'Twas the Week Before Christmas

thnx for the hats todds :=)

20 year old snowflake creating CHAMP. what.

the plague

my comp has perks

ayyo im sending out the Christmas cards and etc. holla back

because #stocking

12.22.14
Christmas Post

It's like déjà vu. Last year at this exact time, I had been out in the mission field for three days.  I picked up a cold and got sick, and received some home made toffee from the Rhoton family in a package. 
IT HAPPENED AGAIN. 
Except, I'm not three days old. I'm like...a year and three days. I've picked up the plague or something. I've been hacking and coughing all over everything and have a drip line out my nose. I KNOW I'M DISGUSTING IT'S FINE.

I swear I've been crazy with the soap and hand sanitizer. There's only one of three ways I could have picked this disease up. One, because one of the kids we are teaching started licking our object lesson and I had to clean up his slobber. Two, we did service and cleaned houses for a sick family. Or three, I got locked in a bathroom stall at a Chinese restraint this week and may or may not have crawled underneath the door to get out. My companion literally thinks I'm five. But what was I supposed to do, call 911? Yeahhh....no.

A few random thoughts: Happy Birthday Makenna.  I swear I have a letter
on the way..... eventually. The Post Offices are ridiculous right now. We've been getting a lot of Christmas treats so I'm getting fat. My companion has been giving me horse pills I don't think they're safe. She did my nails (again) though and they look awesome. All these RM's are coming home and it's making me kinda trunky. I sent Christmas cards to everybody so you should be getting them soon. Please note we do actually smile. Lolz. We spent like three hours last Preparation day cutting out snowflakes.  What 20 year old does that? We're making cookies today. And buying White Elephant gifts for the District Meeting so that will be interesting. I had a dream last night that I got married #swagga y'all should make sure to send me pictures from Christmas. Who still has mullets? Dylan.. Ethan? Make sure you text Madi about Skype on Christmas!

Also, this just in, we met this lady who is "another religion" she invited us in and was like "see that? That tells me when somebody is in my house that's not supposed to be. And your not supposed to be." We were like oh that's cool. And she was like "and if that security system don't catch em, my 12 gage will."

WELL THEN LADY
Why YA gotta be so ruuuuuude. 
Dontcha know I'm human toooo
(Heard it at Taco Bell, not apostate)

We decided to make all of the people and families we've been teaching a little Christmas gift that reminds them of the "Reason for the Season", and the Gospel message. We texted a bunch of members from our Ward and one of them invited us over for some craft time and had all these supplies ready to go. We made Nativity Christmas ornaments for every one's Christmas trees!

We took a small piece of wood
Painted it black
Printed a picture from home (Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus)
Used modge podge glue to press it on the wood
Used a label maker to add a scripture to the back
Used a mini screw in the top
Tied cute candy cane string to hold onto the tree
Sand papered the edges for a vintage look
And woola. You have a Nativity Christmas ornament!

Our members are awesome for helping us out. They turned out super cute, and have been a great gift to remind people of our Savior Jesus Christ and what Christmas is all about. It goes along perfectly with the "He is the gift" initiative as well.  Which is a message we've been sharing quite frequently as of late. We wrapped them all up and wrote letters to each family and individual and began delivering them.

Late one night we showed up at one individuals home. We hadn't seen the couple in a while and so we were excited to see how they were doing. It turns out, things had been quite rough the past while. Lots of problems occurring and they specifically had a major stress issue coming up the next day. As we sat listening to them and their lives as of late, we could feel their emotion and stress and tears began to build up and take form in their eyes. Obviously I won't tell the story because of privacy and sensitivity but you can probably get a feel for what I'm aiming at. They were burdened with a load, one almost to heavy to bare.

They couldn't quite take the subject anymore and seemed to be on edge like they both just might burst.  We carefully pulled out the gift we had prepared and wrapped earlier and gave it to them to open. Really quite shy feeling like right now probably wasn't the best time for celebration and happiness when all this stress was a downpour. They took the gift and unwrapped it to find Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus on a simple Christmas ornament. And on the back it read:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life." 

John 3:16

The atmosphere of the room changed. They smiled. One of them jumped up
with haste and ran into the other room. When he came back in he handed us a magnetic car vinyl. It was a Nativity scene that read 

"Keep Christ in Christmas"

This Christmas season isn't just about gifts
It isn't about money
Toys
Traditions
Activities
Decorations

It's about something so much more. It's about something that can change our lives. Lift our burdens. Put a smile on our face in the most upsetting of times. It's about the GIFT God gave to anyone who would believe on his name. It's about our Savior who came to save us all. To save us from temptation and sin and worldly sorrow and trials and hurt and pain. To save us from the fall, to save us from death, to provide us with everlasting life if we trust in him.

