MERRY CHRISTMAS!
If only I could write in words the kind of week I had and the spirit that was felt... I will try my best! This was my very first Christmas without watching The Grinch, Santa Tracker, making goodies, laying under the tree and waking up to snow. It was also my very first Christmas focused solely on the Savior and why He was born, and that is why it was my favorite Christmas yet. Being away from my family made me see the gift I was given from the very beginning. Something you can't buy in a store or watch on TV. A gift that is everlasting; a Savior who came to this world to suffer and die for us in order for families to be together forever. There was not one person or family I met that I didn't testify of this gift to while working in the Visitors Center on Christmas night. True miracles occurred there as families received the greatest gift that day. The knowledge that their family can be together forever! We are so lucky, SO blessed to not only have this knowledge but CELEBRATE it on Christmas Day. I hope you all had the opportunity to be with and thank the Savior for the greatest gift He has given each and every one of you. One of the greatest gifts we received this week was witnessing Caitlin enter the waters of baptism. We may not have woken up to snow, but we sure did have a White Christmas after all! The purity and love that comes from watching someone dress all in white and be washed completely clean; truly feel their heart made completely light... Now, THAT is a white Christmas! It was greater than any blizzard or snowstorm you could've woken up to. The smile on her face during that moment is something I will cherish forever. Crazy to think I have been here for 6 months and today was my first time going to the city! I already knew I had the most amazing mission, but physically seeing the city just reaffirmed that! I have such a deep love for DC and the people here. It truly is my home ❤ It was so amazing to talk to my sweet family! Sometimes I forget you're all real and living normal, human lives! I love you all so much and have grown to be so grateful for you all as I've been here. Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Year! Sister Lemperle and I are having way too much fun out here in Fort Meade and can't wait for the miracles to come this year! Love Sister Montgomery ❣
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Hello Lovelies!
Things have been so busy over here in DC this Christmas season! Working at the Visitors Center has been such a neat experience. With over 7,000 people coming in daily, we get to talk to SO many people which provides us with the opportunity to bear testimony all night long. It's been such a blessing having the opportunity to bear my own personal witness of my Savior over and over, no matter how big or small. 30 seconds or an entire lesson. Some moments I find myself listening to the words coming out of my own mouth and am taken back as I listen and realize it's not me speaking. I am literally a mere tool for our Heavenly Father to speak directly to His children. What a humbling experience it is to meet so many of His children during the holiday season! This week has lots in store, the most exciting being Caitlin's baptism! Caitlin ends up teaching me and strengthening MY testimony every lesson.... For some reason, I think it's supposed to be the opposite...? Boy, oh boy is her testimony amazing and the spirit she radiates powerful. Her parents were baptized 10 years ago while she was a young girl. This summer their family experienced a life altering trial when her mother passed away. The astonishing thing about Caitlin is she found this trial bringing her closer to her Savior. She chose to follow Him rather than push Him away. She came to church with her father one day, introduced herself to us and set up a time to meet. From the minute I met her I could feel how prepared she was. How faithful her heart is. We have been meeting with her ever since for the past two months, making Friday one of the most exciting days! The best part is that she will be getting the greatest gift of all on Christmas Day.... the gift of the Holy Ghost ❤ The faith I saw and continue to see in Caitlin is not an outward appearance. It is something that radiated from WITHIN, which reminded me of Alma 55. In this chapter Moroni is trying to free his people from the Lamanites. In the end, the only way they were able to save them was when they not only guarded the outside of the prison, but within the prison walls itself. When the Lamanites wake up to find an army not only surrounding them, but armed from within they "saw that the Nephites had power over them. In these circumstances, they found that it was not expedient that they should fight with the Nephites. Therefore, their Chief Captains demanded their weapons of war, and they brought them forth and cast them at the feet of the Nephites, pleading for mercy" (verse 23). When we arm ourselves on the outside by reading our scriptures, praying, etc, we are strong. But when we also arm ourselves WITHIN- have faith, endure, trust, hope... that