Week 13. I almost baptized someone

 Stuff happened. Lots of traveling, lots of cancellations, and for some reason every meeting at church ended early so that was kinda odd. But here are some highlights:

Transfer Day - So... I am no longer the tallest one in my mission. My new trainee is one inch taller than me. So now not only is everyone making jokes about us both being tall, they are making jokes about me no longer being the tallest one. The youth here are brutal  But Elder Moake is awesome and isn't socially awkward like me so it's great!

Senior Couple - This last district council the senior couple, the Sister, tried to take over. It was very funny and she was trying to bend things to her schedule, saying that district council was taking up her day. It was funny because I think our new district leader is used to having it at 2pm and the Senior Sister wanted to move it to 9 am. But because of our personal study time and the fact that I am a 40 minute drive away we were able to calm her down and let her realize that 11:30 (the time we've been doing it at) is the earliest time we can do it. I promise it would have been more funny if you were there. 

All day in the kitchen - our carpets got cleaned which means that we had to move all the furniture off the carpet so we put our chairs in the kitchen and stayed there for a while so that was fun. We had to join a mission devotional while in there so they got to see our kitchen in the bathroom. You might be able to find that picture on facebook.

Taiva - This random lady tried joining our ward page and so I have been messaging her and once she gets work off on sundays she wants to come to church and learn how to come closer to Christ. It was so cool how it came out of nowhere. So she should be able to come next month and that will be so awesome!

Crowders - So the story is kinda confusing but here it is: Elder Herbst interviewed them but we forgot to get the forms and he left, so I got the forms, got it signed by President and then had them because the Sisters in the area were both getting transfered out. So then I was talking with the mom getting the info for the forms and she said the Grandpa who was baptizing them might not since he got into a car accident so she said she might ask me. 

But the grandpa ended up being fine and I got to watch them get baptized. It was still a very cool experience.

Today I wanted to share a story that I love and will probably botch but here it is: 

Up in the northpole was a kingdom of children who never grew old. By the kingdom was a forest and by the forest was a great wall. And on the other side of that wall, at the top, a house leaned up against it: Santa's house. Every Christmas eve Santa would fill the forest with toys so the children could go out and choose toys to give to their friends the next day. 

One day a man traveled far to come to the city by the wall. He found the children and asked them about their tradition. After the king and queen told him he suggested that they just go and grab toys for themselves so they could get exactly what they wanted. The king and queen thought it was a great idea and made a proclamation to the children that that's what they'd do the next year. 

One boy didn't like the rule because he had a sister who couldn't walk and so he vowed he would get no toys for himself, just his sister. 

The next Christmas eve all the children went out looking for toys but found none. Then they saw that little boy with a bag full of toys. They asked him were he had gotten it and he pointed them back in the direction he had come, but they could see none over there.

It got so bad that three days later they had three children scale the giant wall to ask Santa why he had forgotten them. He replied that Christmas is for giving not taking. The toys were there you just couldn't see them. But that one boy, who was selfless could and he had joy because he could see the joy he brought his sister. 

From that day forth their was a rule that you would always seek for toys to give away. For giving is the true meaning of Christmas. 

I did not do that story justice, but I want you all to know that God loves us and He gave us His Son as the ultimate gift. Because of that gift we can receive so many others. Please remember the true meaning of Christmas this year, and share it with others. I know the great joy that can come as we share the Gospel, as we share our love, and as we give our thanks.

3 Nephi, Chapter 12

        14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;

16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

 You are all beautiful candlesticks, and I love you. Share your light. -Elder Tolman 

PICTURES. hope you enjoy 

(Some cool pics, a sea lion, and some good photos of me  girls in Washington better watch out because my hearts locked)