"Sorry We're Late; Elder Checketts Was In a Temple Prep Class"

Malo soifua!!!

First off, the subject line is a real quote, haha. The mission here is having a two-session Temple Prep class for the missionaries who have not yet gone through the temple. Most if not all of the missionaries will be going through the Hartford Connecticut temple in January, which is really awesome.

This week was a lot of fun, and it was a lot of work, which was the best.  Christmas created a lot of opportunities to share messages and invite people to church. We've found a lot of new people this past week through referrals, and a number of them are really awesome. One of my favorite experiences was something of a miracle. We got a referral from a younger woman who requested a Bible study and a Book of Mormon (not knowing what it was). After a few days of being pretty unresponsive, she suddenly messaged us back, said she had been busy, but she really was interested, and that she wanted her boyfriend to join her in the lessons with us. Elder Checketts and I got super excited, and we had great lessons with them. The two of them are new to Christianity, but they have a real desire to learn about and draw closer to God. I have faith in them, and I'm really excited to keep working with them.

Christmas was definitely the highlight of our week. We had a bunch of devotionals, lessons, calls with members, and Christmas messages. The Spirit was pumping through the New York City Mission, and it was great. The best part, though, was our absolutely amazing ward family. Four or five sisters in our ward all reached out to us and asked if they could give us food for Christmas, and we were legitimately given no choice but to accept. Our hearts are full, and our fridge is overflowing haha. Elder Checketts and I finished loading our fridge, looked at each other, and said, "Well, we're not going shopping this week."

The greatest gift I was given this Christmas will be talked about in my Spiritual Thought, but the incredibly close second best was the opportunity to call my family on Christmas evening (with special guests Shirley & Forrest, and Aileen & Trevor, and their families). It was a wonderful call, and I love all of my family dearly.

Elder Checketts has been teaching me how to play the guitar, and I've been picking it up a little bit. I only have four or five chords learned, and my calluses are still forming, but I'm definitely enjoying learning an instrument. (If anyone has good songs to learn, or good music for missionaries, send it my way.)

Today was another "P-Day with the boys". We met up at the Spanish Elders' house, played some games and ate snacks before going to Rab's Bowling lanes and playing a few games. (I got three strikes and won the third and final game, and I ended up with the most total points of all three games). It was a great time, and we had a lot of fun.

Mafaufauga Faaleagaga:

The greatest gift I had this Christmas was the opportunity to spread the gospel ,and teach about Christ, on the day we celebrate His birth. At first I wasn't so excited for working hard on the holiday, but Pres Teuscher converted me to the work. He said: "Do you realize you have, at most, two opportunities in your entire life to share the message of Jesus Christ on the day we celebrate His birth? Not many people get that privilege." It struck a chord with me, and I realized that the greatest gift God gave me this year WAS the opportunity I had and still have to teach others about Christ.

God is good, and He loves all of us more than we can ever imagine. I'd say I love you all just as much, but I can only dream of that much capacity to love, so I try my best.

Alofa tele lave atu ia te outou,

Elder Hill

Photos:

We decided to celebrate the Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve lol, so we made Fish n' Chips with honeydew melon.

A night shot of Brooklyn from exchanges this week.

The member who owns the food pantry we work at has a pile of coconuts, so naturally I took a pic haha.

I got a Grogu blanket 😂.

We got a LOT of Christmas food from lots of kind people

I got to talk with my wonderful family on Christmas Day (featuring my adorable niece Olivia, who loves my plush cow)

Some funky ice this morning.

The scoreboard after our final game (my name was translated to "Mauga", or "Hill" in Samoan)