No More Cows on the Farm --or Stuck in the Closet for that matter

Hello to all that will hear,

I hope everyone has had a food week! (Some may assume I meant to say "good" but they would be wrong.) Let me know if you did anything fun or exciting for Christmas. Let me know by carrier pigeon because most of you are more likely to do that than to respond to a pesky email. :)

Our Christmas was fun!! We woke up and just talked and relaxed for a bit. Then as usual the time came to take a morning shower. We've been keeping our apartment 55 degrees and lower and so all we want to do is stay in our blankets. So every morning taking a shower is agony haha--but worth it for the cozy feel of having to stay warm. We talked to our families, and then opening stockings and presents from parents, Logan/Sarah, and Elder Stroud opened some presents from me as well! Then we went over to the Miller's house and had a fantastic Christmas lunch of ham, fresh rolls, Costal Cheddar, Cheesy broccoli, and apple pie. It was super good especially when we made sandwiches with the fresh rolls + costal cheddar + honey + ham. Then we proceeded to have 2 more dinners as well! It was nice but by the last one we felt like we were going to burst. We relaxed more and talked to family more, and then played some fun games! It was overall a great Christmas. We made some funny artwork to hang as well.

Tuesday was good except for we were stressed out the entire day because we knew transfer news would come any minute. We did our shopping we would have done on Monday and laundry as well, and then went to district council. It was a good meeting except for the whole time Elder Andersen kept saying Elder Stroud was leaving. Which doesn't change anything obviously but I still resent it. We had a good lesson with Chris in the evening on the 1 Nephi Book of Mormon story. He also likes wrestling so it was fun talking to him about that. We had a lesson with Sonya too and watched the first vision video with her. Only she kept having to interrupt us to go and threaten her kids with the switch for being too loud, and Elder Stroud and I were just kinda sitting there listening anyways with other things on our minds. We finally got transfer news later that night after waiting and waiting feeling sick with nervousness. And Elder Stroud got news he was leaving. Which was exactly what we DIDNT want! He got news that he would be going to Durant, Oklahoma. So then he spent the rest of the stress packing and then stress cutting my hair haha

There was no reason at all to take away one of my best friends for my last transfer. I disagree completely with President Taylor on this--Elder Stroud should have stayed one more at least. President Taylor seems to relish switching things up the SECOND things start to click. Which is ridiculous, when things start to work the best thing to do is to see it through. 

Wednesday we started by having a fun lesson with Aletha on the Book of Mormon in the morning. (To heat her house she simply turns on her oven and puts a fan next to it and leaves it open to blow the air throughout the house. Its so funny, please try this at home.) Then after taking care of tasks we brought a giant Pizza dinner combo from Pizza Hut over to the Flower's house to eat with them! Then we helped Logan assemble his 3D printer and his new gaming chair--we figured it counted as service. :)) We walked around a lot and then went and had dinner with the Marchans which was tostadas (or something similar sounding to that) and rice and beans. We went and said goodbye to our kitty friend, and walked down some darkened streets where you wouldnt think anyone would be interested but met a couple super nice people including a guy named Kevon. Later that night we taught Glenda and her kids, who kept bundling up more and more as we talked to them. The kids kept running in and grabbing more and more layers haha--I wish there was something simple we could do to eliminate this problem. A sanctuary perhaps--a house of sorts--some place that might hold warmth that we could be invited in to so that everyone could be warm and happy. Hmmm if only

On Thursday we went and walked the dogs the final time for Elder Stroud. His dog was especially bad and kept trying to trip him and turn around and head back instead of walking forward like a normal creature. It was also sooo cold that our hands were falling off so it's a good thing we only did one set of dogs. Then we went and had a final super good lunch at the Corner Clubhouse with the Millers and complained to each other about why Elder Stroud was leaving. We spent the afternoon working on things and doing service at the Stew Pot. We prepared all the meals so fast that we basically just got to sit around and talk the whole time. Then we went and had an amazing lesson with Debbie and Brooklyn. Royce came with us and we basically just answered all the questions Brooklyn wrote down haha--they are very interested in read8ng the Book of Mormon! Royce was invaluable and brought the spirit with his strong testimony. They asked about the process of being baptized and we talked about callings as well which they thought was cool. 

