Fwd: BEST CHRISTMAS EVER

Yesterday was perfect! It was so fun to see Jarod's face and hear that voice! He is so happy and it was fun to have his phone ring during our call and hear him as a real missionary!!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>

HEY! So this week was really great!

We had a lot of appointments set up, but because of the holiday, some fell through and that was unfortunate, but we were able to meet a lot of new people, and hopefully we can find the elect that are ready for the gospel!

As we meet new people, it is so fun to refer them to the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith! I love to see people embrace the gospel so quickly and be able to love it like I do.

Not much to say this week, but it was SOO FUN to be able to see all of you yesterday. I hope you all had an AMAZING Christmas. We got fed 4 times back to back to back to back and I don't think I've ever been so full in my life! Elder Hawkins was dying with his first feast day here. The Zitshu's, Venas, Mashiqas, and Oliphants fed us. It was so good, and I'm blessed, but after eating the same potato salad and beans and rice and chicken, and wors. BUT, IT was soooo amazing, and the people are so kind to serve us. Hopefully we can work on getting meals once a day, not 4 a day.

Me and Elder Hawkins are getting along great and I'm so glad we are companions! He has a 15 year old sister Heather and a 4 year old named Jessica. I love seeing him get so excited to talk about them! It makes me love all of you so much more too!

Some exciting news is we broke the record at Motherwell for number of people to come to church In December! We had 79! It was so fun! We had a great Christmas program with a lot of singing, and performances, and a great spirit that was felt. We got a lot of members christmas presents with a picture of elder Hawkins and I and it was super funny. Hopefully they liked them. 

Xolisani and Sheila are both doing well. Lisa's mom was at church and her cousin as well! Andiswa, her mother, starting this year will be off sundays! So she is starting to progress well, which is so great. 

I said this yesterday, but liked it so I'll say it again. But a funny thing this week was driving around we saw this boy and girl sitting in the street talking, holding hands, so we decided to stop and teach them the law of chastity. The guy was just so weirded out and the girl was more interested, it was just so funny to teach them and shut them down for the rest of the night. They didn't come to church tho, so that stinks, but it was still awesome!  

Christmas morning it was lightly raining, so I pictured it as snow, so that was a nice thing to have on Christmas, but I miss all the snow that comes at home, and am jealous of all the great skiing that will be done in the next couple months! 

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and that you are all safe this time of the year! I am thankful for all the love and support given this time of year, and hope you feel the love of the savior as we have been celebrating his birth! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love, Elder Ivins

1. Vena's feast 

2. The boys

3. Holding Inam like the Mamas ha ha ha

4. Our Christmas card photo!