I was dreaming of a white Christmas. . .

Hello everyone. I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas. I enjoyed mine, even if it was one without snow. It´s pretty warm here. It would have felt more like Christmas if it had been colder. On Monday we had a good day. We visited some investigators, had some good lessons. 

Zone Christmas Party

Tuesday was also a good day. We had exchanges with our District Leader Elder Lopez and my companion went with Elder Dansie to Huamantla. We had a bunch of lessons but almost all of them were with members. We had a good lesson with a couple of investigators as well. They are a couple and the husband, Edgar lived in Jackson Hole for a while a few months back. I enjoyed working with Elder Lopez as well.

On Wednesday we did our weekly planning and in the afternoon we had the ward Christmas party. We got there at four when they said it was going to start but it actually got started at about 5:30. I know there is a stereotype about Mormons being late but sometimes it´s too much here. It was alright because we didn't have any fixed appointments and we were able to help set up. We ate some pretty good tacos that the bishop made. They also rented some inflatable slides for the kids. There was also a projector set up for a movie, we didn't stay though haha. 

On Thursday the 24th we had a Christmas zone conference! It was really fun. It was different from last years. Last year it was mostly spiritual except for the end when we played a game with dice. This year it was almost all games and group activities until the end when we had a spiritual part. It was a good conference however. The food was also very good. Mashed Potatoes and pumpkin pie for desert! I miss pumpkin pie! That night we got back to the area and visited three families and shared a short spiritual Christmas thought. It was a good evening and I was glad that we could share something with somebody instead of just losing the night.

Calling Home on Christmas Day

Christmas was a good day. So in the morning we had to do service so we went with Hno. Serrano, a member of the ward to his little field and helped him collect his corn. We went pretty early in the morning and my companion was upset because they mission gave us permission to sleep in until 7 but we left the house at 6:30 haha. I enjoyed working in the field however. It´s really simple and you can just kind of turn off your brain. After that we ate breakfast with the Serrano family, went home and showered then went to eat lunch with the Landeros family. There we also talked with our families. I really enjoyed being able to talk to my family, and especially for Skype. Technology is pretty cool. My companion also really enjoyed talking with his family. After that we visited an investigator that had called us who was devastated because his girlfriend left him haha. He was a mess, but it was a cool experience to teach him. He had found our number from other Elders that had visited him. He disappeared the day after, but we also started teaching his parents and brothers who are solid. In the evening we ate dinner with the Hernandez Rodriguez family that had invited us to eat. I ate way too much on Christmas.

On Saturday we had a good day. We visited some recent converts, found some new investigators and prowled around. It got a little cooler that day but I´m realizing that I´ve gotten used to the weather here. I´m going to die in Utah haha. On Sunday we didn´t have many people in church because everyone is on vacation. Yup. Today we´ve had a uneventful P-day. We´ve just done the basics. Buying food, cleaning the house, washing clothes. Well, everyone have a great new year!

-Elder Hartvigsen