Monday, December 10 !

So we've had a busy week here, don't ask me to recall all the details, because for the life of me I can't... a mission kills your memory.

So Tuesday, we hadn't had many lessons planned and so we were kind of struggling to find things to plan to keep us busy and productive. Well Tuesday morning came and we got a phone call. A member called to let us know that her mom (another member in the ward) had had a bit of a scare in the night. They own a bed and breakfast (quite a large home), they had no guests in for the night, but then someone decided to make themselves a guest, meaning they broke into the home and decided they wanted a bed to sleep in. The member and her husband woke up and went and found him (startled them!) and the young man who broke in started yelling at them to get out of his house. needless to say the cops were involved and this couple in the ward is a bit elderly so shook them up pretty good. So the daughter called to ask us if we could stop by and see if they were okay and try to calm them a bit. So we changed our plans, went by this member and helped her with a bit of housework and played some Christmas music and when we left she said that it had helped a lot. so that was good.

Monday night we were told that our District meeting, usually held on Tuesdays, was being moved to Thursday. Well I said that didn't work for us because I had a dentist appointment at 12. I was told that it all came down to priorities... I said I had to go to the dentist. So then it was determined that Thursday we would go to the district meeting for an hour and then leave to go to the dentist. So that's what we did. I got my tooth fixed. it was a private dentist and the member that set it up and everything wouldn't tell me an estimate on how much it would cost. Came out of the dentist and he had paid for it. He said it was a Christmas Present from their family. They bought Sister Smith a coat. They said that they would have done it anonymously if they could've so that was their only requirement of us, that we keep them anonymous. So that was very nice.

So my birthday. Sister Smith gave me a present of coupons. You know the coupons we would do in Primary with kind favors on them that we would give for like mother's day and whatnot? yup, homemade. That was sweet. Then we got locked out. That was less fun. Our recent convert, Tracey, found out how cold we've been the last few weeks and we had a lesson with her that day. She gave us hot water bottles to help warm our beds at night. That was nice. Then we had tea with members and they made brownies and put a candle in it and sang happy birthday to me. That was sweet.

Yesterday we had 3 investigators come to church. Laura who has been coming for quite a while. Then a young Chinese couple we've been teaching a while (and their daughter). It was really good to see them there! Sister Smith and I also had to do the musical number in sacrament yesterday. We sang "What Child is this?" the Sally Deford duet arrangement. It went well. lots of compliments. We then were able to watch the Christmas devotional last night. I really enjoyed that. I love President Monson so much. how good would it feel just to get a hug from that man?

I think that covers most of the main points.

I hope the whole family is doing well. I got a letter from Paige a week or two ago and she gave me lots of updates which was nice. REALLY happy to hear from her! I miss her lots! She was telling me how she will be graduating soon. That's weird to think about.

I love you lots!

love,

Kara

P.S. Thanks for all the birthday wishes.