My favorite Christmas parents from my parents as a kid was:
-basketball hoop
-Pokémon cards
-hot wheels cars
-wii games
-CANDYYYY
My Christmas was really good! Some members invited the whole branch to come, so I was full the whole day! We set up some awesome part member appointments too.
Do you remember President Gadung and Sister Norlia? They were the Branch President and wife of my very first area, Tanjung Kidurong! It was great to see them and be able to speak with them properly (now that I can speak Malay).
Tuesday night I got to Skype with my fam! They are amazing, I miss and love them lots. Keldon's voice sounds like it's 3 octaves lower, so my man card was a bit fragile when I heard his voice haha. I'm so grateful for a loving family!
On Wednesday I went on exchanges with Elder McArthur, one of the Chinese Sibu Elders. We had a miracle filled day.
There was a person learning named Anthony who came back to church after not having come for a while. We went to his house to meet with him. He lives with His Aunt who is a member. When we were about to start the lesson, I was prompted to ask if there was anyone else home that wanted to join the lesson. Sister Icha (the member) chuckled and said her husband was in the other room on his phone. When we invited him to join the lesson he grudgingly agreed. After sharing Jospeh Smith's experience, he said "my heart has been opened Elder McArthur and I went in to teach a lesson to a person previously being taught. Before we started the lesson, we asked if there was anyone still in the house. One of the members laughed and said, "You can try my husband. He's in the side room on his phone." When we invited him to come join us, he sheepishly agreed. After sharing Joseph Smith's experience, we asked how he felt. He replied, "My heart has been opened to Joseph Smith's experience." Brothers and Sisters, this man's wife has been a member for over 10 years. Not ONE time did he ever sit in on a lesson. Today was the first day. His wife thanked us greatly. We knew it wasn't us who opened her husband's heart, but Heavenly Father's omnipotent power. The life lesson I learned is that Heavenly Father opens hearts one sincere invitation at a time.
On Friday we had another cool miracle. This is a shoplot. There is normally a restaurant on the ground floor, and a business or a rental house on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
We were knocking on all of the 3rd floors. The last door we knocked was actually someone we had contacted and got their number a couple of months ago. Now their whole family can receive the gospel!
Elder Cox and I sang "Be Still My Soul" at the Chinese Elders baptism. I love that hymn.
Sunday was a funny one! So the sisters in branch one and us in branch 2 share a road (the boundary line). Sister Sereny (one of our members) lives on the Branch 2 side. The sisters were finding down that road and came across Sister Sereny. They thought she was a less active member of their branch. When they finished the lesson she said, "the Elders are coming over in about 20 minutes. Would you like to stay and eat some fruit together?"
They left right away haha. Funny stuff!
Make sure you set some awesome goals and specific plans for next year! Luv ya!
