I just realized that I have been in denial. Not the Nile in Egypt, but in complete DENIAL that I’m leaving Iowa! This is my last full week as a missionary! What?!  The zone leaders are counting down saying, “Bring out your dead! 9 days! Do you want me to text you a countdown everyday to remind you how old you are?!”  Oh my goodness.  It hurts! It HURTS!!  But I’m just focusing on all of the fantastic things that Heavenly Father has allowed to have happened to us the past few weeks so that I can ignore the salt to the wound! 😉

I got to go to the Nauvoo Temple again this week with my fellow departing group.  My MTC comp. was there and that made me SO happy.  The Spirit of the Lord is very strong there, but even stronger around Christmas!  I realized that I’ve been to the temple 7 times since I’ve come here and normally, sisters only get to go 3 times!  I’m so blessed! Holy Moly! President Jensen even gave me a hug!  Sister Jensen was like, “President!!! You can’t hug her yet! She’s not leaving until January!” It was so funny because he thought I was leaving the next day with my MTC companion… 😉  SCORE FOR ME!! I get two President Jensen hugs!! 😉

Jesse & Fern set a baptismal date and they are progressing SO WELL!  Yesterday Jesse said, “I’ve been baptized in so many religions.  Looking for so many explanations about the afterlife, but I’ve still searched for more.  But now that I’ve learned your explanation of the Plan of Salvation, I don’t have to keep searching.”  Then Fern said, “My whole life I just had faith there was just Heaven or Hell and I never understood it but I lived in faith, hoping that it would make sense when I died.  But your church really went further and actually asked God what else happens after life.” haha we were like, “Yeah!  It’s because God wants us to know how to use the atonement.  And that Jesus Christ wants us to have a second chance to accept the Gospel.  Then we can choose whether to accept or reject it there.”  She loves learning about prophets and covenants.  So MUCH!

We had exchanges in Webster City with the Spanish sisters.  Ah!  I LOVE going out with them because the spirit is so helpful as I try and speak with the Gift of Tongues!   Hermana Qurioz introduced the lesson, and I took off from there in Spanish.  The couple was SO awesome!  They are getting married on the 28th so that Guillermo can get baptized on Dec. 28th.  They made insanely delicious Mexican food.  The authentic stuff.  I’m sorry mom, but I ate the corn tortillas!  I couldn’t turn them down!  haha But I turned out ok! 😉 Then they invited me to come back for their wedding.  We have exchanges with some other sisters in their district.  So we can totally go!  Woot for Weddings-Fiesta style!

On two separate occasions, we went caroling with less-actives to a hospice home, and to our investigators.  It was SUCH a fun opportunity.  It’s amazing how much the spirit works with people when you serve and do fun things! 😉

The Bennetts are doing very well.  Their little dilapidated trailor is filled with the spirit of Christmas and we’re SO hoping they’ll allow us to spend Christmas morning with them. 🙂

I gave a training in District Meeting, sang in the Christmas program for sacrament, and our district put on a skit for the Christmas Zone Conference.  We even got to see the new movie, “Ephraim’s Rescue!”  Ooooohoohohoh what a present!  It was gorgeous.  I’ll never complain about being cold again after I saw what the Pioneers went through so that I could have the gospel in Zion!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Remember Elder Ballard’s Quote: “We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just “one” between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior.”

Love you all so much and I will try not to think about this being one of my last emails home ok? 🙂  Because that makes me want to sob.  But I’m so excited to see you soon!  Love you bunches! 

Sister Tobias 🙂