¡¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!

Hello my beautiful family!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! ¡¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!!! 

In just 2 days!! Hallelujah!!!

Haha can you believe it's already here!? And that we get to skype and

I get to see each of your beautiful faces this week!?! I cannot even

believe it! I'll give you all the skype information at the end of this

email... But I am soo excited to see each of you and hear your voices

in just a couple of days. My Christmas is already made and my heart is

already warm thinking about it.

So things have been lovely this past week. First off, we got our iPads

haha. We EACH got our own mini iPad 7. Soooo fancy I don't know how to

handle it. Haha at first Hermana Piggott and I were overwhelmed and

wishing we didn't get them, weird I know.. But we don't use the

classic missionary planners or area books anymore. It's ALL on our

iPads. So we plan and do everything on these things. The church as

created an INCREDIBLE app for it all and wow... You would be AMAZED.

If Hermana Piggott isn't skyping while I am, I'll have to show you a

little bit. It's so crazy. And now after every lesson we automatically

update our area book and report about the lesson, it calculates our

numbers and compares them to our daily & weekly goals, it will switch

from investigator to a progressing one when you've entered in the

qualifications, etc. it's honestly the most incredible app I have ever

seen. The church is amazing. And we're only the 14th mission to get

them. California missions... We're so spoiled. 

But yeah, I'll have to

show you. President just made new rules on using them too though...

Like we can't take pictures or videos on them, we can only download

the apps the church hand picked, still cannot use the internet of

course... Except for Facebook (which I still hate and refuse to use)

haha we had to create Facebook pages when I first got here, I just

made a new one and yeah... even though it's completely allowed, I

don't like the feeling I get when I am on so I just choose to not use

it. We've taught one lesson using it and used it to contact Yamara and

Marcella before when they didn't have a phone but other than that....

noooope. Not a fan. Haha we just haven't needed it yet. So I only have

it for emergency reasons I guess you could say haha. But yeah and our

emails are on our iPads so we can now email on them too. And President

said we could at our house if we have wifi!! So weird!! I don't know

how to handle all of these new changes. But the hour still stays the

same and all the rules. And we can't go on our emails until Mondays

still. So that's good haha. But yeah... Missionary work is changing in

many ways and it's crazy to be apart of it! Haha they're making some

things almost too easy. But I know they'll help the work a lot. It's

really organizing everything. We also have every Mormon message,

manual, pamphlet, EVERYTHING you could possibly imagine on one app.

"Gospel Library" .. You should all download it! Oh and so we had the

iPad conference and then a Christmas conference as well with half of

the mission!!! It was sooo spiritual and amazing and we got to hear a

ton of musical numbers. My zone sang The First Noel too which was fun

haha. But my favorite part was being able to hear from President

Weston and his sweet wife. I love him so much. And when I went up to

shake his hand I was smiling away and he said to me, "Are you ever NOT

happy???" Haha I love him!!!! I'll have to tell you more about the

conference later too... It was amazing.

And okay, other than that... Everything is going wonderful! Yamara's

baptismal date is set for January 4th... We were going to do it this

Saturday but a ton of members are going to be gone and we want a lot

of people to come. Her dad wants to have a big fiesta afterwards and

we just had our branch Christmas party on Saturday night. Ahh soo fun.

