Wednesday, Dec. 24

Today has been an interesting day. The day before Christmas! It is quite warm. We put on coats this morning, but did not need them after a while. We tried to go out this morning, we had a pretty big list of things to do. We started by going out to visit two media contacts who had been turned into us by the church. They were about 30 minutes away in two different directions. We got to the first one by the name of Justin Smith and found it to be a bogus address without a phone number. Of course we noticed there was not a phone number, but everything else could have been legit! There was no such address so we went after the second one. It did not have a phone number either, but the name and other things looked allright. There was no such address for it either. So we wasted about 11/2 hours looking for those two. Oh well, it was for Heavenly Father. I know he appreciated it.

Sister Sue Eppinoff was not feeling well so we decided to go to Gordonville and give her a blessing and then catch a less active member who lived up there. We did find Sue not feeling well, but the less active member was not home. We also tried three other members before we just gave up and came home. Now I am just sitting here in our apartment, and Dad is asleep. Laura just called to see if a package had arrived and also to make sure we did not open it. I assured her that we would. !! ;*)

Actually it is a different feeling to be here without family on the day before Christmas. Tonight we are going to Sis Cecil's for Christmas eve. She is a lady in the ward who invited us over. She has been on three missions and her husband passed away a year ago. What do I have to be lonesome about? Nothing!!! I am actually just fine, I just wish we could be working and serving, but everyone is busy.

We have been very lucky because we have been quite busy up until today. I remember how the day before Christmas has always been busy and baking and getting ready for everything. Many people are getting ready to leave for Christmas. At least we tried.

In many ways, this has been a wonderful Christmas. The feelings of Christ are so strong. It is such a great feeling to be able to help so many people. It is only when I start to focus on myself that I feel lonely. I love being here with Elder Whiting. He is such a great missionary and he has helped me so much to understand so many things. Our marriage has gotten so strong as we have helped and depended upon each other. What a marvelous opportunity this has been.