Merry Christmas!

Hey y'all!

Merry Christmas!!!! I can't believe it's finally here!  This past week has been packed with Christmas activities, and I've loved every single one of them.  I love the Christmas season!

Last Monday, our district and one other district here in Katy joined forces to go caroling, which was so much fun!  We mostly went to less active members and investigators in the area around the stake center, so not in our ward, but it was still really good.  There was one street that we decided to knock on a few random doors, and there was one that really showed me what the spirit can do:  a man answered the door to find 10 missionaries standing on his porch, and immediately a look of annoyance came on his face.  But we didn't really give him a chance to say anything - we just jumped into singing "Silent Night".  As we were singing, his wife came to the door, and slowly but surely his face changed and we were able to see his change of heart as the spirit touched him.  It was the coolest experience!  He may not be interested in learning more about our Church at this point, but he definitely felt the spirit - it was awesome. :)  Music really does bring the spirit faster than anything else, I think.  I love it!

On Saturday, we ended up doing a lot of Christmas service for less active members.  We helped Jenny set up and decorate her Christmas tree - she's been in a rehab center after having a mini stroke, and she was released this past week so we decided to go over and help her decorate for Christmas.  It was really fun, and we were able to talk to her about the real meaning of Christmas.  She didn't make it to church on Sunday, but we're hoping she'll be able to come this next week.  We also helped Sister Chaplin make Christmas cookies, and we helped her clean all the wet leaves off her front porch.  Although Sister Morris and I haven't really been able to take part of the Christmas traditions that we normally have at home, we have been helping other people with theirs. :) 

On Sunday we had our Christmas music devotional, which turned out really well!  We had a good turnout, of members, less-actives, investigators, and non-member friends.  It was awesome.  We went to the stake center right after church to help decorate for the program, and Sister Morris and I were set to setting up the few Christmas trees, which reminded me of setting up for Madrigal when I was in Chamber.  Of course, the fact that we were setting up for a music program might have had something to do with it. :)  The music was great - we had musical numbers from members and missionaries, and a few elders read some narration from the Bible and the Book of Mormon between songs.  The whole program ended with a few recent converts giving their testimonies of the Savior, and President Pingree spoke for a bit about Christ too, and invited everyone there, especially the non-members to come closer to Him and learn more of Him.  All in all, I really enjoyed the evening.  The spirit was so strong - I tell you, music really does bring the spirit like nothing else can!

Yesterday was our Christmas Zone Conference.  In the past, they've been able to get the entire mission together for this event, but our mission has grown so big that we had to split it into two conferences this year.  There are 280 full-time missionaries in the Texas Houston Mission right now - crazy!  There are so many of us - it is awesome. :)  As you can imagine, the focus of the Zone Conference was Christ, specifically His Atonement.  I am so grateful for everything that He has done for us - He has done so much, and He did it all because He loves us.  The Zone Conference was awesome.  I always love being in big groups of missionaries - the spirit is always so strong when we gather together, and when we talk about the Atonement, the spirit can only get stronger. 

Well, as you can see, I've definitely been feeling the Christmas spirit this past week.  I'm so excited for Christmas tomorrow, but I'm sad that the season will be over.  Good thing I get to keep testifying of Christ!  I love Him so much, and I love this work.  I hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas!  I love you so much!

Love, Sister Ririe

Luke 2:10-11