Sunday, December 17, 2017

E-mail dated 12/17/17

Kamusta Kamo!!?? Reeelaaaxxx everyone I am doing great! 

I was surprised when I opened my email and had a lot of emails regarding this storm. I can assure you that everything is just fine. It sounds like you guys are worried, don't be. So I have probably heard more about this storm from you guys than I have from people here. We got a call on saturday from our zone leaders that there is going to be a storm, and that is about all the news we got. And now it is monday and still no storm, or at least not yet. So sorry to disappoint you, but I don't have any crazy stories about a storm. Thank you all for your concern and prayers, hopefully everything will stay calm over the next few days. 

I am glad that you are all enjoying the Christmas season and you all are probably at the annual Smith family nativity party right now! Christmas is such an amazing time of year, there truly is a different feeling, the Spirit of Christ(mas). It is great to hear from all of you and all the little activities you are doing to celebrate Christmas. This Christmas season has been for sure the most unique of all the Christmas' I have experienced. No snow, just hot and rainy, no usual christmas traditions, it has just been unique. But the feeling, the TRUE meaning of Christmas is still the same and I feel and know that now more than ever before. This week as we have taught so many lessons about Light the World and about the meaning and reason why we celebrate Christmas, it caused me to reflect. I thought about my past Christmases and usual it was about gifts, but then I realized an ipod i recieved one Christmas is now somehwere in Africa (thanks Gavin) and the clothes I got for Christmas in past years probably don't use or don't fit anymore. But, there is one gift, the very first gift of Christmas, that is an eternal gift, the gift of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. John 3:16 - God so loved the world and so loved every single person, that he gave his only begotten son. And that is why we celebrate Christmas and that is why it is such a special time of year. 

So this week had many lessons about Christmas and a lot of Christmas events. We had our branch Christmas party on Saturday and it was so awesome, so many people came, members, investigators, less actives, it was awesome. But, the highlight of my week was yesterday. After church us and a lot of members from the branch went to a barangay called Lacktawan to the beach for the Baptism of our awesome investigators Nigielle and Nicole Segovia. I had the opportunity to baptize them. It was really windy so the waves were kind of big, but that just made it easier to baptize, I barely had to move them haha. The Baptism was so amazing. I felt such joy seeing them smile after they were baptized. I  really can't put into words the feeling, but wow what a great opportunity it is to be a part of this work. 

Well that is all I have! 

Palangga Ko Kamo! 
Maayong Pasko


Elder Degen

No comments:

Post a Comment