Sister Lara Elizabeth Stewart: Ready for the New Year

I hope this doesn't sound like a bad missionary, but the thing I am most excited for is that I can now say "I'll be home this year!"

I love my family, not getting to "see" everybody over skype hurt a little bit but at least I got to hear y'all's voices. I still remember my shock to hear Evelyn, I did not recognize her voice. And to see Kenley walking. Awww! I am missing the chance to watch them grow up. Mothers you have a new calling, make sure these babes don't forget me and that the newer ones will know who I am. You better believe all 11 are getting the tackling of a lifetime in hugs and kisses come October!

It has been a long week. Mostly because a lot of people are out of town with the holidays and sick from a bug that's going around (I hope I don't catch it). That makes tracting long and actual teaching opportunities few and far in between. Still, the work moves on and so do we and we let ourselves be examples. Lots of people have already commented to us about how they were shocked to see us walking around the cold Christmas day, but just because it was a holiday didn't make it a non-proselyting day. In the morning we opened presents, I made crepes for our breakfast, we tracted, and sang carols at a disability home. For lunch we ate with Sister Diamond and her family and friend Sister Luke. She fed us on Thanksgiving and again did not disappoint. Afterwards we were picked up by member Kim McLemore and spent the remainder of our evening at their home, skyping, facetiming, and calling families. The elders came over half-through and did the same. It was a beautiful evening. Next to skyping my family, Kim's little boy Karter made me laugh a lot. I told him I had a nephew named Karter, spelled the same way, and kept shouting at the computer because he wanted to meet him, I'm not sure if Kristi's skyping video was good enough for the Karters to meet. Another time perhaps. Thank you everyone for your gifts, especially my secret sibling, the hot chocolate was delicious.

Funny Things of the week:

1. Saw an albino squirrel. Check off on the bucket-list: I saw an albino animal in the wild. I just wish I could have gotten closer.

2. As we were visiting one investigator her niece, a different investigator, walked in! The connections of small town living.

3. I saved a possum stuck in an investigator's garbage and saw my first live possum!

4. I reached my nine month mark!

5. Church in the South is Baptist, which makes sense since most everyone is a convert. But Church just isn't the same. The talks were a little confusing, we had a musical number and rest hymn, Sunday School was a mix of Restoration, Plan of Salvation, and random deep doctrine that in total made no sense, and the 5th Sunday Lesson was more like an Enrichment on Food storage and preparation, no spiritual stuff. Made for a tough morning.

Interesting week, looking forward to the new week, new year, new month, more miles!!! Will be happy to use the car without worry. We're going to start working in Crystal Springs north of Hazlehurst at least once a week now, too. Wish us luck.

I want to hear YOUR missionary experiences.

Spiritual Influence of the Week: September 2013 Ensign. My favorite article was "The Healing Balm of Hope." I shared this with a troubled woman last night, my companions were able to testify that it was full of wonder words of peace. I know it will be the same to you.

With lots of love,

-Sister Lara Stewart