La felicità vera

Cara famiglia,

Come state? Buon Natale! ONE WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS! Let me tell you why Christmas as a missionary is the best.  All that I worry about is helping others come unto Christ, and that’s what Christmas is all about, right? I’m sorry this email will be shorter than usual, just not feeling in the mood to type a bunch of stuff and I get to skype you all in a week and just talk to you then, yay!

This morning we sent Sorelal Beutler on the train home, and it was so sad. It’s weird to be in two again! We are so happy for her and we are grateful for all of the things that we learned from her.

Let’s see, this week has been really interesting.  Sunday, we had a beautiful Italian Christmas concert that went really, really well.  We had a ton of people that aren’t members there and we saw a lot of success.  Music brings such a spirit.  It was so much fun! I got to accompany some songs, we had a great choir, and it was really beautiful.

We are working with a lot of new converts here in Firenze, and they are all so beautiful and wanting to share the gospel so much. We ate a huge Peruvian feast that was SO YUMMY. It was a nice break from pasta and pizza 🙂

We were actually in the house with sickness for the past couple of days.  I have a sinus infection so that’s fun.  My companions made me stay inside, I think I could have gone out and worked… but that’s okay I’m glad I rested so we can work even harder in the future. Luckily, Grammie stocked me up with the right medications and I am all set and getting healthy again 🙂

Today, we went to the beautiful city of Siena, right in the heart of Tuscany.  We climbed the tower in the famous palazzo and we saw all of the beautiful rolling hills.  Mamma mia it was bellissima.

As I close this email, I want to share a scripture I read this week that really hit me:

Let us thereore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

We come boldly unto the throne of grace.  Christ wants to heal us.  So, let Him.

I am so so so happy to be serving a mission right now, and to be able to teach people about the gospel of Christ. I have never had such a hard time and such a fun time and such a happy time all at once! I truly have never been happier though, I can’t explain it.

Merry, merry Christmas! Happiness comes in the light of the gospel, none of the material things that we want for Christmas or that we stress about giving.  True happiness is right here – in the beauty of a sunset, in the embrace of a loved-one, and in the spirit of the gospel.

Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Strong