A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, December 31, 2012

Subject: Happy New Year!!

Holy Cow! I can't believe that Christmas was a week ago and we are getting ready to ring in the new year. So crazy! I've never really thought about the new year and the opportunities that it really brings to our lives. In church yesterday the talks were centered around the new year and how that can help us in our lives. One of the members that spoke said something interesting that I hadn't really thought about until he mentioned it. He talked about how even the Lord at this time of year is pleased when we try to meet and set goals. Our goals for the year can be inspired and help us grow in ways that we didn't really think were possible. I thought about the different goals that we set as missionaries each week and how that helps us in carrying out the Lord work and will. I loved it! I never really thought about that before! Kind of a no duh but it hit me as we sat in Sacrament meeting how that can be a blessing to us.

It was soo good to talk to you all on Christmas! This might be creepy but it was so very good to hear all of your voices! Everyone was looking great!! Our week was a good week! We tracted a lot and made contact with people that we hadn't been able to reach yet. The Lord really is preparing people. That is a testimony to me each time we meet someone new or continue to meet with different people. There is a difference in their eyes. You can just see it. I appreciate so much when people are honest with us about that gospel. Whether they are interested or not. We had a baptism on Saturday night! Sondra ( Mamma S) was baptized!! It didn't count for your numbers considering the fact that she is not in our area but requested Sisters but nonetheless! She was baptized and it was beautiful! Sister Brox and I got to stand at the top of the font and watch her go down into the water and watch her come our and walk up to us. I nearly cried. Seeing her face right after she came out of the water was priceless. It was one of the sweetest moments so far on my mission. She was so ready and excited. Oh gosh I love this work!! We are still working with Michael. He is so stinkin great!! It's a good thing that I have Sister Brox there with me because I would not be able to answer all the questions that he asks. I just testify that through prayer we can know God and through the Atonement and the Doctrine of Christ we can know our Savoir Jesus Christ. We had a powerful lesson with him last night. Things are looking good over here in the wonderful Vancouver Washington. The church is true. God lives and loves us. I love you all!! 

Sister Mecham  

A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, December 03, 2012

Subject: Oh Joyous December!!

Hello Family!

Okay so this week has been great! We have had so many opportunities to share the Gospel with people! I love this time of year for the reason that it softens peoples hearts. The Lord is hastening his work and you can tell. So we have these awesome ladies that we are teaching. They are mother and daughter and goly gee they are so awesome! I just love them! We saw them the first full day I was here in Vancouver but we couldn't get an appointment set up with them for the longest time. So many different things kept coming up but we went and saw them on Thursday and that was so awesome! I'll call them S&S :) Momma S had some great questions on baptism and daughter S had some great questions about the temple and about why we don't share some of the things that happen in the temple. They are both moving along great and even decided to not participate in their bible study class because some of the member in that class were not accepting their choice in learning more about "the mormons". We went with them to the Festival of Nativities which is an awesome festival the Stake puts on for a whole weekend. Their are some many different nativities from all around the world and they put them on display for everyone to see. They have beautiful musical numbers and everything. Sister Brox and I loved it and so did S&S. Their was a gentlemen there that was truly inspired to come and talk to them while we were looking at all the nativities. He was able to bare simple testimony of finding out for yourself if the church is true. I love when the Lord prompts other to help the missionaries! 

Lucas is doing great! He is getting excited for his baptism this Saturday and we couldn't more excited for him. We had an awesome lesson this last Friday on the commandments. He was so good! He kinda just looked at us like...okay cool.. No problem. hahah He is living the commandments and is ready! The rest of the family is doing great as well. Michael still has awesome questions about the priesthood and about the apostacy. Good thing I've got Sister Brox cause I would be sitting there with my mouth wide open. Haha his questions are some that I have never really had to explain or think about so it's good for me to be there. I'm learning right along with him :)

Well dear family. I love you all and I am so very grateful for all that you do for me while I'm here and before I came out. You have all been amazing influences in my life and I'm so grateful for it. Merry Christmas to all of you! The church is true. Our Savior lives! Let your light so shine! 

Love, Sister Mecham  

We got a letter from the mission office today asking that any and all packages being sent to missionaries in the Kennewick mission be sent to them by December 15th if they are to be received by Christmas. Also, they asked that you send them priority mail through the postal service as it makes it easier to get them sent on to the missionaries. This is especially important because transfers will happen December 11th and we don't know where Whit will be. 

Love you all!