Life has been pretty good most of our time is spent working at the visitor center for Christmas lights. There were a couple of nights where we didn’t have very many people come which was a little bit frustrating. During Christmas lights we’re always in Zebra companionship’s so, you’re never with your real companion, and there’s always at least one person that speaks Spanish in every companionship. One of the slow nights I was with Sis Mackenzie from Kenya. We got permission from the senior couple to go look around the grounds. It was really neat, because even though it’s my second Christmas here I’ve never really been able to walk around and see the lights and big out door nativities. Last year they did leave the lights on late the last night so we could go out and see them, but it wasn’t the same when I was dead tired and there were only other sister missionaries around.
Almost all the nativities in side of the visitor center are different this year. They have a lot of paintings, but I’m not a huge fan of most of them. There’s a huge one that was painted on glass and it looks like the cover of a fantasy novel. Mary has long red hair, and Joesph is extremely buff. There’s also lots of odd add ins like the arch angel Michael fighting Lucifer It’s all very odd, but guests seem to really like it. I’ll attach a picture so you can see what I’m talking about. So, that I’m not being totally negative I do like that the painting is a really good way to talk to people about the plan of salvation. There are also really beautiful nativities like this extravagant quilt a lady made. I love all the nativities from different countries. It’s really interesting how differently people imagine the manager scene.
We fasted with Oswaldo this Sunday and his whole family came to church. He said that even though he’s not sure if the church is true or not he’s become more sure that God exists and he also says he feels closer to his family. Fruits of reading the Book of Mormon? of course.
There’s definitely been a special spirit here in the visitor center ever since Christmas lights started. Sometimes it’s hard having a new director and having things be different, but the spirit of Christmas is still the same. Sometimes I get homesick when it’s slow and there’s not a lot to do, but overall things are great. I’ve really enjoyed the past 3 transfers. I’ve had a couple of great companions and I’ve been able to have a lot of fun while still being able to do the work.
Are you still with Sister Noble?
Nope, see the answer to question 3 for more details.
How long are you at Christmas lights each day? How much time do you get to try to fit in lessons and visits?
We’re usually at Christmas lights from 5:30 to 10:30 which means our whole missionary schedule gets pushed back an hour. So instead of going to be at 10:30 we go at 11:30 and instead of starting studies at 8 we start at 9. Between studies and meal times we usually end up with about 3 hours a day in our area. Needless to say at the moment we don’t have a ton of investigators because it’s simply impossible to give them the attention they need. We do have 2 nights every week in our area which is good, but still not a ton.
We’re going to need some miracles.
How is the bike working out?
It’s going really well. I haven’t crashed at all, and the other day when we were riding around I was thinking that I could totally go back to using the bus system, but this time it would be faster because I know how to ride a bike. The problem is I know a one speed beach cruiser won’t be appropriate in Utah and I still don’t really understand gears and things.
How come both of you are writing such short letters lately?
Because no body remembers what I tell you. I told you Hna Noble was getting transferred and I was getting Hna Watkins who is a full field sister (they pull in sisters who don’t usually work at the vc for Christmas lights) so I wasn’t in the VC for Christmas lights. Hna Watkins and I are both really curious about what is going to happen at transfers. There happening a week early this transfer so, that the people who are going home can make in back in time for Christmas. That means we’ve only got about 2 weeks left of this transfer. It also means that the last transfer of my mission will literally be the longest transfer of my life.
Love you all,
Rachel
p.s. Is there any way you can secure I can get into the MTC when Hannah is there, or should I start whining to my mission president to see if I can get permission to call or something?
p.p.s Mom’s weekly emails are definitely more informative than Dads.
p.p.p.s Be on the look out for the new Ensign. We made the cover!!
