Day after Christmas Letter

What on earth?

You went bungee jumping??

MOM!

Haha, thanks for the letter!

It was SO much fun to hear from you all last night!!!

Sister Pousima can't wait to come meet you all!

Christmas was so special this year.

I am so grateful to be in the greatest mission on the PLANET!

For Christmas Eve we went to the Mission Office for our Mission Conference & Celebration...aka lockdown.

We heard from Elder Madsen and Elder Hamilton (they work in the mission office)

and had musical numbers from all the zones, then got to watch It's a Wonderful Life or Polar Express or just go in the gym & chat...so we went & visited.

It was just amazing to hear how the Gospel effects so many people, in whatever age, lifestyle, stage, etc. of life they may be in.

Heavenly Father truly knows each and every one of His children perfectly.

He knows what we need to do, where we need to be, and who we have the potential to become.

This Christmas I have been able to know my Savior more than I ever thought possible. I love him. I can not even begin to express how grateful I am for him, and the example he set for each and every single one of his brothers and sisters.

This has been extremely helpful to come to realize through having to make some pretty tough decisions, but I know I can trust in my Father in Heaven & that he will guide me to exactly where I need to be.

Christmas day, we are allowed to go anywhere in the mission just as long as we are with our assigned companion...so Sis Nethercott came with me to Sandy.

We went to Sonia's for breakfast because she is.....CANCER FREE!!! I wasn't sure if I passed that on yet or not!!! Elder Crowther texted on Dec 6 and told me the FANTASTIC news, but I am not sure if I had told you yet! Anyway, she has us all over for breakfast yesterday. And by all I mean ALL (Sisters: Pousima, Hill, Brant, Baime, Redford, Poango, Lupe, Nasakka, Nethercott & Givens and Elders: Crowther, Schmidt, Aleman, and Rose) woo! And of course she couldn't let us leave empty handed so each of us got boxes and bags and stockings all filled to the brim...let's just say I am going to need another suitcase or two.

After that, we went to the mission office because I made a build-a-bear for sis pousima for Christmas & she left it there...of course so we attempted to go rescue her & had no luck. Then we went to Shellies & visited with my favorite lady! She is doing well!!! I love her & miss her guts!

Then it was off to the Sims (hosea & nanette) who got baptized in October, they had us over & we had stockings waiting from Santa that were as big as our bodies...holy cow.

We stayed and played games with the kids and had lunch then went to the Mayo's (Shaq & Heather) Reid & Meade taught them in Sandy East Stake.

Then we went out to West Jordan to see the Jones who Sister Hill and I both knew from out there.

Then dinner at the Johnsons, skyping at the Whipples, a drop by back at nanette's, and a RC in West Jordan on the way back to our house in Kearns...how about Sis Po lives all the way in Draper & we were already late...haha but we all made it back home safe & sound, tired and worn out.

It was a great holiday.

The Kuay's are doing better than ever! The girls are all getting baptized on the 14th, we had a few lessons with them this week and we went & did service & had dinner with them as well! They are so much fun, and have been so prepared, it is amazing to be part of it. I am truly, truly blessed.

I love you all, it was GREAT to see you and hear your voices.

Keep moving forward.

I love ya.

Sister Givens

  Our District at Temple Square

E Meade / E Hipp (DL) / S Givens / S Nethercott / E Boldivar? / E Jolley (from Kirkland!!)

 

me & my mama po!!!

  we took a big mission wide photo, check the mission blog I think they are sending it there?

anyway...we got bored on the bleachers haha

 Elder Thomas! - My DL from West Jordan

  E Meade / E Reid / S Nethercott / S Givens / E Raymundo (ZL from Sandy)

 Elder Dad!! Elder Crowther...he leaves this Transfer :(

 E Reid & E Crowther

 

Family Photo...sis pousima did a poly dance in the talent show haha

  The Sapoi boys!! (the family we live with)

Aleki (Conner) 6 / Toa 8 / Kingston 10

  our cute room! & that's the quilt sis hottie made me :)

To Everyone:

 

"...a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness that they had seen. Shephers would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph - and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby - that's how Christmas began." -Elder Jeffery R. Holland.

I love having the opportunity to be here on a mission, teaching about that little baby, our Savior. This is such a special opportunity to be here during this season. It makes me reflect on what REALLY matters in life.

This is a typical question we ask when we are out, the conversation 99% of the time goes like this...

we see a little kid walking, I ask, "Who is Christmas all about? Santa or Jesus?"

