An Alabama Adventure... as a messenger of Christ: 2018

Hello!!!!

What the.. it feels like an eternity since I've actually written!!

WELCOME TO 2018 YA'LL! It's going to be the best year yet. I can just feel it.

Here are some things that have happen over the past few weeks:

Mid December we met a professor named Daren (outside the Furg walking his dogs with his wife) who invited us to come back the next day, and gave us a tour of the Reese Phifer research building.. pretty sweet! Both of his parents are deaf, so he's currently working on technology for tornado warning systems for the deaf and blind. Pretty awesome, people and what they're inspired by amaze me.

Met an amazing Muslum woman from Iraq at the River Walk, and had the sweetest conversation with her about life, love and religion. Her and her husband came here for vacation 20 years ago. War broke out while they were away, which prevented them from returning home to their country. They had two suit cases, and that's what they built their new life from, here in Alabama. When she found out we were Mormon, she clasped her hands together and exclaimed her love for Mormons. She told us her and her husband bought their first home here form a Mormon woman, who they kept in contact with until the day she died. In a beautiful thick accent she told us that woman was an example of a "true Christian." She said we are welcome in her home anytime we like. Oh, I will always love Mrs. Jameel.

We were out contacting the other night, and I realized I hadn't seen Keith in a while, and began to be a little worried. About 10 minutes later we ran right into him! Sweet little miracle.

We've been contacting down on the "Tinsel Trail" at the river walk lately. It's a big trail of decorated Christmas trees on the river. It was freezing one night, so some people from Safe Haven church invited us to crash their Christmas Party, in the venue on the river walk. There we met a really cool girl named Tiffany visiting from LA. She's an artist currently working on a singing career. She invited us to come visit her back in LA after the missions.

On both Christmas Eve and Christmas night we took the rest of the missionaries in our District down the the river with us to carol. Elder Fotu and I played guitar and uke, while we all sang until our fingers froze and fell off. It was so fun though! Man I will miss these days.

I told my family about Wei Dong, while skyping Christmas Day. He's our upstairs neighbor from China. One day I randomly had this urge to open our front door and listen to the rain before we left for the day. Wei Dong pulled up in his car right when I opened the door, so he said hi as he walked past to go to his door. I heard him stop halfway up the stairs, pause, and walk back down to talk to us. He told us how this would be his first Christmas in the United States, as he's only been here for 3 months. He explained that he's taking a bible study class with other international students, and has enjoyed learning of Christ. He said "I really like that feeling.. what is it.. the spirit?" Haha it was so cute and sweet. We told him about the work we are here doing as missionaries, and offered to meet with him personally. He said he'd like that!

The experience reminded me of a time before my mission, when my own missionaries had invited me to an institute class. After class, we were standing outside the building talking when a guy walked up to my Elders and gave them the name of a friend he felt impressed to have them reach out to. As he walked away, I remember Elder McGirr saying "So cool.. I would have never noticed that before my mission." He explained to us that he'd watch that guy come out of the building, walk down the street, pause, and turn around to talk to them. He said how cool it was to be able to witness the spirit working on someone, right in the moment. I, like Elder McGirr, am so grateful and amazed to witness the spirit working in the lives of people we meet.

A few days later I felt impressed to invite Wei Dong to spend his first Christmas Eve having dinner with us and a bunch of other missionaries at the Lewis' house. He was so excited, and actually showed up! He introduced himself to everyone, and seemed to have a lot of fun with us. I love the Asian students we've been able to teach. They are all so kind and sincere and open to learning! Their culture is beautiful and so full of respect for others. I've loved being a witness to the Lords work. I've mentioned before, how cool it is to meet students from all over the world, be able to introduce them to the Gospel, and feel that this is one way the Lord is being able to take the Gospel to places where they are not yet free to have it taught in their own countries.

We had the Mission Christmas party/devotional back on Dec 21st, which was super fun. I was really missing my families this year, so I roped Sister Swanson into singing Silent Night with me. The APs put together a really cool video of all of us missionaries, as a Christmas gift to President and Sister Sainsbury, and played it at the party. It's included in the google photo album I'll send. We got to watch Moana at the party! It's super cute.

"Prison Lewis" showing us how to make DOOWOP.

B-ham at night.

One thing I've really enjoyed about the season is a tradition started by our last mission President, President Hanks. He went home a transfer before I got out here, but most of the missionaries I served with the first half of my mission were his, so I've inherited a lot of the mission traditions from his time. He gave everyone a 25 days of Christmas reading list in 2015. I've used it both of my Christmas's in the field. There's a different reading for each day in December leading up to Christmas. I wanted to share with you one of the readings that meant a lot to me this year. I will send it in a separate email. It's called "Behold, the Condescension of God" by Katie L.

Ok I've said a lot today, I'm sorry about this Novel. Just a few last sweet little memories.

We went on exchanges this week with the Bessemer STLs. We contacted at the Saturday morning flea market, where we met an 82 year old black man named "Cotton." He was selling Sugar Cane from Louisiana. He taught us how to peel it and cut a piece off to chew. Said he used to do it all the time while working the fields as a kid. His grandfather grew up on a plantation, and gave himself the name Cotton, the same name he now bears.

Tornado wreckage.

"We must be about our Father's Business"

Old graves off the side of the road.

Never seen black Santa in a Manger.

I don't quite have words for what I'm feeling. Just to say that I LOVE these people in Alabama. I am so privileged to know them, to have been taught by them, inspired by them, and feel God's love for them.

We now have a set of Elders in the Tuscaloosa YSA, so I've been trying to help them get used to their new area. We took them on a bike tour of the city, to show them how to get around. That was pretty funny...

Yesterday was probably the coldest day of my entire life. We biked in 23 degree weather (real feel 14), with wind chills down to 0 degrees. Still haven't thawed out.
Random pics from a couple weeks ago: