WEEK 26: A White Christmas

Merry Christmas, friends and family!!

It's been a lovely week this week. I hope your Christmas celebrations were full of love and joy!

We had a lot of great things happen this week. We had a Christmas conference with President and Sister Rodarte, and we met at the Family History Library in Las Vegas. It was a beautiful program, and afterwards we had a crash course in how to help our people get more involved with family history, took pictures with President and Sister Rodarte, ate the MOST scrumptious street tacos in the world, and did some service at The Salvation Army! It was a lot of fun. There's been a big push for family history this week, and as Sister Welch and I have tried to implement it more in our teaching, we have seen the miracle of the "hearts of the fathers [turning] to the children, and the children to the fathers." Our friends have embraced family history, especially Sara. She has been on fire recently and is working tirelessly to get her family tree set up so that she can become connected to ancestors on FamilySearch. It's really amazing to see how much people truly care about their families, and it's amazing to teach about why families are important, and how the temples fulfill God's purpose of uniting us all together.

Speaking of, Sara has decided to move her baptism day to January 7th! She felt that it would be better to wait until after the holidays, so we rescheduled it. She is learning quickly and believes so firmly. She is amazing.

We had interviews with President Rodarte this week. I've been anxiously awaiting mine, as I've been seeking answers to a couple questions and wanting resolutions to quandaries. I recieved a lot of counsel, guidance, and correction from President Rodarte. Preparing for my interview I read 2 Nephi 9, and it surprisingly was a beautiful spiritual preparation. The things that I studied in that chapter aligned with the theme of my interview with President, and it was a revelatory experience. I learned a lot, and I'm so grateful! It was much needed and much appreciated.

We ate dinner with the Willis family again, and WOW they are truly the best family ever! It was Grinch-themed -- roast beast and Who hash and Grinch punch, the whole shebang. Sister Willis even read 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' as we ate, and gave us the perfect segue to talk about the real purpose for the season--not presents or music, but Jesus Christ. I adore that family so much, and they are truly so loving.

Celebrating Christmas away from home and family was different this year. I spent a lot of time thinking about the beautiful opportunity that I have to be a missionary. People welcome us into their homes, families, and lives, without a second thought. They welcome us, complete strangers, into their family celebrations with no hesitation. It's an honor to be brought into a home and a family with so much love. It's been very humbling as I have begun to recognize what a special privilege that is. 

All month President Rodarte has been saying that it would be a White Christmas for the NLVM this month. Coming from a mission president in Las Vegas, he wasn't talking about snow, but the white jumpsuits worn at baptism. We had the special chance to hold Vance's baptism on Christmas Eve, and it was beautiful. Despite the holiday and family celebrations, we had many loving ward members attend and participate in the service, and it was a beautiful spiritual experience. The Spirit was very strong when Vance was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. We sang 'When I Am Baptized' from the children's songbook as the closing hymn, and he expressed great emotion while reading the lyrics. It was powerful to see how the simple lyrics can teach such profound truth. It was a unique moment, and truly was a white Christmas, after all.

I hope y'all had a merry Christmas, and have a safe New Year! Love ya, bye!

- Sister Malmstrom

231 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy #2226

Henderson, NV 89012

PICTURES:

- Christmas Conference with President and Sister Rodarte. Everyone was provided with Light the World scarves, and it was mandatory to wear or else President would call you out for not being festive.

- Beautiful sunset!!

- With our bestie, Sara.

- Comp picture after the Christmas conference.

- Our Grinch Feast!!

- City view:)

- Vance's baptism!!