Hi there everyone! :D

Merry Christmas Eve! Excited for tomorrow! We have had a very eventful week. Elder Franchino has typed up a report of some of the major events. It will be contained herein.

For today's email, to keep it short.

Christmas Play:

-One of our Bcd's put on a play at her dads church so last night we caught a ride with her boyfriend who is in town from BYU down to the church to watch. It was so funny! Ole southern Assembly of God church. Everyone had real THICK southern accents. Great play! Lots of laughs. A few strange looks when people saw "mormon" missionaries walking into their church.

Baptism Saturday:

-One of the ladies we are working with is getting baptized this Saturday. She came down with strep throat but will be better by Saturday hopefully. She is awesome, we taught the Word of Wisdom and also Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and she said she would quit shopping on Sunday and no more tea and coffee. There were no hesitations about it. So neat to see that!!! Great faith.

12 Days of Christmas:

-Mom has officially spoiled me. She went all out even though she said she wouldn't :p I got this amazing package Tuesday morning from the "Fruit Company" filled with an assortment of holiday treats and the best part was fresh pears and apples!! yumm!!!! I have been eating them up. Elder Franchino has been getting spoiled too. I am about to rap up his 12 days of Christmas. It has been really fun to do these for him.

Christmas:

-Christmas is really a special time of year, I didn't realize it in the years past. So many great blessings and such a sweet spirit. The significance of it all is often overlooked by the ribbons and bows. I am grateful, for my Savior who has come into the world to die for my sins. We are teaching, (to the best of our ability) two girls from Thailand who are foreign exchange students. They have a hard time understanding "why" Christ died for us. It is very difficult to describe in words why it is personally meaningful. We literally, through the grace of Christ, can become new. We can become clean. A real deep refreshed feeling. Relationships can be healed, broken hearts knitted back together. Feelings of love, peace and joy can be restored. Lives changed. Only in and through Jesus Christ. By His grace. I know He lives and I love Him. From the little babe in Bethlehem to the ressurected Lord. His life was one of service to others and sacrifice for others. We can turn to Him for comfort, for strength. A cool note, both extremes of classes bore witness of Him. The shepherds in their lowly state and also the Wise Men, with all their worldly class and wealth. Jesus died for all mankind. No particular bloodline. We are all beggars looking to the same God for forgiveness. Merry Christmas everyone!

Love,

Elder West :D