December 1, 2014

yall have gone on more vacations in the time that i have been gone than i think i have been on in my whole life! but i guess that is normal, its what lots of missionary's say happens when you leave. Then the family decides to go. But im happy yall finally got sealed and that your mission president could be there.

I am super excited for Christmas time aren't you!?!? There is just something special about this Christmas. It just feels different. To let you know I've never been a big Christmas fan. I like holidays like Halloween, where everyone just dresses up and gets into it. But this year I am super excited for Christmas! It maybe because Christmas has taken on a new meaning for me. I have come to understand just a little better what Christmas is all about. I always knew it was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but with how much the commercial industry attacks it, it can become easy to forget what it is all about. I look forward to this Christmas for what i will be able to get, but for what i will be able to give. I feel that when one comes to learn that Jesus is the first gift of Christmas, not just learn it. But embrace it as well, then they will come to learn that Jesus is the only Gift we need. He can be the gift that we give to all people, and for sharing this Gift he promises us more gifts. Us as missionary's this year have the very special chance to share the spirit of Christ in a very special way, with the "He is the Gift" video. When i saw this i think this is what changed my view on Christmas. It showed me that Christmas has such a deeper meaning than could ever be imagined. At Christmas time we do tend to focus more on others and less on our selves, but i believe that if we can take these actions of love and sharing past Christmas, then we will began to see what Christmas is really about. It is a new birth, a new chance for everyone. That what God gave us on the day his Son was born, a new hope, a new chance to rewrite our pasts and to secure our futures. He did not stop living after he was born, so why should we stop having the spirit of Christmas after it passes? Parents always have great joy when they see their children using and enjoying the gifts that they worked so hard to give them, it is the same with our Father in Heaven. Can you even imagine the joy it must bring him to see his children using the Gift of his Son Jesus Christ? The happiness and peace he must feel to see them using this Gift and it must be magnified when they share this Gift with others. The Savior is the Gift, the first gift that was given on that humble Christmas night, when he was born in the most humbling setting the world had to offer. And that Gift is still being given, to as many that are willing to accept it. So let us this Christmas, come back to the true meaning. By following in the foot steps that the Savior walked, let us reach out our hands to lift those that hang down, let us give of our time to those that need our company, let us share the first Gift of Christmas to those that do not have it and above all to use this Gift that has been given to each and everyone of us.

I am slowly but surly learning what it means to love others, to realize the sacrifice that is necessary to show them that you do love them. This past transfer I have really come to learn what a huge blessing we are as missionary's to the members of our branch. Before i did not like to spend time at members, i felt it a waste and that i could be doing something better. But in these last 5 weeks i have come to see how much they really do care about us and why it is important to get to know them and spend some time with them. A member told me that they love to have us come over because it lets their kids be around missionary's and helps strengthen that desire to serve a mission. She said " every parent wants nothing more than for their kid to serve a mission." Now what better time do we have to start once again to show that love for others than during this Christmas season. Even if it is nothing more then trying to be a righteous example. By doing what we need to do to keep the commandment and live close to God. As we do that others will see it and wonder " why are they doing what they are?" then comes the time to share this Gift of Christ. 

So this past week we did lots of service, visiting members, less actives and investigators to share with them this message of Christmas and to share the spirit that comes with it. Thanks giving we were able to play some sports in the morning, by some i mean allot! played football, basketball and soccer! then we spent the rest of the day visiting members and eating, lots of eating. needless to say between the soreness of playing sports and the turkey induced coma which i was trying to get out of Friday was rough. But the ending of the week went smooth and nice. Our investigating family is still doing great, we are going to invite them to be baptized on the 21 of December, so they can be baptized with 2 other people we have on date for the same day. They will accept i know, the daughter has already said she wants to be baptized, she is just waiting for mom. Th mom likes it as well and has not brought up any concerns so I know she will be ready. 

Feliz Navidad

Elder Lamb