December 28th Week Twelve "A Weary Night's Respite" Layton Utah Wk2

(I'm going to try something new - I'm just going to reply to the last message so all of you still get it. Let me know if there are any formatting issues... ._.")

皆さん!

... It's been a grand total of three days, but I figured I'd drop a note to say hi anyways! Hope everyone's been doing great! How was Christmas? Anything exciting happen? I know it's been a little different with COVID, but I hope you all were able to make the best of it.

As far as us, we had a really great Christmas. We had some leftover bananas, so we ended up making some banana bread and went around the neighborhood to people that might be feeling a little down during this Christmas. For many people here, this was the first Christmas during COVID, and we have a substantial elderly population here. Many of them were missing loved ones, and were really just feel g lonely. We asked our bishops for lists of people that might be feeling that way, and the response we received from them was astounding. We ended up the people between the early morning and the afternoon, so that was exciting. Being able to give people those small little bags of cookies and bread, sharing messages of hope... It was really amazing. 

We were able to call our families over Messenger, so that was really great. It had only been four days, but it was really nice to be able to see them and talk to them for a while. I'm glad to see they're doing well, and I'm grateful they've been doing well. We talked for quite a while, and I'm just... really grateful for the opportunity to see them again. And I get to see them again today!

But other than that, we had a modest feast between the both of us! We had rice, potatoes, green bean casserole, and we managed to get a ham! We're... still working through the leftovers. But it was a really nice day.

After that, just like in the morning, we visited the lonely and disheartened - but this time, we went caroling! Elder Cope sang while I accompanied him on the melodica (definitely a good decision to bring it <3). It was a ton of fun - and it was amazing to see that our music was able to brighten their day a little bit - and if it didn't, the treats did!

So our Christmas was amazingly wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better first Christmas on the mission!

Saturday was filled with a lot of walking and lessons, while Sunday was filled with meetings and church. We get to go to three services - it's a lot of fun, and I'm learning a lot from all of those speakers! Every member has such interesting perspectives and ideas whenever they speak, and I'm running out of note space...

It's been an amazing week - and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future brings!

Before I go, I'd just like to share a scripture that really has stood out to me, from the book of Omni.

This is Amaleki speaking - one of the last direct descendants of Lehi. This is his final testimony before he delivers the plates (the written record of his family all the way back to Joseph of Egypt, their ancestor) to King Benjamin, the righteous ruler of the land of Zarahemla (the seat of power amongst the Nephites). Amaleki was a soldier - not really the most eloquent in speaking, but faithful in loyalty to both Christ, who would come, and to his ancestors and people. 

"And now, my beloved bretheren [and sisters], I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

Here, Amaleki asks us to offer our whole souls - and though it sounds daunting, it's not quite as doom and gloom as it sounds. Rather, Amaleki is asking us to live our lives as Christ did - caring for each other. Helping one another. Giving each other hope, especially in a time where hope seems to be quickly fading away. And I know that if we continue to hold on - if we continue to go and help those that are in need, continue to pray, and continue to find opportunities to make another's burdens lighter... we can find light ourselves. We can find joy and peace - and know that by doing so, we are doing as the Lord is doing - and we will not only be able to help others, but we will be able to help ourselves. We can be light bearers - giving other people hope when there seems to be so little of it. I promise that as we do so, we will find that our light will not diminish - but will only grow.

Thank you, everyone! Have a great week - you all are amazing!

Elder Decker

p.s. pictures!