They respond ALWAYS with "SANTA!" ...or add in their own alternative answer and say, "PRESENTS!!" and I just yell back, "NO!" Then explain it is about the birth of the Savior, not about the commercialized ways of Christmas which of course add plenty of Christmas cheer, and fun memories, but we can do better.

- President Kimball stated, "let us give our time, ourselves, & our talents to the things that really matter NOW, the things which will STILL matter a thousand years from now."

I love that.

With today being what would have been Jacob's 15th birthday, I reflect on how grateful I am for an Eternal Family, for the sealing power of the Temple, and how untied and close our family is. I am grateful for the examples of so many in my life, whether older or younger, I am truly grateful to be able to grow alongside each and every family member for life, and through the eternities. And, as it goes for every year, I take this day to reflect on how I can better my own life, my own choices to align them with what my Father in Heaven would have me do.

President Kimball goes on to say,

"Even though circumstances in the world at times become discouraging, our task, not alone in the Christmas season but ALWAYS, is to be of good cheer. The Lord so often counsels us to have cheerfulness in our lives.

"And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer little Children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you." (D&C 61:36)

"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the Living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come." (D&C 68:6)

The Lord will be in our midst, he will be with us and stand by us and lead us."

There is cheer in every aspect of life if we look for it!! THAT, I know without a doubt.

It is strange to not be there for Christmas, but I know I am where the Lord needs me to be.

This week has been great!

We had a mission wide conference on Friday, the 16 where Bro. Turley, the Church Historian come and talk to us about the Life of Joseph Smith.

I am extending to you what President Miller asked us to do, read Joseph Smith History. Learn from this man. Become his friend. Pray to learn more than you have before of this man and what he did for us and the impact it has in our life.

Then read D&C 135:1-3.

Anyway, as for other things, the Kuay's are slowly all coming to Church and have set dates to be baptized :)

I LOVE that family!!!

We are teaching a new family, but this week will be crazy so who knows when we will get a chance to meet with them until next week.

We have another mission activity on the 24, then Christmas they haven't told us anything...we may be allowed to go anywhere in the mission, we may not. If we are, Sonia (from Sandy) is having our old district over. We will have to wait & see. They are doing mail pick up on Christmas Eve, so at least we will get it before Christmas!

We went & saw the lights at Temple Square on Wednesday!! It was so much fun!

Other than that, yes there is more and more snow every day...yeayyy

my health is still kinda rocky, they aren't sure what is going on. I've been having fevers lately which is a big problem...so they moved up my appointment from Friday to Wednesday & most likely have to get a catscan.

Just lots of prayers and faith that it will pan out how the Lord would have it.

As for Britane, we as missionaries are to extend baptism by the second lesson..but always as the Spirit directs. I promise you she has been prepared from even before you had met her, it's just now up to her agency & God's time that it will all happen. Keep being her friend. I know she loves you and is SO grateful she has you along the way. Maybe read about Joseph Smith with her, ask the Elders if they have the new restoration dvd to show...if not I will send you a copy (it's the one they show at Temple Square)

It's kinda cool that Elder is from here...make sure you take care of him & help them to have a member present at EACH lesson :)

I think that's all for now, talk to you on Sunday.

Ps-I will probably call around dinner time (5pm your time) want to make sure everyone is there.

Our mission doesn't allow skype, bummer. But I'm excited to hear your voices!

Love ya!

Have a Merry Christmas!!

Sister Givens

 James & Lam Kuay

 Sister Nethercott

Dona Stamm

Hello again :)

Well, now you get an overload of what is going on in Kearns

Lam and James got baptized Saturday!!

It was so neat, they have SO much support from the ward already! And the wife, Martha & the daughters, NyaNya and Chudier (13 & 16) came to Chruch yesterday and LOVED it!! THey want to be baptized on Christmas, Merry Christmas to us! They have had friends talking to them about the Church for over 6 years, and James KNEW way back in 2005 that in 6 years missionaries would show up at his door & that he would be ready then to be baptized. WOW. I am honored to be here and to know their family. I instantly fell in love with them, and MOM you have GOT to meet their youngest one day...he is SO SO SO cute! His name is Tim (16 months) but he is to die for, they all are!! They all want to learn more about the Chruch and come together as a family then go to the temple and be sealed next year, so I will be here!! :)

What an awesome Christmas!

So we definitely have a teaching pool now...we have almost 20 investigators. Needless to say, we are tired. BUT for good reason!

