CHRISTmas

Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a Christ centered day! I honestly wish Christmas was on Sunday every year. We attended both wards Christmas Sacrament meeting. It was especially special because, Melvin came to church! I can't remember if I have shared about Melvin, but he is so prepared. We knocked into him last week and went back for another lesson on Christmas Eve. Our restoration lesson went perfectly and as we began talking about the Book of Mormon, he informed us that he was given one, but couldn't find it. The member that was with us turned around looked at the bookshelf and pointed! There it was haha! Wow! He opened the first page and his friend had wrote his testimony in it 20 years ago and at the end it said "Merry Christmas!" Melvin was so amazed that it just happened to be Christmas Eve and he had never read the Book until now. God's timing! It is absolutely perfect. He is the best:) Melvin came to sacrament the next day and loved it. I just can't believe how blessed I am to be apart of so many miracles of watching Heavenly Father reach out and bring His children unto Christ.

Sammi's lesson went very well. She has a lot of concerns and was honest with the way she was feeling. This is such a big change for her and as we have talked about baptism, a date just hasn't fit yet. God is so actively guiding her though. He will tell her when it is time to get dunked;) We just keep praying! However, her dad has given his full approval for her to move forward. As a strong atheist he told her, "I can't prove that there isn't a God. So I will support you in what you believe!" SUCH A MIRACLE!!!! We have been praying and fasting for her parents to come around. I just keep saying how great God is, but seriously....

Christmas Eve was a day to remember. I need your prayers that Sister McCrae and I will get to stay companions for another transfer, cause that girl is my Idahomie!!! We started out with another 5 hour tracting today. Miracles on miracles! The sun came out and we were able to have lots of good lessons:) A member family, the Walker's, invited us over for a little Christmas Eve devotional. We walked in and got attacked with "snowballs" Hahahaha! So cute. We read a story and they played the piano. Then we all played Christmas songs on the chimes!!!! It was so fun! It was such a tender mercy to feel at home, especially with her 4 crazy boys wrestling everywhere. ;) Once we got home, Sister McCrae and I made up our beds by the tree and got hot cocoa to watch Mr. Kruegars Christmas. As you can see we got plenty of pictures to remember the night! This was definetly one of my most memorable Christmas's. Since I had to be away from home, I am truly grateful to Heavenly Father for Barbie McCrae. My family and I had a great talk and they made it really hard to forget I am going home pretty soon haha. Even gave me a countdown calendar...

Funny story: We visited an older couple who is sick and after our lesson and they told us all of the same stories again;) Brother Bergstad offered the prayer. Haha he prayed.. "Heavenly Father please bless that we will remember Jesus this Christmas and not X-mas... I hate the X-mas!" Hahahaha it was pretty funny... but I too hate the X-mas Brother Bergstad. Let us not forget our Savior even though Christmas is over. I pray that we keep Him as the center of our lives.

Your Sister in Christ,

Sister Northrup