A Bit of Traveling!

This week we went to Venice for pizza!

Okay just kidding. But we did go to a fantastic pizzeria!

Does your life need a little more sunshine? James Barrie said, "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

Speaking of sunshine, New Mexico is one of the few places we can teach lessons outside in the park by the duck pond or on the tailgate of a truck in the middle of January. Gotta love it!

Have a good one!

A Pirate, a Chile Pepper and a Thought

The other day, the costumer in me just came out! I put together what I thought was a really cute outfit in the morning until I looked in the mirror and I realized I looked like a pirate! Somewhere in my subconscious I must really miss teaching Drama Camp every summer!

If you've never been to New Mexico, you're missing out! New Mexico is famous for it's chiles. The other day, we saw the world's biggest chile!

I've been studying in Jesus the Christ, which synthesizes the four gospels and other scriptures to tell the life of Christ. This week I'm on Christ's trial and crucifixion. Have you ever wondered about Simon the Cyrenian, who was asked to carry the Savior's cross? Many believe that he and his family were faithful followers of Christ, though no one knows if he was already a believer at the time that he carried Christ's cross. Can you imagine? Wouldn't that be an honor to be able to carry the cross of He who "has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows"? 

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

A Day in the Life

Have you ever wondered what missionaries do all day? Well let me tell you, we have the best lives!

Every morning, we get up early and do some exercise. In our case, that means a combination of hula, Charleston (to the band Lower Lights), and yoga. We get ready for the day and we get to spend a whole hour studying the scriptures. If you've never studied the scriptures for a whole hour, you're missing out. It definitely centers your chi. Then we study together for an hour - we share what we learned and prepare for the day. After that we study Spanish, eat lunch and head out. All day we get to visit with people and share with them how the gospel of Christ has made us happy and can make them happy too. Then we head home and make plans for another exciting day! We have the greatest life!

This morning in personal study, I learned that if you want to ALWAYS be happy there are just four things you have to do. Do you want to know what they are? Mosiah 3:11-12 http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/4.11-12?lang=eng#11

Happy New Year! When you're setting those goals, remember that "Goals are a reflection of the desires of your heart." My philosophy on goals has always been, go big or go home! So try to astonish yourself this year!

Have a great week!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

We got a new apartment for Christmas! With a fireplace for our stockings! 

And a washer and dryer for the rest of our clothes.

Big Christmas plans - play with children at a shelter. Make tamales. Give people Christmas oranges and teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Have a happy Christmas and remember who's birthday we're celebrating!

Whose Birthday Is It?

This week, we got to go to a Zone Conference with a member of the Seventy (translation for those who aren't up on their Mormon lingo: we had a meeting with a bunch of missionaries and a church leader). I loved it! One of my favorite parts was when we talked about an incredible vision Moses had, where he saw the universe and everything that God created. Through out this vision God calls him, "Moses, my son." Isn't it incredible that the Man who placed the stars and formed the mountains calls each of us son or daughter? And we have the privilege of calling him Father.

A missionary Christmas season is different than normal; so far I'm loving it! We get to focus on Christ and his coming. The other day, a woman told us that when she was growing up, her parents taught her that since we're celebrating Christ's birthday, he's the one that ought to get the presents. It's so true! When we focus on what we can give to Him, we can have a very merry Christmas!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Odds and Ends

I found my favorite street corner!

Also Sister Rivas and I have a new motto!

Also the other day I found a new best friend. This kitten was wandering through the parking lot at church. So so cute! Wish I could keep him!

Have a wonderful week!

Where in the World is Sister Biancardi?

Well everyone! You'll never guess where I am? Las Cruces! That's right. I'll be serving here in Las Cruces for at least the next 6 weeks. It's been a great first week here with Sister Rivas. We've seen so many miracles and are having so much fun!

Thanksgiving was great! It was warm so we went to the park and made lots of friends there! It was so much fun! The ducks all had a thing for Sister Rivas and just kept following her!

Check out the beautiful mountains of Las Cruces!

In the south part of Las Cruces, there's a little town called Tortugas. It's really old and really Catholic. I wish I knew the story of how this little town came to be; all I know is they've got a beautiful old church!