Merry Christmas from Chicago!!!

My Mom required weekly selfie

Hello Dear Family and Friends!

Can you all believe it is Christmas? It seems like just yesterday that I started on this incredible adventure. At the same time it seems like it has been years though! Isn't it funny how time can mess like that? This was a crazy and busy week, the life of a missionary!

On Monday at our Noche de Hogar we had Chicharron, that is fried pig skin.  It was interesting but pretty good. Also, one of the Hermanas who is the Relief Society President, asked for ideas on what to feed the sisters of the ward for the activity on Wednesday. I remembered an email from my Mom of how they did baked potatoes as a part of the ward Christmas Dinner back home. We explained it to her in broken Spanish and English and she thought it was a very different and interesting idea.

Tuesday and Wednesday were big walking days because our bus passes expired and we had to wait for Hermana Toney to get some more money on her church debit card to be able to buy bus passes again. On Tuesday we had a lesson scheduled at the Church with one of the couples we have on date for baptism. Unfortunately, they never showed up. They didn't answer their phones and didn't say why, which is really unlike them. It was really sad but that just happens sometimes. That night we had the Noche de Hogar and one of our investigator families hosted it. We taught the Plan of Salvation with the Zone Leaders. There was a lot of people there and it went pretty well, they had a lot of questions which we love. They made Tinga! It was so good!

Hermana's Meanea & Toney
at the Chicago Temple

That night we had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. Hermana Savage came down to our area and stayed with me. I was really nervous for this because it meant that I was in charge of the area! But Wednesday went really good. We contacted a lot of people! We also were able to find a Lost Sheep, an investigator that dropped off of the map, and teach her! She was very humble and accepting. I invited her to be baptized! She said yes but wants to talk to her husband about the date first. We then went to a Relief Society activity at the Church. Guess what? They tried the baked potato thing! They didn't understand it all, but they sure tried! Everyone was like, "I have never had a papa (potato) like this before!" It was so fun to see. Also, one of our less actives who is coming back really well was there and she gave us each a Christmas gift! It was some chocolate and earrings! She is so sweet! We then exchanged back to our companionships.

Hermana Meanea at the Chicago Temple

The Chicago Midway Zone
at the Chicago Temple

Thursday was our Christmas party at the Mission Home and our Temple Session. The mission home was so fun. We had some lessons from President and Sister Woodbury, sang Christmas Carols, and had a White Elephant exchange. We then went to the Temple. It was so wonderful. peaceful and beautiful, I love it! We then went home. All of that is in Wilmette (north of Chicago) which takes around and hour of driving, without traffic, through Downtown Chicago to get to. I drove the whole way, there and back, rush hour each way! If you know me, you know what a huge accomplishment that is! Coming back traffic was really bad, it took about 3 hours to get home. But I loved it! I am now an official Chicago driver!

The Chicago Midway Ward Missionaries
at the Ward Christmas Party

Friday I got to use my graphic design skills! Who knew that they would be useful out here on a mission? Our Zone Leaders asked us to design invitations for the ward party the next day. So I used the computers in the library and designed a little thing. It was so neat to use one of my talents as a missionary! We then went Caroling and it was such a neat experience. It brought joy and the Christmas Spirit to so many, including myself.

Saturday we had a lesson with the lost sheep I found earlier while on exchanges. It went really good and she is progressing well. That night we had our ward Christmas party. They had a Pastorela, a play about the story of Jesus' birth. It was so cute and funny. We had some investigators come and they enjoyed it too. It was such a fun night. Everyone here is so loving and kind, especially to us missionaries!

Sunday was a little sad because no one, investigators or less actives, came to Church :-(  That is OK though because we will continue to work with them and help them understand the incredible blessings that come from this Gospel!

When I run with my Ragnar team, we always take a
photo of just the girls on the team and call it
"Girl Power". This picture is similar, except it is
"Sister Missionary Power"!

It was a great, busy, fast, crazy week! It is so incredible to be a missionary during the Christmas season! I am so grateful to be serving during this season, even though it is really hard! People are more focused on Christ right now and so being able to share that message of hope and joy with others makes this a very special Christmas! I know that what we are sharing is so important and will help people so much! Yo se que esta iglesia es verdadera con toda de mi Corazon! Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y El entiende todos desafios que tenemos. Somos hijos de Nuestro Padre Celestial y El nos ama mucho! I love you all so incredibly much! Thank you for all that you do! Let the Spirit of CHRISTmas into your hearts and I know it will help us through all things! Feliz Navidad!

Eternal Love,

Hermana Allyse Meanea