is when we are powerful, unshakeable; the adversary has no power over us. The more I think about our savior and his true, everlasting love for us, the more I realize what a blessing trials are. That is when we have the opportunity to be armed 'within'. That's how we find hope. That's where we learn to trust. That's where we try our faith. This Christmas season, and coming New Year, arm yourselves WITHIN. Let your trials strengthen you. I promise you with a personal witness that trials ARE for our good. Trials DO bring us hope. Trials WILL allow you to feel your Savior’s love and embrace, I promise that to you because that is where I found my faith. That is where I gained my hope. That is where I learned of my Savior- in and through my trials. Merry Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family that have helped me be armed within and have made my journey so sweet. Love and miss you all! Don't forget to lay under the Christmas tree for me this year ❤ Sister Montgomery I hope you all aren’t disappointed, but Sister Montgomery only sent us some photos this week! They have had a very busy week helping at the Visitor’s Center this week for the Festival of Lights! Elder Gary A. Stevenson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles visited her mission and spoke to the missionaries. I am sure she will write about it next week! Included in this group of photos is a photo of her talking to him! What a cool experience! She loves it when she gets to see Sister Sosa, her trainer and absolute best friend, and her 5 month celebration with Sister Lemperle, who started her mission on the same day as McKayla (wearing her awesome cow pjs!), and the last photo taken with Sister Klaass before she went home! Also, as a little fun surprise, she has colored her naturally blonde hair dark! She looks gorgeous! :) I hope this message finds you all well, happy and enjoying this Christmas season as you “Light the World!” As always, please send McKayla a note when you get a chance! She loves hearing from you all! [email protected]
With Much Love, Tiffany HOW is it already December?! Time needs to stop going extra fast here in DC.... the Government has to be up to something, time can't ACTUALLY be going this fast..
This week was by far the best week of my mission watching Sister Braga enter the waters of baptism and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday! What a special day it was. I got to stand by the font and hold her towel which meant I was the first to hug her; one of my most cherished moments. She described it all as, "My heart is so light. It is so, so light." Little did she know it was LITERALLY light as the spirit radiated so brightly from her. She has been absolutely glowing ever since. The Festival of Lights is officially upon us! Here in DC North we have the Temple Visitor's Center, which is one of the largest! It's always fun bringing investigators there and feeling such a unique spirit. But, it's even cooler getting to WORK THERE! During the Christmas season, over 7,000 people come in a day to see the lights, Crèche room and to attend all the fun events that take place! (And may I just say The Nativity scene looks extra put together this year.... The church must have used some big bucks hiring those decorators...) Anywho, since so many people come in, they have some full proselyting sisters come and help teach everyone that comes inside, which has been way cool! You get to meet so many people from all over the world and are constantly bearing testimony. AKA the best way to spend the Holiday's for a chatter box like me :) Just yesterday I got to work with a man named Jonathon who has been so prepared. We got to teach him about the Book of Mormon and how he truly is a Son of God! A son of a Heavenly Father who knows and loves him so deeply He is waiting with outstretched arms for him. In just one night, a simple and short amount of time, his life was changed. The Spirit touched his heart so deeply he wanted to be baptized right then! This is what missions are all about. This is why serving a mission is nothing but a privilege. The gospel CHANGES LIVES. The Savior heals the heart. The Spirit cleanses our soul. This Gospel, Christ's Gospel, is perfect, therefore making US perfect as much as we allow it. And this is why it is such a privilege: it's allowing others to receive the Gospel; change their life. Heal their heart. Cleanse their soul. Be made perfect.... What greater privilege is there than helping someone receive this in their own life? The answer is, nothing. Keep sending me your Temple pictures and making miracles happen this holiday season. I received a picture of a temple from a good friend who drives by going to work every day with the caption, "I thought you would be in need of a miracle today". And want to know what happened? We found a new investigator who felt the Savior physically lift him as the gospel was introduced to his life. Miracles will happen! Keep having faith! I love you all! With all the love of my heart (and also a few strands of darker hair), Sister Montgomery ❤ |