Christmas Time

Can you believe that Christmas is already here? I feel like we just started December. We received our first snowfall of the year here in England (see the pictures attached). Plus we had some slippery sidewalks of rain/snow that froze. For better or for worse, I think winter is finally here. I am excited to talk to you all on Christmas day and see your smiling faces. It will be great to be part of your Christmas celebration, even if I am thousands of miles away. It won't be the first time one of us is gone in a distant land for Christmas now is it? We are definitely a blessed family to be able to travel and see so many wonderful sights, including the beauty of England and the people here who are searching for something more. I am continuing to love being a missionary and helping others to improve their lives and find greater happiness.

My thought last week was all about Christmas, and I know there is probably a lot more I could say concerning the matter. However, this week I have been focusing a lot on goals for the upcoming year (2012). As a missionary, we set lots of goals. We have daily, weekly, transfer (every 6 weeks), and yearly goals. However, as much as a mission is about finding, teaching, etc., it is also about becoming. We can become the person we want to be if we are willing to work hard, sacrifice and expect to achieve that potential we see in ourselves. I remember when people asked me what I expected from a mission, I would usually respond, "It is going to be a really good experience, and I am going to learn a lot." That answer is probably because I honestly didn't know what to expect and I am an optimistic person, so I almost always see the glass as half full. The more time I have spent here in England, I am finding that I was more right that I originally realized. In Preach My Gospel (a missionary's guide to the work), it states, "The first person you need to convert is yourself." When people think about missions, they often ask if we have been able to convert a lot of people. The reality of it is there are people who the Lord converts through our assistance, but a mission is really a time of conversion for ourselves. As much as we focus on others, we also focus on ourselves. For example, I cannot help someone else achieve happiness until I have found that joy in my own life. Furthermore, if I am not a good teacher, then I will never be able to convey the message I am trying to share and help others understand. There are aspects of my life that I need to focus on and improve in order to become a missionary that can help others find these things out for themselves.

Therefore, I have been praying, pondering and studying about goals for the upcoming year (2012). An idea that keeps coming to my mind is the importance of thoughts. We know that thoughts lead to actions and that God is the only one who knows our thoughts, but what is the significance of thoughts? As I have pondered thoughts, I have come to understand that we can master our thoughts. While no one else around us may know what we are thinking, they are still a significant part of who we are. In my mind, I came up with two potential problems with our thoughts—bad thoughts and good thoughts that are not acted upon. The first can be solved in different ways such as “delete keys” (a subtle action just like on a computer that will erase what you were thinking about), replacing it with a song, etc. However, the second is much more difficult to overcome. How often when we have a good thought and don’t act upon it or record it, do we forget it? For me, it happens probably more often than it should. We need to make sure the good thoughts are brought into action. Once we have achieved this transition from thoughts to actions, we are able to accomplish more good and better follow the promptings of the Spirit. We are even able to have more charity in our lives with an optimistic outlook on the world. I am continuing to ponder my goals for the upcoming year, but I think mastering my thoughts and doing good will be part of who I want to become this next year.

On another note, many of you asked about my companion, Sister Gallozo. She is from Spain, specifically the north by the border with Portugal. She didn't know English before coming to England really, so I am impressed by what 16 months of living here has done because it is pretty much flawless now. There are still a few times where I have to double check what she is talking about, but that is a rare case. It is amazing how many different languages there are and yet you have the ability to learn multiple of them. She was studying literature (Spanish literature) at university before coming on a mission, but now she is not exactly sure what she wants to do. She was kind of hoping that her mission would help her recognize what she wanted to do with her life, but unfortunately, that wish has not come quite true. It makes me grateful for my decision to be a math teacher because it gives me direction in my life and I know it is something that I will enjoy. One of the greatest things I have learned from Sister Gallozo is hard work. Even when she is tired, she desires to do good and wants to work hard. That persistence and ability to push through tough times is definitely something to look up to.

Well I hope everyone is staying warm. Merry Christmas and enjoy the time spent with loved ones! Speak to you soon :) Thanks for all your love and support.

Love, Becca


p.s. Here are some comments about the pictures:

1. This is my district at the moment. They are great and we are doing a fun skit/song at the mission Christmas party that I am excited for.

2. This is me out the day when it first snowed. You can't see incredibly well, but it is snowing. I was grateful that I bought a warm coat that day.

3. This is Sister Gallozo on the day with the first snow. I will admit the snow didn't stick, but it was still snowing for the record and cold to say the least!

A note from Annie: Sorry, this is last week's letter. We got to Skype with Becca on Christmas, and it was fun to see her face and hear firsthand how everything is going. Yesterday was Boxing Day and this week is transfers, so she'll be writing a bit later this week.