We went over to Fransciou, she is from Sudan. By the way my companion and I cover the Swahili assignment ((as I am told)) ...I know right? What on earth? And it's over the whole mission. So James, he speaks 4 languages and one is Swahili so that is a blessing! And we are working with the Elders in the Salt Lake North Mission who cover the Swahili branch, so we work with lots of interpreters and President Miller I guess is working on getting us books for language study. Hahahah

Never a dull moment.

BUT! Fransciou, OKAY so she is a single mom with 6 kids who we are teaching, but it's been really hard to catch her at home, but when we do she LOVES to have us over and she loves reading the Book of Mormon! She is just so busy! She works full time, goes to school full time, and is SUPER dedicated to her studies so she is always doing homework and raising her family! I just love her and know her family is on the right track.

Heidi is on date for Dec 31, but she REALLY wants to get baptized on Christmas, so we have to talk to her other family and see if that would be possible. She is 10, I don't remmeber what I have already said about her but she loves having us come over, we have a lesson with her every day and she came to Activity days with us and to the Primary activity with us this weekend!

OH! So yesterday we went to Church at the Sun Crest ward, with James and Lam (duh...they were getting confirmed) anyway, we stayed for Young Mens and Young Womens which was combined & 4 ym stood up and shared about their "Missionary Week" They went the whole week:

-church dress all day every day...school, work, everything

-early morning Preach My Gospel & Book Of Mormon studies

-no tv or texting

-praying for missionary opportunities

etc

Anyway, I thought it was SO COOL! What a blessing to be preparing early for a mission. They are great examples and it was so cool to hear how they really are preparing for those precious 2 years.

As always, I am out of time....

Glad to know you have good Elders!

make sure they are fed!

You will probably be getting an email from Sister Stamm, she lives here in Kearns & I was in the MTC with her daughter.

She came over last night & took pictures and brought us cinnamon rolls.

So, be the Sister Stamm & spoil those missionaries...make sure they feel at home!

PS-don't listen to dad, I love your hair!! It looks way cute, mom!

Mine is dead, but getting longer!

Love you

Miss you

Sister Givens

PS

Tell Adriane Happy Birthday for me on the 14th!!!

We will be at Temple Square for the lights that night, so I thought that was kinda cool! I used to take her out every year to go see Christmas lights, and now I get to go to them again on her birthday!!

Tell her I love her more than I love pie!

 

Oh no!!!

I pushed save instead of send, sorry! This was supposed to go out dec 5 :)

Hello Everyone!!

I am alive and well! Well, better!!

This week was INSANE but so good!

After I wrote you, I called the hospital & they didn't have any openings until JANUARY! Then I told them how much pain I have been in & they scheduled me for the next morning for an 11am procedure (have to be there at 10am for prep) Went on with the day, Sister Miller called and asked what happened with the call & I told her then she said, "Sister Givens you can NOT miss District Meeting!" So, the next morning I had to call and cancel...anyway, long story short I am scheduled for the 20th, so only a couple more weeks. Blech.

After District Meeting I got the call that I was being transferred to Kearns with Sister Nethercott (she is from Montana) and I ADORE her!!!

Elder Meade and I are in the same district again, so that is fun!

AND we found FOUR new investigators our fisrt day out here (wednesday), who all asked US if they could be BAPTIZED! Not just taught, but baptized! It blew my mind! Then on Friday we went to a ward party to meet more members & there a lady came up to us and asked if she could meet with us because SHE AND her son want to be baptized! Then yesterday we found 3 more investigators! We are BUSY! But it is a WONDERFUL place to be!! It's known as the ghetto of our mission, but I don't even care. The people here are so inviting and loving and it is such a blessing!

We live with the Sapoi family, the mom is Samoan & the dad is Tongan...it makes me miss Sister Pousima haha and they have 3 boys & she is due with the 4th in just a couple weeks! It's noisy and busy but i LOVE it! It makes me feel like home :)

Sienna's baptism was great! Sister Woodruff came to Kearns and picked me up, since I had only been in the area for 3 days at that point and didn't know anyone. But we had a great visit on our way out to Sandy! I just love her! She said she is more than willing to take me out to the hospital on the 20th as well if I need her to. Anyway, Sienna was more than ready to be baptized! (She is the 14 year old who was a sister referral that Sister Pousima and I started teaching a few months back) Her friends are all LDS and were jsut such GREAT influences on her that she wanted to be baptized & have this gift in her life as well. See what an influence a friend can have!!

