Skyping Christmas

 

Merry Christmas Merry Christmas!!! :)‏

Hi Family and Friends...I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and tell you "thank you" for all your love and support of Callie!  It means so much to Cort and I.  Callie knows of your love, interest and prayers on her behalf.  We as a family are so grateful for this incredible experience that Callie is having and for the opportunity she has to share the message about our Savior to the wonderful people of Scotland.  Merry Christmas, we love you all!  Lisa

Happy Holidays Fam Bam!!! :)

I hope you all are having a blast during this great time of year!! I know I am! Okay so first off....THANK YOU for the videos, pictures, and I forgot to say thank you to all of my family and friends for the paper x-mas tree and ornaments!! OH MY I love you all!!! I have THE best family and friends in the world!! I read and re-read them over and over again probably every day! haha They get me through the hard days so thank you so much!!!

So this week has been great!! So many brilliant things have happened...let me update you on investigators....

BELLA: We taught Bella last Thursday....we watched 17 Miracles with her and she fed us dinner...beef stew! Love her! She loved the movie! We all cried during the movie haha yes, even I got a wee bit teary can you believe it?!! haha but it was a good experience for her!

FIONA: We taught Fiona last Thursday for the first time in like two months! It was soo great! She had loads of great questions about the BOM and timing of things. We thankfully could answer all of her questions! ha And guess what...she mentioned that when she commits to things, she goes in 100%. And she said that she'd get baptized but she needs to know everything 100%. I was blown away at her comment and how well the lesson went. It was one of our best lessons with her so it was great!! Love this work!! :)

HUGH: He is a great man I tell you! We taught him last Tuesday. We taught him the 10 commandments, prayer, obedience, Law of Chastity, and scripture study. It went soo great!! He accepted and took it all in! This week, the senior couple are going to teach him the WOW (word of wisdom). So we'll see how it goes! He is doing so great and we love him! We planned his baptism with him when we taught him and we told him to choose 2 speakers at his baptism. He chose Sister Rousseau and I. We feel so honored to speak at his baptism. I cant wait!! :)

On Friday, we had our branch Christmas partay!! It was soo fun! Bella and Hugh both showed up! We had dinner and then put on a program of carols, Christmas stories (including Luke 2) and just socialized! It was soo fun and it worked out great! Sister Rousseau and I were a wee bit stressed because we had to plan the whole party but then it all worked out!

So funny story.....on Saturday morning at 7, we had to catch our ferry to go to Aberdeen for the Christmas concert that we are doing this week! Well, we didn't catch it. There were gales (strong winds) and sheets of rain and hail and so they canceled the ferry trip! So we ended up catching a flight after church yesterday!! So we got into Edinburgh around 4, ate dinner with the Hansons and then went to the mission home! There were about 30 missionaries at the mission home! All 15 of us sisters stayed upstairs! soo fun and loads of girl talk was needed! ha love it! Reminds me of my friends and sisters! So then this morning, we got up, studied for a bit and then Sister Powell and i headed to Aberdeen which is where I am right now! And I love it!! wow its like New York City and Washington D.C. combined! My kind of city! love love love it!! Oh and on the way here, we took the train and yes, we went by loads of golf courses. Oh dad, davis, dev, and rog, you will love it! Its right on the beach and there's one on some cliffs! saweet huh!!

Well, I'm excited to be in Aberdeen this week!! I'm doing great and loving it!! I'll be skyping next week and not emailing so I'll literally see you all next Wednesday!! wahoo!!!!! soo excited! love you all!! the church is true! :)

love,

Sister Firth :)

Moves call!‏

Callie's always playing jokes...you will see in the first line :)  little stink! :)  Lisa

Hello Firth fam bam!!
 

