December 28, 2020 Christmas in Alvin

 Hello family and friends!! 

Transfers happened again!! I am staying the same, the only difference is I am being called as a Sister training leader!! we will have to see how that goes.  

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas!! I sure did!! We were able to make a fort on Christmas eve after watching Mr. Kruger's Christmas as a mission. (Get this... every year my family would watch Mr. Kruger's Christmas on Christmas eve. As a missionary, I didn't expect to be able to watch it, but last year we watched it with a member, and this year as a mission!!!! The tradition still goes strong!! Haha) 

We actually went caroling as a district on Christmas Eve! Before Christmas, we had been helping this family decorate their tree, when Darrell, the man we were helping, pulled our his LONG stocking. He told us it was his biggest dream to have his stocking filled up to the top! His wife laughed and told him "you know we cannot afford that!!" We joked around about filling it up with Toilet paper for 2020, but while leaving that service I had a determination to fill that stocking for Darrell this Christmas! With help from amazing members, we were able to gather together loads of treats and hygiene products. When Christmas Eve rolled around, we had a big box loaded with stuff!! 

It was a touching moment when we came caroling to Darrell and asked to borrow his stocking. We took it to the truck and filled it to the brim! Struggling to hold it up, we walked it to his door and knocked again. 

To see Darrell's face when he saw his Christmas stocking filled was so touching!! 

Later he messaged us a BIG thank you for helping him fulfill his dream that he had had for 30 years! 

This Christmas has defiantly been one of the most touching memories from the mission! 

I would love to hear about your Christmas!! 

Pictures: 

*me

*Darrell, pam, Sister Barlow and me helping to decorate their tree.

*me, Darrell and Pam

*Sister Barlow and me waiting on some camping chairs

*Christmas PJs!! 

*our Christmas "fort"... we ran out of material. 

*Prez-90X workout with our mission president, his wife and the APs Christmas morning. 

*Sister Bennett. ADDI Sister Barlow and me

*the Bennett's and us at a campfire 

*Sister Barlow, Addi and myself. 

December 21, 2020 Merry Christmas!

 Hello Family and Friends! This one is going to be short because I ran out of time, but I want you to know that I love you!! I hope you have an amazing Christmas!! I would love to hear about any Christmas traditions you have?? My favorite mission traditions would have to be making a fort on Christmas eve!!  

We will have to see what this year brings! 

I love you!! 

Pictures: 

-Sister Siddoway, me and Trina! 

-Sister Barlow and me making last minute dinner for our neighbor 

-Sister Siddoway and myself driving back from exchanges

-Bucc-ee's!! 

-Sister Barlow and me at the church during a service, collecting stuff to send to Honduras. 

-me and Sister Siddoway!

-Christmas Socks from the Barlow family!

-me holding a puppy

-a stone gift from our friend Eren

December 14, 2020 Are you Ready for Christmas?

 Hello Family and Friends!! 

This week I have learned so much, I don't even know where to begin! 

At the Beginning of the week we had a Christmas conference!! One of the things I loved the most was when someone asked "Are you ready for Christmas?" Let me explain why: 

Are you ready for Christmas? 

 

As many of you know, I have struggled a lot during my mission. I had tried to hide it from the district, from my mission president, and even from my companion. I didn't want them to know that on the inside I felt broken. So, I covered it up with a smile and tried to push through it. 

Yesterday, however, we were on a call with an older member of our ward. It was a zoom call, so we could see him clearly as we testified of Jesus Christ. He made us laugh and we talked for close to an hour when he suddenly became very serious and looked directly at me through the camera. 

"Let me tell you about Sister E." He said seriously. 

I was confused, but flashed a smile and sat back wondering what he was going to say. Without breaking eye contact with me, he told me that I was going to be facing some extremely difficult challenges. He told me that I would struggle, but to never forget the power of prayer. I felt like he had taken my soul into his hands, and he began to tell me who I was and what I had been going through. Tears streamed down my face. Never had I felt so understood and loved as I did in that moment. I have never expressed to this man the challenges that I have been facing, but after his words I knew that it was Heaven working through this member to let me know that God knows who I am and what I am going through. I felt a piece of myself slide back in place and where discomfort and fear had once eaten at me, It was replaced with an indescribable joy. I sat there in awe wiping at my tears as he told me not to become Discouraged and that I would be a tool for good. 

He did the same for my companion and told her there would be someone in her life that would try to destroy her, he told her as well to never underestimate the power of heaven. 

When the call ended, my companion testified to me that what he had shared was written in her patriarchal blessing. 

Throughout the rest of the day, and into the night I pondered on that experience. That man KNEW me. Somehow he knew what I had gone through, and he knows what I will later go through. All I feel when I think of that experience is Peace. 

I thought about the Savior. Isn't that his job? To take onto himself our struggles, challenges, trials, failures, mistakes, fears and so much more. He has already done so!

I decided in that moment that I was caring around A LOT of baggage that I didn't need to be hauling around. I laid in bed and prayed for God to take away everything. I listed all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart, from abuse to threats, anger and fear, betrayal and despair, I laid it all on him. I didn't have to think hard as more and more things came to my mind that I had let rest on my back and weigh me down. I gave him everything. I expressed to God that I didn't want to forget what I had gone through, but I knew I didn't have to let it hurt me the way I had been letting it. 

