HE IS THE GIFT

Hello Everyone!
Here we go on my final full week in the mission field! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

I thought that the end of my mission would feel so much more different. I have yet to be able to feel that my mission will actually come to an end. I really don't think it will sink in until I'm home. So brace yourselves for the water works because more likely than not, I'll probably be a mess.

So here is a little report of some of the happenings here in Vermont this past week!
During our pday last Monday we cut down our very own Christmas tree for our apartment!!!! It was quite the joyous occasion and our apartment is now filled with the Christmas spirit!

Tuesday was pretty great! I wanted to thank you all for the birthday wishes! You all made it the best! There is no better way to spend your birthday than on a mission!

Wednesday we had another very inspiring District Meeting. I am going to miss those meetings a lot.....thank goodness for institute, right?

We had an appointment set up with one of our investigators that day, but unfortunately, as is common in missionary work, the appointment fell through. Blessing from planning though, we were able to use our backup plans and contacted a less active member! We had attempted to contact this member several times in the past. Eliza, the member we had with us to go to our previous teaching appointment said that she could also come with us to try and contact this less active member. We got to the home and she was there! Blessings of having members with us! We were able to introduce ourselves and got to know her better. Can I just say having a companion from California has changed the world. Tons of people we have talked to recently have had some sort of common ground or connection to California....GO SISTER MCVEY! We were able to establish a good relationship with this less active sister and she welcomed us to come back when we are in the area.

You'll never believe what happened on Thursday! We ran into MADONNA! Not only that.....she gave us a referral! You never know what is going to happen here in Vermont. Anywho just to get the story straight...Madonna is a lady that we volunteer with at Second Chance (the thrift store). Sorry if I got any of your hopes up, but the Madonna we ran in to is so much better. We were contacting people in Hyde Park and knocked on her door. No coincidences there. She let us right in and we were able to visit with her and leave her with a Book of Mormon, and she left us with a referral. She seemed touched by us stopping by and invited us to come back any time.

Thursday night was awesome! We had dinner with Bishop Worthington's family and it was wonderful. I've been very inspired by this family. The Worthington family make up a good third of the ward, and all of them are exceptional.

Friday we went to Underhill and spent the day there. We were able to visit one of the members Mom who is not a member of the church. She is the sweetest lady and on Sunday we heard from Sister Bento that all her mom had been talking about was the wonderful visit from the missionaries. Being a missionary makes me so happy. There is truly nothing better than being able to make someone's day. Later that afternoon we visited one of the members out in Underhill. The Bigelow family is absolutely adorable. It was just Sister Bigelow and her two little girls Blithe and Poet who were home and I just have to say they are quite possibly the cutest girls ever! Sister Bigelow is such a sweet mom and we got quite a few quotes from Poet. She was cracking us up.

Saturday we had our Relief Society brunch at Sister Lund's house in Stowe. We had crepes and it was simply wonderful!
It was the Christmas showing at the Historical Society that we volunteer at here in Morrisville. We have been helping them decorate the past several weeks. It turned out great! It just made us so happy and so excited for Christmas.

Sunday was great. I always love fast and testimony meetings. The Lamoille Valley Ward is incredible. It's hard to describe the members out here, but they are truly phenomenal! We got to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, which really brought in the spirit of Christmas. So many inspiring messages.

Many of you have probably been noticing the He Is The Gift video that the church came out with. We have been using this initiative like crazy out here! It has been quite incredible to see how soft peoples hearts are at this time of year. So to end off my email I wanted to invite you all to watch the video if you have not yet done so. http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=HPFR112814529

After doing so I would also invite you all to think of ways that you can embrace the true gift of Christmas this year. There truly is no better time than now to personally reflect on our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ, and invite others to also embrace this gift.

I love you all and cant thank you enough for all of your love, support and encouragement. I know that this gospel is true and that the happiness I have experienced has come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I hope you all have an incredible wintery week!

See you soon!

Love,
Sister Dixon