The Church is True

Hello hello hello!

Some fantastic things that happened this week...

We finally had our first FaceTime lesson! It was with Doug who has had

three kids serve missions and his whole family are members. He hasn't

read the Book of Mormon though, so we have been reading with him. So

we face timed him and read 1 Nephi chapter two. (Yes two, he read

chapter one on his own!) it's so cool how you can still feel the

spirit so strongly even through an iPad. I love being a missionary

right now with the tools that we have. He said the closing prayer and

called the Book of Mormon the word of God, so I'm pretty sure that he

knows the church is true but is just being stubborn. But how great

would it be if he got baptized! Then his whole family could be sealed

together in the temple!

Belleh his from Camaroon in Africa. Oh my gosh he is so cool. He used

to be dirt poor in Africa and went to college and then went to Europe

to get his masters and now he is here. He is a professor teaching

business and stats and Mary Washington right now. He has been

investigating the church for about 3 years. He said that once he

started reading the Book of Mormon everything changed. The Book of

Mormon is so powerful! He talked to his mom about him becoming a

Mormon and she wasn't happy about it but, he realized that it is his

choice and it is something that he wants. We invited him to come to a

baptism that was happening in another ward and he came! We had a short

lesson about baptism before and I asked him why he wanted to be

baptized and he gave this beautiful testimony! He is so ready and on

date for January 21st. After he gets back from Camaroon for the

holidays.

On Thursday we did exchanges and I went with sister Garrigues to the

YSA ward in Fredericksburg which was so fun! I learned so much from

her. It was lots of fun teaching and meeting with people my age. I was

able to go to the street right in front of campus and did some street

contacting. I LOVE street contacting! No one can slam doors in your

face and they have to talk to you and everyone was really nice anyway.

We got 2 new investigators that day and passed out tons of the light

the world cards. YSA people are the best because they are still trying

to figure out what they believe and are way more open. I hope I can

serve YSA at least once on my mission. I was also able to go to

institute! We talked about faith hope and charity which was awesome :)

I seriously love President Smith so much! We had interviews this week

and I learned so much from him! Something that Brother Mills said when

he visited from headquarters is that when the apostles are looking at

your picture to decide where you should be called for your mission a

lot of times they say, "that person needs to be with President

whatever." I definitely believe that I was called to be with President

and Sister Smith.

This week for Christmas I have been studying the Atonement in the Book

of Mormon and I have gained an even greater love for my Savior Jesus

Christ and my Heavenly Father. I know that they love us so much. They

want so badly for us to be able to live with them again and they are

constantly helping us through our lives so that we make the choices to

be able to do that. I know that my Savior lives and is walking beside

me and helping me as I do this work. I love this holiday season so

much! What a great time to be a missionary! The best way to keep

Christ in Christmas is to love and serve others. Light the world!

Love you guys!

Sister Ruffner :)