Merry Christmas!

Christmas Sunday 

In one of my family's favorite Christmas movies, the main character Charlie Brown is troubled around the Christmas season and asks the probing question, "Isn't there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is all about?" His dear friend Linus proceeds to then narrate the Christmas story found in Luke. Charlie Brown's eyes are opened as he learns about the birth of our most precious Savior.

I, like Charile Brown, have had my eyes spiritually opened this Christmas season. This time of year has been different for me than any other Christmas before. I didn't go ice skating, I won't be staying up late on Christmas Eve to watch "A Christmas Story," I won't be in Reno with my family, but this Christmas has already been one of the most memorable Christmases I have experienced. On Sunday as I sat in Church next to one of my ten year old pals, who is autistic, I was so emotional singing the beautiful Christmas songs with him. He looked up at me as we were singing about the Savior and was grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't help but send back the most cheerful smile to this young innocent kid, who saw the importance of Christmas. I always love Christmas Sundays and as a missionary it was even more special then before. I felt pure joy and although I thought the holidays were going to be hard as a missionary, they have been some of the neatest moments of my mission. We have been running around town like crazy playing "secret sister" which has been so much fun, we have also gone caroling and have helped others to see what Christmas is all about.

We had a mission tour in the last week and Elder Perkins of the First quorum of the 70 came. Randomly he choose 6 missionaries from our mission to interview, and guess who was chosen? Getting a call from the AP's the night before saying Elder Perkins wanted to interview me was slightly intimidating to say the least. However, it was so neat to be able to meet with a general authority, to feel of his love and the love the Prophet sends. I was able to tell him about my family and a little bit about my experiences as a missionary. I loved that experience!

Recently I read a talk called "The Prince Of Glory." It might be my favorite talk of all time. If you haven't read it I strongly recommend you go read it. In this talk the author makes reference to the story the Prince and the Pauper. If you have read that book you know that the Prince and the Pauper end up switching roles. The pauper is left to reign in the kingdom as the prince, while the prince is found wandering the streets experiencing poverty and hardship. In the end the prince ends up learning a great deal because of the hard walk he was forced to take. Elder Perkins made a parallel and said, "We too have a prince who became a pauper. The Prince of Peace, the Prince of Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ came down to live among His people and share in their poverty and suffering so that He might be a more compassionate king. As the Apostle Paul said, “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” I am so grateful for our Savior who reigned as king of kings yet came to earth in the most humble of circumstances. I love Him. I love knowing that He lives. I love studying His teachings and doing everything in my power to emulate His character. He is the most beautiful gift. He is the greatest gift of love, "God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine son."

Merry Merry Christmas. I love you all deeply!

Sister Daines and I matched at the Christmas Devotional

Selfie with President and Sister Daines