Florida Bound: 🎅🎄CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!!! 12-15-14

Jamming crickets this was a great week!

We had our mission Christmas party this week! It was a blast to spend the
whole day at the beach! We made a sand man, complete with a seaweed scarf
and seashell eyes and a Mohawk! President just laughed at us... I seriously
love the beach. I promise my mission isn't a vacation! This was one day out
of the 365 we have in a year. (Wow I just had to double check that there
were in fact 365 days in a year) #WhyWontMyBrainWork

Thursday we had interviews with President Cusick. Interviews with him are
always the best! He started off our interview by asking,"what can I do for
you Sister Upshaw? If I had a magic wand or was a genie and you had one
wish what would it be?" It made me laugh so hard because typically he is a
pretty stoic man. I can't tell you what I wished for though because then it
won't come true! Later in the interview he asked me if I could go anywhere
in the mission where would I want to go... I told him I would want to stay
exactly where I am with the companions I have because I love my area and my
companionship, then he just looked at me and said, "you love all your areas
and every companion..." It's pretty true, but I don't want to change it up
for the last 4 weeks of my mission! I told him I would be happy wherever he
decided to send me though, but we received our transfer information Sunday
night and all three of us are staying! Yay!

Saturday was Debbie's baptism and it was the most perfect baptism
ever! We had so many members come out to support her and the talks and
songs were perfect and she felt so loved! Ahhh it was just the best! One
year ago her roommate Pat was baptized and Debbie has been meeting
with missionaries off and on for a year now. At the baptism their third
roommate came and she absolutely loved it! Her name is Sue and quite
frankly she was pretty sure Mormons were a cult until she came to the
baptism. She loved the way the speakers used the Book of Mormon and the
bible together and how they truly go hand in hand. She said it was
completely different from anything she had ever felt before. Her heart
definitely softened and she is interested in learning more. Oh and Debbie's
favorite song is "Ave Maria" so my incredible companion, Sister Blain, who
sings like an angel, surprised her with singing that song acapella! It
was all around just an incredible day!

So much more happened, but I am going to refrain from making my email long
and boring. Just know that miracles happen every day! Here in Florida and
with each of mine and my companions families!

Something I finally got through my head this week was that the most
important thing we can do as missionaries and in life in general is to
develop Christlike attributes. If we are striving to follow His example
then everything else just falls into place. God doesn't expect perfection.
He loves each of us so stink'n much! I hope everyone is having an amazing
Christmas season. Don't get too caught up in all the craziness.

I love you all!

-Sister Upshaw

Merry Christmas from Sis. Upshaw, Sis. Yellow and Sis. Blain

Oh and at the baptism they forgot to pull the plug on the drain as they
were getting out so Sister Blain had to put on one of the jumpsuits and get
in to drain the font! IT WAS SO FUNNY!!