Then something happened. When I thought about my past experiences I felt at peace. I cannot describe exactly the feelings and the emotions that drained from my body, but I understand so clearly now the power of the atonement. 

Before, my testimony was that we are never alone. Christ knows what we are going through and he will walk beside us as we stumble alone this path that is life. But now my testimony is more then that! Not only does Christ know what we have gone through, but he CAN and WILL take the hurt, the sorrow and the pain of our past and even future experiences onto himself.  

Are you ready for a Christmas? 

The real question is "Are you ready for Christ?"  

Are you ready to let our Savior, Jesus Christ, take upon himself all that has been weighing you down? Are you ready to give it all to him? 

I am ready for Christmas! I am ready for Christ! 

Finally I recognize that I don't have to carry these burdens when he is already carrying them for me. It is humbling to hand over everything to him, but it is so worth it! 

I invite you all to recognize a way that you could give yourself to Christ this Christmas. Maybe it is giving him all your sorrows, maybe it is giving him your time, but the only thing you can give our Savior that he CANNOT find anywhere else is YOURSELF! 

Give yourself to him!! 

I love you all! I can promise you that he is there! He knows, and he is waiting for you to get ready for Christmas. Get ready to let him in!!!! 

Love, 

Sister Ann Elgaaen

December 7, 2020 "Light the World"

 Its December again!! We all know what that means... LIGHT THE WORLD!! 

This week we have gone about doing good and serving people at every opportunity made available to us!! 

Here are a few things we were able to do this week to help LIGHT the world; I hope it can spark some ideas or encouragement to continue striving to do some act of service each day leading up to Christmas, and beyond! 

While walking back from a visit in the park, we came across this man who lay asleep on the concrete floor outside of an old resell shop. Immediately I knew this man was homeless. His clothes were dirty, and his head was resting on a worn out traveling bag. He had his hood up to block out the cold, which made his face barely visible to us as we walked by. 

I couldn't help calling out to the man, asking him how his day was going... I got no response. He continued to sleep. 

While finishing our walk, I couldn't stop thinking about this man. I asked Sister Barlow if we could gather some food from our apartment and deliver it to this man. 

When we returned to the apartment, we rummaged through our cupboards and pantry to find food that needed little to no preparation. Tying the bag off, we hoped it would be enough. 

We drove back over to the place where the man lay. Gratefully, he was still there. We pulled our truck up and put the emergency lights on before getting out and approaching the man once again. 

"Hello Ser." I said softly. 

Still no response. I looked to Sister Barlow, and she motioned for me to set the bag next to his sleeping form. 

We left without him ever opening his eyes or moving in the slightest. 

I have thought of that man several time after that, and I pray he is safe! 

Another random act of service we did was taking white paper and cutting out snowflakes and hearts. We wrote a note with the #Light the world and an invitation to join in the challenge. We taped the hearts and snowflakes around a few random cars, and tucked the note under the wind shield wipers... hopefully they found it before it started to rain.  

There are so many opportunities for us to get out and serve!! I would love to hear any experiences you have been having while you have tried to LIGHT THE WORLD this Christmas season!! 

This is a random thing I found in my notes the other day. I had written this when I was going through a very difficult time, and I wanted to share it with you. (You honestly don't need to read it... it's really random, but here I go ) 

Blanketed by darkness, I stumbled over my surroundings and once again found my face pressed to the dust where my feet once stepped. I try to find the strength to get back up, but instead I pulled my knees to my chest as tears roll silently down my cheek. 

"God where are you?" I cried out, but all I receive back was my own frantic echo. 

I close my eyes letting my mind wander over reasons why I was lying here, surrounded by darkness so thick that it seems to suffocate me. I felt small, helpless, alone. 

Just as I was about to give up all hope, a thought pierced my mind.  

"Pray. He is there." 

With no strength left, I cried out to My Father from the broken position in which I lay. 

What rolled off my lips was not a pleading for guidance or grace, I was frustrated and finished with my own failures. I questioned my god. I asked him why he made me the way I am. I asked why he would allow his children to suffer! I asked how he could possibly let us  wander this path alone. 

My mind was filled with so much doubt and discouragement that my mouth couldn't utter all the pain and frustration that flowed through my seemingly lifeless body. 

It was then, when I had let my sobs drown out my words, that I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder. 

I opened my eyes and looked up at the figure who knelt beside me. The tears blurred my vision. 

I knew this man the moment he spoke. 

"You are not alone." He said softly. 

He met me where I was, and as I spoke of my doubts and fears, all he did was listen. When I was finished, he pulled me into his embrace and In that moment, I felt my pain disperse. 

He told me the story of his life and showed me the scars on his hands and feet. I sat there baffled at how this perfect being could have suffered so much! 

Then, With his scarred hands, he lifted me up and set me back on my feet. 

This time as I walked the path, my steps were eliminated by the light of Christ. I knew that if I stumbled, he would be there to help me up. 

I want you all to know how much you are loved!! We are each walking this path of life, and I would invite you to be a light!! The world is becoming a darker place; we are going to stand out!! We were made to be different!! 

Let your light so shine! 

I love you all!! I hope your week is filled with service and light! 

Pictures: 

•Sister Barlow and I doing Light the world service 

•Us taping on the hearts to a random car

•The district 

•SISTER Boswell and us after attending a lesson! 

•Melinda and us! 

•Us on a zoom call

•Walking through the Christmas set up in the park 

•Melinda and Andy and us 

•Us delivering brownies