Alyssa's Chicago West Mission Adventures : El Nieve

Snow Selfies!
First snowfall of my mission! WOO! And it was quite the snowfall- far more snow and far more quickly than I've ever seen in Utah.

There isn't much to say for this week- we had a lot of meetings. They were super good though, we planned some awesome stuff for our Branch and had a great Zone Training! President Griffin even came, and we got to have interviews. We helped plan and set up for the Relief Society activity, which was super successful and fun! These members are so fun and crazy, and are so great at helping people feel welcomed and loved. We had a less active member there and she felt right at home!

Relief Society Activity!

Our little Christmas tree!

We eat with the Gutierrez family every week- they were baptized a little over a year ago and are super strong! Hmna comes to church every week with her two kids, but hmno has work on Sunday. But the miracle- hmno has come to church the last 2 weeks! I don't know how he got work off, but he has been at church with his family! This has been their biggest roadblock from getting to the temple, so we are so excited!!

We had a Noche De Hogar with Cion and the girls in the home of the Gutierrez family in Tuesday. IT was AWESOME. the spirit was there and we think it really helped them to hear the testimonies of people who aren't full-time missionaries. :) We are a bit worried about the progression of this family, and hopefully will be seeing some better results as this month goes on. We pray and study for them a lot, and we know God has a plan for them!

We made a tree because we only have a little one,
also we made count down chains

We have had little- to- no progression with Diomara. :( It's difficult to get a hold of her and actually get in for a lesson. She loves everything we teach her and we know if she took the time she would know this is true. She really is so amazing! Lots of prayers for Diomara please.

We did LOTS of service this week to kick off the 25 days of service! This challenge is so fun and we've seen miracles already! We got to help out at Lexington (The old folks home) for their Christmas party and I loved seeing these people's faces light up as we brought them food and pushed their wheelchairs into the nicely decorated rooms, and talked to them about their families. They are all so innocent and sweet- well most of them!

Cornrows with Rosi, the cornrows artist

We also got Cornrows so we could get to know a former investigator that is married to a less active member. She is super cool and did them for all of us hermanas! (only on one side, we aren't completely crazy). But now she loves us, when before she wouldn't even talk to us! Missionary work takes many forms. :)

Cornrows

I loved the Christmas broadcast, and hope you all had the chance to watch it!

Elder Neal A Maxwell taught that regardless of what the world says, we must stand fast in our testimony of the Savior: “At the center of the Father’s plan is Jesus Christ, mankind’s Redeemer. Yet, as foreseen, many judge Jesus ‘to be a thing of naught’ (1 Nephi 19:9), or ‘consider him’ merely ‘a man’ (Mosiah 3:9). Whether others deny or delimit Jesus, for us He is our Lord and Savior! Comparatively, brothers and sisters, it matters very little what people think of us, but it matters very much what we think of Him. It matters very little, too, who others say we are; what matters is who we say Jesus is” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1984, 27; or Ensign, May 1984, 21).

Keep Christ in Christmas! I love you all and pray for you every day!

#LIGHTtheWORLD

#ILUMINAelMUNDO

Hermana Hokanson