A Rather Underwhelming Snow Storm

 Malo soifua!!!

Also Manuia le Kerisimasi!! (Merry Christmas!!)

Also HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!! I'm so happy you two are in my life, and that I have been blessed to be a part of your amazing family. Alofa TELE lava atu ia oulua!!

So this week was fun. We got snow finally, and everybody was freaking out about it beforehand. Pres Teuscher issued a ban on all driving on Thursday (the day after it was supposed to snow). When it finally came, however, everyone just felt a little underwhelmed. It dropped about four inches of snow, but that was cleared off of the roads pretty quickly, so there was no real concern (by Friday when we were allowed to drive again, the roads were almost entirely clear). I got a few good pictures of the snow, so that was nice. (Pres. Teuscher thought the snowstorm was "kind of underwhelming", even though it dropped more snow then than it had in the last year or two combined).

We had our in-person Zone Conference meeting in Queens this past Friday, so that was a lot of fun. Pres. Teuscher talked about Christ, and the value of understanding who He was BEFORE He was born. Everyone talks about Him when He was born, while He lived, and after He died, but we don't focus a whole lot on who He used to be. Pres. Teuscher talked a bit about the Premortal Existence, and how powerful and important Christ was. It really put in perspective for me how amazing His birth really was. Christ was like unto God, yet He gave up everything to be born as a hapless baby, who would grow up to die for the world.

Sis. Teuscher also talked about Christmas. My favorite thought from her remarks was this quote (somewhat paraphrased): "When God needs something done, a wrong made right, or a truth taught, He sends a baby into the world to do it." I loved that quote, and I think it really captures the beauty of Christmas. So yeah, remember Christ. Remember the wonderful gift that He is. Remember His love for all of you, and show that same love towards everyone else. She also showed us the Nativity video made by the crew of "The Chosen", and it's really good. I recommend you all watch it if you haven't already.

This past week was rather uneventful, to be honest. We did some service and shopping and preparing for Christmas, but that was about it. In some random news, we got to see a Staten Island NYPD motorcade for a Santa trailer around the town. We got stuck at a light where all of the cars were passing, so we watched the dozens of cop cars etc go by.

We also got a guitar, so that was exciting. While we were shoveling snow on Thursday, we saw a guitar next to our neighbor's trash can. We walked over and said hi the guy who was working on his car in that driveway. When we asked about the guitar, he said it was missing a string, but he didn't want it, so we could take it if we wanted to. We thanked him a lot, and took it back to our house. Today (p-day), we went to a music store and bought a set of strings and picks. Elder Checketts, who plays a little guitar, restrung it and tuned it, and he's going to teach me a little guitar before he leaves. I've been wanting to learn guitar for a while, so maybe this is my chance (I've been trying to learn a new skill every transfer or two, so this could be it, folks).

Mafaufauga Faaleagaga: Just go read my two paragraphs about Zone Conference again. 😊

Well folks, Christmas is in a few days, and that's plain wack. It still feels like I left home a few weeks ago, but now it's KERISIMASI already. Wack, bro.  Guys, God is so good. I think I know that fact, and then He shows me just how much He loves me (and all of you), and it blows me away every time. This week I was studying the Atonement and the Sacrament, and my biggest takeaway was "Wow, He loves us a LOT." He loves you, I love all of you wonderful people (and you, Brigham 😂😝), and we should all love everyone else. It's Christmas season, the time of gift giving. Surely we can all give our love.

Alofa tele lava atu ia outou

Elder Hill

Photos:

A screenshot of a Messenger call with our DL Elder Van (with the virtual Millennium Falcon background) 

Our ward's virtual Christmas party (with bingo and a gingerbread house competition) 

I made some Hopping John and Patacones (food favorites of my family). The platanos were a little overripe, but they were alright to make patacones with. 

SNOW (a few pics of our car and street, and Great Kills Park down the street)

Our Christmas tree, lights, and presents. Thank you everyone for your kind cards and gifts!

Sis Reyes (our bishop's wife) made us these customized face masks, and they're amazing! 

Cop car procession 

Elder Checketts posing with our new guitar