23.

I unfortunately didn't get to talk to Mason this week as he skyped home for Christmas, but I can honestly say I wouldn't have had it any other way. It means everything to me that he is obedient enough to follow the mission rules 100%, and I respect him for that more than he will ever realize. Plus he wrote me the most incredible email just 2 days later, and this was all he had to say to make it the best Christmas ever:

"What are you even thanking me for Michaela?!?!  You are thanking me for continuing to be your Best Friend?  Just because I am on the Mission doesn't mean that I am not your Best Friend!  I can still talk to you about anything!"

So in Love.

The End.

22.

Elder Bentley has been in the office for two weeks now, and it's been nonstop the whole time. He is still trying to adjust to all the changes, has had a couple rough days, but he still has the most amazing attitude.
"The Christmas Season has been really busy but I have been extremely blessed.  So many wonderful experiences to share the real meaning of Christmas and the members and missionaries are all so friendly and loving during this time of the year while we are away from our families.  I know that we have this Christmas season because we have our Savior Jesus Christ and I am grateful for him and the sacrifice he made for us.  I am also grateful for the sacrifice our Heavenly Father made for us to give us his begotten son. It is incredible and an incomprehensible amount of love.  Enjoy the Christmas Season!"

21.

"Remember that Jesus Christ is not our leader.  He is our Mentor. Leaders at time just tell us what to do or show us a path. Mentors are in the trenches with us. They very much care about what we are becoming on a very personal level. They live alongside us. Their involvement is real and palpable.

Jesus is a great mentor. His words, his life, the way in which he points us is very liberal, very different. It's a chance to start to see the world in a very different way. Many call it being able to present and act from love and understanding. However you describe it Jesus is very involved and interested in WHO you are becoming and that doesn't mean just checking boxes and following rules." 

-Elder B

1st missionary Christmas

To: Mase 

Love: Mich

Mason's first missionary Christmas is coming up, so obviously I had to put together a package for my boy. I kept it pretty simple: some socks, handkerchieves, pingpong set, lots of treats, but my favourite thing was definitely the personalized puzzle I included.  Mase always does a puzzle with his mom Christmas day, and I didn't want him to miss out on the puzzle tradition even though he won't be at home this year.
The last thing I included in the package was a letter with my testimony inside. Although gifts are fun and exciting, I wanted to include some aspect of the Savior—the true meaning of Christmas—into the package. It was just a small and simple way to let him know how much I love and am grateful for my Savior and Redeemer, and to #sharethegift this Christmas season.
One Christmas down. One Christmas to go.

20.

This was the last week in Santa Isabel For Elder Bentley. He ended on a high note, baptizing Ernesto on one of his last days in the area.
"Before we entered into the font, I gave him a hug and could not believe that it was happening and I could feel the love of our Heavenly Father as I embraced Ernesto.  We then entered the font and after the baptism I could feel the spirit so strongly.  It didn't hit me until I helped him out of the font and I was in the bathroom changing just how incredible the experience was.  I sat there and was s grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary.  The mission is incredible, and I was so grateful for that experience."