Merry After Christmas

So, don't look at the pictures yet. Save those for last. I have to explain them first!

Anyways, this week has been awesome! We had so much fun. Tuesday we had a fantastic Christmas Activity with all the mission. Man was that a mess to set up... With renting buses and transporting Christmas boxes and materials, it got a little crazier, especially when we were trying to leave and people tried to stay and chat! But oh well. It was fun. We had a super spiritual experience as we listened to Christmas messages given by President and Sister Farnes. It was great to remember the reason of the season! I liked it even more when we then read the story of Christ's birth in between singing songs. President had the assistants and the secretaries each read a part of the story in front of everyone. We would alternate in between reading scriptures and singing songs as a mission. So much fun! The spirit was super strong as we sat there and partook of the experience together. We then afterwards ate lunch, which was barbeque! Super great, but the most fun was the talent show. There were some pretty funny acts that were dumb, and the missionaries had us cracking up as they imitated other missionaries and people. During this whole time, there was a photographer paid to just take bazillions of pictures. So he did. Including when he gathered us all together to take a mission picture. He took seriously like 30 pictures. So, I don't exactly know what he was thinking when he decided to sent a sample picture

to us, and I WAS LITERALLY SITTING FRONT AND CENTER WITH MY EYES CLOSED. What nerve. I was not too happy. It's okay though, because I'm sure he'll drop off all the pictures here in the office, so I'll steal them all and send some better ones. Funny thing though, another Elder here in the office, Elder McArthur, decided to be creative. He saw the picture and decided to improve it. You may now look at the pictures. DON'T I LOOK GOOD?? Just saying. Yes, he stuck glasses on me in the picture, and he even took the liberty to take those particular glasses from my friend Elder Carney who's sitting two people away from me. I laughed SO HARD for like 20 minutes straight. I kind of loved it. I might have to buy similar glasses now and just always do my hair like that. Just saying.

So that was great. Christmas Eve and Christmas were kind of normal. We worked here in the office and spent time resolving problems with missionaries trying to talk with their families. There were quite a few anxious parents who called or emailed us just exasperated. It all got taken care of though! We had Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas lunch with the same member, the relief society president, who is just super awesome, so that was fun. The best part, of course, was talking to my family on Christmas day. I called there around 7:30 at night here, so I had to wait patiently, but it turned out great! I loved, loved, loved getting to see everyone there. I miss my family so much! They are very dear to me. However, I'll get over the trunkiness soon, because this next week will be chaotic. Salt Lake wants all the baptisms for the year entered by the 3rd of January, which is three days earlier than normal. So I'll have my work cut out for me getting stuff done, but it'll go fine. It's almost 2015!!!! It's so cool. Seriously excited. So, in advance, Happy New Year!! I hope that everyone makes excellent life goals this year that will help you reach your true potential! If you're in need of a nifty, little goal, feel free to see the third picture included here! I love all of you and wish you the best!

Sincerely,

Elder Ashford