Feliz Navidad!

It's P-day again, and I don't even believe it. I mean, the transfer is already halfway done, and I just got here like two days ago… didn't I?! What is up with time? (sorry, at some point I'll stop starting my emails this way, but it keeps going faster and faster!)

I'm pretty sure the ward here can't get enough of me. Last week they put me down for a talk, without really giving me more advance than coming to the church and seeing my name on the program. It actually went really well, for being a seven minute talk prepared in about 10. And for those of you who don't think sacrament meeting talks can be interesting, I started this one off by quoting a scene from "It's Christmas Time, Charley Brown". Pretty good stuff. (I was also talking to a member this week; he said that the last time he gave a talk and was told that he could talk about anything, he talked about his big toe. And at the same time, he was able to tie in a pretty big gospel principle! So, parables can come from anything! ;)

We also had the ward Christmas Program yesterday. And nobody else knows how to play the piano in the ward. So it was Elder Chamberlain to the rescue! Except that I messed up on almost every song at least twice. Primary songs can be pretty hard to sight-read! But it was tons of fun! I hope I get to continue playing piano for the primary. (Dad, put in a good word to Bishop before I get back.)

We got a Christmas tree!

Texas motto:  GO BIG OR GO HOME!
When it comes to Christmas decor, they either go all out or don't do anything at all.

We started teaching a man named Miguel this week, and he's pretty awesome! The sisters found him in the Blitz we did last Saturday, and we taught him about the Book of Mormon on Wednesday. He said that he'd read, and then came to the ward Christmas Party on Saturday and Church the next day! That's really huge news, because in the George West area, it's been over 2 months since we've had an investigator come to church. He's also planning on coming to a Family Home Evening that some of the members have tonight. Pretty much, as Elder Larsen would say, "El es un Jefe!"

Christmas Conference was also this past week. Basically half of the mission got together and had a massive party, with some training and spiritual thoughts given by President and Sister Maluenda. It was amazing! Our skit wasn't super awesome, but Elder Padron was pretty good at being "Sister Nichols". Elder Nichols is our zone leader, and our skit was his family Christmas in 15 years. Pretty ridiculous, but it got some laughs!
I'm really enjoying it out here. We're learning pretty well how to have fun at the same time as teaching people, and having the spirit with us all the while that we do that. I love it out here! I miss it back at home, but I'm so happy I've got a long time out here left to learn!

Elder Larsen wearing "Sister Nichols'" wig, which we used for a skit at Christmas Conference

I love you all, and hope that you have a very merry Christmas! (If you haven't yet, watch "He Is The Gift" by clicking here. Just remember that he's the reason for the season.

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Chamberlain

The pig and chickens in our yard

Beware!
(There's actually a much bigger dog that lives there,  but I didn't know that at the time.)