CHRISTmas

December 21, 2015

This week warmed up after that last snow storm which was good, but now we're expected to get almost 2 feet over Christmas. Yay. The week started out with Elder Kim trying to eat an Avocado Like an apple... Apparently they don't have avocados in Korea...


But it's been a good week. It will be cool to actually have a white Christmas for once in my life as well. The members here are so great and way too generous to us this season. Wednesday we had exchanges again. This time I stayed in the area with the car and elder Fehoko from Tonga came with me. It was a super neat experience to learn from him, he has been out for 19 months so he's got a bit more experience than me. While with him alone we had a lot of success just talking to people we saw on the streets and giving out Books of Mormon. The exchange was super fun besides waking up to a hungry 300 pound Tongan eating my Reese's...


We shared a lot of Christmas messages this week. Both to less actives and non members. It's really cool to see how the spirit of Christmas really brings Christ into people's everyday lives more. I'm stoked to get to Skype home on Christmas. That'll be a wonderful present!


Have a great week everyone and Merry Christmas!

Elder Ray and his Companion, Elder Kim Enjoying Crepes with Members

Fender Bending and Baptisms

December 14, 2015

This week was great. We spent a lot of time teaching a lot of less actives and non members. Thursday, our investigator J. got baptized. This week has been amazing with him. He feels the spirit so strong. Sunday he received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was ordained a priest. Today he is going to the temple to perform baptisms, and tomorrow he returns to China where the closest temple is 6 hours away in Hong Kong.

Saturday I got to go to the baptism of B. who I taught most of the way in my last area. That was a neat thing too. So this week has been pretty jam packed with events.

Our hot water heater has been out all week so we have been going to the other missionaries' house in our district to shower there. This morning we woke up to about a foot of snow covering our car. Fun. And we managed to get into a car crash. Everyone was totally ok, more of a fender bender really. We were going to turn left and a guy went around us, on our left... So he hit us. and now we are getting haircuts from a member!

Happy holidays erryone!

Love
-Elder Ray

Elder Ray and Elder Kim at J's Baptism

Elder Missionaries with J.

At B's Baptism

Draper

December 7, 2015

First week in draper has been pretty great! It's so nice to have a car... The down side is now I have to eat less because I am going to gain wait here for sure. 

Saturday we had an all Mission conference. We were all super stoked for this meeting because Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the 12 was going to attend. But when we get there, Elder Renland of the 12 and two members of the quorum of the 70 were present as well. That makes 4 general authorities for one of the best meetings I have ever been to. It was amazing to be directly addressed by two of the 12 living apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Sunday was fast and testimony meeting. We sat with our Chinese investigator, James, who is going to be baptized on Thursday, 5 days before he returns home to China. After the bishop started the meeting with his testimony, James was the first to get up and bare his testimony. The spirit was so strong as this man who had only learned about God a month ago Poured out his soul in gratitude to the lord. It was an amazing experience to see how strongly everyone was touched by the spirit. This man is going to be instrumental in bringing many to the truth about the gospel in his life. It made me remember the words of our prophet, "Regarding one’s testimony, remember, that which one willingly shares he keeps, while that which he selfishly keeps he loses. … Teach and Testify." The spirit witnesses to the testifier and the listener of the truth of all things.

I hope everyone is doing well and I miss you all!

Love,
Elder Ray

The Draper Temple (Right Next to Seth's Stake Center)





Elder Ray and Elder ? (new companion) with Bishop Larsen