We recently were told that our monthly mission payment would be paid by our home ward.  I found myself in a couple of days of shock, quite humble and many thoughts going through my head.  I asked Elder Ruse - "how can we accept a gift like this?" - and he quoted the scripture, if you reject the gift, you reject the giver.  That is an amazing gift, because it isn't like it is just a couple of hundred dollars, but it is many, many hundred dollars.  How do you thank someone or many people for a gift like that?

I then realized that we all have been given a gift.  One that doesn't have a monetary value, but a value that is far greater than any of us can imagine.  It is the Gift that our Heavenly Father has given to everyone - The Gift of His Son, our Savior, our Redeemer.  How do I thank our Father for such a gift?  Of course, in my prayers - but also by the way I live my life.  By serving others, by keeping His commandments, by keeping the covenants that I have made, by sharing the Gospel with those who I come in contact with, by using the Atonement in my life to become better, to be forgiven of my sins, and to forgive others, by being concerned for their well being, and by enduring to the end!

I am so grateful for the gifts I have been given by a very loving Heavenly Father who gave His only begotten son, so that I can return to live with Him again.  As a parent, I have a very small idea of what that desire feels like for all of my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren.

So, how do we thank our ward for the gift they have given us?  By serving to the best of our ability.  By serving the people here in the California Ventura Mission.  By serving the missionaries and President Felix and his wife and doing the very best that we can do.  When we return home, we will continue to serve to the best of our ability.

Merry Christmas -