Transfers

Well, its the week of Transfers again.  Yesterday morning Elder Wu and I got a call.  We were informed that Elder Wu would be moving to the Millwoods stake, and I would be staying to serve with Elder Decker!  For those of you keeping track at home, this is my third repeat companion, Elder Decker was also my third companion in the North.  I am super excited to serve with him.

This week was also Christmas!  It was great.  It was a time we were able to see support of members and friends as we prepared, pondered, and shared the message of Christ's birth.  I am so grateful for the gift that God has given us, the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  He is truly our Savior and Redeemer.  

Also coming up this week is New Years!  I am also grateful at this time of reflection on the Savior to have a prompting to reflect on the self, what we can do to improve.  By combining the two, making an active effort with the help of Christ to improve, we can become an unstoppable force for good.

I love you all and Hope You Have a Great Day!

Pulled out the paper Christmas tree for the 2nd time around

Elder Ethington and his zone. He is a district leader for the sisters here and the elder who is carried by Elder Wu and the elder who is standing next to T.J.  on the right. 

The sisters in T.J.'s district with the pillow pets he gave them for Christmas

Our family skype picture on Christmas day

Elder Ethington is Santa

The Christmas tie that Elder Ethington bought at a thrift store and embroidered with his emergency sewing kit for Elder Wu

Merry Christmas!!!!

HO HO HO 圣诞节快乐！

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season.  This season has been great.  As the second on my mission, I am learning more and more how to make Christmas into a day to serve, a day for others.  That's something I've struggled with for a long time.  But serving the Lord

24/7 really does wonders to help a guy learn to get over himself!

This week has been great.  We had our Christmas party, a karaoke night, and it went great.  So far, I have only gathered one picture from it, but I will send more as ey come.  Also this week I found a few pictures people took of me when I played the role of Santa Claus for a Chinese school we often volunteer at.  It was great to see how happy it made kids to see Santa.  We didn't have any Will Ferrels making a scene (great movie, really missing it this season) but it was a great time none the less.

On Thursday we had our mission Christmas Conference.  It was a great experience to meet with President and Sister Manion again and to be

able to feel their love and their Spirit.   In the conference, I was

also able to participate by singing "Come Thou Fount" with my district, and by helping to give a short explanation about Christmas customs in China.  It was a great time!

Other than that, this week has been fairly normal.  Love you all!

Wish you a Merry Christmas!

  Bye!

Countdown to Christmas

Hello all!  This has been a great week!  This week we have had the chance to participate in a few Christmas parties.  It really is the season!  But as busy as times are getting, work here in the Riverbend stake have still been awesome.  I super enjoy serving here, especially with Elder Wu.  There is great promise in the Land of Riverbend.

Last week, I also didn't write, but I was at the local Science Museum.  It was a blast!  They had an exhibit on Rubik's Cubes, and we got to go there and have a great time.

This week I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Collins, a fairly young missionary.  He is a great guy.  The best part is that he is from Arizona too!  So we had a great time discussing the lack of heat and the other woes we face being so far away from home.  Just kidding.  But really.  I miss the heat.

Next week is looking like its going to be great too!  We have Christmas conference coming up, which I am super excited for.  I love the chance to gather and to hear from President during the Christmas season.  It really is a blessing.

This Christmas, I am learning more about the traditions.  Why do we give gifts?  Why do we have some of the traditions that we do?  And I am always surprised by how strongly they point back to Christ.  Even though we may not think about it all the time, almost everything around this time of year points back to Christ.  We just have to work to keep him in mind.  I know that I feel a better peace as I do work to keep Christ in the center of Christmas.

Have a great week!  Love you!