"The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud for All to Hear"

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!

It was a fantastic week full of Christmas magic and service and fun!

We had our mission Christmas party this week and it was so fun! And took up all of our day, but SO worth it! President Hanks talked to us about what we can give the Savior for Christmas this year in the mission field but I think the question is valid for everyone! What will you give the Savior this Christmas season?

We also watched Ephraim's Rescue. I highly recommend it to everyone! I loved it! He was just so willing to drop everything and help where he needed to. And he was so humble, he recognized that he had flaws, but he just kept trying. He is a great example to us all!

That night we went to visit one of our investigators. She is by far one of the most prepared people I've ever met and is the one that takes this decision the most serious. She even went onto lds.org and went through the gospel topic list alphabetically and wrote down and studied all the things she didn't know and wrote down questions she had. Who does that? Only the most amazing lady ever :) We had a great lesson with the bishop and his wife, and another member. It was quite the party!

But the best part comes later. Her baptismal date wasn't until the 25th of January and we talked to her on friday and she said that any doubts she had before were completely gone now and she feels at peace and knows that this is the right decision. And she is worried that something is going to happen to her before the baptism because of how hard Satan works so she wants to move the date up! It was so good to hear and we are SO happy for her! It is a Christmas miracle :)

We had the opportunity to work in the toy room at the soup kitchen place that we volunteer at. So basically what we got to do is take a shopping cart and the mom with the paper that had their kids names and ages on it and we got to help them pick out presents for their kids! It was so fun! We just talked to them and got to know them better and what their kids would like and made sure they didn't go crazy, but these entire buggies and garbage bags were FULL! The work that this cooperation does is incredible. All of the toys were donations and they have both new and used toys, books, puzzles, games, clothing, stuffed animals, bikes, dolls, the works. It's legit and it was such a blessing to be able to take part in helping people have a very merry Christmas. It was really eye-opening and just makes you realize that we can't take anything for granted. 

We have been busy busy busy this week being little Christmas elves. but not like these ones...

             (don't y'all just love our zone leaders? they're fantastic)

The 12 days of Christmas is well under way and we have yet to be caught *cross your fingers* 

It's so fun to spread Christmas cheer, but especially when it's anonymous. Let it just be known, I LOVE surprises! :) 

We did a little training at District Meeting this week on finding. Definitely our favorite thing in the world, but we do what we can. And what we've found this week is the importance of just being out in public as much as possible and letting your presence be known. You never know who's watching and seeing your bright shining example :) 

President Hinckley said, "Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to ehlping people...stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ." 

Ultimately, we have been finding success through service. And it truly has made us HAPPY! Maybe we don't have a million investigators, maybe we're not teaching lessons 24/7, and maybe we aren't the best at finding, but we sure can help people! And we are working hard at it. This time of year has blessed us so much to be able to just be nice to people and help them feel loved :) It's the best! And we are willing to take what ever opportunities come our way, but we're not depressed in our efforts of just "going about doing good"

In fact, one of these service opportunities led us to making snowflakes in a restaurant. (don't worry, we cleaned up the mess) I was told very blatantly that I should never get married because it will only end and that the ring doesn't mean anything and that you will never be happy if you do because it has become a government institution and they will try to get you for all the money they can get and how you can't control the actions of others.

Oh boy. By the way...he's a baptist. I don't know why, but the people down here love to make it clear what religion they are and that they have no intentions of ever changing that, regardless of what they actually believe. 

As we so clearly learned in Relief Society yesterday, it's so important to be "subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law" (12th Article of Faith) #stillgot'emmemorized

So lesson of the day, respect the leaders of the country, but keep the laws of God first. His commandments will never fail you :)

And last, but not least, we had another baptism! Destany, the sister of the girl who got baptized last week! It was so fantastic and this girl has a million dollar smile! She is just adorable and has already been such an amazing missionary! There was so much support from the ward as well and it is so fun to see all of the young women welcome them so warmly! 

Our Christmas chain is down to 2 already. My, how the time flies! I hope all y'all have a very Merry Christmas and remember to think of our Savior, Jesus Christ and His everlasting love for each one of us!

Wishing you the best and lots of holiday cheer!

lots of love,

Hermana Blackner

"Just 9 days Left!"

I am just lovin' this Christmas season! So many fun things happening every day!

So things have been crazy busy and I kind of forgot to talk about some really important things last week... Like how I ate tongue tacos. Yeah, definitely the weirdest thing I've ever eaten in my life. and it didn't taste bad, as long as you didn't actually think about what you were eating. I have officially been inducted into hispanic culture.

This week was fantastic! 

First of all, Iesha got baptized! it was pretty much the best. It was so fun to see her beautiful smile on the stand yesterday after she got confirmed and saw everyone welcome her to the ward. I just love seeing other people be happy :)

I also finished the whole standard works this week! And let me just say that I love the scriptures SO much! And I got it all done by December 11, one day before my 6 month mark. Don't know when that's going to happen again. But I can say that my testimony of the Savior increased dramatically and I am so grateful for the opportunity that we have to read the scriptures whenever we want and learn about the things that our Heavenly Father has given us to be successful in this life.

We started the 12 days of Christmas this week. We didn't have any solid investigators that we wanted to do it for so we went to this gorgeous street of homes that were built in the early 1900's decorated beautifully for the Christmas season and we just picked a random house. The suspense and surprise of it all is what makes it so fun! And we're hoping that we will get some new investigators out of this :)

Going to the temple this week was absolutely amazing! I can never get enough of being there! Plus, I think the spirit is extra strong with so many missionaries :) And it was so weird to have to drive an hour and a half instead of just 20 minutes like when I was in Birmingham. I did get to stop by there on the way back though and it was so much fun! I miss it, but I'm so grateful to be here in Decatur as well!

