Merry Christmas

We were able to talk to Dereck today for an hour. What a happy day for us! He is doing great and sounds very positive. He kept saying how much he loves the people there. The ward really seems to have taken to the missionaries and they take such great care of them. He loves to see the growth and change in people as they take to the gospel. He said that the native american people are such a spiritual people and he loves them. He was able to go sledding yesterday and had a blast. They have about two feet of snow in Flagstaff. One of the missionaries in the apartment is from Carlsbad CA and has never had a white Christmas so Dereck said that the missionary was freaking out. He also said that this missionary has less weeks left in his mission than he has months. :( There are four missionaries in the apartment and they each did a family tradition. Dereck's tradition was reindeer food...he made it from the maple and brown sugar oatmeal that he eats for breakfast, as they had no glitter! Some of the other traditions was not to open their stockings until Christmas night (no one followed that tradition, they were too excited), another was to read Luke 2 before they opened their presents. He said that was pretty neat. He said to tell everyone thanks for all of their support. He was excited to tell us about a surprise 12 days of Christmas from someone in Centerville. He didn't know who it was for 11 of the days, but he finally found out that it was from a wonderful family who adopted him throughout his wrestling days...thanks Mama Winger!! He knows he is loved by many and is (and so are we) grateful for all of the great people in his life. He knows that he is doing what he should be doing and has grown closer to the Savior. We are all grateful for this season and for the opportunity it provides for us to reflect on the blessings we have and for the Savior. Here is our gift from Dereck this Christmas -- I hope you can all pull it up!

We were able to email chat with Dereck today. He is feeling better, but his companion is still pretty sick. It sounds like they spent a lot of time indoors this past week so Elder Burris can get well. Not sure of the story, but I guess his companion likes to work and didn't report his illness to the missionary mom -- big no no, and I guess they were told not to go out. Can you get grounded when you are nineteen and on a mission? The family they have been working with is still struggling a bit and the baptism has been postponed again, but they are optimistic. They are currently teaching a lady who is "golden". He said he never really understood what that meant until now. Hopefully more news is coming on that!
He said that they are expecting 15 to 24" of snow today -- huh?

Here are a few words from Dereck's email and good advice for all of us!
"This Christmas season lets all remember what the season is really all about. Lets all rejoice in Christ, talk of Christ and preach of Christ in all we do. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!!!"

Only 10 more days and he gets to call home! It is funny how much we are all looking forward to a simple phone call! I do know this much, I am not leaving my house until I get it!!

News from Flagstaff

I was able to chat with Dereck for a bit today through email. He sounds like he is really having a good time in Flagstaff and loves the people there. He has an awesome companion, Elder Burris who is from Logan. He has been quite succesful in teaching the gospel. They are over a Navajo branch and Dereck was so excited to get his Navajo nametag. Just in case you were wondering, Elder in Navajo is Gaamalii. He had five appointments on Thanksgiving day, but was only able to get three of them in -- he said that he is still recovering. It is exciting to see how he is growing in the gospel and that his testimony is strengthed daily. He said in his letter today, that he and Elder Burris have been pretty sick with colds. He said, "It is the coolest feeling to be almost to the breaking point and be able to feel the angels pick you up and help you along. Its an awesome feeling!" As hard as it is for me to have Dereck gone, I can't help but be excited for him to have these kinds of experiences!