It is the Christmas season!!! But of course you all already know that. Quick updates with my day to day life and then to the good stuff.
Spanish: Going well. I am learning a ton. In me next post I will include some Spanish.
Companions: I am back to two companions. Elder Canaan is off to Peru Canaan ....) I am happy. I am closer to them both now than I ever have been.
Finger/ Health: I am doing well. Sleeping better. Finger gets xrayed on the 30th. Showers are cold. I have too much food. Im getting into shape pretty well.
Gospel (a.k.a. "The good stuff"): Last night we had our weekly devotional. Elder Bowen spoke. His wife spoke first and she made some fantastic points and did very well. Her over all message was what my father has been telling me for years. "Write down your goals. In the action of writing it down, it is not only easier to remember, but it also is the first step to action in keeping your commitments." That is not a direct quote but it gets the point across. So I challenge myself and anyone reading this. Write down your goal. When the time comes to make a decision concerning those goals, you will not hesitate but act immediately upon the choice that you have already made. Great thought for life.
Elder Bowen then spoke. He spoke about Christmas. He told a story about a little boy that saw a man with a beautiful car andd asked "where did you get that car!?!" "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." "I wish I...." The man thought he was going to say "i wish i could have a car like that" But the boy said "I wish I could be that kind of brother" That hit my heart like a piano. I thought of my brothers. I thought of everything that i DIDN'T do for them. Take the "mas" out of "What can i give for Christmas?" and make it "what can i give for Christ?".
I dont have the time that i need to fully express myself but my last point is when Elder Bowen read the story of Christ's birth. He read the part where the sheperds went and saw the Christ child in the stable. What did they do after they saw him? Do you remember? I will tell you. They went about the city proclaiming all that they had heard from the angel and all that they had seen of the baby. Their excitement of what they had seen and heard was so great that they could not bare to hold it to themselves. They spread the news to all that would hear them.
We have that message. We have that same news. Are we as excited as those men? Do we go about to all that would hear us and tell the world of the news that Christ has come? That Christ has been born that we all might have salvation? That is what this season is all about. Give the true gifftt of Christmas with fervor and excitement.
I love you all. Have a wonderful Christmas!!! This is Elder Heath signing out.