Us Spanish missionaries helped decorate and set it all up.. We made it

look soo nice with all the decorations Grace Villanueva (the one in

charge) gave us. Haha I'll send pictures as soon as I get a camera

cord! I used to borrow Sister Moultons but she got transferred... So

that's why I haven't been sending any lately!! But it was sooo much

fun. Sooo many people came and less-actives, non-members and

investigators too!! Including the entire Elizondo family!!!! Yamara's

family. And they stayed the entire time!! It was soo fun. Hispanics

love their fiestas!!! Haha but a bunch of Sisters in our branch cooked

all kinds of Mexican dishes.. We even learned how to make tamales with

Hermana Ceja! And then we got a huge star (traditional) piñata which

we hung from a pulley that was on the ceiling in the middle of the

party. It was such a success and we had a huge line of little ones

wanting to hit it. It was a cement piñata though and took forever to

break! Haha and I even got to wack at it. Brother Orme volunteered me

and then everyone started cheering me on. Haha I actually had no

choice. Before I knew it I had my Mexican Sisters grabbing me, taking

off my glasses, blind folding me and spinning me in circles haha. Oh,

and when I started going for it.. I apparently hit it and candy

started pouring out so all the children ran to grab some.. And I heard

everyone screaming so I thought they were cheering me on but they were

screaming because I kept swinging and there were little children

around me!!! Haha I am not kidding. EVERYONE made comments to me about

it afterwards. Joking how I almost killed a niño. Brother Orme said it

could have made church headlines.. "First Sister Missionary to harm a

child while hitting a piñata at a branch fiesta" haha I am not

kidding. I never heard the end of it!!! Too good, yet so bad!! But

yeah we packed that thing with Mexican candies and confetti. It looked

pretty cool when it burst. But then Brother Orme had Santa come.. Who

was Sister & Brother Smith's son.. The ones you met dad haha. Couldn't

you picture it? Brother Smith does Santa too but wow.. They're perfect

for the part!!!! He looked amazing. It was so cute to see all of the

children sitting on his lap and telling him what they wanted for

Christmas.. So precious. And Estrella, Marcella's darling little one

did as well. I loved it. And then us missionaries sang a couple of

Christmas hymns, we all sang jingle bells when Santa came in and then

of course afterwards we sang Feliz Navidad, etc. It was the best! Haha

which then reminds me... Us missionaries did a musical number in

Sacrament meeting haha and part of it was Hermana Piggott and I

singing a duet!!! Hahahaha it's a REAL thing!! We both are not singers

whatsoever but we figured we'd never sing a duet in public again like

that in our life so we might as well take the chance to!! We sang "It

came upon a midnight clear" in Español of course.. And I enjoyed it

very much haha. We also sang half of it in acapella (I don't know how

to spell it). But yeah it was actually way nice. It just kills me that

I sang a duet in front of 50 people. Hahaha better than a large

English ward, it was just my little Spanish branch whom I am so close

to and are the last people to be critical haha but it's so funny. Abs,

remember when me and you wanted to record ourselves singing a duet

dead dog serious just to see how we'd sound??? Hahaha and then we

tried to sing Tangled "I can see the light" with Ralph as well, in a

serious manner and then we all burst out laughing listening to

ourselves... Hahaha too good!!!!!

We found 5 new investigators this past week!!!! I'll tell you all

about them next week or when we skype. But we found Raymond, Ana and

her DARLING family, Esgar's girlfriend Erminia and this other new

family!!! I have a lot to say about them but it'll have to wait!!

But then let's see... Hermana Piggott and I have a fully decorated

room with a beautiful, nice sized real Christmas tree!! We went to a

Christmas tree lot nearby last Monday and got to pick out a tree!!

They're all from Oregon and gorgeous!! Ours is PERFECT too! Just wait

till you see it. It's a perfect size, bigger than you'd expect, and we

bought a stand for it, bought lights, ornaments, etc, it's beautiful!!

And we decorated it while listening to a Mormon Tabernacle Christmas

cd.... While belting at the top of our lungs, "For unto us a child is

born... unto us, a son is given.. and the government shall be upon his

shoulder.. and his name shall be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, The

mighty GOD, The everlasting FATHER, The Prince of Peace!!" ... 2 Nephi

19:6 ... We're listening to it right now actually while emailing and

eating grilled cheese next to our tree!! Haha but okay... I'll give

you more updates on Christmas.. I have no time right now. But earlier

this week during personal study I studied and pondered over some

things and I wrote it down in my notepad on my iPad. I want to share

it with you......

