Week 18

This past weekend was Christmas and Christmas Eve and it was a blast! We had over the week several fun and spiritual events we were able to do! Christmas Eve and Day also went very well and we stopped at a lot of members houses. 

Zone Christmas Party: Super cool, we had our Zone get together and we had an amazing testimony meeting on how Christ has affected us and what Christmas means to us. Lots of great insights and we sung Silent Night, which was fun. Then we had treats and made our own ornaments and I got my District to sign it which was cool. We then had bunch of snacks and chips. Then we had a white Elephant exchange. It was actually really funny. For things that people just took from their house, it was good. I brought a Chess set to give away that I found in my apartment. I got a card game about the Book of Mormon, not sure if I'll ever play it, but it looks fun :). Then we had a picture and left!

District Christmas Party: Our District is pretty awesome. We have myself, Elder Gordon, Elder Adam, Elder Sundwall, Elder Leonard, Elder Bartell, and Sister Heaton, Sister Turnbow. And yes, Sister Heaton is from my Japanese District, so that has been fun :). Sadly Sister Gold (The other Japanese missionary in the AGM) isn't even in our zone, so maybe before we go we can all be in the same Zone or even better District together. We played some basketball games like Horse and talked and had donuts and apple cider. Super fun! We also went caroling as a District the night before which was a blast. Along with that we had a cool inspired knock story. Two nights before we did an inspired knock and met Vincent. He wasn't very interested, but was nice and respectful. The conversation was dying and then I felt inspired to ask: who around you do you think needs some extra comfort or joy this Christmas season, anyone we could carol too? And he actually said yes! We walked to the street and he pointed out a house to stop by and said they had special needs kids. The night we went caroling we went there and they loved it! Super awesome experience!

Christmas Eve: We had dinner with an awesome family named the Thomasson's (Thomason?). We had a short dinner (they were waiting for us, oops) and then we shared a message! Half their family aren't members, so it was super cool to be able to talk to them about Christ and bring the Spirit into the home. We watched Light the World 2021 video, discussed it, and then we read Luke 2. Super awesome. They gave us gift cards and body wash which was fun. We made sugar cookies and got to try their Ninebot scooters! They're like Bird scooters--the Ninebots went over 25MPH! So fun :).

Christmas Day: We woke up and did the classic open our presents, I called home and I opened my presents with my family and I watched them open theirs, super awsesome. It was fun to be there with my family and I thought it was amazing that Haley, my sister, bought a big gift for all of my siblings, and I got a present from Cal, Shanna, Haley, and Elden! So many snacks :). I also got a cool microphone and tripod thing for recording. On my mission we do a good amount of recording and I wanted to use that for piano and for other things. After gifts we chilled for a little bit and this is when we had our fun District Christmas party. Then we went over to the Weyments house for an amazing brunch! We had smoked bacon, keesh (not sure if I'm spelling that right, it's egg in a shape of a small muffin, tastes wonderfull), baked french toast. Brother Wayment, Scott Wayment, actually went to the same Optometry school as my dad! Southern School of Optometry, SCO. Their son, Blake Wayment, is in the BYU Singers and he said to contact him after my mission so he could help me get into some BYU bands. Super cool family! Then we had a Zone Christmas service and we sang carols at a retirement home! I played piano for a lot of songs and that was fun.

Theresa: We got a referral Christmas or Christmas Eve and the thing was that this was the second time she referred herself, so we weren't sure if she wanted to bible bash us, or really wants to hear from us. We went over and we met her! And the cool thing is is that she's super ready for the Gospel. She's had three heart attacks and on the third one, she was pronounced medically dead. But she came back. Another cool thing is that she has prayed in the past on what her life's purpose is. And she recieved the answer to serve others and to share Christ's Gospel. She's ready for the Gospel and it will be cool to see her conversion. She accepted a Book of Mormon and we testified on how she can find the truthfulness for herself of the Book of Mormon and she said she would do it! We also prayed for her and her family with her on her front porch which was cool. Very cool spiritual experience. 

Spiritual Thought: When we look at a Christmas tree, what is at top? The Star! And what is at the bottom? Presents! So it's cool to think that when the Shephards and the Wisemen were looking for Christ they followed a Star, a sign given from Heavenly Father to all His children. And at the bottom of that star, is Christ. The ultimate gift to all mankind. He's the gift and sacrifice that Heavenly Father gave to everyone of His children so we could return back to Him. So everytime we look at a Christmas tree we can think about the ultimate gift to all mankind and all we need to do is look up and find it. 

Hope you all have an amazing rest of your week and a great New Years! Love you guys!

しゃしん

1st picture is from tonight and I don't think my dad was ready :). Love you!

2nd picture are the Yamaha R6 carbs my dad put on the Celica :).

3-7 pictures are from Christmas day and present opening and Zone Christmas Party

Most of the Elders and I are doing this thing of parting our hair in the middle.

8th picture is a rare Chevy that's just called an SS. That's its name, SS. So that was a fun surprise.

9th picture is my mom and I today too :). Love you!

10th picture is our zone, Cumorah, and my old zone, Far West, after caroling with seniors!