We come together to celebrate the birth of our Savior this Christmas season. And what else but the face of our Savior could put a smile on the face of those in the midst of adversity and affliction when two young girls come to their door?


I was truly excited when they handed us a sign back that read
"KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS"
because this is something that continually needs to be addressed.


So two quick debatable thoughts

1. Keeping Christ in Christmas shouldn't be offensive because it is
the whole reason behind the holiday season (besides the fact that it's
the whole reason behind the possibility that we can even have joy and
redemption here and beyond our mortal existence on earth)

2. Keeping Christ in Christmas shouldn't be offensive, period.


1.
Here's the trip about the District of Columbia. It is incredibly diverse. You will find someone from every country in the world at any time, just walking down the street. Everyone has different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs. It's a giant melting pot of humanity. Along with this however, we find that there
are fewer people who have a firm belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior.

This causes a bit of a rife. School systems are constantly debating whether to eliminate the talk of religion, God and Christ from within their schools, at all. Even if it's the Pledge of Allegiance. Even if it's calling Christmas break CHRISTMAS BREAK (it's "Holiday" break now, mind you) Even if it's simply putting up a Christmas tree. I recently learned even the NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE ON THE MALL has been debated over. Yes, the massive tree that's been set up outside the White House for years and years is now considered 'offensive' to some people. This is happening all around the world.  Businesses, school systems, the government all professional buildings must watch what the say, how they address and what they advertise. Even the music at work Christmas parties and on the radio will get complaints because
some people don't "Believe in Christ." Different symbolism's of Christmas become controversial because they relate back to the story of Christ. And people don't want to celebrate Christmas with religious aspect, rather, for the fun and tradition of gifts and surprises.


Hm.

That idea is seemingly out of context. Christmas began when Christ was
born. Christmas continued because he lived. Jesus Christ is Christmas.
The fact that Christmas has become a marketing solution is definitely
an error and a mistake in our society. If we take Christ out of Christmas, we have an empty holiday with no meaning.  Just lots of empty banks and pockets. Plenty of money spent. There's no reason for Christmas without celebrating our Savior.

There's no reason to take Christ out of Christmas.


2.
If an individual doesn't particularly "Believe" in Christ, why celebrate the holiday traditions? And if you celebrate the holiday traditions, why find offense in the underlying meaning behind them? I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I've never complained to the manager at the City Creek Mall for setting up a display and throne for the largely built man with a fake beard in a red suit taking pictures with children. So what?

On a different note, not comparing the Savior to Santa but rather the idea of one unbeliever of something to another... if Christians desire to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, who came here to share goodness, and happiness and peace and joy and eternal life and salvation, so what? It's a beautiful truth that promotes Goodness and Service and Joy. Our Savior is the motive behind all that is good. And besides, whatever happened to freedom of religion? And freedom of speech?

There's my controversial rant for you so I'll stop and get back to
bright and beautiful things.
{I've missed debating, sorry, this is uncouth }

Jesus Christ is the REASON for Christmas, period.

Do you ever get super stressed out when Christmas time rolls around?
And why do you get stressed out? Does it have to do with all the gift
giving? And lack of green paper in your wallet? The Christmas season
isn't meant to give you a heart attack and go bankrupt. Quite honestly
there is so much more we can be giving than anything you can find in a
store or online.

For starters, being an example of Christ. Go about doing good, give
service. Help someone in need. This week for Christmas we don't go
home as missionaries, we stay out in the field. So we are going to
this church across the street and are volunteering to help feed,
befriend and help the homeless and the needy. I'm super excited I've
never done such a thing for Christmas before.  But what better way to
show Christlike love?

It could be little things too. Write someone you love a letter. One
year for Christmas we each drew names and rather than drawing a name
of a sibling and buying them a present that would probably get broken
or unused in the next couple months.  We wrote that person a letter and
opened it on Christmas Day. It was a great way to begin Christmas. By reading a letter from someone you care about.  A letter that is personal, heartfelt and honest. That's something I won't forget, rather than a gift that would have been forgotten about after the excitement of the holidays wore
down.

Christmas is a great time to share the gospel message as well. The church made it easy as ever with this new "He is the Gift" video. Take a plate of cookies and a "He is the Gift" pass a long card to your neighbors and friends. Simple as that. And it's inspiring and beautiful and powerful as well.


