Hey Everybody!

To say that this past week has been absolutely CRAZY is an understatement! Hermana Banuelos
said good-bye to a lot of people in the ward Monday and Tuesday. We enjoyed Christmas
caroling on Tuesday night with the ward missionaries to investigators and less actives houses. So
much fun singing Christmas carols in Spanish and it really softens people's hearts! I truly believe
that this Christmas season truly does carry the Spirit of Christ because people feel it.
In other news, taking over an area, as a missionary still in training is very overwhelming. My
new companion is Hermana Roman! She is a soccer player! Obviously we are BFFs now! Haha!
She came from Pleasant Grove, 19 years old, 3 months out on her mission, born in Peru, lived in
Venezuela for the first few years of her life, moved to Ft. Meyers area and is a convert of seven
years! How AWESOME is that?!?!?! Awesome right?!?! I thought it was! She is definitely going
to be a joy to have in the area and to have around in general! She sees the potential in this area
just like me and we are determined to increase our lesson count to 25 and get some baptisms in
before we leave! The goal for the year in the ward is 30 so hopefully we are going to be able to
add a few to that count before either one of us gets transferred! Things are looking pretty good!
Truly nothing has really happened this past week but I want to thank from the bottom of my
heart all of the people who have sent me cards and letters this week for Christmas! The
outpouring of love that I have received is enormous! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The
zone leaders just dropped it all off and I could not help the tears because I am truly so blessed to
have such wonderful and amazing people in my life who love and support me! May God bless
you all this Christmas! But wait ! My thought for the week!
I listened to two talks by Thomas S. Monson that are so similar but they both discuss love being
at the very heart of this Gospel. "Love-The Essence of the Gospel" (April 2014) and "Hidden
Wedges" (April 2002) I am trying to learn how I can love people more in my life whether those
people are here in the mission or in my life elsewhere! My challenge for the rest of Christmas
and the coming year is to develop more love for people in your life! Have a WONDERFUL and
BEAUTIFUL Christmas! Feliz Navidad!
Con Amor,
Hermana Rackley