12/30/17

Mela Kaliki Maka! (I can't spell but that means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian)

Sunday was Christmas eve and even though it was only 6 days ago it feels like forever. So we usually have a Sunday devotional and a Tuesday devotional but because Monday was Christmas we had three devotionals in a row. I do not remember much from the Christmas Eve devotional, not because it was bad but the other two really blew it out of the water, especially Christmas. The Christmas Eve devotional was just a little play about the birth of the Savior by a bunch of adorable kids that couldn't remember their lines haha. Then we watched a video that MTC President Martino's grandkids put together for the missionaries which was awesome. Christmas day was awesome, but they didn't plan it very well in my opinion. We were scheduled to do service early so we all woke up like half an hour early and went to our spot but no one came because of Christmas so we just studied then we had breakfast then we watched a Christmas Carol. After that it was time to call home, I cried... alot. Then we listened to a story "Let Thine Alms Be in Secret" or something like that then we had lunch. after we finally got to the good part: Devotional with Elder Neil L. Andersen. He shared a video of his grandkids and shared the words "watch the children, notice and learn from them"

"Think of the Savior, you were with Him at the beginning, you are with Him now, as you live worthily you will be with Him forever." It was awesome and it was such a testimony to see him there.

Then after we had a break for a sack dinner we went back to the Devotional Hall and they wouldn't tell us why. They sat us down and we waited for it seemed like forever then introduced our "performer" David Archuleta! Now i haven't heard hardly any of his songs since he was on American Idol but it was awesome to have him there he's a crazy good singer. He talked about his mission in Chile and sang some songs. He shared these words "How Awesome it is to be a representative of Christ at the time of His birthday!"

He then sang us "White Christmas" "The First Noel" then his song "Something in the Melodies" 

He introduced Madeline Paige who I guess is an LDS contestant on The Voice and she sang "It's Beginning to look alot like Christmas" "Mary Did You Know?" "Have a Merry Little Christmas" and "Away in a Manger" then David and Madeline sang a duet "The Prayer"

David gave his story of why he went on a mission then he sang "If the Savior stood beside Me" His song "Glorious" and "My Little Prayer" and finished with "Silent Night" Then he wanted to shake our hands which took forever because there's 1200 of us here at the MTC. I know it seems like I enjoyed David Archuleta more than Elder Andersen and that's only because his message was super short.

Then our TUesday Devotional was cool it was John C. Pingree Jr. and his wife. Sister Pingree addressed us first and said "Let the hard times grow you" which reminded me of let the good times roll, and that's all i wrote down for her part oops. Elder Pingree advised us to be an "All-In" missionary then reminded us why were are here and to be like Simon and Peter to "drop our nets and follow the Savior" to get rid of our distractions and follow Him. After we had a meeting with our Branch President for our zone and we talked about the poem "Good Timber" by Douglas Malloch.

The rest of the week went by pretty quick we taught two investigators Yayoi from Tokyo who is awesome and so easy to teach and Ben from Hawaii who doesn't really care. We committed them both to read the Book of Mormon and to pray. Yesterday was our last day teaching Ben and we just finished our lesson with Yayoi I'm sad that we won't be teaching them but we get new investigators next week and I'm really excited for it. 

I love it here but I cannot wait to be in Washington I love you all and Vaya Con Dios!

The first two pics are of the sky this morning and then it's David Archuleta.

Nathan's district

Snow selfie

Frank the Oreo snowman

Elders Belnap and Donaldson

The mural in their favorite study spot.

David Archuleta

Morning sky at the MTC

More morning sky