Hi family!
My new area is so beautiful!!! I have all of Venice beach, which is a really interesting quirky area which kind of reminds me of Yachats, Oregon in a way, and there is this beautiful canal system that runs through this one neighborhood and they all have little paddle boats and canoes that they can take right up to their houses. It is a really fun area. We spent a day walking around visiting less active members and street contacting, and we invited everyone to the free Christmas concerts at the Visitors' Center, so everyone was really nice to us, which apparently is a big change from what Sister Dickson is used to in this area. It is really nice being able to offer them something free that they want. Hopefully it bring them to the temple where they will be able to feel the spirit and want to learn more. Christmas time is the best time to be a missionary! I love how everyone is thinking about Christ and how people are so much friendlier.
We had a miracle that same day as we were walking around Venice. We were trying to find a less active member, and we ended up going right up to the board walk, and we walked along it for just a little bit but then asked each other "Are we supposed to be this close to the ocean?" and then realized as we looked over at a bunch of shirtless people playing volleyball that probably not, so we turned in to a road out of beach view and ran into a woman that came up to us and said "I know you, you're missionaries!" She was from Honduras, and it turns out that she had been investigating there and was about to be baptized, but then moved here and lost contact with the church. She was really excited as to show the things that she remembered while talking to us, like the Relief Society and Joseph Smith. She lives out of our area so we got her information and sent her the missionaries. It was so amazing to find her, and to realize that at that exact moment if we hadn't been obedient and listened to the spirit we wouldn't have been able to have that opportunity and see that blessing. People that are that prepared and amazing from the very moment that you meet them are few and far between, so it is a big miracle to find them, and it increased my faith that there are people who are ready and waiting for the gospel, and literally just don't know where to find it.
Our main investigator right now is named Sam. He is about sixty and he feels the spirit and has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but he just feels really loyal to the church that first introduced him to Christianity and helped him change his life around. The poor guy has a lot of health problems, and last Monday he had a really bad fall and broke a few ribs and punctured his lung. He is a strong, stubborn guy, so he didn't stay in the hospital for treatment and was just planning on resting and toughing it out. We offered that he receive a blessing and he accepted, so we went over with the bishop and another elderly man from our ward and they gave him sweet blessing of heath. After they finished Sam looked so peaceful, and he started saying his own prayer thanking Heavenly Father for the blessing and for sending us to help him. He really is sweet. I've never seen or even thought of thanking Heavenly Father right after receiving a blessing, and it was really profound and touching. We are hoping he will eventually feel more comfortable coming to church and recognize that this really is the one true way to return to live with God.
The Christmas lights all went up at the temple and are so pretty! We also have free concerts here every night at seven, so it has been really fun. I love being here in the visitors center! On Christmas Eve and Christmas day the Visitors' Center Sisters are performing the concerts, and my companion and I are in charge of organizing everything which has been really fun. i've also been put in charge of making flyers and programs and those sort of things for the concerts, so all of my skills I've learned from working with Dad all my life have really paid off. :) I never thought that the things I learned there would cross over, but i have to do computer and office stuff all the time here. I'm really glad that the lord has helped prepare me throughout my life for my mission, and I know that my mission is preparing me in a big way for the rest of my life.
Well, I love you all so much! Take the First Presidency's advice and don't get too stressed with all of the holiday preparations. Always remember whose season it is we are celebrating.
Hermana Dansie
PS I met Chelsea Hightower! How cool is that? i saw her last night at the Christmas Devotional. I'm attaching a photo.
1. My new companion Sister Dickson
2. We took some glamour shots in front of the temple
3. Venice canals
4. Sister Dickson and I
5. Me and the temple lights. This doesn't show very many of them- there are a lot more.
6. Giant nutcracker at a member's house
7. The view from my new apartment- 6:30 am sunrise
8. Chelsea Hightower! For those of you who don't know, she is one of my favorite dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance?"
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