Brave

How was everyone's Christmas?! The libraries were closed the last two days so we are able to email today!

It's been pretty busy around here for the season as I'm sure everyone can say. We've been doing a lot of service at a homeless shelter in Irondequoit- organizing and distributing donated Christmas presents to the homeless and needy. The House of Mercy has been a really interesting experience in general. We've been helping with them for weeks now. Before Christmas we helped organize storage units, clean, etc. It's been really wonderful to see because although the house itself is located on one of the more rough streets in town, there is a sense of respect. In fact, at the close of one of the days of gift distributing, we were surprised to find out that the man guarding the door only letting so many people in the gift room at a time was T-bone- one of the biggest drug lords in the city of Rochester. Ha! We think so often in terms of black and white: If you do this, you are this. If you do that, you are that. I've learned so much about loving people separate of their choices. It doesn't make all choices right, and it certainly doesn't mean all choices lead to happiness, but we're all playing a different game. In the end, I think people really pull through.

This year I have been extremely moved by Christmas music! The Rochester and Buffalo zones got together for part of Tuesday and there were some musical numbers performed there, as well as the Christmas program on Sunday. My two favorite Christmas songs are O Come Emmanuel and O Holy Night I think. They are just so good. I'm grateful for the power that music has to hit something home that just speaking can't do.
So I might as well send the lyrics to the Christmas song I wrote! One of the elders learned a harmony part, and Sister Brown learned the piano and then amplified it so it actually came out sounding pretty good!

In a stable long ago
From the Heavens came a King
Sent to bring us safely home
Let all Earth and nature sing
Hallelujah! Glory, laud, and honor be His sacred name
Hallelujah is the message! Let the whole wide world proclaim

Be with them that seek Him
Never let the candle dim
I wish the whole world knew
Let Him be the reason
For this Christmas season
Let there be peace in you

Let your hearts be filled with light
When tribulation sounds the drum
Be not fearful of the future
Christ the King has overcome
Hallelujah! Glory, laud, and honor be His sacred name
Hallelujah is the message! Let the whole wide world proclaim

Be with them that seek Him
Never let the candle dim
I wish the whole world knew
Let Him be the reason
For this Christmas season
Let there be peace in you. 

A group of missionaries went caroling this week to different people in the area! We did not sing the song I wrote haha :) I haven't been caroling for as long as I can remember. Normally I'm actually pretty opposed to it because it's fairly awkward to make people stand in the cold as they listen to mediocre melodies from half strangers, but because this time we were able to pick people who we knew would appreciate it, it was good! 

It was so good to talk to everyone yesterday! My heart is full. I'm so grateful for all the support I've received so far on my mission. The last few months will be the best I am sure of it.

Till next week!
Sister Raines