Share the kinds of gifts that won't be forgotten or overlooked. The gifts of Christlike love and understanding and joy. There is nothing wrong with the holiday traditions and gifts and fun. But remember the purpose of it all. Remember that without Christ and his perfect love and without his birth and life, Christmas would be an empty holiday. Keep Christ in Christmas.


Share that message with somebody new today.

A lot of things happened this week but idk what you want to know about
and idk what readers want to know about so if you have any suggestions
HMU @ madison.stucki@myldsmail.net and I'll try to be cooler and more
informational next week.

Thanks for the Rolo cookies. I almost died and went to heaven

See u on Skype in 72 hours
Love you, bye

S. Stucki

P.S. Dads post is due on the blog in t minus 14 days. Y'all ready for this?

...who next?!
Sent from my iPad

My Safety, My Comfort, My Peace & My Friend

I know you want some selfies.

That architecture tho.

Cobbler in a jar... Cute huh?

We found a tree in the closet :)

Family & Friends,

Congratulations to Megan and Ryan.  Olivia sent me the low down. (In pictures.) That's really exciting and I'm super happy for them. Even though I've never met Ryan. They look perfect for each other. FYI: I'm still so down to inherit hand me downs from Megan when I get home even though I'm twenty. Especially cause I'll be so out of the new trends. So feel free to hook me up :) ehhh ehh?

It's freezing, like 30 degrees and such.

Also I noticed Grandpas comment about sending me Oreos if I'm starving.... Why hesitate? 
I'm always starving for Oreos. And rolos. And Reese's. Except I really need to jump on this whole six months to sexy band wagon and start losing weight. The struggle.

We have a Zone Activity today with President Riggs so that should be a fun time. We won some sort of challenge a while back. Transfers are this week, on the twentieth. I don't think I or Sister Todd will be transferred, but you never know.

We set up our two foot tall Christmas tree so that's the best housekeeping news I have for you all. That and I've officially begun wearing my abominable snow man coat. Super cute. Also glad I will never use it again after this winter. ( in STG. :) it's claustrophobic.

Anyhow.

This is so last minute.

I try to put some quality time throughout the week in deciding and deciphering my thought process for each post. But this is just so last minute. One of those on the whim things where you plan on something for an extended period of time and then it hits you with…

You've got it all wrong.

So I'm starting over, on a whim.

I feel like somebody needs to read something other than what I had originally intended to post this time around. So I hope that whatever idea I propose today will touch an individual who was seeking for a little something more today.

I met a new friend this week.

As I was going about my usual routines I felt compelled to reach out to a specific person. And I happened to get to know a unique individual. How fun. And it was over Skype. (Wahoo) as we were talking we began discussing Christianity. The WHY of Christianity. Which really got me thinking, because the majority of the people we are teaching currently already have a background religion.  They seem to be well versed in the New Testament and stories of Christ.

As we were talking we were simply reviewing the Why of Christianity. I've thought about it a lot. I've thought about all the things I could discuss with this individual, or other individuals, who may wonder the same question. The Why of Christianity. Why we need a Savior. Why we follow him. I thought I would make it all into a post… Here... last minute... on a whim.

Because I have come to the conclusion I'm profoundly better at expressing my feelings, thoughts, intentions, ideas and my heart out in written word. Rather than exploiting it all at million mile speeds during a thirty minute discussion.

It's an organization malfunction I have in my head.
Is there a cure for that?

A Christian is a believer of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

Who was Jesus Christ?

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ the son of God...

...If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine

arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him

will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me...

....and the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled." -3 Nephi 9

For years
And years
And years

Prophecies foretold a Savior would come to earth. To teach, to guide, and to save us all.

And he did come. Jesus Christ came to earth, he was born of Mary, in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Jesus was perfect, he never sinned. In fact he was the ONLY perfect person to ever live. He came here to show us the way, the example, to be a light unto all of us. He's our big brother, the ULTIMATE big brother. The one who not only sets an example for you, but holds you when you cry. Who loves you so much, he died for you.

When Jesus Christ was ministering to the people, not everyone believed what he taught. He taught about faith, having faith in God, having faith in him and his sacrifice. He taught how faith precedes miracles. Our faith is strengthened when it is tested. How we must act on faith. He taught repentance. How there is a need for each of us to change, how we can change, how we can become better and learn and grow as we strive to repent and change. He taught us to be baptized. To follow him. To make covenants, or promises with God, to try our best to be good. He taught about the Holy Spirit, how it is a gift, a comforter, a director, and a source of all truth. He asked us to seek out and listen to the spirit. He taught us to press on, to endure to the end. To keep going even when times get rough. He taught us to serve one another, love one another, to forgive, to be humble, to be virtuous, to find joy. He taught us lots of things, all good things.