The Light and Spirit of Christ

During this magical season I have, of course, been thinking constantly

about our glorious Savior, Jesus Christ. I have been celebrating His

birth and constantly giving thanks to our Father in Heaven for Him. I

have been studying and pondering about Christ's characteristics... His

love, His charity, His Spirit... His LIGHT. At Christmas time we see

lots of LIGHTS, everywhere. People decorate their homes in lights, we

decorate our trees with lights, there will be displays along the

streets in white or colorful lights, like we know in Salt Lake City,

we go to Temple Square to see "the lights"... etc. Well, I don't

believe there is any coincidence for this. When Christ was born there

was a brilliant and bright star indicating His birth and the

significance of it. This star was unlike any other and shone bright

for all to see. The light of this brilliant star led those, who were

seeking, to the new born baby. So like the North Star leading the

Shepard's to Jesus Christ through the dark night, we are so blessed to

have this same baby boy be our Savior, who is the light of our world,

who is here to lead us through the darkness that surrounds us now. He

is our personal light and guide to show us the path to our Father in

Heaven. As the Savior says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the

light of life." We must follow the Savior... follow His light and if

we do so, "we shall have the light of life" .. obtain His light.

Through the Savior, we are truly able to obtain part of His light for

it is said that he,"lighteth every man that cometh into the world." As

is said in the Bible Dictionary, "the light of Christ is just what the

words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling,

persevering influencing that comes upon mankind because of Jesus

Christ." So indeed, we all are born with the spirit of Christ however,

it is our job to now let this light grow in us. This light increases

as we hearken unto His word and act on the promptings we receive from

the Spirit.. "For the word of The Lord is truth, and whatsoever is

truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of

Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh

into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the

world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that

hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the

Father." D&C 84:45-47 ... And also, as we constantly seek after Him,

love Him, follow Him.. do as He would do. My perspective on the light

of Christ has been changing a whole lot while on my mission. I view it

differently now. I've always known of and noticed the light of Christ

in others but it is becoming more recognizable to me. The light of

Christ is not only something that we hold deep inside of us, in our

souls, in our hearts.. but it is something that shines, glows and

radiates off of us. It is also something that needs nourishment, "oil"

you could say. We also may not always realize it but we are attracted

to those who's light is bright. Those who are full of Christ's

characteristics.. love, charity, faith, humility (some of the

characteristics I want to obtain most) .. those who are are always

focused on the Savior and are truly trying to be like him. These are

the people who are always smiling, always happy, friendly, wanting to

serve others, wanting to be on the Lord's errand.. wanting to share

their light. With these Christ-like qualities, these people are truly

always glowing, always beaming... constantly touching people with

their light. It's no wonder why us Latter-Day Saints have something

"different" about us ... why people are drawn to us. Those who are

close to the Savior, beam. And not only do we have the light of Christ

but also the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Which is consistently

brightening our light. And along with the companionship of the Holy

Ghost, we have angels with us as well. I have recognized this very

much recently. As is said in D&C 84:88, "And whoso receiveth you,

there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on

your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your

hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." We have

angels alongside us everywhere and I can feel them with me every day.

And what is even more astonishing is how others have noticed as well.

At the end of our lesson with Antonio the other day he said something

that really hit me.. he not only told Hermana Piggott and I that we

have special spirits, that he feels something good when we're around..

but he said he can feel that we have angels with us. That really

touched me and warmed my heart. I know that I have the companionship

of the Holy Ghost with me at all times but I myself have felt

different angels with me as well. One night after we were teaching..

my two darling Grandpa's came into my mind. Although, I have never met

Papa Dee... I know that him and Grandpa Barth were with me that night.

