Skype is Spectacular

On Monday, December 28, 2015 12:45 PM, Dustin Thelander <dustin.thelander@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Photo- me in my Christmas PJs with all of the presents sent to me.

Besides it being Christmas and being able to Skype home, this week was amazing! We had a magical Tuesday. We had a very successful district meeting followed by some finding activities. President Hobbs really encourages us to find new people to teach at all times. That way, when people end up being baptized or fall away, we still have people to teach. Tuesday, we found Pedro. He is an older man, and when we went to knock on his door, he pulled up to his house. We opened his gate for him and talked for a long time. He enjoys the topic of religion and wants to learn more about what we have to say. We will see him again after the year ends. Then we saw Pam. I love her honesty. She loves the church, and she truly know for herself about most of it. There are still, understandably, some things that she wants further answers about. Heck, there are still things that life long members of the church want and need further understanding about. She was very comforted by knowing that. The church is amazing in the fact that a child can understand it, but the learned adult will spend a lifetime learning as well. Also, that night we saw and taught Sandra and her two kids, Michael and Milea. We showed to them the "A Savior is Born" videos, and they just loved the message contained in it.

Wednesday also saw amazing things. Hayley, who we have not seen in a while due to her schedule and stress, let us in. It was there we met her daughter, Journey. She is 10, and she loved the videos the church has put out. Hayley wants the best for her kids, so she wants them to attend the church. They could not make it this week, but prospects for next week are very good. Christmas Eve, we spent the morning over with Bill Jensen. His kid, Liam, was with his mother for a couple of days, so Bill was so grateful to have us over to make the home feel a bit less lonely. He did get Liam the couple days following when the Jensen family had their Christmas, so that was good. The majority of the rest of the day was spent caroling. We saw people in our area and a couple of others. Then, after a great dinner, we caroled again. This time in the area over from us, and we just picked a street and went down the whole thing. Many opened the door, and we began singing our favorite Christmas songs. It was interesting, the first reaction of at least 90% of the people was to pull out their cameras and record us singing. So, we may just be the next big Youtube sensation :).

Christmas day was magical. I opened up the gifts I received (I will have sweets to last me a year), and then we headed over to the Gallagher home. They fed us an amazing breakfast then I began the long awaited Skype home. There were some minor glitches at the beginning, but it was all quickly resolved and the call home was amazing. The family is doing so good, and when I say family, I mean like the entire family on both sides! I got to speak briefly to my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Of course, the best time was with my family, and that was where the great majority of the talking was done. The Gallaghers are amazing to have hosted us, and I was just so happy to be able to talk to my family. Dinner at the Bowker family later was great as well. They will be sealed together as a family for time and all eternity in the temple on the 9th- so amazing.

Sunday was fantastic- I love going to church. To partake of the sacrament is the highlight of my week. Sarah Ritter who was less active no more then 2-3 months ago gave an amazing talk on faith. To see where she is now is a true miracle. That night after dinner, we talked with Juan y Jocelyn who were at church, and they loved the service. After that visit, we went over again to the home of Sandra. This time we took along a member of our ward, Dene Crandall and her Daughter Hannah. Hannah is best friends with Michael, Sandra's son. This meeting was so special. Sandra's husband, Juan, and his son, Nathan, were home as well and joined with us as we taught the message of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sister Crandall's testimony and input made all of the difference. This lesson was completely filled with the spirit. The father asked many great questions, and his interest is high. Milea, who is 13, Michael 12, Juan the father, and Nathan 20, all accepted the invitation to be baptized on January 30th. I have such faith that they can all make that date. The real amazing thing that I noticed about half was through the lesson was that Sandra became quite emotional. She had been baptized a long time ago and wants so badly to become active again. Seeing her family all together learning about the Gospel was amazing to her. At the end of the lesson, she was more emotional than ever, and I asked her what she was feeling. She just said that we missionaries, and especially Sister Crandall, were an answer to many many prayers. It is lessons like this one, moments like that, that make all of the other hardships of a mission just vanish and the feeling of joy supersedes it all.

I wish you all a late Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! Here is my scripture of the week. It is found in 2 Nephi, chapter 31, verse 3, "For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding."

Love,

Elder Thelander