Well, last week was Christmas and it was pretty eventful. We had a lot of contact with Emily Gill because her children have been in and out of the hospital one after the other. Surprisiingly, she's handling the situation with her children being sick very well. She understands more fully how it is in God's hands and we just have to continue to do our best. She has been an inspiration to me as I've spoken to her. We've trying to set a baptismal date with her for Jan. 30, but she said that she wanted to pray about it. Knowing that she doens't take baptism lightly makes me very happy because baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel, and it should considered and pondered on. I know she will make the right choice. She knows this Church is true. She loves the gospel and she loves the people that are in the ward.
We have also been seeing a young man named Beto(Alberto), who is boyfriend to one of the members of the single's branch. He has been carefully listening to the words that we have shared with him and really likes us coming over and hearing what the Lord has given us to say. Beto does not yet have a testimony of Joseph Smith being a prophet, though. We have asked him to read from the Book of Mormon and to pray about it's truth and about Joseph Smith being a prophet of God. He said he would and Elder Moosman and I will be going over there tomorrow to see how he's progressing.
Please keep Emily and Beto in your prayers. They need further light and knowledge concerning the gospel.
As for my Christmas, well it started Christmas Eve when the snowstorm started to fall. We received a call from the Assistants about a lday who requested a priesthood blessing at one of the hospitals nearby. So, at about 2 in the afternoon, we had Bro. Burns(his family had invited us over for Christmas Eve) come to pick us up to drive to Southcrest Hospital. Right before he arrived at our apartment, the snow and the wind started coming. With care, we were picked up and driven over to the hospital so we could perform the blessing. Sis. LouEllen, the sister who requested the blessing, was very grateful for us coming. Upon leaving, Bro. Burns saw someone in the hall he recognized. It was the daughter of one of the members in the Mingo Valley Ward. I had never seen her before because she was very inactive, but I knew her family very well. Just two rooms down from Sis. LouEllen, Bro. Hilbert was in a hospital bed with a gall bladder infection. Sis. Hilbert said that she had been praying for someone to come, and she couldn't think of who to call. She was extremely grateful that her prayers had been answered and tha we were there for her husband. So, we gave him a blessing as well. After the experiences at the hospital, we started back towards the Burns' home. We had a great time at their house with their family eating dinner(ribs), playing games, and sharing the story of the birth of our Savior from Luke 2 and Mark 2. After all of that, we noticed the storm had gotten much worse. We decided to try and make it home, but we got stuck not ten feet from their driveway. So, we called the mission president and he said, for our safety, we should stay the night at the Burns'. Christmas morning rolled around and we had a great breakfast with them and then we opened presents. The Burns' gave us matching ties. Then, we called home. It felt great to speak to my parents and my siblings. I am grateful for all of your support and I love each and every one of you. The snow was still pretty bad outside so we stayed at their house until the evening time, when we decided that we should go back to our apartment. So, at about 6pm, we finally arrived back at our apartment unharmed. It was a great Christmas.
That's my little story for the week, but there are little stories in between as well. Those I will share at a later time.
As for now, let me convey my love for all of you. You have all been a tremendous blessing in my life and I am so grateful to be apart of your lives as well. I love all of you for the laughs we have shared, the tears we have shed, and for love we have expressed towards one another. There is no simpler way of saying it: I love all of you.
That's what this holiday season is about, but more importantly, that is what life is about.
Elder Fellows
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