This weekend we had the opportunity to go up to Huntsville for the big Nativity Festival. It was incredible! And I loved every minute of it. Plus, I was so grateful we got to go because I have missed the one at home for the past few years since I've been at school. But we listened to an amazing concert, went through the live nativity at least 10 times, saw all of the nativities and quilts, found the 12 hidden sheep, talked to lots and lots of people, and were on our feet for 8 hours. It was so festive! 

I'm super excited to do more service this week, hopefully find some new investigators, go to some Christmas parties, have another baptism, and probably some crazy adventures mixed in. 

Remember the real reason for the season and have an awesome week!

con amor,

Hermana Blackner

" 'Tis the Season "

Can you believe it's Christmastime?? I absolutely LOVE it.

It's been a whirlwind of a morning. President Hanks called us at 7:30 and said he was taking all the Decatur missionaries (there's 6 of us) to breakfast and that we needed to be ready and be at the elders apartment at 8:15. Scramble to get ready and go! Stress to the max.

This week Hermana Johnson and I were busy being little Christmas elves. We are planning the 12 days of Christmas and we are SO excited about it! Spreading Christmas cheer like nobody's business. Because...we have the best message on earth about our Savior, Jesus Christ! 

In attempt to understand what it would feel like for an investigator to stop smoking, Hermana Johnson and I have decided to do the unthinkable. Yes, we are giving up all treats, candy, pies, sugar, for the holiday season. I know. We're crazy. And let me tell you, it is SO much easier when you have someone by your side doing it. We've been saying no to so many good things. But it's definitely all worth it. 

Our zone has entered the wonderful world of Harry Potter and is working towards the house cup this transfer. The Decatur missionaries are Hufflepuff and we are definitely winning this. Points for getting home on time, baptisms, contacting referrals, giving out book of mormons, doing service, teaching lessons, ALL the good things. This will definitely be a December to remember. At zone training, we focused on literally wearing the name of Christ and what that means to each of us. It was a faith promoting activity and really allowed me to reflect on then name I bear and who I am representing.

To me, it's a constant reminder of who I want to become and that as I learn of Him, I can be more like Him. Our nametags are worn right by our hearts because of the love we have for Him, that's why we're out here spreading the good news. It's a reminder about the trust He has for us, to give our all every single day, to live worthy of bearing His name, to walk in His footsteps. There is so much importance to a name and that of all the names that are close to mine, it's that of Jesus Christ.

Substitute the words in Helaman 5:6-7 from them to Him 

As far as the work goes, we are constantly talking to everyone we see. We don't have too many progressing investigators at the moment, but we are definitely planting lots of seeds. This morning we talked to a man who was under the impression that we worshiped "the golden statue of a man wearing a suit on top of the church(temple)" FALSE. And then reminded me about what happened when Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue. Don't worry, kind sir. Our salvation is not on the line. Oh, proselyting in the bible belt. Gotta love it.

The two sisters that we've been teaching though are doing fabulous and the one is getting baptized this week, so that's exciting! They absolutely love coming to church and all the young women are so sweet to them! I love seeing the gospel change lives. The best part about Iesha is that she just stopped drinking coffee cold turkey. And she pretty much thinks it is the greatest thing on the planet. She wants to throw all the coffee in her house away (if her mom didn't drink it) and thinks that hot chocolate tastes so much better. That's what I'm talkin' about!

Well the festivities have just begun and these next few weeks are jam pack full of amazing opportunities to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Tune in next time for a review of going to the temple, attending the festival of nativities, a baptism, and probably some many more unexpected adventures. 

I am a mormon.I know it. I live it. I love it.

Feliz Navidad!

Hermana Blackner

" 'Tis the Season "

I can't believe that it's almost CHRISTMAS!

Alabama is freezing. Well at least in a skirt it is.

My last day in Birmingham was a whirlwind. We were teaching lessons every hour from 11-9. It was ridiculous! I wish the planner could look that good every day. What a blessing to have worked with so many amazing people for the past 4 1/2 months. I will miss it dearly! I almost walked out of there without any tears.

Well being in a new area is kind of like starting your mission all over again. I definitely feel like I have things more under control, but this has been the SLOOOOOOOOOWEST week of ma life. However, this transfer is gonna be legit. Basically, Sister Johnson and I got this confirmation about why we're supposed to be here and we are so pumped about getting the work goin' here in Decatur. Seriously, the place needs some enthusiasm and some baptisms. 

I pretty much love Hermana Johnson SO much already! Match made in heaven. We just laugh all the time and are just so pumped about the work. And everything just makes sense with us. #21yearoldmissionaries There are 3 sets of missionaries in our ward. Talk about overkill. But it's not too bad because there's us, the sisters, spanish speaking elders, and english speaking elders. Divide and conquer right? It's a fun group though! 

Thanksgiving was good! I got to meet some of the members of the ward and we did some planning and then we got to help a family decorate for Christmas! I played the piano while all the elders avoided watching football and  tried decorating the tree. It was a blast!

We taught these girls yesterday about tithing and fasting because it was fast sunday and then we re-set a baptismal date with them. One of the girls wanted to get baptized on her birthday which is the 15th, a sunday. We then brought up the idea of getting baptized on the 14th and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost the next day. Best birthday present ever! The Holy Ghost is such a blessing in our lives and guides and directs us as we live worthy of it. 

I'm super excited to be here and really looking forward to getting things going! What a blessing to be a missionary, especially during this Christmas season. 

Life.is.good.

con amor,

Hermana Blackner

Mary's new companion Sister Johnson 

here's our sketchy mailbox. thank goodness i have a reliable one now! 

only the best district in the mission! 

 Sister Rich 

Sister Thomas. pretty much my mission grandma. She's the cutest! 82 and STILL working!