Unang Pasko ko sa Mission (My first Christmas in the Mission)

So this last week was pretty crazy AWESOME! I had the wonderful opportunity to call home over Skype with my family and that was so great. Modern Technology is such a blessing! We also had a dinner at our bishop's home on Christmas which was fantastic! I'm so glad to have such a loving bishop... who knows English! :)

(Dinner at the bishop's house on Christmas)

(Christmas morning... new Christmas ties for Tanner and his companion)

This week was the best time, and the worst time, to go proselyting.  The people here love to hear our message, and especially during the time when we celebrate the birth of Christ, people are more open.  But people are also more drunk and busy. So that makes it kind of difficult.  Even members and our investigators were super busy.  It made it difficult to find time to go and teach, but we tried our best and we were able to teach a few lessons here and there! 

I have been getting over a cold this week, so I have had a lot of time to rest and to focus on studying, and I have really been getting into the life of Christ, and the more I read Jesus the Christ, the more I come to love our Savior Jesus Christ, and the more I understand about His life and what He did for us. I am just scratching the surface, but his life is such an amazing blessing to each one of us.. I would challenge us ALL to take time this next year, to learn more of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and come to know him better. 

We had a baptism this week, and it was awesome!!! It was for Tatay Portacio, and he is 60 years old.  He was in the army, and he was in charge of shooting the Giant Machine guns, that are mounted on top of the armored vehicles.  He is missing his right arm because during his days in the army, his arm was blown off by a machine gun.  Not his gun, but he was shot at.  It was a great experience teaching him and watching him come to accept Jesus Christ into his life.  He really soaked up everything we taught him, and his testimony is growing stronger and stronger every time we teach him.  It is amazing!

A super dumb/funny story really quick... we had a party this week, and about half way through, this super loud buzzing noise started to come towards the open door by our Cultural hall. Then all of a sudden this Gigantic Beetle flew into the hall. It was flying around, almost like it was drunk.  It ran into a few walls, and then all of a sudden it changed directions suddenly and dive-bombed directly into my lap. I freaked out (in my mind) and then hit it off and smashed it with my foot. I hear AND felt the crunch.. oh my gosh. It was gigantic! And out of all the people, it picked me. Sheesh. Super annoying! :P

I am so grateful that I got to talk to my family and I am so excited to call again on Mother's Day!.. ;)

Stay True! 

Elder Walstad