CHRISTmas :)

Hello all!

The Cottles, a senior missionary couple, gave all themissionaries a stocking full of Christmas goodies. 

This week was an incredible one filled with many miracles and wonderful Christmas spirit. Christmas Eve we went to the Herr's for dinner. We were with 4 families who are stationed on base right now. They had such a cute dinner! It was fun to get to talk with a few of the young families in the ward and get to know them better. You can really learn so much from the experiences of others. 

After dinner, we went with the Cottles and the Elders to Christmas carol to a few of the families in the ward and that we were teaching. So many people were so grateful for the visit and were truly touched by the spirit that the music brings in. I absolutely love the spirit that can be felt through music. The last family we sang to was the Sanchez family. Their two kids were baptized this Saturday (26th) so that was really fun to see them before their big day. Talk about an amazing Christmas gift to the Savior! Truly using the atonement He provided for us. 

Our Christmas Tree!

Christmas day Sister Lewis and I studied, read Luke 2 together,and then went to the Cottle's for a Christmas breakfast. It was so fun. The Cottles are seriously hilarious. I love talking with them. We talked a little bit about our Christmas traditions back home...and then Elder Cottle talked about golf for the rest of the time. He loves golf :) And they live on a golf course..so it works. It was the cutest thing, Elder and sister Cottle surprised us by buying stockings for each of the missionaries. :D How awesome is that? Sister Cottle acted like the classic grandma as we opened them oohing and awwing at our mini shampoo, soap, baby wipes and other practical things every missionary needs. Such sweethearts. 

Christmas night we went to a Less active mom's house.
She really needed the visit, and we absolutely
love her kids! Her little girl did my nails while
we talked with her mom. such a cutie!

Opened cards and presents. It was so wonderful to hear from you all!! I'm going to send personal emails soon.. It might just take another week. :) We then SKYPED. So great to see the family :) Such fun surprises to see Larson and Ella have grown up so much already! 

Christmas day we visited a few families who could really use the cheer.  We saw sister Mims ( an older lady who lives with a friend and her granddaughter)  They were all so very grateful for the Christmas visit and it was so so good to become friends with her granddaughter who is really in need of the peace and joy the gospel brings. We also met another family we will be teaching more in the future. 

We ate dinner at the Matavo's. A Polynesian family.
It was a lot of meat! This is one of our friends!!
She's planning on serving a mission so she's going
to come teaching with us every once in a while. :)
Such a wonderful ward!

This Christmas I loved knowing that it truly is Jesus Christ who we should always celebrate. Because of the incredible gift of our Savior, we can live with Heavenly Father again! 

I pray you are all doing well and that Christmas this year was one that made you consider everything we have to be grateful for :) 

Love,

Sister Brown