I Just Love Christmas!

From: Alison Royal <alison.royal@myldsmail.net>
To: Patricia Royal
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2011 10:08 AM
Subject: I just love Christmas!!

Well, I am just so so happy. did you know that?? I love that it is almost Christmas!!! I love that people are starting to put up there Christmas trees and that the beautiful simplicity of Christmas Spirit is in the air! I am surprised that I don't feel sad to be missing out on all the Christmas traditions that I LOVE SO MUCH! haha But I am just so grateful for the one Christmas that I will have completely untainted by the beautiful bells and whistles of Christmas. The one Christmas where I wont stress about buy gifts, the one Christmas where I can really give my whole heart to the Lord. Sometimes, I wish every Christmas was like that, because it just feels so darn great. Oh I just love my life.

So I am guessing that my last email let my discouragement slip out, because I got so many beautiful emails from friends and family comforting me and reminding me just how amazing god is and how much he loves me. thank you to all of you! Each of the words touched my heart and made me feel so loved! I am just so grateful. I love something that my favorite Japanese missionaryHermanita Mano reminded me is that the Lord doesn't always give us success, but he does give us JOY! That just made me to happy to hear. I have the biggest testimony that this is true. I am so grateful for the pure joy and happiness that he puts so lovingly into our hearts.

And the good news is, that after a rough week, God as just given us so many blessings!! Let me tell you about some of the miracles we were apart of this week:

Mauricio: Have i told you enough about Mauricio? he is becoming one of the biggest miracles of my mission. He hasn't drunken one drop of Alcohol for 2 weeks!! And he has come to churchevery Sunday! In the weeks before, Mauricio really seemed like a troubled soul. He told us how he was an alcoholic and how he is lonely. He told us how when we talked to him in the street, he felt such a strong spirit. Hermana Hart and I noticed how he just latched on to that spirit and was so desperate to feel it. But now, Mauricio is a changing man! He has so much light in his eyes! he has so much joy in his countenance. He just looks so happy! with an extra bounce in his step. He is reading the Book of Mormon, he is praying (which is actually a great feat! because he always refused to pray!) he is going to church! And the best news is, yesterday at church, he told us he had prayed about his baptism and decided he feels the Lord wants him to get baptized on the 25 ofDecember. A white Christmas!!!! I just cant believe how different he is. The gospel surely changes people.

Antonia and Elizabeth: Elizabeth is a wonderful woman. She was baptized in our church about 22 years ago and was the only member in her family. She quickly inactivated as she traveled aroundChile for her husbands job. She found out several years ago that the Church doesn't have any record of her baptism or membership, so she actually isn't a member at all! We are working with her reteach her the lessons (because she has basically forgotten everything) and she has so much joy to on the path again. we are teaching her with her 10 year old daughter Antonia. She is just a littleangel. This week, she read the Book of Mormon and when we asked her how she felt, she said "it felt like the Love a friend, but not just any friend, the best friend that you could ever have, it feels like Jesus' love." It was basically adorable. The both of them are excited and preparing for their baptisms! Hermana hart and I couldn't help but laughing, because 2 weeks ago, we found out that one of our investigators, Marcelo was actually a member, and this week we found out that one of our members is actually an investigator! haha . Sometimes, I think God has great sense of humor!

Camila and Patricia: They are the Mother and daughter of a Recent convert. They both told us this week that they believe our church is true. And have agreed that if they can come to belive the Book of Mormon is true, they will both get baptized! luckily, I know that the Book of Mormon is fool-proof and anyone who reads it can and will know of its truthfulness.

Lydia, Maria Soledad, Alexadra, y Marisol-- We have been working with this amazing family for a while, but we are starting so see the Light from a dark situation!!! Wahoo!!

Hermana Hart and I praying and fasting that all of these people can get baptized in December. PRAY HARD for them because it would require a miracle! But luckily, we are in the business of miracles! we are praying hard and dreaming of a White Christmas!!! I hope your prayers can accompany us!

Oh I am just so happy! Life is just great. I am so happy to have Christmas in summer too, it is a tender mercy! Haha I love each of you so much! thank you for all your prayers and support!

be good this week!

Hermana Royal