The Spirit was so strong & was such a great kick-off for the day! Sister Nethercott stayed back in our area & taught James & Lam Lesson 1, and put them both on date to be baptized this coming Saturday! So since we only met him on Wednesday we have a lot of work to do, but they have been going to church for a month and are MORE than ready to be baptized NOW they say :)

After Sienna's baptism Sister Pousima and I just stayed in Sandy (Since the Mission Conference was right down the street that afternoon) so we went to Sister Roper's (our old land lady) OH YEAH! Sister Pousima finally got transferred out of Sandy! She had been there 11 months! So now she is in Draper, so it was good to go back and visit with her!

Then before we knew it, it was time to go down to the Mission Office, it was a great experience Elder Christofferson started with, "Wow. It must have taken some extra effort to get each and every one of you here at this time...some extra homework up in heaven to get you all to be here, together." He went on & told us how we are here for very specific reasons with our Mission President, our companion, the members, our investigators. All which I have heard before, but it was a really neat experience & touched me differently this time.

I was sitting with Elder Crowther (my dad) and Elder Aleman (my uncle) who were in our first district & thinking about how all of us really did become family, how much effort it took to get each and every one of us out here at this time to strengthen and edify one another. Especially since I remember Elder Aleman from when I was what...8? 9? years old? When he didn't even know about the church & somehow I remembered him all these years...well this is why! Look at us now! Both serving missions?! what the heck?

Then it took me to those we are teaching, especially James & Lam. How they are ready NOW and what it took to get them to this point, what it took to get Sister Nethercott and I here at this time to teach them.

There are these moments everywhere in life & just makes me realize how much our Heavenly Father truly does know us!! Edler Christofferson said, "Your Heavenly Father loves you PERFECTLY, he would love you no different if you were his only child."

He knows where we need to be. Who we need to be with. (Which is ESPECIALLY true with our family all being adopted) Look how much effort it took to get the Givens all together! Heavenly Father is smart.

I wish there was more time to write and tell you all the tender mercies and MIRACLES Sister Nethercott and I have already experienced this week. This is going to be a good transfer, I can feel it. I knew right off the bat we are companions for a reason and I already love her guts. She is great!

We have felt the Spirit has been so strong, it amazes me & makes me so incredibly grateful to have it in my life as a constant.

I love you all

Sister Givens

thanksgiving with the woodruffs!!!

 the robb family (thanksgiving dinner #2) and uncle todd's twin! :)

 sister hoyt!

 sister hottie (vela)

  packing. transfers. wayyy too much stuff!

 Sienna's Baptism

  Sister Nethercott & I

 thanksgiving! in malayan? from malaysia

 this was our district out in West Jordan!

 sisters at zone conference!

zone conference jelly (aleman) po me dad

Hi Everyone!
Glad to hear Thanksgiving went well!! Sister Woodruff called us later that evening & told us all about what was going on at home. I LOVE her! I have pictures of the day, but we are at the Library so I can't send them here, maybe I will print some off today & mail them home.

YES! Nanette & Hosea did get baptized! Back on October 11!! I didn't have my camera on me that day, so Sister Pousima & I think Elder Crowther have pictures from it? I just know he was taking some, but they may or may not have been on his camera. But I hear they are doing great!

This week is a big one coming up!! Sister Estevez (one of the Coordinating sisters) came on an exchange with me this last Friday & it was SO great! We found FOUR new investigators & I learned SO much and had a ball with her!! She is from the Dominican Republic, but was raised in Philidelphia & was baptized just 4 years ago, but she had the STRONGEST testimony & I completely adore her! It was such a fun experience! So now we get to start teaching those 4, and the other 3 we were able to find this week! Along with transfers on Wednesday, a mission wide conference with Elder D. Todd Christofferson on Saturday, Sienna's baptism on Saturday!!!, Stake Conference with Elder M. Russell Ballard coming on Sunday, and the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on Sunday evening! Whoo! Along with everything else medical happening this week, it's going to be a busy one to say the least.
AND our zone gets to take a trip up to Temple Square to see the lights! I LOVE the Christmas season out here, we have begun showing Joy To The World to all those who we are teaching out here, and I love how much it brings the Spirit in when talking about our Savior.
We are teaching a girl named Emily (9) & her mom, Tara. Both are getting baptized on December 18! They are just such special people who TRULY have desire to know their Father in Heaven & follow their Savior's example. Emily is reading the Book of Mormon like CRAZY & Tara just has such a pure desire to change and live the gospel. It's such an incredible thing to watch their testimonies grow.
I wish I had more time to share what is going on out here. I love you all & can't wait to hear from you next week!
Sister Givens
Oh! & thank you for your thanksgiving card & the little message from Stand a Little Taller, I used it like crazy last week!!
AND i LOVED the pictures!!!!!
They are getting so big!! Send more :)
xoxoxo