Email of Dec. 21,2009

Dear Mom and Dad,

Merry Christmas! How is everything going? It's great to hear about so many good things that are happening. Things here are going pretty well. This week was pretty crazy. The work is going pretty good. I started off the week in Naples with Elder Whitaker. It was a pretty good exchange. Elder Whitaker is a pretty cool guy, he is from California and has a pretty big family as well. We did a lot of biking and saw a lot of people. I remember that when I left Naples mom said that I probably wouldn't miss the biking, at the time I didn't mind so much, but I realized that I have been pampered here in Ft. Myers. I have been pretty much full car since I came back. But Naples is doing really good. They are teaching three sisters who all accepted a baptismal date while I was there.

After the exchange things have gone pretty well. We have some really cool investigators. While I was gone to Naples, Elder Arrieus had a lesson with President Colton and Sylla. Apparently it went pretty well, and Sylla and Carmel were both on for the 27th. But they didn't come to church yesterday and we don't know why. So their date is on hold for now. Also we are teaching Rene* St. Marc. He is a really cool kid. He is 20. But he understands everything really well and just seems really prepared. Yesterday, we reviewed the Plan of Salvation with him and when we talked about the Celestial kingdom and Eternal marriage he was really excited. We also watched Elder Holland's talk on the Book of Mormon and at the end he was just like "Those are powerful words." His sister Loretta *Lynn also had a date for 3rd of January and both of them and their brother Kenny *Rogers really wanted to come to church on Sunday, but their mom only let Rene (Notice the country star names that the kids have, imagine that, a Haitian who likes country). I was pretty bummed. But we still had three people at church somehow. Their names are Jacques and Zach. I was excited that they were able to be there.

We also had our branch Christmas party on Saturday. It went pretty well, although it wasn't spiritual in nature. There were lots of people there and we had lots of good food. This week we should be getting lots of good food. We have three member meals planned. I'm not sure what time I'll be able to call you, if I call from our phone it will be between 5-7 Idaho time. But it may be earlier. I'll surprise you. Oh, also transfers were this Saturday. I'll be staying in Ft. Myers with Elder Arrieus. In fact, our whole district is staying the same. It came as a little bit of a surprise. But I'm excited because the work is going well right now. But at the end of this transfer I will have been in Prov B for a year and in the Providence branch for 15 months. I'm scared that I might not make it to Immokalee, especially if President opens up Winter Haven. But come what may, I will love it. I hope that everything is going well at home, and that you have a wonderful Christmas week. Take care and I'll talk to you on Friday.