Week 23 | Dec. 19, 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Wow I can't believe Christmas is already here! I guess it's a lot easier for it to sneak up on you when there isn't snow and it feels like summer! Hahaha but I'm loving it here! This week was an interesting week! I don't know if it's because of Christmas or what but nearly all our investigators are hiding!!! We have had to drop many and are now knocking on a lot of doors and meeting a lot of friendly, interesting, and freaky people!

Although we don't have too many people to teach I know that if we have the faith that God has prepared His children, then we will find those who are ready to hear the gospel! I don't need to fear! M. Russell Ballard said, "It is impossible to fail when you do your best when you are on the Lord's errand." Do what's right and you won't have to worry!!! Well, this Christmas I just want want to leave you with a one sentence testimony:

I know my Savior lives and through Him we can overcome anything!

Our greatest gift is our Savior Jesus Christ! Take a minute and reflect the joy you have received because of Him! I love this gift but sadly I take it for granted too often! Use the gift our loving father has given us! It's my wish that we all can find joy through the only everlasting source of joy and peace, our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ! Have a very merry CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Your Christmas loving missionary,

Elder Tracy

 My digital Christmas card....


An awesome member in the ward!

Week 22 | Dec. 19, 2016

My favorite people ever!!!

This has been an absolutely amazing week in every sense of the word! We have seen so many miracles it sorta unbelievable!!! In Week 1 with Elder Larson I have laughed harder than ever, worked harder than ever, and have been more tired than ever!

This week we've found 7 new investigators! To put it in perspective we have had an average of 2! So that in itself is a blessing! We meet some super interesting people! One was named Diane Hatch, she is a gospel doctrine teacher at Hope Church, but we talked with her and shared the Christmas initiative with her! It was so cool and the spirit was super strong! She invited us back on Christmas to share cookies and another message! She also gave me some candy canes! I've really missed candy canes so that was a tender mercy! 

Another amazing event that happened this week was after an extremely busy day! We had given blessings to this Hindu couple and testified of the power of Christ! We gave them the Book of Mormon and they said we could come back tonight so I'm pumped for that lesson, we also taught 3 less-actives, our awesome investigator Nelly, and planned a ton! We had come back to the apartment so we could finish planning for the week, well we got in were about to start planning and Elder Larson tells me that he thinks we should go back out and teach?! Like what? That's crazy? Well because it seemed so out of the blue I was like okay well that must be the spirit. So we said a prayer and immediately a name came to mind! So we loaded up our stuff and headed back out! We got to their home said another prayer and knocked on her door! We waited and waited and waited with not a sound! So we knocked again and.... nothing! We knocked again with the same result! Normally we would've just left but I felt like we should leave a note on her door! Well we left feeling kinda bummed that we couldn't see her! We knew there was a reason we went out so we tried two others with no answer! Anyway, that next morning we woke up to a text from the lady we tried to see explaining that it was her birthday and that her note meant the world to her! She had been on Mormon.org every day for the Christmas initiative and thanked us for being a light in her life!

It was an amazing chance to thank God for all the blessing we receive! Once again I testify to you all that God loves us and all his children! The Holy Ghost is just one way he shows us that love! It prompts us, guides us, and protects us! I love this glorious gospel! I love my Savior and the chance I get to testify of Him to the world!!!! Love all so much! Have a happy holidays!!!

Your blessed missionary,

Elder Tracy!

Week 21 | Dec. 5, 2016

My favorite people on earth,

How was your week? Mine was awesome!!! Totally awesome! So, some random stuff for the week.  I got to see the statue of Moroni on the Orlando temple be replaced! It was weird seeing the temple without it! Hahaha also tomorrow is transfers and guess what.....(drumroll).....I get to train!!!!! I get to finish training one of the most rad missionaries ever! His name is Elder Larson and I can't wait for the next 6 weeks!

I hope the Christmas initiative is helping you as much as it is helping me and all those here in Winter Garden! I have truly felt the spirit of Christ this holiday season as I serve those around me! As we serve others the way Christ would serve we will find a peace and strength that we had never felt before! If you want to give a life lasting gift to those around you, serve them with Christ like love! So, we had a super cool experience this week! It started with me having another flat tire... hahaha luckily a member came to our rescue in his search to lift ones burdens, #lighttheworld day 1, well we fixed my tire and he drove us to our appointment that we would have been way late for! Instead we got there early and had 20 mins before our lesson! So we decided to knock on a few doors! We were turned away by the first handful but came to this home with the door open so we knew they had to at least talk to us! Well we knocked and found this mother who was in a hectic mess and was as flustered as flustered gets! We shared the Christmas initiative with her! As we watched the video of our Savior giving sight to the blind the lady began to cry! She told us that her husband was blind and that she was struggling! We were able to testify to her of the peace and strength we can receive from our Savior! She told us to come back the next week and teach her whole family! Isn't that just the coolest experience?! We had the most successful week in the area in the past 6 months! So that felt really good, but I sure wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of the ward members and my companion! You all have a huge effect on those around you! One act of service may change a life, or maybe all it does is make someone smile, but that is worth it! Make at least 1 person smile each day! That means between all of us we will make 100 people smile a day, and 700 people a week! Do it! I dare you! Hahah

Well, I love you all so incredibly much! So, for Christmas all I want is your favorite scripture and how it's helped you or what you've learned from it! And then go serve someone! Alright well hopefully I'll hear from you next week! As for now know that I love you and I love this gospel!!!

Your gung-ho service missionary,
Elder Tracy