I've never been one to talk much of angels or think much about their

presence but this night I did. And the minute this came into my

thoughts.. tears came into my eyes. As they do right now. It's

something I cannot fully explain but I know it's true. I have my two

grandpa's along with many others I am positive, alongside me at all

times. And with this work, I need them. Ohh how that humbles me and

softens my heart... I am so lucky. I am so lucky to have the light of

Christ inside of me, to have the gift of the Holy Ghost, to have

angels... and to constantly help others receive these special gifts as

well. I love it so much. On my mission I have been able to personally

witness this light increase in people. I have seen the contrast and

have watched those whose lights were dimming, grow as they accepted

our message and embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The difference is

astonishing. With all those we've been teaching I've seen their light

increase but especially with Jesus, Marcella and Yamara. First with

Jesus and Marcella, the difference I can clearly see in them now...

it's hard to explain. While we were teaching them I was able to see

their lights grow brighter and brighter each day but since they've

both been baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.. They are

truly always glowing!! Their light is now radiating off of them. It's

so noticeable. And with Yamara, every single day I notice her light

increasing... it is so so special to watch the process and I cannot

wait to see her after she has been baptized and received the gift of

the Holy Ghost as well. She will be beaming. Ahh it warms my heart up

just thinking about these wonderful people. And that is one more thing

I want to touch really quickly regarding the light of Christ,

regarding the Spirit. As we know, light brings warmth and darkness

brings coldness. This is clearly why when we feel the Spirit we feel

warm.. I often blush a lot and get rosy cheeks.. I always say, my

heart feels so warm. When we let our light grow, the warmth, love and

comfort inside of us increases. It makes me think of a line from one

of my favorite Christmas movies.. dad's favorite, It's a Wonderful

Life...

George Bailey: "What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want

the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull

it down. Hey, that's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon,

Mary."

Mary: "I'll take it. Then what?"

George Bailey: "Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve,

see.. and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes

and the ends of your hair..."

The spirit of Christ is like moonbeams shooting out of our fingers,

toes, and the ends of our hair. Haha and when I feel the Spirit it

sure feels like that. And when we touch other people with our light,

with the Spirit, they can feel those things as well. Ohh what a

wonderful thing that is. And as you now know.. the lights sparkling

everywhere, the talk and feeling of the "Spirit of Christmas" and the

talk and decorations of angels now all mean something different to me.

They mean something even more. Now I know this all may have not made

much sense, I just wrote a lot of these thoughts down like a journal

entry and have now been trying to organize it all to email it to you,

in not much time at that.. But may we all try to let our light grow

brighter and brighter each day and do those things that will grow us

closer to our loving, Savior, Redeemer, Lord, Prince of Peace, Jesus

Christ. He is again the light of this world and the One who can help

us make it back to our father in Heaven. To live with Him, our Savior,

our family and all those we love so very much, FOREVER. And not only

that but may we all help others receive this as well. We need to give

"gifts of eternal value" and not only during this Christmas season but

every day of the year. "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is

on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it

under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all

that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they

may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in Heaven."

Ohh family I love you all so much. I am sad I don't get to enjoy this

Holiday season with you but I get to see all of your lovely faces in

just 2 days!!!!! Okay, and as for Skpe... My account name is

hermanabarth .... Can whoever's account I am calling to email back

their name?? And my email is emilie.barth@myldsmail.net as well ... So

if you can't find me, look that up. I hope this all works how we want

it too haha. But we're planning to call around noon?? We actually can

Skype from our new iPads so President said we can Skype from our

house!! Crazy huh?? However.... We only have 30-40 minutes.. I know,

sooo short. But it's in the white handbook and what President said so

I have to obey by it. Obedience is key in this work and I need all of

the blessings I can get!! Haha but so email me someone's account and

hopefully we'll be able to make this work!! I'll probably call one of

you when I am wanting to Skype to make sure you're all ready and that

it will work as well haha. So keep your phones on, loud, and with

you!!!! Please!! Oh, and Christmas is an all proselyting day for us so

that's why we're trying to figure out when we'll call and what not..

Plan on 12 Cali time. Oh!! And I have a Christmas package I am sending

home for you all but it's far too expensive to send to make it on

Christmas now and so it'll be a little late... It can be a New Years

gift too haha but get excited!!!!!!

Okay, I have to go but Merry Merry Christmas my lovely family!!! I'll

see you in just TWO DAYS!!!! Ahhhh seems too good to be true. I love

you all sooo much!!!!

Con mucho mucho amor, Hermana Barth