December 28, 2014

Hello Everyone!
Hope you all had a good Christmas and that you're going to have a safe New Year. It's incredible that this year is already over. I can't believe it sometimes. Yet here it is! 

I had a wonderful Christmas. The people here took care of us. We ate some delicious food and being able to Skype the family was a special treat. Everyone looks so much older! (except Mom and Dad, of course). I think my favorite part of Christmas was the stockings. My companion and I had the idea that it would be fun for our missionaries to wake up to a Christmas stocking like you would at home. So we bought a bunch of socks (actually we bought double the number we needed because we forgot that they're sold in pairs.....) and filled them with cuties and candies and other stuff that we had. We hit a few of the missionaries Christmas Eve, but we soon realized that we didn't have enough stocking stuffer stuff to stuff every stocking! So we called the missionaries we had already given one too to ask if they had any stuff to stock the stuffed stockings. And this was the coolest part: when we called to ask, they told us that they had already gathered things together for the other missionaries and that they were writing notes to these missionaries. It amazed me how quickly the missionaries want to turn around and give as soon as they received. Immediately they wanted to give a gift, as little as it was, and went about doing it on their own initiative. In fact, they all asked if they could help deliver them. So at 5 30 Christmas morning, we went out to deliver stuffed stockings that were stuffed full of stocking stuff. What a good way to start the day. I could feel an extra sense of love from the Savior. It wasn't much that we had to give, but it felt wonderful to give what we had. The rest of the day just got better. I testify that the Savior is real and loves us. He gives us the choice to go  out and help His fold. I want that feeling again, because it felt like He was smiling at us. What a special feeling. Christ is real. I've felt his love and felt his forgiveness. He's given me strength and I have a growing relationship with him. I love this gospel and this Church. There's so much good here. I love you all and pray that one of your New Years goals will include strengthening your relationship with God. It's so worthwhile and more valuable than anything else you can do. And if you would like some tips on how to do that, ask the missionaries!

Love,

Elder Norton