Merry Christmas from Sister Shill: Letter Dec. 27, 2021



Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas! Sorry it's been a while since I've written.  Thank you for all the Christmas cards and packages! They truly made it a merry season!

Fruita is fantastic for Christmas! Although we haven't had any snow, the people here go ham for Christmas lights! One of the members in our ward wraps his trees like temple square. He had a crane out so he could reach every branch and a block he used to measure the gaps between each wrap. :'D 

My new companion Sister Campa is wonderful to be around. Together we revel in the wonder of frozen meals and Bath and Body Works Wallflowers. :'D Our neighbors smoke something awful so we've been enjoying the stronger flavors of eucalyptus mint and clean laundry. :'D 

We went caroling with some of our Members and it was the most wonderful thing.  We went to the lady we are teaching named Carrie.  After we sang to her and left, she immediately texted us saying she hadn't had carolers in years and it absolutely made her day! Later that week, we were able to put Carrie on date for baptism on January 15th! We are so excited for her. She has been coming to church for such a long time, and she already keeps all the commandments including the word of  Wisdom!

There are some challenges to being a missionary at Christmas, despite the wonderful feelings and the way it helps the work. For one, every member we see gives us treats. Our counter is literally stacked with Tupperware containers full of cheesecake, pie, cookies, fudge, toffee, brownies, and every other Christmas treat you can imagine. We can't possibly eat them all and we make ourselves sick trying.

There's also the inevitable issue of being full time at work when everyone else is on holiday. Half the people you know go out of town or are busy with family. But despite all that it seems more happens in the Christmas season than any other time of year! So we've been reveling in the light of Christ.

Here's some facts about Sister Campa:

The thing I love most about her is that she celebrates with me. Tiny moments, tiny successes are how I survive harder times. And it's so much easier to enjoy the small things when you have someone to enjoy them with you. Sister Campa is excellent at doing that, and I forgot how much I missed it until she came.

Another thing Sister Campa does incredibly well are tiny acts of Service.  And in small moments this means the most, so every time she plugs in my phone while I'm getting ready for bed so that I don't have to get out of bed when I remember that I forgot to plug it in, she gets points toward being the best companion I have ever had. A competition which she has already won.

Every time she vacuums or does the dishes, every time she tells me thank you when I manage to do some cleaning, she brightens my day... And therefore I have had a very, very bright and merry Christmas.

Anyways, thank you so much for all of your letters and messages and gifts.  At the end of a long day, Sister Campa and I would always celebrate getting mail. She may be the best person I have ever known for being happy for someone else.  And all treats were of course enjoyed together :)

Most of all, Thank you for your love and support, it gets me through days that feel long or unsuccessful. Merry Christmas to you all, and may you see God's hand in your life. For that is what happiness is as a missionary, and I think it's what happiness is as a person.

Best wishes,
Sister Emily Elise Shill








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