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!