Sprinting to the Finish

We are so blessed to see the Smith family all members of the Church! Staresa, age 21, and Belinda, age 8, were baptized by their father, Virgil on December 20. We love and admire this wonderful family. They are so valiant, never missing church even though they must depend upon their family and friends for transportation. Elder Z and I are looking for a newer mobile home to replace theirs that is totally worn out and unrepairable. It will take a miracle to pull this one off, but the Lord has not failed us yet. Pray!! Staresa is impressive and is working hard to complete her education in nursing. Belinda is very smart and wants to be a teacher or an artist.

We loved being a part of helping provide a nice Christmas for families who would have had little or nothing without the sacrifices of many people in the Quincy ward. One family of seven had never had ANY presents before this year. It is hard to imagine. Thanks to a family who sacrificed presents from their grandparents and parents, an anonymous donor gave Elizabeth, single mom of three, a new washer and dryer for Christmas. Can you imagine washing clothes for a family of four in the bathtub?! She called us on Christmas morning to share her joy. Elizabeth said they were all dressed up in their Christmas clothes and were just about to open their presents, along with Elba and her children with whom they spent the night. She said we wouldn't believe what miracle had happened. She related how on Monday the 22nd as she was writing thank you notes to all of the people who had helped her over the past year (and wondering how on earth she was going to be able to get three weeks of dirty laundry done in the bathtub), a delivery person from Home Depot drove up to her house. She said she was sure the delivery man was lost or looking for the people next door. He asked, "Are you Elizabeth Groves?" She said yes, and the delivery person said, "Merry Christmas!" She screamed for joy! The neighbor next door who helped arrange the surprise delivery said they could hear her screaming all the way over to their house! Then she restated in a little different way her beautiful testimony about her new faith in Jesus Christ: "I can tell you one thing, this ain't no fake God!" Priceless.

Through another series of little miracles the week before Christmas, we found another "lost sheep" of our Heavenly Father, a less-active member of the Church. We will never forget the Spirit that was present that Sunday afternoon as we all joined in a prayer and blessing upon her cold, dark home. Anna came to Church the following Sunday and an anonymous donor left a box of food in her car. We found the perfect warm winter coat for her in the charity clothing closet. The next week someone gave us some much needed new warm blankets that will keep her warm this winter.

We share these stories to let you know of our gratitude for all of God's rich blessings to us and also to bring to mind how different the world is here from our world back home. We see such heroism every day. The little family of seven who had their first presents are very happy children, happier than most children we know. They pitch in to help their mother with the chores and helping with the baby. They sit quietly in church, although church is very new to them. They are humble and sweet children, and we know that God has led us to them. We are deeply grateful and pray that they will be baptized in the near future. Amazing grace.

We spent Christmas day with the senior missionaries who work in the mission office and also another proselyting couple from Mexico Beach, Elder and Sister Farr of Farr Ice Cream fame. We are all planning a trip together to Hawaii next October and maybe to Alaska the following May. We have so much fun together.

We are beginning to think of home and are actually looking forward to seeing snow again. Elder Z says a balmy, humid 75 degrees is not his idea of Christmas. He'll probably change his tune in a hurry when he's huffing and puffing with the snow shovel again. Probably time to buy a snow blower.

Thank you all for the many kind words and Christmas greetings, photos, and treats. We started repenting of our over-indulgence and are practicing self-restraint today. Pretty soon it will be bedtime and maybe we won't know how hungry we are! Can't come home looking older AND a few sizes larger . . .

We love sharing the gospel. We love the change we have experienced in ourselves that we hope will be permanent. There is no greater joy that seeing people come unto Christ and to feel of His great love. Best wishes to you all for a very Happy New Year.

With much love and affection,
Elder and Sister Zabriskie

Enjoying Delicious Fruit

As we each celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us be mindful to smile through the difficulties that life brings. In addition to keeping our focus to always remember Him, learning to savor all that is good in life helps the medicine of life go down so much easier. I love this quote by Carlfred Broderick, an LDS marriage therapist: "The gospel of Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain. It is a resource in the event of pain, and when that pain comes, (and it will come because we came here on earth to have pain among other things), when it comes, rejoice that you have a resource to deal with your pain."

Elder Zabriskie and I are rejoicing in the miraculous resource of the gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We have encountered many difficult situations here. Yet, the Lord provides a way to keep you "smiling through the pain."

This past weekend was one of those weekends which we wish we could keep locked in our memories forever to carry us through the hard times of life that will surely come. Tyler Smith, age 16, going on totally mature in the near future, was baptized and confirmed a member of the church. He has a great destiny in building the kingdom of God on the earth. What a joy to see him progress in the gospel. In a beautiful card to us he wrote, "Dear Elder and Sister Zabriskie, Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. You will both stay in my memory forever. I hope to keep in contact with you after you travel back to Utah! Every testimony that I give can be traced back to you two, because of how much you influence me. Thank you again! Love, Tyler Smith." We are truly bound together in love eternally. Bliss!

On Sunday, Elizabeth and Elba bore their testimonies for the first time in church. They are both young single mothers who were baptized this year. When we first met, both were homeless or living in very undesirable circumstances. With the help of the Lord and many people pitching in, they both have their own place and are striving to be worthy of going to the temple to be married some day. Truly, they are the real heroes of life.

In Elizabeth's testimony, she expressed vivid and sincere gratitude for her new life. She expressed her belief that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and searched for the right words to say how she felt and what she knew. Then she found just the right words: "I can tell you one thing, this ain't no fake church!" Go, girl. No it ain't! We laughed and cried so hard when she said that. It was so "Elizabeth" and so true.

Eba told about how her daughter Betsybel's life was spared when she was born. The doctors told Elba, who was but 15 years old at the time, that there was no hope for the baby. Elba prayed for help from the Lord and told Him she would gladly give her life if He would but spare her baby's. Such a perfect example of Christ-like sacrifice which everyone feels in sweet Elba's spirit.

We are also teaching Elba's mother, Manuella, sister Rosio, and nephew and neice: Luis, age 10 and Daisy, age 8. Last Wednesday was another one of those memories you hope to savor forever. Manuella struggles to read in English but is determined to succeed. How thrilling it was to take turns reading from the children's versions of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and New Testament. Surprisingly, Luis and Daisy did not know anything about the story of Christ's birth and why we celebrate Christmas. While they read very well phonetically, I discovered they didn't know the meaning of many words. So, with a little encouragement, they started asking for the meaning of words they did not understand. How thrilling is that, to be able to help them with their reading comprehension skills and gospel studies at the same time! These children are so unspoiled and eager to learn. They appreciate everything so very much that is done for them.

We wonder how on earth we will bear to leave these dear loved ones.

Yet, as we will be waving sad goodbyes, you our dear friends and family will greet us with warm hellos. We are wondering what new things lie ahead that can compare with serving a full-time mission.

We send our heartfelt love and best wishes for a glorious celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Elder and Sister Zabriskie