Meeeeeeerrrrry Christmas!!! 🎄

From: Seth Gifford
Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2020 16:01 PM
Subject: Meeeeeeerrrrry Christmas!!! 🎄

Hey folks,

How goes it? Guess what? 4 more days till Christmas!! 😲🎄🥳

I don’t really have much to say this week because I wrote a really long email last week.

But we have found quite a few more people to teach and we’ve been suuuuper busy!

We had our Christmas program for sacrament meeting this week and I’m sure most everyone else did too. But, usually us Elders sit on the back row (because we’re not allowed to sit by anyone), and during the meeting I was just looking around at all of the people there and realized just how much I love them. I’ve been here in Winston-Salem ever since coming out here to North Carolina , and I have grown to love the people here, specifically the members.

I had some cool experiences this past week; I got to give my first baptismal interview in Spanish (I’ve been able to do 2 in English, but this was the first Spanish one)! I also had a very spiritual experience as I was desperately turning to the Lord for help. I’m not going to relate it here because that experience is sacred and personal, but I just want to testify that I know that God is real, and I know He answers prayers! His timing is always perfect. Maybe we don’t get our answers when we want them, but what I have found is that He usually tends to give them when we aren’t fully expecting it, in His own way. I have found that answers to prayers (at least mine) come as just a few small words, but they are always the exact words I need to hear. Those words, when brought into your mind by the Spirit, change your whole perspective. There is something absolutely beautiful about being able to receive answers from our Heavenly Father who loves us deeply and is so anxious to help us. Those moments when we get that direction, when we receive that strength or encouragement straight from heaven, is when heaven just feels so close. I wish I could stay in those moments forever! I think those moments are just a little taste of what’s to come in the next life, when we get to live with God, Jesus Christ, and our families forever. I can’t wait for that day!!

I just wanna say, to those of you who may be struggling for one reason or another, keep going!!! It will be worth it in the end! Never stop praying, never stop trying, never stop fighting! Never ever ever ever give up!!

During these dark times, the light of Christ shines so much brighter! May we cherish that light, and keep it with us during this season, and into the next year. Jesus Christ truly is the “good tidings of great joy” that we all need, that we are all seeking. Seek Him in all that you do, all that you say, and in all the places you go. Seek Him, and you will find Him. You will find the peace, joy, love, hope, and strength to continue forward!

I love you all and wish you the most Merry Christmas in the whole wide world!! 🎄🎄🎄

(Sorry there aren’t any pictures this week…)

Love,

-Elder Gifford