So we got moves call.....I'm going to Limerick, Ireland!!!!!! :):) okay actually I'm staying in Stornoway haha just had to do that :) Sis rousseau and I were freaking out last night but then our zone leaders called us and told us we were staying so we are soo happy about that!! whoop whoop! :)

Well this week was great in Stornoway! So we went to the mainland on Monday! Our ferry left at 7 in the morning and got to Ullapool around 9 45! Our district leader and his comp picked us up from Ullapool and drove us to Invergordon so we could spend pday with our district and the senior couple (the Hales). It was so fun! For pday we hiked to some WW2 bunker things. The view was beautiful!! So that was way fun! Then the Hales took all of us out to dinner! It was a lot of fun to see other missionaries and to be with our district.
 

So funny story....the night we got into Invergordon, we were going to stay at the Hales flat because they were driving us to Aberdeen the next morning for Zone Meeting. Well, they were moving house and so we couldnt stay with them so we ended up staying with the branch prez's mom! Well, we had to borrow the Invergordon Elders car so that we could meet at the Hales the next morning and they could drive us to zone meeting. The car was manual and Sister Rousseau doesnt know how to drive manual. So that was me, driving a MANUAL car, in Scotland, on the left side of the road for the very first time! It was a blast! I loved it! and yes, we filmed it! haha It wasnt too scary or weird! I got used to it pretty quick. So thats my funny story.
 

So the next morning, we woke up at 4 30 to get to the Hales by 5 45 am. We drove to Aberdeen which took 3 hours and we got there by 9 30. The meeting started at 10! We walked into the gym where the other missionaries were and guess who i saw....Sista Ashdown!!! Wow, i love her! Pretty much hugged her for about 10 minutes! It was so good to see her! She was in my last district so it was good to have her in my zone! The meeting was good! It was nice to finally meet our zone! haha The zone leaders talked about having humility instead of pride. They also talked about asking effective questions. I stuggle with that sometimes so it was good instruction for me! Then we did some role plays as usual and then talked about the role plays and what we learned. Elder Witt, my district leader, had to give his departing testimony since he's leaving this wednesday and since it was his last zone meeting. Then i had to give the closing prayer. Fam, you know it scares the heck out of me to pray in front of people...but i survived! haha Then we all ate lunch, Sister Ashdown and i had girl talk as usual :) and then it was time to leave! We said bye to everyone and then were off to catch our ferry! Elder Witt and Elder Hatch drove us back up to Ullapool so we could catch our ferry! We said bye and then we were off! I have to admit that i was sad to leave. I love being up in Stornoway but i was sad to leave the missionaries. It was so fun to be with all of them for two days!

So here's the update on investigators....
 

BELLA: We taught Bella last Friday and it was good! We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It went well but she's not ready for baptism yet so we'll see what happens in the future!

HUGH: We taught Hugh last wednesday night! It was brilliant!! We showed a conference talk by Holland about Christ in his final minutes of his life. Then we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The spirit is always so strong in his house. He is a great man. So at the end of our lesson, we were planning on committing him to a date on December 28th....so we asked him if he would and he laughed and said that he'd think about it and that he'd have an answer by the end of the night and that he'd let us know on sunday what his answer was.....well yesterday was sunday and right when he walks into church we said hi to him and then he says...."so i think i have an appointment for the 28th here at the church." HUGH IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON THE 28TH FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can you believe it!!! Ah i am so happy and excited for him and his choice to follow the example of our Saviour.

FIONA: She got in contact with us again!! WHoop whoop! We were going to teach her last thursday but she got way sick and so we are teaching her this Wednesday. She said that she has some questions about the BOM. So we'll see how it goes! :)

So the week before Christmas, about 30 missionaries who are musically talented (Sister Rousseau) are going to be going around to all 5 major cities in Scotland to perform Christmas songs and such. Well, since im sis rousseau's comp....i thought i got to go but i might not be able to so we'll see! i hope i do!! It would be a blast!!!

Well, i bought you all some x-mas presents today and so i'll send packages tomorrow! :) love it! okay well i have to go!! i love you all!! cant wait to see you in 2 and a half short weeks!!! miss you guys!! xoxoxo

love,
Sister Firth :)

 

This is what Matt's family did for Callie!  So so cool!!  (Boys, Matt was Callie's zone leader who has been home now for 2 months :) )

 

Sister Firth!!

