Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Monday, December 18, 2017
Apply the Atonement in Your Life A Letter to Elder Hawley 12/18/17
Hi Elder,
Sounds like you are getting more snow than we are. We have
about one inch that's it. They say it might snow this week, but we will have to
see. It has been really cold and inverted. No sunshine is awful. We are,
however, doing great. We can't believe that Christmas is next week and we get to talk to you! This year has
gone by so fast, it is unbelievable.
It
is so good to hear things are
going well for you. We love reading about your experiences and the
people you
are teaching. We had a very good sacrament meeting today with some great
talks
about Christmas and what is really important. One of our stake high
councilmen spoke. He reflected back to when he was on his mission and he
and his companions with others decided to go caroling at Christmas
time. They sang "Joy to the World and "Hark the Harold Angels Sing".
They were invited in and were able to teach to some who really felt the
spirit of those two songs. He also said, "During this Christmas season
and always, apply the atonement in your life." He gave a really good
talk. There are so
many great things
about this time of year. It is just too bad that all the good seems to
get
overshadowed by all the busy craziness of this time of year. We
are donating to a Sub for Santa as a family this year and donating to
the homeless.
Megan
is feeling a lot better. She is busy trying to catch up in school which
is overwhelming to her. She has also been super busy with her Madrigal
performances (gigs as they call them) which she really enjoys. She also
attended the Madrigal Christmas party and had fun at that. Malia had her
orchestra Christmas Concert last week which was good. She is getting
really good at playing the Viola. Miles went with dad to the new Star
Wars movie that was part of Symphony's Homes Christmas party (it was
during school, so Miles got out early to attend the movie with dad).
When Miles got home mom asked him how he liked the movie and if he
understood it. He said, "Yes I liked it and it was in English so I
understood it." Hahahahaha
We
miss you a ton and
hope you have a very Merry Christmas. We are looking forward to next
Christmas when we can all be together again. We know you are doing the
Lord's
work and we are so proud of you. What a great way to celebrate Christmas
by serving and doing the Lord's work. You will be blessed for the rest
of your life for
your service.
A
couple of Christmas scriptures for you to ponder this week. Luke 2:8-14
and Luke 2:6-7. Keep up the good work, we pray for you each day.
We Love You,
Your Family
Monday, December 11, 2017
Rat Hunter 2017 12/11/17
This week we had a visitor Friday
morning. To start off, it was so cold this day. It was so cold it
snowed!!! I felt like I was at home! I went to my closet to my drawer
that had all of my winter clothes and as I was pulling them out...what
runs up my arm...a rat? What? That sounds awesome? Jaja I don’t know why
but it scared me so bad. Jaja then for the next 30 minutes we were
chasing it all over the place and finally I grabbed
a cardboard box and went to catch it and I accidentally killed
it....poor guy. We took some funny videos but I’m not sure if I can send
them! I will try.
So
this day it snowed in the morning and we were just walking around wet
and cold knocking on doors and nobody wanted to come out. Then just as
we were about to give up
and go buy some hot chocolate, we saw this girl walk out of her house
and go around back and we decide...well if she can just walk out she can
listen to us too! So we knocked on the door and her sister and brother
answered, they immediately accept us in, and
we taught them. They are super cool and really want to go to church and
learn more! So that really was a miracle!
Also
we are teaching this really cool gentleman (is that the right word??)
named Ricardo who is like 60 and is blind! He is a friend of a member
that lives really far and
they gave us his direction and told us to visit him. We went to go
visit him and he immediately accepted to come to church and to prepare
to be baptized! He is really cool! He is teaching us to read
Braille....so that is pretty cool too.
When
it snowed (my comps first snow experience) we made a little snowman and
it turned out pretty ugly. It was so cold the snow...it was more like
an ugly slush man haha
but it’s okay, it was fun.
This was a great week! I hope you guys are enjoying the cold! Have a great week!
Love you guys a ton!
Reach Out in Compassion & Mercy A Letter to Elder Hawley 12/11/17 12/11/17
Hey Elder,
It is always great to hear from you, even better to hear of your
success and your love for the work and for the people. The pictures are great,
we love to see the people you are teaching.
