Whew!

That was a great game.


So, this week has been a fun-crazy-rock-n-roller coaster week. Monday night we went to the Branch Christmas party at the Jones's House. Were we feasted very well and then wrapped presents for a struggling family that the Branch adopted for Christmas and decided to give them a Christmas! It was such a great experience seeing all of these college kids giving of their time and money and all of that worldly junk to bring a little joy into this family's hearts. Great stuff.

Then we (Elder Summers and Myself) Got loaded with about ten tons of cookies and a diagnosis of Diabetes if we ate them all. So we had to think of a way to get rid of them all. Which we did. We went caroling door to door and gave cookies to the people who listened to our caterwauling. It was fun! The greatest house we went to had lights up and a wreath and a sign saying "Merry Christmas!" and the whole deal and we knocked on the door and sang and said, "We're missionaries. Have you ever talked to Missionaries like us before?" the response: We're Buddhist. HA ha! We were like "You could have fooled me."

Talk about commercialism of Christmas.

Christmas was great! I loved talking with you. I miss you guys so badly. (I wanted it to be you... I wanted it to be you so badly.) Sorry I had to do the quote. ;)

What else... Oh Christmas day we ate like kings at the Jones's again. So much food.... Urgh... I think I'll be ok until new years.

Thank you all for your letters and emails. They really make things easier out here for me.

I'm not going to lie. It's been a tough Christmas for me... Being away from home during my favorite time of year to be home. But I know that I'm where the Lord wants me to be. Yesterday we talked with this guy at the park who was dead set on bashing and all of this other junk and all I could do was say, "All I know is that the church is true."

What a wonderful time of year to be in the service of my God. I can't imagine myself back home right now. I'm supposed to be here.

I love you all. I miss you tons. and you rock my business socks!

-Elder Barker