December 24, 2012

It was so good to talk to him on Christmas. He is doing really well and looks great. We couldn't be prouder!

    Merry Christmas!!! Well, transfer calls were in on Friday and I have been called to be a trainer. I get my new companion on Thursday. I am pretty sad that Elder Harris is going home though, but he has served two wonderful years, and has taught me so much in these past two transfers. I just hope that I can be half the trainer that he was.
    So for Christmas Eve, tonight we are going to the Bockensted's home to celebrate. The families here in Manchester are so great to us. We had to turn people down because we are already booked for Christmas. We are spending the day going to quite a few of the members' homes. It is going to be an awesome day.
    Last night we had a great experience that I wanted to share with everybody. We had a teaching appointment with a less-active/part-member family. As we went there, we started talking about prayer and about how our Heavenly Father really does love everybody. After we bore a strong testimony of this, Tony, the non-member, started to cry, and then Nichole, his member/less-active wife, started crying too. The Spirit was so strong afterwards! We are really starting to realize the power behind the Atonement. These two people need it so much in their lives. I just love to see the happiness and the hope that it can bring. And what a wonderful time it is to be thinking about the Savior and His purpose and mission here on the earth. I encourage all of you to take some time this Christmas season and ponder in your hearts the true meaning of Christmas and what the Savior truly means to you.
    I love all of you, and wish you all a merry Christmas.
Elder Elder

Snow day with Zone Leaders

We might have gotten stuck in the snow...

December 17, 2012

Merry Christmas from Iowa,
   I sure hope everybody is enjoying this wonderful time of year that we get to celebrate the birth of our Savior! It is the time to reflect on his birth, and also the wonderful things he did while he was here. I know that I am eternally grateful for Him, and His atonement, and I use it every single day to make me a better person. I know that I have many faults, but with the help from my Savior, I am able to lean on Him and improve every single day.
   So as I was studying this morning, I was reading about conversion. And I just got thinking about what it means to really be converted to the Gospel. Then I had a thought, I think that someone who is truly converted to the Gospel of Jesus and who truly understands, it would show so by sharing it with every single person that he or she knows. This is the true Gospel, and the only way to obtain eternal salvation. Why wouldn't we want to share it with every single one of our brothers and sisters.
   I know this Gospel is true and more importantly I know that the Savior does live and did atone for every single mistake every single one of us will ever make! Hope you all have a wonderful week!!
Love,
Elder Elder

One pound of beef!! YUM!!

Kelly Lord, and the piano prodigies! So Sweet!

December 10, 2012

Hey,
   Well my comp just very kindly told me that I have approximately 5 minutes to finish up email, so I better make this one quick. Ha. Well, it finally snowed here, but it was so warm that it all melted. But we did throw a few snow balls with our limited supply of snow!
   I just wanted to share what I read about during personal study. I was reading in Alma 7, about the Savior's birth and the Atonement. My favorite scripture is verse 11. "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sickness of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." This time of the year is such a wonderful time. It is a time of giving, and a time to remember our dear Savior's birth and ministry. I know that he does live, and did accomplish everything that the Father asked of him. I know that it is by and through our Savior that we are all made clean, and can once again enjoy the fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23.
   I hope everybody is doing well and I love you all!!!
Love,
Elder Elder

Chopping wood...

Elder Harris

Little Ricky Bristow

M&M's

Elder Elder and Santa

Tracting

December 4, 2012

Hey everybody!!
   Well, I don't have too much to say this week, but it was a good one. We are teaching two families right now, and a few individuals as well. The Bristows and Archy Thomas all have baptism dates for Decc. 22 and the Rumbo family (Jesus, Laurie, Angel, Lucas and Junior) all have dates for the 29th of December. They aren't as solid as we want them to be, but we are teaching them on Wednesday and are hoping to have a wonderful lesson that will help their testimonies grow in the Savior!
   Not too much has happened this week, but I do want to share a scripture from my studies that I really liked. It is in Mormon. So this is when Mormon is trying to get the Nephites to repent so they won't be destroyed. It is Mormon 3:2-3. (2) And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me: Cry unto this people--Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared.  (3) And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain; and they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them, and granted unto them a chance for repentance. And behold they did harden their hearts against the Lord their God." That scripture just makes me think how much the Lord does love us. Even in the Nephites wicked state, we still gave them a chance to repent. The Lord truly doesn't care what you have done, he only cares where you are right now and where you are willing to go with his help. I love this Gospel. There is nothing else that can bring the healing power that the Atonement does bring. No matter what we have don, we can always lean on our brother's shoulder for help and guidance. My favorite thing is to teach this to people and see the hope that it gives all of them. I love all of you and wish you happy holidays!!
Love,
Elder Elder

Elder Harris

Yes, we are cooking a meal.

In the Basilica

Weekly Planning Blizzard