Best Thanksgiving Ever.

From: Alison Royal <alison.royal@myldsmail.net>
To: Patricia Royal
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 11:05 AM
Subject: Hola familia!

Hola mi familia! estoy feliz a escuchar que pasaron un buen dia de gracias! Haha ( I am happy to here that you had a great Thanksgiving!) I had a great Thanksgiving too! But in a very different way! haha but it actually turned out to be the most amazing and special Thanksgiving that I will probably ever have! Let me tell you the story: So Thursday rolled around and our lunch appointment got canceled, So we would be eating in the pension, but we figured "Oh well, we will make instant mashed potatoes and a salad or something." Because we actually didn't have any money this whole week. haha But anyway, we had planned on going to Hernan's house in the morning to do a heavy duty cleaning. His house was out-of-control dirty. He had ants crawling on just about every surface and his kitchen was a whole other story. So, we decided to roll up our sleeves and clean it ourselves. So, Thursday morning, we showed up with a bucket, bleach and cleaning supplies. We ended up cleaning for about 3 hours and by the time we finished, we were very short of time to go to the pension to eat anything. But while we were cleaning, Hernan started slicing up potatoes in the kitchen. We asked if we could help him with anything else before we left and he said "Hermanas, I am going to prepare lunch for you!" So we sat and waited for him to cook something up, a little nervous about what it would be. I sat there watching him fry french fries and and eggs and onions, and then he pulled out 3 big slices of meat. I asked him if it was chicken and he said "No, hermana its turkey!" My mouth basically fell open. In all my time here in Chile, I have NEVER eaten or even heard that they sold turkey here! But we ended up having a turkey dinner! And let me tell you, it was DELICIOUS!!!! It basically consists of french fries, with a fried egg, sunny side up on top. And they you saute onions and a turkey breast together and put it alltogether. Its called poor-man's feast. I am considering making it a thanksgiving tradition. haha it was basically the sweetest tender mercy of my life. hah I just love Hernan.

Lets see, what else happened this week. Maurico, (have I written to you about him?) is making good progress for his baptism! He is an alcoholic, but he hasn't dranken ( is that how you say it?) anything for 8 days!! WAHOOO! Keep praying for him! He also came to church this week. Also, speaking of alcoholics, do you remember Adolfo, the alcoholic from several months ago. He basically told us that didn't have time to keep meeting with us. Well this week we found him crying in the street. He told us that he has never felt so happy in his live than how he felt when he was meeting with us. We begged him make time for God and trust that God would help him, but he was so blinded by his unhappiness and his addiction that he refused to change. It broke my heart yetagain. I know that God keeps putting him in our path for a reason, but the sad news is we can,t obligate anyone. But I am praying and fasting for Mauricio that he will be strong enough to make the lasting changes in him life.

This has been kind of a rough week for me, I've been fighting off feelings of discouragement, but every time I would catch myself getting down, God would remind me about the Joy of the gospel and cheer me up. I know I am sounding like a broken record, but I just am so grateful for the Joy of the gospel and service and missionary. I just Love my mission. It means everything to me. I am a changed, better person becuase of the experiences I have had hear. I am happier than I have ever been, even when things are hard and the success is a little slower than we would like it to be. I just Love my savior. I love that he guides us to such perfect paths. Its weird for me to think that more than a year ago, I was so oblivious to the thought of serving a mission, but he so sweetly led me down the path. And look where I am now, on the otherside of the world, bringing people by the hand to the Lord's perfect path. Let's see, I know more things have happened this week, but my mind is blanking. ahaha

Oh we saw a miracle in church this week with Hermana Hart playing the Piano for the primary program, all week, she struggled to play the songs, and couldn't even get through one of them, but we fasted and prayed and she played literally perfectly. I couldn't believe my eyes or ears, but its just another surety that God lives and answers our prayers, no matter how simple they are!

I love you all! I really love you so so much.thank you for all your support and prayers

Be good!
Hermana Royal