Elder Jaron Larson: Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas! This last week was awesome. I can't give you any real updates on our investigators because we are still just trying to meet with them. Besides that, we did some really cool stuff and even helped set up for a funeral memorial thing for a girl who committed suicide. They were friends of Bishop Purvis's family and Sister Purvis was the one setting the whole thing up. The mother of the girl was so impressed with Elder Salsbury and I that she asked Sister Purvis about us and even said she wants to come to our church next week! So that was really cool. It was good to recognize the importance of hope and love. There is always hope, and I promise if you don't feel loved, you are by so many people and especially our Father in Heaven.

We also had a really cool experience with someone named Raul on Saturday. We went because the week before we set a return appt. to come back. We were able to share the whole restoration of the gospel with him and the spirit was super strong. We had him read Moroni 10:3-5. After he read that he said it was super powerful and that he could feel it (The Spirit). We were both a little shocked but we gave him the book of Mormon and he was super excited to start reading it. Hopefully he starts reading it and gains a greater testimony of it.

Another cool thing was as a zone (I know it wasnt all me but I was kinda the one who set it up...) We went caroling last night! So many peopled loved it and us! We had 3 people try to give us money or "tip us" but we kindly declined. Another gave us tomales and a drink! One person said they have lived there for 25 years and never had carolers and they were super grateful. I'm so happy we could spread the Christmas spirit and cheer.

Yesterday during the 1st ward, they had the missionaries from their ward, email a testimony or short talk and their mothers shared it. One started to talk about families and it made me so happy. I am so blessed to be in the family I am in. I love them SO much. Little emotional Elder Larson started tearing up when he thought about them. They are such a blessing to me. Go tell someone in your family why you love them this Christmas.

I'm so grateful for the joy around Christmas and the happiness we can all get from giving. I'm so grateful for my Savior, Redeemer, and even my brother Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for the perfect example he has set for us. I've realized I find so much more joy in giving and serving others. So for this Christmas, after the presents are done, go serve someone. Go find some way to make someone else's Christmas even better. I can testify that it has made this Christmas so much brighter for me and I promise it will for you.

I hope you all have fantastic Christmass and everyone has a great week. Don't for get to have "mas (more in spanish) Christ" this christmas! I think about you all so much. Serve others and get blessings! Love you all!

Love Elder Larson