My family has a tradition that has been going on for years where we send money to missionaries all around the world whom we love. With this money we ask each missionary to help some one who needs support this Christmas. There are no rules on how you use the money. You can help a member, an investigator, another missionary, or even a stranger. All we ask is that you follow the spirit and help someone. Please send us a wee note letting us know how the money was used and what good came out of it. 

I gave your mom 200$ to put into your account. Go do some good my sister!! Thank you so much for your service, and have a merry Christmas!

-The James Family

mattjames4589@gmail.com

462 North 800 West

Lindon, UT, 84042 

"If Jesus came to your house"‏

Hello to my wonderful family...

 

 

So first off, SEND ALL LETTERS TO THE MISSION HOME ADDRESS!! Moves call is this Sunday. I pray that Sister Rousseau and I don't get moved. I love this place and the people.

How are all of you? How was thanksgiving? Did uncle Doug do his brilliant mashed potatoes?? Mmmm I miss those!! ha Thank you for all the birthday wishes!!! :) I'm already 20??! Weird!! I don't like growing up...im not a teenager anymore..sad but exciting!

Update on investigators...

BELLA: She is amazing! :) I just love her so much! Funny story actually...we were going to an appointment with a potential investigator, Collin, and we knocked on his door and we started talking with him. All of a sudden, his neighbors door opens up and its Bella and she says, "you guys are so funny" and then shuts the door. We were in shock. haha So Collin ended up not being interested so we said bye. We then knocked on the flat that Bella was in and she opens the door and invites us in. It was her uncles house. We were laughing so hard because we were all in shock. We talked for a while with her and her uncle. It was fun and she told us that she got the Standard Works on her Kindle!! I was so proud of her! She said she is loving it! She took Sister Rousseau and I out to lunch on Friday for our birthdays. She was going to take us out on Saturday since it was my birthday but she was going to Inverness. So nice of her! So Bella is brilliant and I love her! I picture her in white all the time! ha its lame but I love it!

HUGH: Well guess what fam......Hugh said that he'd be baptized!! Music to my ears! haha We didn't set him with a date because he said that he wants to learn more and then get baptized. He doesn't want to rush it and I totally agree. Guess what else...he FINALLY read the Book of Mormon! He did his homework ;) haha He is doing so great and is progressing so quickly. He doesn't think he's worthy yet to call himself a Christian but we know he is! He's been to church 4 weeks in a row, he's been praying and reading the Book of Mormon. Wow! He's the man!!

I have to admit that this is the first time on my mission that I've actually had normal, solid, progressing investigators who i have seen change their lives for the gospel. Its so fun and lovely to see. This is what makes being a missionary all worth it! :) I love these people. I just picture Bella and Hugh in white and they look amazing. I just hope I'm here to see it!!

So I got a letter from dad on Friday....well I can now say that I've cried for the first time since being in Stornoway. The story of Chandler, Parker's friend, is heart breaking, but so spiritual. My heart hurts for his family. People ask me all the time why sad/bad things happen to good people. Right now, I'm asking myself that same question. I know God has a plan for everyone but sometimes its hard for me to understand why things like that have to happen. I guess it just makes me so thankful for the plan of salvation and for eternal families. So right now, I'm more grateful than ever for my family. Even my extended family and my friends. I love you all! Don't know what I would do without you.

Life is precious. I've realized how short life is and how i need to make the most of it. Like everyone says, live life to the fullest. Last week, we ate dinner at a less actives house and she read us a poem. It is called, "If Jesus came to your house." It talks about what you would do and how you'd react. The message its containing is "would you be prepared? Would you be comfortable in his presence?" It just made me think about my life and if Christ came to my door....would I be happy to let him in or would I be embarrassed? Would you be happy to let him in your house? Life is short and we need to be ready to meet Christ.

I'm thankful that I get to be out on a mission serving the Lord and inviting people to come unto Christ. The Lord's work is amazing. I love you all! Thank you for all of your support and for being the best family I could ever have. I'll see you in 3 short weeks! Have a great week! <3

Love always,

Sister Firth :)