Bye-Bye, Willis

 



Beds moved in by the Christmas Tree for Christmas Eve Night Night!



All three Sister with Orthodontic Retainers



Look at that sweet picture with Corinne.
  

This is like Christmas at home!





Skyping with Mom and Grannie and Papa



Skyping with Andrew and Andee



Ciera on the other end!

Christmas Eve dinner with Kathy and Earnest Thorpe

Only in the South....a full wall of Bar-B-Q sauce!

HAHA....Ciera thinks this will be her mom when she gets home!

Sister Wheelock, Belyea and Burbank

Best. Christmas. Ever.

I had such an incredible week, and I’ve felt the love of my Savior- and the love of home, more than ever. Thank you so much for all of the amazing gifts of love, prayer and thought. I truly enjoyed my week- and it will be a Christmas that I will absolutely NEVER forget.

So, last night I got an INCREDIBLE text. In our mission, they send out a mass text of all of the converts that were baptized and confirmed in the mission. Well, last night I found out that AMADOR CARONA was baptized this weekend in Simpsonville! WHAT? He was somebody that Sister Derrick and I started working with back in my first transfer. The Gospel is so incredible, and it completely changes lives.

This week had a handful of unexpected events. One of which, was that we were on an exchange on Friday/Saturday. Sister Burbank and I were staying in Gaston with Sister Davis, who usually serves in the Irmo area. Well, we got a text from President asking for us to call him as soon as we got in for the night. One thing led to another… and long story short… Sister Willis got emergency transferred on Saturday morning. Because we are in a 3 pack, that was obviously the most logical thing. He told us that when he put our tripanionship together, he had seen this coming. It was actually a really spiritual experience, because each one of us had somehow predicted this happening, the week leading up to the transfer. Apparently a sister in the mission was having some medical issues, and so now she is home. Looks like it’s just Sister Burbank and I for awhile!! Good thing I love the heck out of her.
We’ve been a little overwhelmed with stuff, ever since she left. But it’s been great! We practically feel like we’re “white washing.”

Yesterday we taught the combined Relief Society and Priesthood the Ward Mission Plan. Good times.

We had a bajillion Less Active families that we’re working with, come to church yesterday. Life is good.

We went on 3 exchanges this past week. Monday to Tuesday we went with the “coordinating sisters,” so we all stayed in Gaston. Sister Burbank and I served with Sister Garlic for awhile. It went so well! Sister Burbank and I went to Newberry on Thursday/Friday. IT IS THE CUTEST TOWN IN ALL OF THE WORLD! They live in a loft, on main street- and there are tons of just cobblestone streets. It stinking feels like Europe! I love it! The homes and members there are so beautiful, too- inside and out.

Newberry is adorable.

Then on Friday/Saturday, like I said before- we had an exchange with the Irmo Sisters. Sister Davis ended up getting sick, (food poisoning) and we had to come in a little early. She unfortunately spent most of the night sleeping on the bathroom floor. Poor thing!

Saturday was a whirl wind- as we went to drop off Sister Willis with President Holm at the mission office. We still don’t know where she is, who she’s with- or anything. She will be allowed to come back to our ward in a couple of Sundays and say goodbye to the members that she didn’t get to say goodbye to.

We had a miracle last night! We’ve been trying to get a hold of a “media referral,” Teresa Jones.  Well, we stopped by last night- and she was home! She had received a Restoration pamphlet and had answered all of the questions in the back, prior to us coming and visiting with her. She REALLY wants to know if the Book of Mormon is true- and if Joseph Smith REALLY restored the Gospel back to the earth. She’s been through SO much, and on January 1^st she’ll be “cancer free” for 3 months. Her boyfriend is a less active member, and he’s interested in re-taking the lessons as well. There were many tears shed last night and she told us about her trials and triumphs within the past year or so. GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR!

Remember Christina, that was Golden? Well, long story short- she’s moved to Florida. She’s split up with her boyfriend- and we can’t get a hold of her. It’s super sad. Her family is taking the missionary discussions too, so hopefully she won’t slip through the cracks. She taught me a lot about putting your faith, fully in Heavenly Father and taking the step into the “darkness” only to find that Christ is holding your hand the whole way through.

Sorry that sounds tacky. But, it’s honestly true.

It was such a busy week. I’m so grateful to be serving in Gaston- and that I had the opportunity to serve with Sister Willis. She actually got to talk to her sister, that’s serving on a mission in the Salt Lake City East mission on Christmas, too. I’m grateful I was able to see some of your smiling faces on Christmas. Like I said, it was an absolutely incredible Christmas and my love for my family increased a million fold. I have been humbles beyond belief- and I know that Christmas time is absolutely an opportunity to reflect on the life and atonement of our Savior. I’m grateful we get to start a new year this week, and to reflect on all of the events of the past year. I know that being a missionary is the most important thing I could be doing in my life, at this time. I’m grateful that I get to serve for another 11 months, and I’m grateful for each one of the men and women I’ve been able to meet and teach this far. Time flys when you’re having fun!

Have a happy and safe week! I love you all MORE than words can express. Enjoy the New Year!

Smile! :)

Matthew 5:44

Enjoy to the End,

Sister Belyea