Christmas Miracles!!!!

Hello lovely family and friends!!!

OK! So this week my letter won't be so much a letter, just pictures with stories to go along with it. I actually took picture this week!! WHOHOOO!!!!

And I love CHRISTMAS!!!! Here are my favorite Christmas scriptures this year:

John 3:16-17

16 ¶For ^aGod so ^bloved the ^cworld, that he ^dgave his ^eonly begotten ^fSon, that whosoever ^gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have ^heverlasting ⁱlife.

 17 For God ^asent not his Son into the world to ^bcondemn the world; but that the world through him might be ^csaved.

Luke 2:14

14 ^aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth ^bpeace, good will toward men.

(Note for mom...this will be in lots of little emails with the picture and the description..put it together how you want ;)

Monday we had SNOW!!!!! And we got to decorate our car after gym time :) And everyone in VA puts their windshield wipers up like that so they don't freeze to the car. Smart. We thought that we would fit in and do as the Virginians do :)

 And we got to spend time at the Campbell's home. They are members in our ward. They had an open house party. We got to help her clean her home and then we got to meet all of their neighbors! They just moved into their home, so they wanted to have a party to get to know everyone! Everyone had such an amazing time! I could really feel the spirit of Christ there as people got together as neighbors :) They handed out the Joy to the World DVD as a little Christmas present. Too cute! I just love their Christmas tree...it looks so pretty from the outside. So here is a picture of it!

We had lots of packages delivered. Those were tender mercies! People are too nice to us! We even had an anonymous package delivered to our door. Sourdough bread and a poinsettias! SOOO CUTE! And who knew I was craving sourdough this week?!! Heavenly Father watches out for us!!!! I love the Christmas season of giving! I'm grateful for all that Christ has given us!!

Sister Randquist's mom gave us a little Christmas tree! The yellow and orange paper cranes Sister Randquist made. So talented. And the candy cane heart that my Grandpa had sent me was the perfect thing for the top of the tree!

We taught a lesson in a Mexican bakery :) So fun!!!

And we had a Christmas talent show with the whole mission! The senior couples played the chimes for us!!! It was on the spot and they were great! A family tradition being carried out on the mission!!!

And last night we had the opportunity to perform in the Stake Christmas concert in Mount Vernon. We had a ward member direct us....Larry Clouse. He is so talented and whipped us missionaries into shape!!! I am so grateful that I got to learn from him!

We sang, "I Heard the Bells of Christmas Day" and also combined a little bit of "Far Far Away" in with it! Everyone said that we did a good job! It was really fun to be singing about the true meaning of the Christmas season with everyone! That God lives and that Christ is our Savior!!!!

Well that's all I got for you!!!!!!!!!

I love you all and hope that your Christmas season continues to be well and is centered around our Savior Jesus Christ! I know that this time is a joyous time! Just like the scripture!!!!!! "GLORY TO GOD" and "PEACE ON EARTH"!!!! I know that there is truly peace on earth because of our Savior Jesus Christ!

Love you all!!!!!!

Sister Udall

"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

I think I will send her some money to get a few extra keys so she can hide them strategically for her adventures. Clearly the weather is frightful and there is no delightful fire. Good thing her coat arrived a few weeks ago!  It is comforting to know she will be warm despite rain and cold.  

Thank you for all the love and support you give her!

Kristin

December 2, 2013

Oh my, well there are so many miracles and tender mercies that have happened this week. Also a lot of adventures too!! But I love how life, all the experiences that we do face, help us to learn, grow, and realize that the principles of the gospel really do apply in our own personal lives.

 

So...I will just start from Monday.  P-day. It was great and relaxing, but then we locked ourselves out as we were going to get the car washed. We couldn't do that anymore because I had left the keys in the house. Luckily the office was still opened. So we both laughed as we walked to the office and got it all taken care of.  We said, oh we won't do that again!! Good thing it happened now when the office was open. 

 

Sister Udall and Sister Stones

Tuesday we went on exchanges! I got the wonderful opportunity to serve with Sister Stones! She is amazing! One thing that was a tender mercy was that I realized that she was a lot like me in some ways. That brought me so much comfort! That not all missionaries need to act a certain way! I had always heard that, but when I realized that we had little quirks that were the same and she was an amazing missionary it made me realize that we can do the Lord's work no matter who we are!! He makes us great! I hope that made any sense at all, but it brought peace to my heart.  We had a really fun day, because I stayed in the area and led it out. I don't know the area too well yet, but it was a good learning experience. We just had an adventure. It rained straight throughout the entire day!!  I just decided even before the exchange started that my attitude would be...Bring on the day, with patience, prayer, and a positive attitude we can work it all out! And we did see lots of miracles. Everyone that we went and saw was home!!!  I also had left my planner in the apartment, so I was going off of memory. And we made it everywhere safely and it all worked out. Because I had made up my mind to just be happy, go with the flow, and trust in the Lord, I didn't freak out. Wowza. Miracles galore. We also had matching coats!! That was a blast :)

 

Sister Udall and Sister Randquist
Locked out of their apartment for the
second time in a week. 

