This Christmas was extraordinarily special for me. As nice as it is to be with one's family on Christmas, being here in New York on the Lord's errand has given me a purpose I don't often have at this time of year. Christmas is often a time of giving, and I reflected on how much I have been given in my life and what I have done with what I've been given. My greatest Christmas presents this year were the opportunity to FaceTime my family on Christmas Day, and the opportunity President and Sister Reynold's gave me to play cello at our mission's Christmas Devotional on the 23rd. (By the way, thank you to everyone who sent me letters and packages, I appreciated them and the sentiments they expressed!) Seeing my family and their smiling faces, observing their life, and being a part of their home for one hour was a treat. I especially loved sharing my testimony, praying, and singing with them. And it was enriched with the sweetness of knowing I can have these moments with them throughout all eternity.
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| Face timing my darling family! |
The Christmas Devotional on the 23rd was a climax of hours upon hours of practicing, performing, traveling to Plainview, and the anticipation of seeing all my mission friends. When we arrived I felt almost wind blown by the amount of missionaries I had served with and wondered how I knew so many. We even reunited Brooklyn Squad with a picture of Elder Weisler, Elder Creager, Sister Gourley and I. (Fun fact: all of us are out of Brooklyn and it's only been 2 months since we were all together there!) I also saw Hermana McDowell who is in the Hamptons now, and took a picture with all three of my beautiful companions.
We all performed fun skits for the devotional. The excellent part of the Assistants to the President being a part of our Zone is that they can interrupt our skit (Santa Showdown) by throwing the white handbook/ white bible/ missionary handbook down on the stage in the middle of our number and yelling, "DO YOU SEE THIS?!?! DO. YOU. SEE THIS?!?!" Which is quite fun. And terrifying. Elder Parrish is a petite 6' 7" which certainly added to the intensity!
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| Brooklyn #squad reunited! (you have no idea how much happiness that gave me) |
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| All my companions and I! |
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| Hermana Gourley and I. |
In the spiritual portion of the devotional I had the opportunity to play O Come O Come Emmanuel with the brilliant pianist Elder Ivan Garza from Mexico. It reverenced me that I had a chance to touch a cello on my mission. When I sat down, tears poured down from my eyes. I was in amazement of the gift President and Sister Reynolds had given me. Moreover I was blown away by how much everyone had loved it. Sister Reynolds had tears in her eyes when she stood to give her talk. It was a testament to me of how music can bring the spirit and how I can be a conduit of the spirit as a musician. Sister Reynolds spoke on the Christmas Orange, a children's story. The gospel is so sweet if we but surrender a part of the orange we have to give others joy and happiness! As we give of our talents and our knowledge we will be able to bless others in unbelievable ways.
I finished the Book of Mormon this week! It took me 76 days this most recent time - about two and a half months (October 5th to December 23rd). Or seven pages a day. I love reading and praying and gaining an understanding of my savior. He has given me all, and I am glad for the time I donate to learn of him each day. My day would never be complete without reading from the Book of Mormon.
Extra things:
I hit my five month mark! I'm almost a third done with my mission. President said something I loved, 'the mission is a microcosm of your life'. We come into the mission new, inexperienced, and unskilled. We gain knowledge, attributes, and wisdom on our mission that will help us throughout the rest of our lives. I may only be through five out of eighteen months, but what I learn will stay with me throughout eternity.
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| Christmas Eve Dinner at KFC. |
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| Christmas Eve selfie |
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| "Jump on my back!", "No! Okay, fine...", "Ahh, bad idea..." |
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| "Look Sister, I found a poinsettia!" |
Hermana Ashford went to an ENT and they stuck a vacuum in her ear. If I wrote a children's book about it it would likely be titled 'Hermana Ashford and the Dreary, Ear-y vacuum'.
New York may not have had snow, but the beauty inherent in this time of year shows more through actions than weather. I am grateful to be a part of the great and marvelous work of the Lord here in New York!
My love and gratitude,
Hermana Ally Voss
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