"Silent Night" - Mosiah 16:9 - December 19, 2022

 MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone!!!


It's hard to believe that Christmas is this week! But, let's first discuss last week.

My new companion is Sister Nelson! We both came out at the same time! We have had a wonderful time together! I'm excited to see what these next 7 weeks will hold!

We met with Donald and Ashley on Monday. It was a wonderful lesson! We talked about patriarchal blessings because Sister Haws had brought them up last time. Donald was very fascinated with it. Please continue to keep them in your prayers!

We had a lot of wonderful member lessons this week! Sister Livingston was saying goodbye to everyone. It was bittersweet. I am so grateful to be serving here in Fairmont with this wonderful ward! There are so many amazing members!! What a blessed place to be.

Thursday was cool. We drove down to Charleston and I said goodbye to Sister Livingston. She has definitely become one of my bestest and greatest friends. I am going to miss her so much!! On the flip side, dropping her off made everything come into perspective. I don't have that much longer out here as a missionary! Time has been flying by! I also said goodbye to Sister Mitchell! She and I have been good friends for a long time. We went to jr high and high school together, and got our calls on the same day to the same place! She will be missed. Transfers are kinda wild sometimes. With each one that comes and goes, I feel like I know less and less missionaries in the mission. It's a weird feeling to have. I have loved being out here and I have come to truly love Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. I wouldn't want to serve anywhere else!!

We did lots of knocking this week! On Friday we were knocking and met a nice lady named Karen! She knew about the church and had attended before! She had been a member!! Because of life's challenges she had stopped coming. She told us about some experiences that had recently happened in her life. Sister Nelson and I were able to testify of the truthfulness of the gospel and invited her to read from the Book of Mormon again. It was powerful! A couple doors later we met a couple who knew people from the ward! It was cool! We had a great conversation. A little after that we met another lady named Karen and we were able to give her a copy of the Book of Mormon. Being able to testify of its truthfulness is such a wonderful feeling!

Sunday was a special day. The Fairmont Elders doubled out because one went to his original assignment, New Zealand, and the other became an Assistant to the President! So, we have two new elders in the ward, Elder Aston and Elder Bates. They are both super cool! After ward council we walked out to the foyer. There was a guy sitting in one of the seats wearing jeans and a button up shirt. At first glance I thought he may be someone the elders were teaching. Bishop then walked over and introduced himself. I then realized he was a visitor! The elders had no idea who he was, mostly because they are both new to the ward. So, all four missionaries walked over and started talking to him. He grew up just up the road from the church and had had a feeling on Saturday night that he needed to come here. Sister Nelson and I were able to teach him the Restoration and give him a copy of the Book of Mormon! The elders kinda took over from there and will be meeting with him this week! Also, his name is Chad!!! It was a wonderful blessing and miracle from the Lord to have that opportunity to teach Chad. I know the Spirit leads and guides each of us if we will but open our hearts and minds to hearing His Still, Small voice.

Song of the Week: "Silent Night" Hymn 204. This is one if my most favorite Christmas songs. My favorite versions of this song are by Inside Out A Capella and Gentri. I love the picture it paints in our minds of a quiet night in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph watching Baby Jesus, Shepherds close by, and later the Wisemen. I feel that the scripture Mosiah 16:9 goes along perfectly with this. Jesus Christ is the Light! He gives us Life. We celebrate this season because of Him. I had the chance to share this scripture with some people this week. Being able to testify of Jesus Christ during this special season is th greatest Christmas gift! I love being here and I'm so very grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a light-filled week! Talk to y'all next Monday!


Love,
 Sister Sariah Francis






Pictures!!!
We ate at the coolest Italian restaurant in town

Fairmont, WV

Last picture with Sister Livingston outside our apartment

It actually snowed on Sunday 

Sister Nelson and I

Christmas cookies from a member

Christmas cookies from a member

Sister Nelson and I



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