Simeon's First Missionary Christmas

Me in my hoodie ... a Christmas gift from an investigator.

This week was Christmas. It was really nice and, hey, people were nice to us as we and the world celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and all he has and continues to do for us.  We also remembered the wonderful young mother who gave birth to our Savior.  The week went by really fast and before I knew it Christmas was here and as always we went about doing the Lord's work.  But, I got a few presents … someone even sent me dirt.  Now that person is really creative. I saw this week how special we all are to our Heavenly Father because he gave us the greatest gift of all as we are told in John 3:16-17.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Here's our version of a Christmas tree

Every single person I spoke with is very special in God's and our Savior’s eyes.  Even if they did not accept the message we had to share, they were special and I even saw the Holy Ghost at work as it touched the heart of someone we are teaching so much he offered to pray instead of having one of us do so.  It was the first time he has prayed. 

We often tell ourselves we come on missions to change the lives of all those we meet and teach but, in all truth, we not only bless and change the lives of those we teach, we also are blessed and changed.  Those same persons we teach sometimes help us do so as well as the Gospel. You are special to God and He wants you to know that.  I testify he loves you no matter what you are or will go through and in his eyes you will always be special.  You have my testimony of this truth.