Merry Christmas from Sister Pace

  This Christmas season has been so great! I feel like I have really been able to feel the Christmas spirit so strong. I know it is because I haven't been as distracted by the commercial part of Christmas, and I've  been able to really focus more on Christ this Christmas and give back to him by giving of  my time and service.

 We have been taken care of so well by this ward! My love for this ward grows more and more. There are so many wonderful people here. We have been involved with the ward Choir which has been so fun! We went to a Christmas sing along at a members home and sang Christmas carols with the choir. That was probably my favorite Christmas activity so far! That is a fun tradition I would love to carry on. There are so many homes that are decorated from the grass to the roof and everything in between. I tell ya, everything is bigger in Texas! 

I just want you all to know how happy I am here on my mission! I have been growing more and more to love this place and what I am doing here! My love for the people has grown, the missionaries I serve with are so amazing! We have so much fun together and they have such great testimonies.  Also, my love for President and Sister Ashton have grown. They are soo amazing as well!  I definitely consider them as second parents. Sister Christopherson  (one of my companions) got to go spend a few days in their home with their family to see what a gospel oriented family life is like. That doesn't happen very often. So I was able to see them a few times this  past week. I have so much love and respect for them. Sister Ashton is a huge role model in my life. 

Most of all, my love for our Savior Jesus Christ has grown. I have loved studying his life and ministry these past few weeks in the New Testament. I love how the world is so happy during the Christmas season because they remember Christ so much more. Just think of what it is going to be like when he reigns again on the earth! Its going to be amazing! 

 I love you all and hope you have a great Christmas season! I challenge each of you to find one way you can go out of your way to serve someone everyday until Christmas. I promise you will be able to feel the Christmas season even more this year! 

Fall in Texas for this Missionary!

New Harmony Apples!

I got the apples!!!! Thanks so much.  It was a wonderful surprise and totally made our week!  I bought the ingredients for apple dip so we will be snacking on them.  Yum...Yum!!! Fall weather in Houston is still in the 70s and 80s, but there have been more days that are overcast and the breeze is nice and cool. 

                                                                                                                                                                                   

We're the Snow White Twiners!

Trunk or Treat!! Happy Halloween from Snow White and Cowgirl (missionary version)

We went to ward Halloween trunk or treat  which was so fun.  We helped with some of the carnival games for the kids.  We dressed up for it too!  I was Snow White  and Sister Thompson was a cowgirl.  We found out the last minute that we could wear costumes so we tried to be creative with what we have.   

  This is a picture of my sweet friend Morgan.  We're the Snow White twiners.  This girl is a doll!  She is in our ward and is the daughter of one of the Bishopric.  She is a special Olympic Swimmer and has so much love.  She will just get up in the middle of Sacrament Meeting after someone  has shared their testimony and give them a hug and a kiss on the cheek!  She is my favorite!              

PS:  Yeah, I died my hair!  I didn't want to worry about the up keep of the blonde.  But I'm getting use to it.  Now I definitely fit in with the Pace Girls!     

We'll it was transfer week again and guess what!?  Sister Thompson and I are still together in the same area.  But there is a new addition to our companionship, Sister Christopherson!

 

 

 

 

Sister Christopherson, Sister Thompson and Sister Pace

    What a blessing it has been to have Sister Christopherson with us.  She is on her last transfer and comes with experience and so we are benefiting have her for this short time before she goes home.  

I've been here for 3 months and sadly we haven't baptized anyone in the time I have been here.   But instead I look at our successes and all that we have been doing.  We have worked hard getting the ward excited about missionary work, helping strengthen the members and less actives.  We met with Bishop Brower and he is really happy with what is going on,.  He told us how we have met his goal with 55 people coming back to church.  They haven't been baptisms, but in the last year there have been many people who were inactive or less active coming back to church.  This is so great!  He told us that 54 people have come back and he is considered number 55 because of his conversion through all of this. 

                    

I really am loving being a missionary.  There has been some great times and hard times.  The thing about being a missionary is God is trying to mold us into a person that He wants us to be. I'm learning a lot about myself, what is important in life, and most importantly the gospel.  It is great!!

Rainy Day in Houston!