He performed miracles. He raised people from the dead, multiplied fish and bread. He healed the sick, caused the blind to see. Jesus Christ worked by miracles according to others faith.

Still, some didn't believe him.

He suffered for the sins of the entire world, all who live now, and who ever lived. He felt every pain, heartache, concern, sadness, sorrow and grief. Every disappointment, let down, stubbed toe even. Everything. So that he could succor us his people. He bled from every pore. He did it all. And then he was betrayed, and crucified.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he only could perform such a task at hand.

He was beaten and scourged and hung on a wooden cross upon a hillside. A brutal death, he endured. He allowed his spirit to leave. His body hung there lifeless and the people carried it to a tomb, almost like a cave where they laid his body in linen to rest.

However, Jesus Christ prophesied before he died that he would return. In his body, resurrected. Not as someone new... like a reincarnation. But his lifeless body and his spirit would be whole again. His spirit didn't just drift away into a dark unknown abyss of nothingness. Rather, it's taught in Peter that when his spirit and body separated he appeared to others who had passed on, to their spirits, to teach them his gospel as well.

"He went and preached unto the spirits in prison..." -1 Peter 3:19

And then three days later he appeared.

"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures..

...he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to

the scriptures:

..And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

..After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once."

-1 Corinthians 15:5

I think the greatest part of this story is this truth right here.

<insert resurrected Christ picture here>







That he lives.

He was born. He loved. He preached. He ministered. He walked the earth. He raised the dead. He forgave the sinner. He established his church. He set an example. He was perfect. He suffered our pains. He died on the cross.

But he didn't just "live"







HE LIVES.





now.
Present tense.
I think it is appropriate to reword my first question of


"Who WAS Jesus Christ?"
To



"Who IS Jesus Christ?"

He is our Savior, our Redeemer.
The one who can forgive us, strengthen us, enable us.
The one who we can follow and never be led astray.
Someone we can confidently put our faith and trust in.
Someone we can always turn to for help.
And he'll always be there.

Because he lives and forever will live.

Because of him we can live again.
Guiltless, shameless,
Happy

Free.

Through Christ we can be saved From pain, hurt, sorrow, sadness, guilt, shame, our sins 
and mistakes. From heartache, bad days, let downs, disappointments, awful news, 
a longing for home.

Through Christ we can live again
In peace, joy and happiness.
Guiltless, faultless,
No more anxiety and stress
Full of love and hope and comfort and complete joy
With those we love. With God.

Through Christ
We can change

And only through Christ are these made possible.

Why wouldn't we rely on Christ for the wonderful blessings he has provided for us?
He set the perfect example, why should we not follow it?

"Who is he that will harm you if ye be followers

 of that which is good?" 

1 Peter 3:13

With Christ we can be, fearless.
Death has no sting
The grave has no victory
He overcame it all.
God has given us victory over all, as we follow Jesus Christ.


It is by his grace that we become great.
As Paul says...


"By the grace of God I am what I am.."
1 Corinthians 15



And isn't this too true?
Who would we be, who could we become, without the grace of Christ our Savior?

Where would you be without him?
Who can you become with him?

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

John 13:17

Who is Jesus Christ?

To me, Jesus Christ is my Redeemer, my Savior, my Friend. My example, my direction, my comfort. My peace, hope and solace. My brother, teacher, instructor and guide. My goal, my joy, my understanding.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a part of Christ’s church. To learn of him and teach of him everyday. Even more so I'm grateful that I have a Savior. That he's there, and always will be. No matter how uncertain my future is, whether now or fifty years down the road, the one stable certainty I can rely on is my Savior. He won't change.

I'm grateful he died for me. I'm grateful that I can learn and grow and try and fail and turn to him to try again and succeed, because with Christ we win every time. You can't fail when your on the Lords errand. You can't lose. You won't lose.

I'm grateful that because of him I can find joy and peace. Even though I'm a stress case and get frazzled and irritated I can turn to him for reassurance guidance and love.

Honestly, I don't know how my life would be if I didn't have a knowledge of my Savior. And not only that but a sure foundation that he lives and loves me.






What is a Christian to me?
A Christian is a believer of Jesus Christ and his teachings.
A doer of Christ’s teachings.
An example of Christ’s teachings.
A follower of Christ’s teachings.





Who is Jesus Christ to you?
What is a Christian to you?


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Until next week

Love You!


S.Stucki
Sent from my iPad