Thursday was Thanksgiving!!!! It was really fun. We went to a couple members' homes throughout the day. One family has a lot of really fun little kiddos.  We got to sing some primary songs with them to help calm the extra excitement going on in the home.  One of the little girls also shared with me her favorite scripture. It was too cute!!! Oh, I got to try liver at their house. It wasn't bad at all.  And then we had dinner at another member's home. It was a Thanksgiving miracle that we got there!!!! So before that we were determined to go and wash the car.  (It was kind of like a second pday because we could not proselyte).  Well, we walked out the door and I had left the keys in the house again!!!! Oh man! We just had to laugh! I was a little frustrated at first, but what could we do!? We just laughed about it and called it an adventure. We said many prayers of help and patience, made lots of phone calls, and met some of our neighbors.  The bummer was that the office was not opened. So that option was out.  We had it all lined up to somehow at least get into our apartment so that we could go to bed, but we weren't sure when we would get in.  Then a neighbor helped us out! Miracles!!!! He helped us break in...that's scary in some ways, but now we know to lock the top as well. He was our angel that day!!! Again, Heavenly Father just taught me patience. He taught me to just laugh through the frustrating and trying moments. 

 

There is so much more I could say, but I am running out of time. Those are just some of the highlights and miracles from this week. 

 

This scripture is the scripture of the week.  Sister Stones read it to one of our investigators, and I loved her insight. I also ended up studying it more this morning and oh man, I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!

 

^aPeace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ^ctroubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

 

So I was thinking back on all the many experiences that I have had this week.  This scripture sums it all up.  Heavenly Father has promised us peace, but we must choose to feel that peace by letting him into our lives and letting our heart "not...be troubled, neither let it be afraid".  The two words that stood out to me were "let" and "unto".  Heavenly Father will bring peace unto our hearts, but we must let it in.  We have the choice.  We receive the promised blessings by acting and moving forward in faith. I know that this is true. That is what got me through this week!!  And I know that as I acted--when I said a prayer when I was frustrated, upset, needed help, etc., or when I smiled and laughed, or when I just decided to be happy and smile even though I was exhausted--I felt that peace from God. 

I love you all and hope you all had such a very wonderful Thanksgiving! I am grateful for all of you. You are all such special blessings in my life!!!

Love,

Sister Udall

 

PS: The pictures are of us locked out and of Sister Stones and I in our matching coats :)

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!

FYI, you can find Rachel on facebook now, Rachel Udall. She is now aloud to have a facebook page for those who do facebook. Look her up!

Her blog is now officially updated. I apologize for not posting last week. 

Kristin

November 25, 2013

Hello!

So this week there was a definite lesson that Heavenly Father wanted me to learn...and that is to be grateful for my trials/oppositions/etc. along with all of the many many many many blessings that he has blessed me with. I know that the things he has blessed me with and has promised me outweigh the hard things that I am facing. But it's all about perspective! It's all about making sure that we remember the eternal perspective and not focus too much on the temporal things/needs/wants right here and right now.  Pretty much every lesson that we had this week somehow came back to being grateful for the trials that we go through, because they make us grow!! And I can attest to that! No one likes growing pains in the moment, but it makes us taller and stronger in the long run!!

 

So here are some things that I am grateful for...

 

Sister Randquist! (We have so many people put in our life for a specific reason...and she is one of them! I know that she is my companion to help me learn and grow and to just love me and be there for me!)

 

Faith (It is so comforting to know that we don't need to know things right away! This gospel is one of faith! Moving forward with the hope and desire for things to be true and acting on it! I am grateful for my faith in my Savior Jesus Christ!)

 

Friends, family, everyone that I meet...they have all been my angels this week!!! I have received so  many nice words from so many people this week that have made my day. It has increased my faith and kept me going :) Kind words, deeds, and "generous thoughts" are tender mercies from Heavenly Father.

 

The scriptures! I have found so much comfort and peace and direction through the scriptures. My love for them has grown so much on my mission! I am so grateful that I have had this time to study them, search them, ponder them, and find out for myself if they are true.

 

The unfailing love and mercy of Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.  Oh, how wonderful it is to know that God and Christ love us unconditionally! All that is good and all that is hopeful comes from them! I love that I know that I am a daughter of God! It brings me so much peace, comfort, and joy every day!

