The
reason Sister Crawford is talking in third person is because Sister
Crawford does not want to bore people who read her letter. Thus, she
tries to shake things up. Hopefully this language does not confuse
people.
Thanksgiving was so great! President
and Sister Olsen (of the Deaf Branch, but they are hearing leaders)
planned on having us over for Thanksgiving, and Sister Stewart was
jealous, so she had the ASL district over a couple nights before for a
Thanksgiving dinner and birthday celebration for her son on a mission.
Sister Crawford and her district had lots of fun. The district is like a
family so they assigned people to different positions in the family.
Sister Pendleton is the dramatic one, Sister Stucki is the argumentative
one, Sister Crawford is the sassy one, and Sister Stewart is the crazy
aunt. It all fits, doesn't it? :)
And then the
ASL district had Thanksgiving with the Olsens'. The first part of the
day, Sister Crawford and her companions taught four lessons, which is
unheard of on Thanksgiving, so score! Then they went to a service
project. Finally they headed over to the Olsens' house. The whole
district played football, and then we had dinner. It felt so good to be
in a home where one can feel comfortable and know that lice won't jump
on you if you sit on the couch. But that's a story for another day.
Sister
Crawford and her companions had a very successful week. They taught 26
lessons, when the standard of excellence in the mission is 15 and the
other ASL kids are teaching about that on average. They picked up four
new investigators on top of the ones they had been teaching before. They
started teaching a woman named Zion Berry. Fun fact: she had her name
changed to that. And she's not a member. Isn't that cool? She is so
sweet and is just drinking in the lessons! Another investigator the
companionship picked up was Thuy. The companionship had been just going
through the VP (the videophone that Sorenson gives to deaf people for
free. It's quite wonderful, actually.) and see her name. They did not
recognize the number so they called it, not expecting anyone to answer.
Someone answered. At first Thuy was hesitant. The companionship asked
her what she was thankful for (it was Thanksgiving) and she started
giving them her address. The companionship was shocked. Then Thuy
realized she had a friend who was being taught by the companionship and
was very happy and excited to see the companionship. Hooray!
Sister
Pendleton gave her farewell talk on Sunday and everyone was terribly
sad. This branch loves her so much and is so connected to her. The ASL
missionaries did a musical number in which they sang "Joseph Smith's
First Prayer" to the tune of "Homeward Bound" and had Sister Pendleton
do a beautiful interpretation of it. The entire congregation was either
very tuned in or crying. It was so wonderful to see them all feel the
spirit.
Ok, to be serious now, I will switch to
first person again. I have been thinking a lot about the premortal
existence this week, as I am reading Jesus the Christ. I thought
about how when people feel the spirit, they say it pierced them to the
very center. Why would it pierce them to the very center? Have any of
you heard a voice very familiar to you that you haven't heard in a
while? And does that voice bring a poignant feeling to your heart that
you don't normally feel when you hear other people's voices? I think it
is the same with the still small voice. It is because our spirits have
heard that still small voice before. We heard that voice before we were
born. We heard that voice teach us. We heard it present the great Plan
of Salvation. We heard it comfort us right before we were sent down to
Earth. And our spirits recognize that voice that is so near and dear to
us. How great will be that same feeling of joy when we are in the
presence of that voice once again!
Sister Crawford wishes everyone a fantabulous week full of love, happiness, and CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!
Love you all!
Sister Crawford
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