Hermana Alyssa, in the Guatemala City South Mission

Serving from November 27, 2013 - May 2015

Saying goodbye in Vegas

The Mexico CCM (MTC)

The Mexico City Temple

Christmas in the Mexico City MTC

Alyssa's Christmas Letter

Ok so they give us thirty minutes on Christmas to write an email, but I also get to write tomorrow too so don't be offended if I don't write back to you guys because I'm doing that tomorrow. Today I am just going to share a spiritual message. I am going to base it off of a fireside we had this week. He talked about learning from the past and moving forward. I thought this talk was very good and it really meant a lot to me. Well I would like to begin to say that I am a lot better and when he gave this talk I wasn't like homesick, it was just funny that he gave it right after I have been better, if that makes any sense. Well in his talk he referenced the scripture I think it was somewhere in third Nephi but I wasn't able to write it down, but its the Lord talking and he says, "remember Lot's wife". Well he then continued to talk about her and how they were leaving the city and she looked back and turned to salt. Then he was talking about the meaning when it said she looked back. He pointed out the fact that she didn't just look back at the city and turned to stone. It means that she looked back at the city with a desire to go back, she didn't want to leave. She doubted the Lord's ability to give her something better than she already had. he then related this to our mission. We have to trust that the Lord is giving us something better. The Lord knows what he is doing and he does everything to protect us.

You are probably thinking this is a very strange Christmas topic, but I believe that it can pertain to everyone as well. Christ has done so much for us. And we have to let the Lord guide us. He loves us and wants the best so sometimes when things are hard we just have to keep moving forward and trust that the Lord is giving us something better. I love all of you and I hope you are having a great Christmas. I look forward to reading your emails tomorrow, or today but answering them tomorrow!!! I do love you guys very much.

I know this Gospel is true and that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

P.S. Mom I got the package on Monday but I waited till today to open all of the presents! Thank you so so so so much!!! I love it! I also now see why dad says you were slaving away in my room with a sewing machine!

Love you guys!!

Hermana Westover!

Map of Guatemala: