, for sure. 
          We also had our Mission Leadership Council and I went on two exchanges as a Sister Training Leader. For one of them I went back to Crossroads with Hermana Brooks.  I got to see some members and investigators from that area that I love so very much!  Especially seeing the Chavez family!  The best part is that they are still planning on getting sealed in the temple this summer!!!!  I truly enjoy being a leader even though it's a lot of responsibility to carry around.  I just feel so happy not worrying so much about my troubles and getting to spend my time serving others.

After exchanges with Hermanas Brooks & Flores

          Also this week we were able to put our investigator, Maria, on date to be baptized on January 2.  She is the cutest little grandma from Mexico.  Probably in her early 70s.  She taught us how to crochet the other morning.  While we were doing that, we were asking her why she hadn't read the Book of Mormon. She finally told us that the letters were too small for her to read.  We were able to bring her a giant print from our apartment and wow! I have never seen her so happy!  She was like a little girl in the candy shop. She was opening it up to random pages and reading out loud. And of course she included in her own two cents about what she learned.  It was fabulous!  She is the cutest!

My last companions Hermanas Oliphant & Collette

           Well, I want you to know that I know that the Church is true.  There are plenty of good people and good churches out there, but this is the only Church with the Priesthood of God.  Whatever we do here by that Priesthood, whether it be baptism or marriage, it will be bound on Earth and in Heaven.  I have learned these truths through the Holy Spirit.  Even though coming to Seattle was an unexpected mission call, I know that I was chosen by God to be here at this time, to serve His children.  I want you to know that I love my Savior Jesus Christ.  Sometimes it's hard to know if He is there, but once I take that leap of faith, I always feel His presence.  I know He lives and I know He loves me.  I want to express my thanks, my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to labor in His vineyard as a missionary, a trainer, a Sister Training Leader and as a disciple of Christ.  I am thankful to have served my siblings, both English and Spanish speaking. Thanks to all of you for supporting me and praying in my behalf. I will forever be grateful for my mission.  I love this gospel and I am going to miss being an ordained servant of the Lord.  But I will not stop serving Him.
Yo se que las cosas que estamos haciendo son real. Esta obra es de nuestro Padre Celestial. Yo he recibido mi propio testimonio de la restauracion, del Libro de Mormon, El Plan de Salvacion. Mas importante, yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador, Maestro, y Hermano. Le amo. Y con su Evangelio podre superar la muerte y sere perdonado de mis pecados. Estoy agradacida para las muchas bendiciones que El me ha dado, especialmente por mi mision y mi familia. En el sagrado nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Con Amor,
Hermana Stoddard

Google Translation:  I know that the things we are doing are real.  This work is our Heavenly Father's.  I received my own testimony of the restoration, the Book of Mormon, the plan of salvation.  More importantly, I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, Master and Brother.  I love Him.  And with His Gospel, I too can overcome death and I'll be forgiven for my sins.  I am grateful for the many blessings He has given me, especially my mission and my family.  In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.