Letter #26: 🎇🎉 Happy New Year! 🎉🎇

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

This week was a pretty amazing one, honestly, with lots of highs.

Christmas on the mission was unlike any other Christmas I've ever had! It started a little sad but ended up being way fun and special because we got to spend the day with some member families and then got to do a mission activity that night. It was a ward member's birthday on Christmas and on her birthday cake she put the candles for 2024 because she wanted us to celebrate Jesus' birthday rather than hers.  

I got to go on an exchange with Sister Menchi (from Argentina and the only Spanish sister I've never spent a day with), and it was SO FUN. I actually want to be comps with her so bad, but we probably never will be because we both drive, and our drivers are limited. 👎 I got to go back to my old area (literal promised land of Las Vegas), and it was just such an amazing day. I got to know Sister Menchi and learn so much from her, visit some members, and just laugh all day! 10/10 recommend spending the day with her if you want to have a good time.

Little fun things of the week:

- Tried to make muffins for Christmas but our oven started pouring smoke instead and set off the fire alarms 2 minutes after I turned it on. Had to make muffin pancakes instead which took FOREVER but they tasted the same so that's a win.
- I'm officially the ward pool champion and have an undefeated record. Shoutout to Dad for his skills and pool trophies, the youth in the ward now think I'm really cool. 🎱💪🏆

Something really special about this week and Christmas was my "Gift to Jesus." At my 2nd (?) Zone Conference, we were invited to read the Book of Mormon from start to finish, by Christmas, and mark every single thing that pointed to or testified of Jesus Christ. The first thing I got to do on Christmas morning was finish the Book of Mormon and pray about it. I know the Book of Mormon is true! And I've never had a big, life-changing experience that's convinced me of it, but it's been through reading it every day, through praying and studying it with an open heart and real intention, that I've felt the Holy Ghost confirm it's truth to me, that it is Another Testament of Jesus Christ! I know that if y'all truly want to receive that testimony/continue strengthening it, it's through a daily study.

At every single Zone Conference, President Nielsen always ends by telling us the 1 thing we can do to ensure we stay on the covenant path forever, which is to read the Book of Mormon every single day of our lives. Even if it's 15 seconds sometimes, just 1 verse at the end of the day, it'll be the thing that brings the Spirit into our lives and will remind us of Christ each and every day. I've seen that on my mission, and it's already changed my life.

I love you all! Hope you're all doing well and are looking forward to the New Year. 🎉

💜 Hna. Pursglove

Photographs Below :)

1. Christmas Night with my favorite Spanish Sisters ❤️ (main photo above)

2. Sister Menchi 🤘

3. Muffin pancakes

4. Christmas dinner 😋

5. Gianna got ahold of lipstick and decided to give me a makeover

6. Amazon delivery garbage can

7. Sister Menchi telling me she had good Christmas music and then playing knockoff Michael Buble, Michal Bubble 

8. Are you going to be a quitter?