MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hello!!!

First I must say a MERRY CHRISTMAS to Dad, Mom, Cole, Meleea, Cody, Kallie, Millie, Forest, and even Gracie... ha ha.

Well, it's Christmas time!!! I think that I will be calling about 10 AM YOUR TIME or so... If I can we will earlier, but we don't know. On Christmas, Elder Gerard and I will be in St. Petersburg for a baptism, since Elder Gerard is District Leader. Nobel, one of the Africans is getting baptized!!! He is a stud. We were in Peter yesterday for his interview, and he passed with flying colors. Then later we had a lesson with him and his roommates, and they are all SO blessed!! What great people! They have a great spirit about them. Then David, another African said the closing prayer in Twi, one of the languages in Ghana. That's a CRAZY language. It is SO COOL! Nobel is SO ready to be baptized. All of them are, they just need to get the documents. Then we are heading straight back to Petergof because The branch is having a Christmas Party which we are trying to get some investigators to come to, but if they say no, then we will be calling earlier. Expect my call about 9 or 10 in the morning for the time range... As far as I know I'm not allowed to call Cody and that makes me sad... :( Elder Gerard and I are buying some international calling cards today, so it shouldn't cost you anything.  Can't wait!

We had a very nice Christmas Party on Tuesday! We had some training before, and then we had a great dinner of potatoes, vegetables, porkchops, and a fruit/jello dessert thing, all done by Sister Podvodova and Sister Luna.  It was really good! They are good cooks!  After we had a white elephant. I gave a rechargeable flashlight,  I received some Christmas lights to string in the apartment, and some chocolate. Then each district performed a musical number.  Our district sang Jingle Bells and We Wish you a Merry Christmas and we danced. I'm sure Sister Luna got a video and will send it to you. Ha ha! Sisters Bryshtel and Wise bought all the Elders in our district Christmas ties that play a song, and we wore them while being dressed up like Santa Clauses. It was really fun! We saw Elder Andersen too!! GOOD day! 

MOM! You sent way too much stuff! You didn't need to do that. Of course I will be sharing with everyone.  All the packages got here, including the one you sent for Sisters Luna/Bryshtel. They were both very surprised and pleased. Thank you for everything! THANK YOU... I worry that you spent too much on us here... :)  Thank you for all the candy and the warm clothes you sent! I might be giving the PJ's to someone else, because they are a bit short to be honest... maybe I've grown a little on my mission... Elder McCleary and Andersen are putting together a gift box for Nobel... maybe I'll give them to him.

That is absolutely terrible what happened to Kelsey's mom, and her whole family! Tell her that she is in my prayers and give her my love!. I wish I could talk to her and help, but the most I can do is send this email. I do know that Christ is always there for her to lean on if she will ask Him. ALWAYS.

Remember the Lord is in control. He loves all His Children. Remember that Jesus Christ came into the world to provide a way to save all of the children of God. He has all power, and He shows His power through service and love. He is our perfect example. He set up His church, and His doctrines. When people changed His doctrines, and there was total confusion about what the true teachings fo Christ were, He again established His chruch on earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and He still leads this church today, and forever. I'm glad to be a missionary during this Christmas to help my Lord continue the work that He did when He came into this world over 2,000 years ago.

Love you all! Stay strong! Remember the Savior! Peace be unto you! Be of Good Cheer!
Love
Blake!!!