Monday, December 6, 2010

Winter Wonderland

Dear Family,
How are you doing? We are doing much better today because we have some really exciting news. So on Friday night we were having a lesson with Brother Thomas and we were thinking of ideas of how we can get his mom investigating once again. So we got this great idea. Since she really likes chocolate, we decided that we would be butter her up by getting some and giving it to her for a gift and hopefully getting into her home. So on Saturday we went to ASDA (Walmart) and got two large bars of milk chocolate and a box of chocolates to give to her. Later that day we went by at the arranged time and Brother Thomas came to the door and told her that we were there. She wouldn't come to the door because she had a headache. So we gave one chocolate bar to Brother Thomas and decided to come back to tomorrow. So we went back yesterday and went to the door. Brother Thomas again came to the door and told her that we were in. She said that she was busy. So Elder Erickson yelled, " We have gifts!" and then I yelled, "Chocolate!" She then replied, "Oh, come in. Come in." So we went in and she was very pleased to see us. The reason that she hadn't been meeting with us for this long time was because she picked up coffee again and was very ashamed of that. She was pleased to hear that we were willing to forgive her, but most importantly that God was willing to forgive her. We read with her from Alma 36 about Alma the Younger's conversion experience and related it to her. We said that if God forgave him for something as serious as going around destroying the church that he would be willing to forgive you for something minor like coffee. She was pleased to hear that and committed herself again to not drink any coffee. So we were so very happy to once again meet with her. Hopefully she will be baptized later this month. We are looking to the 19th if she feels that she can be ready then. If not hopefully on Boxing Day. What a great gift to her would be to be baptized and have her sins washed away!
In other things that happened. Brother Nain's daughter is feeling better and will once again allow us to come and teach him. Brother Waterson is doing fine. He still struggles with the Word of Wisdom and being baptized. He said that when he prayed that something told him yes and another thing told him no. So we hope that by reading Moroni 7 about how everything that invites to do good is from God. He has been taught almost everything and can be ready baptized on the 19th.
So to answer some question about Christmas. People do put up lights, but there are not very many. I feel that the snow and icicles have discouraged some people. I think another reason is that most people's homes are two story monopoly homes so that roof is quite high and you would need a tall ladder to get up there. That's just an observation. The validity of this statement is unknown. We do have our own Christmas tree. We bought one. It's 3 1/2 feet tall and pre-lit. It's fine for our purposes. There aren't any presents under it yet. We hope that will change soon. People celebrate Christmas quite similiarly to America. Except the meals I think will be different. They have this thing called Christmas Pudding (not like the pudding we have. It's more like a cake and often its soaked in Brandy and Sherry, but there are some without it) which i haven't had yet. It seems interesting. Oh that reminds me that I would like to give you a lesson now on some words that mean different things here. First if some invites to over for tea, it doesn't neccessarily mean that it's a tea party. More often than not, they mean dinner. Pudding refers to dessert. Trousers are pants (you probably know this). That's all that I can think of just now. So back to Christmas. I love Christmas. Another thing that they do hear is celebrate Boxing Day (December 26). It seems like it's just another day off, but it seems like it refers to the day after Christmas where everyone takes back the unwanted presents or the ones that were the wrong size. I don't really know. I let you know as time goes by. Speaking about calling home. We haven't really received any information about that. We know that we can. To the extent of how long or when, I don't know. I will probably call you in the morning (your morning). I don't know about Skype. I don't access to a camera. Aren't you content with just hearing my voice? Goodness. About transfers. There have been some rumors about that. Normally we would be moved on December 22 according to the six week cycle, but that's a little unfair. So I hear that this move will be one more week and we will be transfered the week after. So that's another mystery. We have been invited over to President Johnon's home for Christmas which is great. I hope to send off the gifts that I have gotten for you all. Hopefully it will arrive on time. We are teaching one knew person. His name is Michael Gormley. He is 35 and works at the Royal Air Force Base at Kinloss. he was interested in how there is a prophet on the earth. He is very open minded and willing to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. So that's what's been  happening. There still is snow on the ground, although it has melted slightly. The car park at the Church is still covered so we didn't have church yesterday either. He hasn't been much of a hinder except when we get stuck, then it's a pain to push us out. I hope that everything is going well for everyone. Enjoy the snow and do well.

Love,
Elder Buxton

P.S. I got a revelation this morning as I was reading a talk by President Benson entitled, "Flooding the Earth with The Book of Mormon." He says that we need as members need to distribute it more so Malachi 3:8-10 came to mind with a slight twist which I would like to share with you:
8 Will a man rob his neighbor? Yet ye have robbed them. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In withholding the Book of Mormon.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed them, even this whole earth.
10 Bring ye all the copies into the world, that there may be my Spirit in their homes; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

It shows to me the importance of the Book of Mormon. I would encourage you all to read it. Here is the link:
http://lds.org/ensign/2005/10/flooding-the-earth-with-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng




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