Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays Elder Williams,
 

In Sunday School the question was asked is Santa Claus is real. I said that if you quit believing in Santa, then all you get for Christmas is underwear. :)
 

We talked about miracles and if they still exist today. There were some good examples. But it kept running through my mind that we experience a miracle every Sabbath ...it's the miracle of forgiveness we can receive when we partake of the sacrament. I've been thinking of the song, "Amazing Grace". I think it should be a Christmas song. It is so beautiful and I love the lyrics which say:
 

'Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.'
 

I am a wretch. I'm a sinner and fallen being. My only hope is in Jesus Christ who can save me. I'm grateful for his compassion and divine intervention. I hope I will receive this gift fully.
 

In tonight's Christmas devotional, President Uchtdorf spoke about being a cheerful giver and also being a cheerful receiver. I am not a cheerful receiver. It is a struggle for me to receive because I feel like I owe a debt to whomever gives to me. I know this is the wrong way to be. I have thought about it and that is how I feel towards Christ....like a debtor and an unworthy receiver. President Uchtdorf helped me realize that I'm not receiving the Atonement fully. I need to trust and have faith that he will indeed do what he has promised...redeem me even though I'm a wretch, a fallen person who has so many weaknesses. I've been walking in blindness, because I haven't seen the miracle of love and forgiveness that we are offered with compassion. Hopefully, I can open my eyes to the gift and open my heart to receive it.

 

 

I love you. I pray for you. I was able to attend the temple and put your name on the prayer roll as well as Erik's. I hope that he was baptized. I hope he accepted the true gospel and received the Holy Ghost.

 

 

Many blessings to you and those whom you are teaching.

 

 

With love,

Mom

 

 

 Dear Mom,

Thank you for sending those letters from all of the other missionaries
in the Stake. That was a blast from the past. It was really neat to
see how the different Elders took to the work and their missions.
Could you ask Sister Oscarson for Luke's address? Preferablly his
mission office address.

Thank you for sharing your insights that you gained from the Christmas
devotional. I've been struggling with the same thing. I hate it when I
make the same stupid mistakes over and over again, but I know that it
can be made right through the Atonement. Trust and faith are something
I'm growing in, now I'm trying to grow in humiliy so that I can submit
and accept.

Thank you for praying for Erik. Erik was baptized on Saturday and was
confirmed and ordained to the office of a priest on Sunday. It has
truly been a joy to be a part of his journey into the church. So many
missionaries and members have helped him along the way, and now he is
in a great position to bless others. I dearly hope he serves a mission
in the future.

We set a baptismal date with a lady named Tina the other day for the
15th of December. The Lord is truly great and wants His children to
join His church. There are miracles happening here in McKinleyville,
and I'm so grateful to be a part of the Lord's work here. It has been
an interesting and wonderful experience working here.

I love you Mom. Thank you for sending me those addresses too.

Love,

Elder Williams

 

 

 

 

Hi Talon,
 

We were happy to hear about your baptism and hope the other one happened this past weekend. We earnestly pray for your success. Hopefully you are continueing to feel better and your cold hasn't slowed you down. My first Christmas out on my mission, my companion and I were both sick and had to stay in for about 3 days. It wasn't fun at all.
 

Lots of talk in church yesterday about the change in the missionary program and elders being sent to China soon for as long as 3 years. All the other parents of missionaries are talking about how many more missionaries will be sent to their son's missions. You mentioned you may get up to as high as 250 missionaries. I definately think the change is the right thing to do.
 

Brandt had one game last week and it was in Richfield. I think it was his best yet. He scored a few less points but he had a complete game with rebounding and assists and just making smart plays. He has struggled with free throws the past 2 weeks though. It's funny because 3 weeks ago he won the Elks Lodge sponsored free throw contest at school and this past Saturday he competed against kids from 13 schools and won. He got a nice trophy and advances to another competition in January where region winners from St. George to Nephi will be competining in Monroe for a chance to go to the State finals in Provo.

 

 

The girls have been practicing a duet that they will sing at thier Christmas recital and Raina is now the back up piano player for the school choir on days when Sis. Anderson can't make it. It has made Raina more motivated to practice. Aubree has been working hard on the yearbook. She has done some really nice work.

 

 

I should be meeting this week with a guy that can draw up plans for the garage.

I hope all is well with you and you have a great week.
 

Love Dad

 

 

Hey Pops,

Thank you so much for the prayers. Erik was baptized, confirmed, and
ordained to the office of a priest. It was such a sweet experience. He
overcame it all and was successful. We've got another lady with a
date, the 15th. We gave her a blessing on Sunday and she accepted her
date too. She is a member referal that we got the first week I was
here, so I'm grateful that the Lord prepared her to recieve the
Gospel.

I'm looking forward to the big jump in numbers. Today is transfer
Tuesday, so in about 3 months it'll really hit out here.

This cold is still bugging me. I've had it for over 2 months now, but
I got a blessing today so I should be getting better soon.

I'm glad to hear that Brandt is having a good streak. It'll be fun to
see how much change he has gone through when I get back. He'll smoke
me even more.

The girls seem to be having a good time. It's good to see that they are busy.

Send me pictures of the garage. It'll be good to have a garage again.

Love you,

Elder Williams