Happy 2015!

Hello family!

 I hope everyone is doing well and enjoyed their Christmas! :) This Christmas was really special.. one I will never forget! We had our Christmas devotional on Christmas Eve. That was great!

We went Caroling on Christmas Eve with The Zurcher's. They are from Mexico, so we sang all our hymns in espanol.. we caroled to the Gomez family and sister Gomez was in tears! It was priceless.. she was very touched. We also visited with several active and less-active families. We are definitely taken care of.. Everyone was so generous!

One of our zone goals this transfer is to spend as much time with members, as we do finding.. we have already seen miracles come from it! Members are KEY :)

We had a lesson with Dave this week in a member's home. He really seems to like what he has been learning! We invited him to pray about baptism for the end of January.. He said he would pray about it. He's very genuine and sincere, but we still have quite a bit to teach him..  Something that we really want to focus on in our next lesson with him is priesthood authority and WHY authority is necessary for baptism.

Eduardo came to all three hours of church yesterday! We had our bishop check if he was a member.. because he knows so much and he gets a little confused.. haha he checked and he's not, so we're good to go!

Another miracle was Heather. She is a potential in our area, who I've never met. Sister Brown talked about her and said she was very interested, but we never caught her at home. Well, her daughter, Madeline, is friend's with a member and they both came to church yesterday!! She stayed for all 3 hours and said she would be there next week. We explained that we have discussions and we set up an appointment this week for Friday. We really look forward to hear more about her experience at church and to teach them this week.
We have a great service opportunity in our area- we helped out at the Camarillo health care center with the elderly people. We did room visits and helped out with their Christmas party! It was great and they just loved it., they were hilarious. I love old people :)

I can't believe we are approaching a new year.. insane! As I have reflected on this past year and all of my experiences as a missionary.. my life has changed completely.
If I have learned anything, it is that Heavenly father KNOWS his children and that the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ is real. There is joy in obedience and keeping the commandments.. I had a testimony before, but now I am experiencing what it means to be converted unto the Lord.. I love that it never ends. Conversion is eternal! We can always strengthen our testimonies and progress and the Lord will help us.

thank you for all the mail, prayers and love!!

I love you all!

Sister James
12-29-2014
 

Christmas 2014

Making Bunuelos!