Christmas!

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala temple

"I recognize that, on occasion, some of our most fervent prayers may seem to go unanswered. We wonder, 'Why?' I know that feeling! I know the fears and tears of such moments. But I also know that our prayers are never ignored. Our faith is never unappreciated. I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father's perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. if we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time." --Russell M. Nelson, "Jesus Christ--the Master Healer"

Highlights for 28/12/15:

Highlight #1: Christmas. Zone Activity. This week we had a wonderful zone activity to celebrate Christmas :) We had an awesome white elephant activity and had a lot of fun! Then we played some Christmas-related games! Afterwards we had a flash to the past moment and crushed a santa piñata...then like when we were younger we all rushed the fallen candy!!!! :) Then we had some Christmas-y cream-filled doughnuts. :)

Highlight #2: Christmas. Multi-Zone Conference. Then on Wed we had an awesome, festive Multi-Zone Conference. We got together with about half the mission (the other half was the day before) and had a very spiritually uplifting conference. We were able to watch the movie Ephraim's Rescue. It was VERY good, I would recommend it to EVERYONE! :) Then we had an amazing honeyed ham lunch!!! :) And THEN received a christmas present from Pres and his wife! :) It was a great way to begin Christmas :)

Highlight #3: Christmas. CHRISTMAS! But the highlight of them all this week was Navidad! I GOT TO CALL MY FAMILY. But you all already knew that...that's the problem writing only on Mondays and you all having FB accounts and seeing the pics already. Also we had some AMAZING members and investigators who invited us to participate with them in their Christmas activities :) GOT TO LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!! :)

Here's my little Christmas tree and decorations in my apartment! 

Were there enough Christmas highlights? Well....ONE MORE

Highlight #4: Christmas. Food. There's the food highlight that is required EVERY week! :) This week for the second time in my mission I had the privilege of eating a BUNCH of Guatemalan Christmas food! Examples? Paches. Tamales. Chuchitos. ETC. They are soooooo good! The hard thing now is finding the ingredients when I get home to prepare them!!! :) But hey! There's gotta be some Guatemalan food supply store in the states somewhere, right??

Well, I love you all and hope your week was FANTASTIC! I think about and pray for you all each individually every night and pray for your salud, proteccion, y felicidad. I am soo grateful to be on the Lord's errand! There isn't a better place I could be right now, even though it is hard, it is also very rewarding! :) Keep on praying! Keep up the scripture reading! And if you still have time, because there is always time, do a little bit of service for those around you! :) Keep on smiling! Laugh! And take in life, because it is truly amazing!

With Love and Prayers,

Elder Flake