We drove down to Homer, LA with the Millers and had an amazung restoration lesson at the Bahr's house with their neighbor Kathy! (Or is it Cathy? Or Khathy? Chathy?) She was very engaged and seems to be struggling with some things that are hard to overcome. We focused on Christ's Atonement and how the Book of Mormon can help. Everyone including the Bahrs had good insights on it and Kathy was almost in tears. Then we drove back and said goodbye to some more people including Becky who wants all the missionaries who have left to come back and convene at her house haha--then we went over and "taught temple prep" to the flowers. In other words we just talked and Elder stroud said goodbyes and we played some parting games. Then we were up late cleaning and he was packing and listening to Christmas music.

Friday we woke up at 5 and left at 6 to go to Allen for transfers. It was a long drive but fun. We talked to a lot of friends at transfers. ;) Met my new companion Elder Bradshaw who seems nice. No Elder Stroud but it will be an okay transfer I think. We ate at In-n-out which I always love, and half the mission came haha--there were probably 50 missionaries at In-n-out it was so packed! A certain person who shall not be named came as well which was good :)

The drive back was LONG so Elder bradshaw and I had a lot of time to talk. I am so tired of starting over with getting to know a new companion so it feels very monotonous now, but he seems cool. A farmer and outdoors type, agrees with me on many subjects. We went home and immediately got a call from Sister Smith asking for a blessing. She was having extreme back pain so we went over and I got to give a blessing. Then we had a lesson with Chris, and watched the first vision video with becky as well. She kept getting off on tangets about her family when we were trying to talk about the first vision so we kept feebly and futiliy trying to bring it back to the subject at hand but it was useless haha-- "thats cool about your father and his illegitimate daughter but yeah our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to seek him..." 

We did some quick shopping for Elder Bradshaw to get situated as well. It was cool to see him teaching since he only said they had 1 lesson in his last area and we already broke that record in the first hour of him being here hahaha

On Saturday we had a great time! We walked the dogs and Elder Bradshaw's thought it could do backflips into him which earned him a kick or too. It wasnt as cold thought which was good. Still not the same though without someone to rant to about the dogs. Elder Bradshaw likes them too much I think. In the afternoon our schedule was as follows:

1:30 Lesson

2:00 Lesson

2:30 Lesson

3:00 Lesson

3:30 Lesson

4:00 Lesson

4:30 Lesson

5:00 Lesson

I wrote it all out so you can see the minute timing of it all! Of All these scheduled lessons several fell though of course, but some happened! We had a great phone restoration lesson with Charlie, and then we ran into Devunkus again who was wondering the streets as usual! We found out the reason we couldn't find him is he moved to get a hotel room instead haha--and he wants to come to church. We also had a lesson with Debbie and Brooklyn which was amazing! Taught them the restoration and again answered lots of Brooklyns questions. She even had questions about the Word of Wisdom and is already willing to try and follow it! She just researched it herself and has apparently been researching our church for months! Then after the closing prayer as an afterthought I put her on date for January 20th! So already she's on date week 1 and Elder Bradshaw has someone on date in the first 2 days here haha

We also went with the Millers to some lessons and stopped by the jail too. The guy there at the window said he'd tell Tyre we stopped by. We met a guy named Trey who's door we felt led to knock and is interested in the Book of Mormon. We also met a guy named Darod who was super high but really mellow and interested. He said he doesnt like whats been going on at the place he's living apparently. In the night after my tasks we walked around the Christmas lights again to see if anyone was there and reminisce but it was in vain because it was so cold that nobody was around. Except for a super nice cat that wanted me to take her with me and kept rubbing against my leg. I love cats more and more I think I might get a rag doll. 

Sunday was good, Brooklyn and her parents came to church! We had a really good 5th Sunday training on good Teaching which I led and planned. We also had a good meal with the Millers and I was able to issue another 3 temple recommends!

-Abe