We can't believe it is almost
Christmas. Time is going by so fast here at home. We haven't really had any
snow yet this year. Last year by now we already had a ton. We are praying for a white Christmas.
Megan
is feeling a lot better and went back to a full day of school last
Friday. She also went on a date on Saturday night and had a lot of fun.
We hope she continues to improve and can catch up on all her school
work. Thank you for your prayers. We felt them. Megan is busy now with
Madrigal performances in December. The Madrigals did the whole program
in our ward Sacrament Meeting. Megan and Jonah spoke then the group sang
the remaining part of the program. Megan spoke on Having Charity and
referenced Moroni 7:44-47. They all did a great job. Malia is busy
trying to keep up with her school work, early morning cheer practices,
and the many activities she is involved in. Miles is doing well and was
so excited he got 100% on his spelling test on Friday. Woo Hoo!!!
After
our ward Sacrament Meeting we went to Jacinda's Homecoming. It was
really nice. It was so fun to see all the swim friends there and catch
up with them...Thomas, Dylan, Kelly, Daniel/Becca, Gabbey/Chipper, Kase,
and Jake. Jake is applying for Med School, he wanted me to tell you. He
wants to go into Auto Immune Disorder Research. He should know
by March where he will be going. All four of the Hodgson kids are going
to the U and are doing well. Kyler has a serious girlfriend and
will have his Masters this Spring. Daniel and Becca will be finished
this Spring too.
Something to contemplate this month: From Elder Eieter F Uchtdorf: "During
this beloved Christmas season, it is fitting that we take delight in
the lights, music, gifts, and glitter. This is all part of why we love
this time of year so much. But let us never forget that we are disciples
and followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. To truly honor His
coming into the world, we must do as He did and reach out in compassion
and mercy to those who suffer. This we can do daily, by word and deed.
Let this become our Christmas tradition, no matter where we are-to be a
little kinder, more forgiving, less judging, more grateful, and
more generous in sharing our abundance with those in need. My wife,
Harriet joins me in sending you our love, best wishes, and greetings for
a very Merry Christmas. May the contemplation of the birth of Jesus in
Bethlehem inspire us to be like Him. May Christ's mission and example
cause our hearts to swell with divine love for God and deep compassion
for our fellowmen. And may we ever scatter our crumbs with greater
generosity and unceasing love."
Keep up the good work and stay focused. The best is yet to come. This last part of the mission will be the
best.
We love you tons,
Your Family
Monday, December 4, 2017
It's December Already!!! 12/04/17
Wow. I cannot believe how fast time is going by!!! This week was super awesome!
First of all I don’t know if I have talked about
the family Perez, but they are awesome! It is a less active family that
we found that hadn’t been going to church for years! They have a 10 year
old daughter that hadn’t been baptized. We
found them and started teaching them again. The little girl’s name is
Iran. We had been teaching them for like three weeks and they have been
going to church again. This Sunday Iran got baptized! It was such an
awesome experience to see their whole family
in the church again! We were all super happy!
Second, we had been teaching this guy named Marcos
who is really cool, but to be honest he just wasn’t progressing. He was
really busy going to work and with lots of stuff and we were going to
have to stop visiting him. One day we decided
to go to his house...normally we had always taught him and seen him at
his work, but we went to his house and met his daughters! Turns out that
they use to go to church with their grandma who is a member and they
were super excited when we asked them if they
wanted to come again! They came to church and they are super excited to
keep coming with us!
Third, we are teaching a 17 year old named
Marcelino, he is super cool! We found him this last week and he came to
church with us
on Sunday
and wants to keep coming. We talked to him about how him coming to
church is one of the ways that he can show God that he loves him and has
faith in him. He told us, “I think the best way I can show
God that I love him is bringing my brothers and sisters here to the
church too.” I died when he said that. So awesome.
In the picture with the graffiti, it’s some cool graffiti that says “For you”. It was for his love for you. John
3:16. That is the scriputre that says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.”
I love you guys a ton, and I am loving it here! Have a great week everyone!
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