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
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