I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ - 3 Nephi 3:15

Christmas was awesome! I loved talking with my family!! You all rock! I never really realized how much I missed you all until our conversation time was up. 

We had Christmas dinner with the Deshler's which was very delicious and then we watched church movies the rest of the day. We can't proselyte on Christmas which kind of sucks. Who doesn't want to hear about Jesus on Christmas? Y'all crazy. 

Thank you Chamberlain family for the present! I loved it! Thanks for all the Emergen-C, now I will never get sick ;) Thank you Grandma Loretta for my Christmas jammies! I'll send a picture soon! Also, thank you for the Pringles. I love you. 

By the way most everyone has called me Sister French by now. Are you from France? Oui oui! Oh, the jokes never get old. 

So, I'm just going to let this out right now because it's so darn exciting. 

This Sunday Sister Ward and I were extremely encouraged to get our investigators and recent converts to church on Sunday. (We usually do, but we were a little more panicked this time). Remember how I said that Bishop Bednar was the son of Elder Bednar? Well...guess who came to church? 

Almost all of our recent converts were there and our investigator D. Elder Bednar and his wife both spoke during sacrament meeting. It was amazing and very powerful. 

In the second hour Elder Bednar had a private question and answer session with them. It was kind of funny that most of them didn't understand completely the gravity of the fact that an Apostle of Jesus Christ was in our Relief Society room. The missionaries sat in the back or by their investigators. He talked about the importance of the temple, making covenants with our Heavenly Father, being sealed to our families, and doing the work for our ancestors. It was great because that was exactly what all of them needed to hear to progress and become closer to Christ. 

This is how my conversation with an Apostle went: 

"Sister France, where are you from?" 

"Uh, Washington State." 

"What part?" 

"Puyallup." 

*Nods is head, but I don't think he knows where that is* 

*Bishop Bednar pipes up from the back* "Sister France was actually at the MTC on Thanksgiving when you were there."

"You were here for the Q and A?" 

"Yes." 

"And you're still in the Church, wow." 

*We laugh*

It was the greatest, most awkward, and funniest moment of my life. 

After the second hour the Relief Society, Priesthood, and youth all came into the chapel for a Q and A. He preferred that the youth asked the most questions because they ask better questions than adults do. Which I kind of agree with. The youth were very sincere in their questions and the best part was that Elder Bednar didn't just talk at them, but involved them so that they could receive their own personal testimony. 

After that, our investigator D still had questions but was afraid to ask them during the second hour. So, Sister Ward went to Elder Bednar and asked him to have a personal chat with D. And he did. He stood about two feet from us and answered her questions perfectly. Which makes sense because he's an Apostle. It was so great to see her understand and something just clicked with her. Last night we challenged her to personally gain a witness hat Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. She's committed and I feel that if she did get on her knees last night that she did receive a witness. 

Before he left I got to shake Elder Bednar's hand. He gives great firm handshakes. He looked right into my eyes and sincerely shook my hand. It was awesome. D got to talk with Sister Bednar for a bit which was amazing because all of her attention was on D. It made her feel really special. 

Also, Elder Bednar wears a trench coat. Thus, proving that they are cool. 

And now, a few things that I learned yesterday; 

·  Boy brains and girl brains are from two entirely different solar systems. If a girl cries and the boy asks, "What's wrong?" and she says, "I don't know," don't argue with her. Girls don't need a reason to cry. Just give her a hug. - Elder Bednar. 
Believe it or not I have learned a thing or two about marriage on my mission. In any companionship it is all about the other person. It isn't about you. I have found that the happiest moments I've had with my mission companion is when she's happy. Repentance literally means to turn away from yourself to Christ. Sin is very selfish. As we turn to Christ our priorities also turn away from ourselves. Have personal study everyday. Then, have companionship study. Have companionship prayer every morning and every night. Pray for your spouse out loud in front of them. Have companionship inventory every week or everyday. Ask each other how they are feeling. What's their strengths? What's their weaknesses? How can you help? 

·  Sister Ward is the best companion I could ask for. I expressed my feelings of discouragement and of not being good enough. I'm nervous when I talk to people. She changed everything for me after that with just a short bit of counseling. I now know that I can do it. I am supposed to be here. I don't have to be discouraged because I know that someday they'll accept the one true gospel. I am trying and that is enough. I can be better, but I am trying. 

I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. It is a true testimony that Jesus is the Christ. You haven't read it recently? Do it. Pray about it. After every page ask yourself, "Could Joseph Smith, a young man with a second grade education, write this?". No one on this planet could write a book like that in 90 days, be examined by educated people and everywhere, and find no fault in it. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the keys of the priesthood have been restored and thy are held by prophets and apostles today. Te atonement works. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and I will bear witness that this is His only true and living Church today. I have learned this for myself. And I will never deny the Christ. 

I hope everyone as an awesome New Year's. 2014 is almost over. Make 2015 a good one! I'll be going to bed at 10:30 on New Year's Eve so celebrate for me! 

I love you all so much! 

Love, 

Raye

(Mommy could you make sue everyone at at Grandma's reads this today? Also, Jeal, no boys. Boys are gross. No dating either. Else I will return home with a vengeance upon every boy who looks at you. Adam- I'm following the three steps! I'm having a great time! Thanks!) 

(I love you Mommy and Daddy! I'm sorry for being a punk and being a stupid head in high school. You were right about everything! I love you so much and miss you!)