Week 19

I am forgetting the week numbers. I am not counting I just go to the previous weeks email and add 1 to that. But anywho another week has come and gone. And here most of the snow from last week has melted. It was pretty at first.... But It isn't too hard to get around in it here. So I can't really complain. It warmed up a lot last week so that was nice. Not having to really deal with sub-zero anymore for now is nice. But we had a really good week last week. We are having some good experiences with most of the last actives we are teaching. So that is awesome. We have had a lot of them out to church consistently. But we are working on finding some non-members also. 

Time out here is just flying by. It is crazy to think that it is almost Christmas. The nice thing about being in such a small town as we are is the fact that here, christmas isn't really commercialized. We don't even have a wal-mart for like 50 miles. But people here focus a lot more on the real reason for Christmas. Which we all know is Jesus Christ. 

And how important it is for us at this time of the year to remember our savior and His Atonement. To look at his life and those things that he did for us. He gave  us everything. Without his Atonement there would be no way we could ever return. He gave that to us. So at this time of year I would like all of us to remember that he freely gave. And as we strive to walk in his footsteps and follow his example I pray that we all might be able to more freely give. Of all those things that we have been blessed with. Our time, talents, physical means, and the gift so freely given to us, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I invite all of you between now and Christmas to accept Elder Ballards challenge that he issued at conference to reach out to 1 person. Just one before christmas and see how you can bless their lives. What you all can give to that person. And I promise that it will bless your life in turn. 

I love you all. I love this Gospel and the testify that it really does bring joy, unlike anything else. 

Until next week!

-Elder Valentine

P.S.

You don't normally get to see this. It doesn't ever really snow in the desert. So enjoy the picture!