Hey!!!!

I got the package for my birthday!!!! Thank you sooooo much. The extra extra socks made my day, and I currently am wearing them, for those who are wondering. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and never lets us get too up nor too down. This week I have felt the love and affection of the Savior more than any time in my life. President expressed a ton of confidence in my abilities, as did my district leader Elder Santo. Elder Van Loo, my companion, is a man that I highly respect and hope to keep a good contact between us for the rest of our lives. These three men in this time have raised me higher, and deserve all that I have to give (as does really any child of God, but these three especially.) Please keep them in your prayers. We still haven´t baptized this month, but there is still hope. The power of faith coupled with fervent prayer to discern the Lord´s will, and immediate action to do it, all comprise the formula for success. We´re gonna add a little bit of our spontaneous love for others as our own part, but the rest really lies in the Lord´s hands to shape us and direct us to His prepared children. Christmas time is here. Are we all happy? It is the most wonderful time of the year, especially in South America with our summer heat. Goodness how I love it! People here don´t put as much emphasis on Christmas as they do the New Year, which saddens me, but the season gives us great reason to contact and talk with everyone: sharing a message of the Savior´s birth. There are myriad accounts of it in the Scriptures. The first Nephi, not the 2nd 3rd nor 4th, prophesies of Him, King Benjamin tells the tale, Samuel the Lamanite tells it, Isaiah foretells it triumphantly, and St Luke made it famous. Try reading them and think about the significance of that moment, paired with that of Easter, which in reality was the day which gave the most hope to all of mankind. Without Easter, we would have no point of living. I love the Savior and all that He has done, does now and will do for me and my loved ones. Spend some time with your loved ones this time of the year, and make loved ones out of those who have none. ¿Feliz Navidad! Elder Lindsey

As I have heard reports of the Lone Peak High School Madrigal Feast and its festivious successes, I am again turned to think on the Savior and how much I love Him. My favorite of all the songs we ever sang for Christmas is "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree" I don´t have time to write the lyrics, but He keeps us alive and gives us rest. The Reason for the Season is love, as the Bible teaches us. "God is love", we learn. So, how do we become like Him? Love! We worked like crazy this last week to get all of the members in on the Bring-a-friend-to-church Day, and those that did were richly rewarded it seems. Those who didn´t saw that, and have promised to work with us this next week. Whew. So much to plan, and so little time to do it! We had a couple come with us to church on Sunday, and they really enjoyed it. They are talking about coming back, and their questions slowly answer themselves in the message of the gospel. We are very happy for them. We had our Christmas Zone Conference yesterday, and it was great to get packages and letters from everyone whilst missionaries from across the world did the same and feasted on delicious roast pork and beef. We played soccer, piano, sang carols and just enjoyed ourselves. I have heard that the mission calls for the young ladies have already been sent out to the world near you. Mary Petersen wrote to tell me of her upcoming adventures in Canada. Good luck Mary! I love really getting to know people and having them feel the Savior´s love as I have come to feel it. "For this is life eternal, to know the Father." I hope we can all do that especially over this Christmas season. In Christ, Elder Lindseyi