Brett's Philippines Tacloban Mission: Week #63

December 27, 2015

Merry Christmas!!!

Well this past week has been so fun and my companion and I really enjoyed our Christmas together. It truly was the most wonderful time of the year!

So we are finally getting adjusted to our new area. Albuera is literally the best place on earth and we are so learning so much here. I don't think we have been hungry since the day we arrived here due to the kindness of the members here! We get fed every day and it's a little bit too much every day. I think I have gained at least 10 pounds... Blessings!!! So speaking of blessings we saw a lot this past week. First was the multi zone mission conference that we had on Wednesday. Half the mission got to come together and celebrate Christmas. Also every body here in the mission got a package for Christmas. Everybody was so so grateful for the kindness of the people that put together gifts for missionaries.

Then Christmas came! My companion and I woke up at about six and went crazy opening our packages. Skyping was so fun and I am happy I got to see all of you! Then we had the ward Christmas party! I think more people showed up to the party than actually show up to church! But it was still awesome and filled with karaoke, dance contests, and a massive gift exchange.

Work was awesome. The ward we are currently serving under has placed their focus on less actives. So we have been helping them with that and we have also found less actives that nobody knew existed!

My spiritual thought this week comes from 1 Nephi 4:15-16. This takes place when Nephi is commanded by the Lord to go back to Jerusalem so he can retrieve the brass plates. As he is there contemplating he remembers these things. I would like to relate it it our lives. The scriptures are our guide. We learn of the the law of God by reading them and studying them. If we do not read then we cannot learn and we cannot possibly follow. We need to make reading a priority in our lives!

Well that's it for this week! I love you all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Elder Child

A little taste of home??

Brett & Elder Villanueva at the beach

At the Mission Christmas celebration with his follow-up trainer

And with and Elder from his batch drawing a Thank You picture for the gifts that were sent over for all of the missionaries

With his companion, Elder Villaneuva

Elder Child with his Christmas boxes. He actually set out his stockings for Christmas morning and waited to open his gifts - quite a change from last year!