Today, I'm tired. Like, really really tired. It's been a long week. Good week, but long week. Preparation day is supposed to be so you can relax for the rest of the week, but even though we're back to 8 hour preparation days, I don't think I'll get much relaxing in.
The best part of this week, just like last Christmastime, was our Christmas concert. It was so great. The Spirit was so strong and I'm so grateful for the many ways that God has given us to bear our testimonies, especially through song.
The VC was pretty busy practically every night, and was full of prepared people. I can't even recount all the stories but there were so many miracles. We got over 800 referrals this month while last year we only got 500, and we had 23,000 people come, 3,000 more than last year! It was crazy and tiring and draining but I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve two Christmases here in the VC.
I skyped home Christmas Eve, and the first thing Trey said to me was, "Jill, where you be?" And then halfway into the call, the sound went out and I couldn't hear a thing. I've never had a successful skype session on my mission - something always has to go wrong. Through lip-reading and Dad's over-exaggerated word-mouthing, everything that needed to be said was said. Except maybe an "I love you". I tend to forget that one pretty often, even when I haven't seen them in over a year. So in case I forgot, here it is now: I love you Mom, Dad, Brad, Mia and Trey. And one for Parker too, since I didn't get to see him. I'll get to see him for Mother's Day though!
For Christmas Day, we went to President Mullen's home - he's a counselor in the stake presidency and he and his wife were just called to serve as mission president and wife in the California Riverside mission. He served his mission in Chile so he stops in to our ward a lot. They fed us an awesome Christmas breakfast (just like the ones at home) and we played games and had lunch too (also amazing). It was more relaxing than preparation day, that's for sure. Then top it off with our last Christmas performance, and it was exactly what Christmas should be: food, family, music and Christ. That's all you really need, right?
We managed to have three member-present lessons this week! More than we've had all month combined! I love when people have time off from work because of the holidays. That's one of the best parts. We FINALLY made contact with the Ramirez family again and it's going to take time for them to get baptized, but the testimonies of their parents are so strong and those will help push them along until they are ready. We're still teaching the Sanchez family and the Romero family but we haven't seen much progress there. But we're excited to get out this week and find even more investigators!
It's weird to think that 2013, my only full year as a missionary, is almost over. Time flies so fast. We're going to see some amazing things here in the Oakland 6th ward come 2014. I'm so grateful for all the miracles of 2013 and the ones I'll experience in 2014 during the final days of my mission and throughout the rest of the year afterwards. Even though 2013 was the year of my mission, every year is going to be a missionary year! It's never too late to change, and I've seen God change hearts, especially my own. Through all the tests and trials of the year, I've gained so much more faith, hope and charity. I can't even count all the lessons I've learned, and there are still so many on the way! I'm so grateful for the chance to serve!
Farewell 2013, and Happy New Year's everyone!
Hermana Hunsaker