 

So these are just a few of the things that I am grateful for...the list could go on forever! I am striving to have a more grateful heart and attitude. It goes a long ways. When I am down or sad, a grateful attitude changes my perspective around. I am so thankful for this season of gratitude and thanksgiving for everything that our Heavenly Father has given us! I am grateful for this time on earth. I am grateful for this mortal experience. And even though there is sorrow, disappointment, and pain at times, it just makes our joy and happiness that much greater! I have so much to be grateful for and hope that we can all take the time to sit down, be still, and ponder all of the miraculous things that Heavenly Father has given us!!! Life truly is splendid, beautiful, and wonderful!!!

 

The work is good! We have had so many miracles this week! It is amazing to see how love is the answer. I know that may seem very cliché and silly. But I know that it is true. When I have really focused on letting my friends that I have met know that they are sons and daughters of God, their countenances change. When they can feel His love, their eyes sparkle just a little bit more. I know that His Spirit is healing and brings so much peace and joy to my heart!  One of my lifelong goals is to just let others know that they are LOVED! If nothing else, that is what I want others to feel! I want them to feel loved, just as I feel so loved!!!

 

I hope you all know how much I love you!

Love,

Sister Udall

 

NEW ADVENTURES AND WONDERFUL MIRACLES AHEAD!

November 18, 2013

Oh my my my! Change!  Transfers came and I am officially not in Great Falls.  I am serving in the Mount Vernon Ward! I live in Alexandria, VA now. 

 

I love Great Falls, there is a very special place for it in my heart. But I am excited to meet new people, love and serve them, and love Mount Vernon just as much as I do Great Falls!!

 

But before I left I did get one last chocolate ice cream soda from Brother Davis :)  Our sugar fast has officially ended since the transfer is over. But I need to remember that moderation in all things is key :)

 

It is more city than rolling hills and mansion after mansion, but it is wonderful here! There are people from all over the world!  In the 5 days I have been here I have met people from Ghana, Sierra Leon, the Philippines, and all over I can't even say.  These people have gone through more hardships and struggles.  It is humbling to listen to their stories and life events. One thing that might be hard for me is remembering all of their names. They are all so uniqe and different. I love it!  I love it here already!! Our church building is right on the Potomac River. I should have taken a picture. It's gorgeous! And it is right next to Mount Vernon, George Washington's home as well. 

We have had a very exciting week so far. Oh, well first I should tell you who my new companion is...her name is Sister Randquist! She is AMAZING! I know that Heavenly Father put us together for a reason. I can't wait to learn so much from her! 

 

The first morning together our water was not working and we had to go to another sister missionary's apartment to use their shower.  Oh fun times! But while we were going to the office to get it fixed, we met a super nice man, and we helped him get into the gym.  He said he would love to come and hear what we have to say some time.  I am so glad that our water wasn't working! Everything happens for a reason.

 

Our apartment is super cute!!! There is even a piano in it! One thing that I had started to do when I was at the Davis' was to practice the piano during lunch hours.  Well I was really sad that I couldn't do that anymore...just kidding! Heavenly Father provides tender tender mercies for us! A piano is just one of many :) 

 

We have 8 missionaries serving in our ward. Crazy to go from just one set to 4! We have 2 sets of elders, us sisters, and a senior couple. What a fun time to be a missionary when we are all working together in the same ward to hasten his work along! This will be a fun learning experience to work closely with so many missionaries and learn from all of them. 

 

Sister Randquist has already strengthened my testimony so much! She has such a wonderful spirit about her!  I know that we all have such an integral and wonderful part in Heavenly Father's work for us!! I know that we all have different talents and abilities so that we can teach others, be someone's friend, and provide service in just the way that the Lord needs it!!  I know that Heavenly Father is guiding this work.  He can play a part in all of our daily lives if we let him and invite the Spirit into our hearts.  The Spirit then tells us what we need to do in order to help out in this great work.  I am learning to just follow my good thoughts, because they come from the spirit.  In Relief Society yesterday a sister quoted on of the general authorities that had once said, "Never suppress a generous thought." I want to work on that this week!! 

 

I know that this gospel is the same wherever we may be and that it applies to us all throughout our lives. I know that no matter what our situation, station, or anything else is, I know that Heavenly Father loves us, cares about us, and wants us to be happy!!!

 

I pray and hope that everyone has a spectacular week!!

Love,

Sister Udall

Mt. Vernon here I come!

Rachel was transferred to Mt. Vernon today.  She will be serving in the Alexandria/Mt. Vernon area.

Her new address is:

Sister Rachel Udall
7510 Republic Ct. #102
Alexandria, VA  22306

Day of Transfers with old companion:
Sister Phelps and Sister Udall

Day of Transfers with new companion:
Sister Radquist and Sister Udall

Hello to All!

