December 26, 2018

Bonjour famille!! I hope that each and every one of you had the most beautiful Christmas! I was not sure how a Christmas away from home was going to feel, but I am so pleased with how it went! I don`t understand how exactly it works but service brings joy. It does not compute, but somehow it just works. I felt so much joy this Christmas season because I spent the whole time trying to be like Jesus and turn outward. There were moments where I really missed my mom! haha!| But if there is one thing I know for sure, it is that Christ is my rock. Unlike the world, he does not vary, he does not change. He is constant. I never have to wonder if i can trust him or if he will be there because I know that he will. By divine law I know that he will always be there for me to fall back on for a time. I love him so much for that. Helaman 5:12 is my favorite scripture because I know without a doubt that he is and will forever be the one constant while everything else shifts and leaves. As missionaries and as a district, we organized a brunch on Christmas day specifically for the people who would be spending Christmas alone. It was a very beautiful thing. We all ate pancakes and drank hot chocolate and talked and sang Christmas songs. I had a sweet experience while everyone was singing silent night. I truly felt my Saviors love and it brough me to tears. It was the most healing and safe and comforting feeling. Only his love can have that kind of effect on a person, because only his love is that strong. I am so grateful to him for letting me feel that. It brought my heart a lot of peace. I have prayed this Christmas to find the soul sick. I truly have. I have come to know without a doubt that Christ is the only one who has the all healing balm. It covers pain of all kids, saddenss and trials. It cover them in this life and in the life to come. It covers and it heals and it makes stronger and it protects. His balm does so much. And he gives it so freely. Thats the miracle of it. All we need do is open the door. I hope that you all felt the joy of this season. I hope that Christ was always in your vision and in your hearts and that you were all able to feel the love i know that he has for each of you. He truly is the gift and he offers his healing to us every day. I love him. He will forver be the reason I am here. I love him. Much love, Soeur Bates