December 25, 2011
MERRY CHRISTMAS FAMILY!! They gave us 30 minutes today to email and we didn’t know until today! Man, this has been the craziest Christmas ever! Definitely not like any I’ve had before! So I’ll start at last night when I was up until late with security and President Brown trying to hunt down the lost package for Elder Meidl haha! He was sick all day and hadn’t got that package from his parents yet and it came in way late and I just felt so bad that he had had such a crappy Christmas so far and hadn’t gotten much at all and I was bound and determined to get him that package! But don’t even fret, I got it all ironed out! estabien!
Haha! The first night I haven’t been to bed on time here, but don’t worry, I had special permission from President haha! Well, last night we had a program and then watched A Christmas Carol and it was so good!!! Then we had story time and I read the Moose book Mom sent and everyone loved it! I’ll send pics! But then we just chatted and hung out and I opened my new PJ’s! THANK YOU I LOVE THEM! Then we had the crazy package hunt and then it was off to bed. We woke up early to open up our presents... THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING! I loved it all! Please tell everyone thank you for me! Then it was off to breakfast and my meetings! Great morning! And then was the Christmas devotional and ELDER BEDNAR came and rocked my socks off! What a power house! Man, it was just the best! And then we got a little breakfast and are here emailing! It’s too bad cause like my whole district is sick and we are all just dragging along because we all feel so crappy haha! Two of our Elders had to go to the hospital yesterday which was no bueno pero. We got it all ironed out and we are all surviving!! So I am so excited to hear about your day! I hope the kids had a great morning and everyone is healthy and happy! I wanna hear some serious details and stories and updates in some dear elders tomorrow!
Man family..I miss you a lot. I hope you know how much I love all of you. I had a serious reality check about 11 o’clock last night as I stood in the big empty hallway of the big main office building in my pajamas waiting for that package. I was looking at the big paintings of Christ and all the sudden it hit me, and I was like, “holy cow! It’s Christmas Eve!” The first Christmas Eve that I’ve been away from all of you and I had that missionary reality check where I was like oh man I’m REALLY here! Im a missionary! HAHA Sometimes those checks hit ya hard but it’s always good because there’s no where I’s rather be. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be a missionary. I am so grateful for all of you. I love you all sooo much and miss ya like crazy! And Mom and Dad, I want you to know that I am so happy and healthy, and I love you both a bunch. And thank you so much for being so great! I am so grateful for the Gospel in our lives and the way it has blessed us. And I’m grateful for our Savior and for this wonderful day we have to remember and give thanks for him. Family have a wonderful day! Know that I’m thinking about you and praying for you. Merry Christmas family!
Love, Elder Smith
