Sister McKelle Boren: Dec. 16, 2013--TAB IS BAPTIZED!! And I'm having a baby.

First of all, I got your package on Saturday and I literally cried with tears of joy when I got it! It is so cute! I'm on day 3 of the 12 days of Christmas :) Such a special idea! We have such a good mama and papa! You have no idea how much I appreciate all that y'all do for me. You are amazing. And what a great thing to start off the beautiful day that Saturday was!

This week was straight up nuts. We had Zone Conference, we had exchanges for days, we had transfer calls (Saturday was the longest day ever), we had all sorts of things happen but the most amazing part was that TABATHA WAS BAPTIZED!!! Tears of joy! I smile so big every time I say it. She is amazing. It was truly the happiest day of my whole entire life. The spirit was unreal.

We went to Tab and Mat's house every day this week preparatory to her baptism. She is so prepared for the gospel it's crazy. She was so excited and kept talking about how much she has changed. Her family literally has scripture study and prayer every night together and lists things they are thankful for on Jada's whiteboard. I'm sorry, WHAT. That's amazing! AND they do their individual studies. The coolest part is seeing how the Lord helps shape people, if they are willing to let Him. The Spirit works in them and helps them exercise their faith and change (repent) and follow their saviors example to be baptized and confirmed! We talked to her a lot about enduring to the end too and she is all about it. She is stoked to go to the temple in a year with her family. Mat has come SO far. This past 6 weeks with him alone have been ridiculously ridiculous (in a good way). MIRACLES FOR DAYS. The Lord provides and it is the most joyous thing. AH! I could talk for hours about them. (Mat's mom came into town to see her baptism and it was so cool! She is so happy for her!) Oh! And it was a double baptism! Liz from the Fort Campbell Branch was also baptized. She is amazing! It made it that much more special having both of them together.

Saturday was truly the longest day ever. Best day ever, but longest day ever. I don't even remember what happened Monday - Friday. Tabatha was baptized by Brother Moss and then we helped clean up the church and then we went to Tabatha's for lunch and talked about family history (she's taking her ancestors names to the temple when the ward goes right after christmas!). All the while gleaming with permanent smiles on our faces. Then we went to the church so Sister Gibson could do Facebook. While we were there I was joking around with Sister Gibson and told her that President called and she is leaving. Next thing we know he really does call (2 minutes later)! If he calls you personally, that's bad news bears because it usually means you're training. Here's a play-by-play: I answer it and say "Hello! This is Sister Boren!" "Hello Sister Boren, just the person I want to talk to (uh oh) ... will you accept the call to train?" "Uh mmm uh yes." "Wait I'm not done yet. Will you also accept the call to whitewash (taking both missionaries out and putting me and my companion in, kind of like opening but not really) Lebanon?" By this time, if you can only imagine, I am shaking. I wrote down my area on a sticky note and the legibility of my handwriting just explains my emotions. I HAD NO IDEA I WAS LEAVING. I knew I was eligible to train now that I finished my 12 weeks of training but I sure didn't know I would actually be training. That's crazy! After I got over the shock and President gave me some words of wisdom, I obviously accepted. I went and prayed and just felt so much peace. It was a really cool experience. Heavenly Father and I had a nice chat. The Lord has a plan and he works in the most mysterious of ways, but I love Him. I know he will qualify me, the weak, to be able to fill these hefty shoes before me.

So there ya have it. I'm moving and having a kid in the mission all at the same time! Remember how sure I was that I was staying? Yeah that's hilarious. Heavenly Father has a huge sense of humor.

Sunday was super cool! We hosted at the Festival of the Nativity and it was very very spiritual. TONS of nativities and beautiful art pieces. We were able to talk to a bunch of people and I was able to say goodbye to some ward members! I will miss them dearly. Tabatha and Mat and their family came! They were doing free family pictures and they wanted us to be in their family picture. How cute is that. Hopefully we get the picture via email soon and I can send it to you.

I LOVE YOU GUYS! Please pray extra hard for me this week :) I'll need it!

Metaphor for the week - Be clay, not a sponge. Let the Lord continually mold you to who He desires you to become (clay) instead of going back to your old ways (sponge) after spiritual experiences. We are continually in the refiners fire!

With heaps and bounds of love,

Sister Boren

PS- Be sure to send stuff to the mission home now and not the Clarksville address. Until next week when I have my new address :)