So there is so much to write but only 11 minutes left!!! So I just want to let you know that this week was filled with so many miracles! And I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us so much!!! A few quick highlights of the week...

1. We got to go to the Temple Visitor's Center with one of our investigators! It was so great!!!! The spirit was so strong, and the sisters that were teaching were so amazing! Everything that they were saying was what our investigator needed to hear. It was so relatable! I know that the Spirit was inspiring them with the words to say and that Heavenly Father chose those sisters to teach for a reason. I love the temple and know that it is the House of God.  Iknow that it is so crucial for each and every one of us to make the temple our goal!

2. We got to go to DC yesterday. We went to the Holocaust Museum.  Definitely a sobering experience, but empowering.  I just went away wanting to do my part and only help others understand the worth and value that they have! I know that as we love and serve others as our Heavenly Father would that we can help others know that they are children of God and that he loves them! As I have come to know that I am a literally a daughter of my Heavenly Father and that he loves me, it has given me the confidence to become more!  I know that we can all do good to help lift others up!

3. I have been in Great Falls for 6 months now...where does the time go???  I love it so much here!!! I am so grateful for this time that I have to be on a mission and to be serving and learning so much!

4. We just found out today that we are going to be a Facebook mission and get Ipads in December so that we can teach lessons on Skype! HIS WORK IS HASTENING!!!  This is such a privledge and a neat experience!

5. Everyday my appreciation for my Savior grows!!!  He has done so much for all of us, and his love is perfect!!!  As we were looking at the Christus statue at the visitor's center, the sister asked us to just listen to Christ's words and really pay attention to our feelings.  When I started to listen, I could feel my Savior's love for me! It was overwhelming! And since he has that much love for me, he has it for every single one of us! Oh, I just want everyone to know that !! And I pray and hope that I never forget!   I know that this work is the Savior's work and that we can all help to bring it about!

Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Sister Udall

Oh, and don't send anything this week. It's transfers and I might be leaving...who knows where I will be!?

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful week!!! My week was full of pretty fall leaves all sorts of colors, a bit of a cold, and always miracles :)

I would say the greatest miracle of all is the power that Christ has to heal us!!! Whether it be physical, spiritual, emotional, I know that he can help heal our troubled and worn down souls.  I know that because I have felt that healing power in my life this week!!!

I would be lying if I said that this week was a breeze.  It was filled with lots of emotions and stressful moments, but so much peace as well! And  of course, miracles!!!! 

So for the past week I have just felt really off and stressed out, but I couldn't put my finger on what.  I just brushed it off and kept working.  Well then we had interviews with President Riggs and I just started to cry.  He's so great just to listen to me say that I don't know why I'm crying but I am. And just expalin how exhausted and tired I have been lately.  Well he offered some great counsel and advice...I will forever cherish it.  He also gave me a priesthood blessing.  The priesthood power is real and blesses our lives so much!!! It did mine this week (and does every single day!).  At the beginning of the blessing he stated that the scriptures tell us to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10). Oh what comfort that brings to my soul! Heavenly Father is in control.  He knows me and trusts in me! I don't need to be so worried all the time :)  What a blessing the scriptures are!  And I am grateful for trials and times like this when we learn. Oh man, I definitely learned a lot :)

But for some really really happy news...Jason wants to get baptized!!! :)  It was such a tender lesson that we had with him his daughter.  We sat on a blanket on his front porch and taught the Great Apostasy.  It was so apparent to all of us just how special the priesthood is and how much it blesses our families!  And you know what? That lesson happened right after my interview with President and my new resolve to just start trusting in the Lord and not worrying about what would happen at every moment of the day.  Miracles come, and they are so sweet! They come when we just turn our complete trust over to Heavenly Father and let him know that we are here to help him with HIS WORK!  I pary that I will continue how to work work WITH HIM. (Jacob 5:70-75...they are pretty great missionary scriptures)  I want to always work WITH HIM!

Halloween was fun! The Davis family (the members we live with) and the Hartts fed our entire zone dinner.  We then got to watch a movie. Oh, the rest and relaxation was needed :) Glenn's mom carves beautiful pumpkins! They are so cute! And when they are lit up it's so amazing!!!! 

I love you all and hope all is well!!! I know that Heavenly Father is always there for us and that his purpose is for us to be happy! This work is HIS WORK and it is all for us,,,so that we can return to him again! I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior! I know that He is the reason that it is possible for us to return to our Heavenly Father again! I know that He is the "Prince of Peace" and that He will heal us as we come to Him! I know that He lives so that we can live again!

Love,

Sister Udall

Zone Conference, Oct. 31, 2013.