Happy New Year! This morning in church the talks were on making our goals centered on Jesus Christ. That sounds like a lot more rewarding than the goal of trying to lose weight...again. We hope your year is successful and wonderful. I joked that we have been on our mission for two years now. Maybe a joke, but there are some days it seems like we have been here that long!
Being a missionary has been a real learning experience for me. I am learning to not be afraid to open my mouth to talk about the gospel. I'm not saying I have learned it yet, but I know the importance of being bold for Jesus Christ. Being a missionary has gotten me way out of my comfort zone so it has been an uncomfortable couple of months. Elder DeMille is a pro. I look up to him in many ways and have seen a side of him that I hadn't seen before. He is the best companion ever and I thank Heavenly Father for him every day and night.
Today when we went to church I realized that I have grown to love the people in our little branch. When we first came, the honest truth is that it was really depressing to see all the problems here with the members. They are sweet people, but proud of their Caribbean ways and do not like change. We have scratched our heads to wonder what we can do to help the branch grow. Elder DeMille has poured over the contact books and we can see that there have been hundreds of visits to less actives who still do not come to church. The problem still concerns us, but when I walked into church and felt genuine love for them, I felt Heavenly Father's love and patience for them also. We just have to love and keep trying! We hope that He has the same patience for us in our struggles as missionaries.
When we were completing our mission papers the only kind of mission I said I didn't want to do was a proselyting mission. Just a heads up for those of you considering a mission. Never say anything you don't want to do because that is what you end up doing! It is hard work. We are discouraged some days and worn out on others. It is difficult to think of or create a list of all we should be doing instead of having it right in front of us. It is hard to have people reject the gospel when they don't understand it. But there are those moments when someone "gets it" and we can see it in their eyes. Please keep us and our little island in your prayers.
Thanks for the cards you sent us at Christmas. It is true for sure that missionaries love to get mail. We love and appreciate you, Sister DeMille
Dear loved ones,
Well Sister DeMille has given a good description of some of our feelings. It is interesting how the gospel and people are the same all over the world. That is one of the things that makes the gospel true in my eyes. We are learning that the needs of saints are the same everywhere, maybe with a little bit different slant, but they are the same. Deciding to serve, receiving a call, and being set apart has blessed us to be able to teach and bear testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel to people we don't really know. It is a peaceful wonderful feeling to do so.
We have been reminded of the Zion society of saints that we were raised in and have been living in. We are so thankful for all of you, it is truly heaven to be with you in the fullness of the gospel. At the same time our hearts go out to the saints in difficult circumstances who do not have the fullness. We are blessed to see the tremendous faith and joy for such little things that the saints here have and feel. They are grateful for so little and have such faith knowing so little about the gospel. They have great spiritual experiences that I am in awe of, but they struggle with the difficult circumstances they live in. Life is not very kind to many of God's children, but they survive, they are faithful, and they go forward as best they can.
We are truly blessed, and it is such a joy for us to try and give some back to those who need our help. My gratitude to God and my family, past and present, and my fellow brothers and sisters in the wards and stakes I have lived in, cannot be described, it is a burning in my heart that will ever be with me and put a smile on my face and joy in my heart.
We love you all, thank you for your examples, thank you for all you have done for us, thank you for remembering us still.
Happy New Year from the Isles of the sea. Elder DeMille
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