Sharp Cheddar 12/9/2019

On Tuesday we did service for a guy who had a stroke recently. We put a bunch of old stuff in their truck so they can take it to the DI. They had a machete that they said I could have but I forgot it when we left :(. Later we had a lesson with F, M, I, and L about the plan of salvation. After we had a lesson with R about the birth of Jesus. After that we went to the G's and had some cider and black forest cake.

Wednesday was transfers. We went to the mission office so Elder W could pick up his new greenie. I got picked up by my new companion Elder S and we went to my new area in Roy. We went to our apartment and I unpacked a little before we went to set up for a baptism for a kid named B. It went smoothly. After we went to a rehearsal for a ward Christmas party. After we went to dinner and had an amazing quiche with garlic zucchini. 

Thursday we did lots of service. We helped a guys start to build a shelf then later we went to a senior center and set up Christmas decorations for them. Later we were at the church and someone was setting up for a pinewood derby so we went and helped him set up. After dinner, we had a lesson with a boy and his mom. we talked about the plan of salvation and how God helps us through our trials. Afterwards, a member told us a story. One camp out his son was sitting at a campfire when he reached to grab some cheese-its out of the bag and when he brought it out, his hand was bleeding. He had cut himself on a cheese-it. From then on, they all called him sharp cheddar.

Friday we had multidistrict council where we talked a lot about inviting people to baptism. I also got to see Elder K and Elder S which was awesome. That evening we had a Christmas party. We had just eaten dinner but we stuffed down some more food. What they did for their program was they had a giant picture frame and they did stills of the nativity story and prophesies regarding it. It was a really cool way of doing it. After we went and talked to a lady named W. She had lots of questions and we were there for a while answering questions and we committed her to read the Book of Mormon.

Saturday we had a big list of people we wanted to talk to and so we walk around for a couple hours going to them. We were walking around a bend when we saw an enormously tall person. They were taller than their truck and we were super confused. As we got closer, we realized that it was someone standing on someone else's shoulders which was super cool. After, we went to another Christmas party before coordinating about people with one of our ward mission leaders. When we walked in our apartment, the lights were all out and one of our zone leaders was lying on the floor face down with the sound track from zombies playing. It was kinda weird but they were waiting for us to get back so they could talk to us.

Sunday we went to 3 sacrament meetings and confirmed B. We were eating lunch and one of the bishopric came in and started heating things up in the oven when smoke started pouring out of it. We turned it off but then it was smoked roast beef. After we had a lesson with a pair of twins. They were super funny because we were talking about the plan of salvation and they knew almost all of it already. From asking questions in church to reading scriptures, they had learned about almost all of it already which was cool. Later we went and watched the Christmas devotional at a members house who had an awesome home theater. Something that we talked about in Elders Quorum was about how we celebrate Christmas which I thought was insightful. They said there were 3 ways to celebrate Christmas. One is the Santa celebration where our focus is on the lights, presents, trees and such. The next way is the Nativity celebration where we focus on the birth of Jesus. The last way and the best way is the Adult Savior Celebration. In this way, we focus on the Savior and his birth but also his life and death for us. This Christmas, focus not only one the birth of Jesus but on his life and what it means to us.

Miracle of the week: When I went into the Christmas devotional I really wanted to feel the spirit during it. That day had been rough as my companions neck had been hurting a lot and so we hadn't done much and I felt unproductive. During the Christmas devotional they announced that they choir and orchestra would preform "For unto us a child is born" and I heard the introduction from the violins, I felt the spirit very strongly telling my that I am loved and cared about by my Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Quote of the week: "I know what the gift that never stops giving is! Jesus! No honey, its diamonds."

Pictures (hopefully in order):

1. Baptism of B

2. Some large icicles

3. Out view while ice skating Monday

4. Candy corn corn

5. A farewell to my mission dad for now

6. The mountains at sunset