See You in 2014

First I'd just like to say Happy Birthday to my gorgeous mother! Can't believed i've been blessed with such an amazing mother, father and siblings. I loved being able to skype with them over Christmas! I even got a little teary eyed when we had to say goodbye. I'm so glad that i have such an amazing family. They help me stay motivated here. <3

There was a HUGE storm here before Christmas and everything was flooded including out cute little pond behind the temple. Roads were shut and trains were cancelled. We went on exchange and Sister Walmsley and I went caroling with some of the elders at a train station. We handed out 28 copies of the Book of Mormon! Mind you, they were wrapped up so no one really knew what they were getting as a present from us. (: hahaha.

Overflow pond!

Photo credit: Taylor Neale

We spent Christmas at a member's house and who would have thought that i'd spend it with an American family in England?! We watched the cartoon version of the grinch and also charlie browns christmas. it was so weird being able to watch a movie. Here in England they have a carol service Christmas morning so we were at the chapel singing carols with the ward. (: it was quite nice!

Christmas Advent Calendar made by Mum

Santa Came!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Boxing Day was the best because that was the day that i got to skype with my family and we spend the day at another members house where we watched the jim carey version of the grinch and i must say that i do still have pretty much all of it memorized. i wanted to watch elf but i figured that wouldn't be the most appropriate movie for a missionary. haha

Saturday night i spent my time in the hospital until two o'clock sunday morning with my companion. it was all pretty scary. Saturday afternoon she felt sick because she was in so much pain from being on her knee and so i told her to lie down and elevate it. She had a fever so i called president to tell him and he said to take her to the hospital. by the time i got off the phone she broke out in a cold sweat so we tried getting her into the car but as the senior couples were helping her she colapsed before they got to the door out of the vc. we called an ambulance and then she started to cough really bad still lying on the floor. The ambulance showed up an hour and a half later and got us to the hospital. It all came down to her body just couldn't handle the pain she was in and shut down. 

So Sunday morning we drove to our President's ward and did a musical sacrament meeting and it went really good! i was running on about 4 hours of sleep so wasn't really focused. Sister Hopgood stayed home in bed and rested her knee. We found out later that night that she will be going home on Tuesday morning so there will be some more changes going on in the vc. who knows who my companion will be. I'm hoping it's sister walmsley since we worked so well together. 

As i sat in church yesterday i was thinking about how far i have come as an individual. I have learned so much being a missionary that will only prepare me for my future and i am so glad that i have the experiences that i've had because now i'll know how to deal with things that happen like that in real life. Having a companion 24/7 is not easy but it's helped me to recognize what to change in myself.

I hope that you all have set some goals from this year and have written them down because if you don't write them down they won't get done! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and pray that you'll be safe on New Years! See you in 2014!!

Love,

Sister Stewart