Shaylee's Mission Dec 16th-22nd 2025

CHRISTMAS

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CHAPTER 24: Gateway YSA/ Downtown Edmonton

WEATHER:  -29°F 

(Yup its still cold)

HIGHLIGHTS 

♡ We hit a new PR of -29 °F this week

♡ Survived my first snow storm driving 

♡ Had a pizza party for district council 

♡ Had 5 dinners this week (new PR for YSA)

♡ Lost my shoes 

♡ Caroled. We actually had lots of people video recording us so if we become famous make sure to let me know! (Its probably because its so cold they thought we were insane) 

♡ Got let into a house for the first time on my mission! (Didn't last long but i still count it as a win- the only advantage this weather has is sometimes people take pity on us and let us get warm really fast) 

♡ Did a training in DC and we made everyone do christmas movie skits 

♡ Christmas sunday went over by 40 minutes in YSA... (we told all of our friends it was only an hour that day which made lots of them excited... Oops) 

♡ Ronak (recent convert) gave His family a church tour 

♡ We got a friend to watch a baptism and it was his very first time meeting with us and now he wants to get baptized! 

♡ I got to see Reinhart again!!! (Recent convert who i helped teach in my last area) 

♡ Officially survived finals season while serving in YSA!  (only christmas break to go) 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: 

(Obviously I have to do a Christmas thought so bare with me, it might be a bit long. You're welcome mom) 

Growing up Christmas was my favorite holiday. (It lowkey still is) I love the food, gifts, spirit, family time, christmas lights, decorating the tree, Gingerbread houses,  etc. I remember every year looking forward to all the things that my family did that we call traditions. One of my favorites though, didn't have to do with the gifts, trees, or lights. Every year my parents would find a family that we as a family could serve that year. They would find a family that needed some extra love, hope, support, or just a brighter christmas. Than as a family we would wrap and pick out gifts and drop off Christmas to whatever family we decided to serve that year. It was one of the things I looked forward to the most. When we dropped off the huge box of Christmas on their door step we would wait and watch to make sure they received it. That was my favorite part. The excitement that we got to see from our good deeds. I remember one year in particular my mom set me down and told me the family we would be serving was actually someone I knew pretty well. I had gone to school with their daughter and played some sports with her growing up. It wasnt that I didn't like this girl but we had different friend groups at school and we weren't necessarily friends by any means or you could even go as far to say as we did not necessarily get along. I remember my first initial reaction to finding out that this would be the family we were serving was "why her". She was popular at school, always had all the "trendy" things, and I remember thinking what more does she need? In my head, she already had it all. She was definitely "living the life." My mom continued to tell me of some different family issues her family had been going through. I was shocked. Heres this girl, that I saw every day, and had no clue what she was going through. I had judged from an external lens really knowing nothing about her. That night as we dropped off the gifts and went to hide i was filled with love for her and her family. That Christmas I learned a lesson i wont ever forget, we never know what those around us may be going through. We are all sons and daughters of a heavenly father. When you see others as children of God it is easier to serve them the way his son would have. Jesus loved all, healed all, taught all, served all, forgave all, suffered for all. Let us all be like jesus christ this christmas season. Let us be the light of Christ for those around us. 

I bare testimony that christ lives. I know that he is the reason for the season. I know that because he broke the bands of death and sin we can overcome the world and find rest through him. I know that when we strive to live our lives the way he lived we will find pure joy through following him!  

Merry Christmas! I love and miss you all! 

 Sis. Monson