Letter from Tacoma #59: December 12, 2016

 Hey everybody!

First off, It snowed!!!

​YEEEEEEEEES!

We had Zone Conference this week on Thursday, where all the missionaries from Olympia, Elma, Centralia, and Lacey zones got together to here some trainings from President Blatter. It was a bit of a mix between a regular conference and a Christmas party, which was really fun. At the end, we grabbed our presents that were sent to the mission office. (Yeah, I got my big box of presents, too! Thank you!)

But as we were grabbing presents, we looked outside and it was snowing! Basically every missionary from Utah ran outside and started throwing snowballs! It never snows here! It really felt like Christmas that day.

And it continued to snow the whole drive home, the whole hour and a half trip. Let's just say that... was an adventure! It was epic! Just trailblazing down the snow-swept highway. Pretty scary, seeing as I could barely make out where the road was through the blizzard and darkness. But don't worry, we got home unscathed.

Secondly, I don't feel too good today. Yesterday, by the end of the day, I was sluggish, my throat felt like sand paper, I just felt weak. It's not as bad this morning, but I still feel halfway like crap. So, I'll make this one a little short.

I got all the presents in the mail! I forgot to grab pictures, but I put all the small stuff in a stocking I held on to from last year, and hung it over my desk. And the rest I put 'under' our tiny Christmas Tree. Sorry to say, but I have felt most of the presents to figure out what they are; I think I know what some of them are, but there are a few that have left me stumped. Now I'm anxiously awaiting the day I can open them all and see what's inside... I'm having a real battle of self-control, 'cause the tree and the presents are sitting on the dresser right by my bed. It's just so tempting!

This week we did a lot of service work. We helped Andrea and Gordon clean out their roof gutters, even though it was probably 35 degrees outside. But it was really the only clear day we've had in a while. We cleaned out a bunch of sediment, as well as freezing cold water. They were really grateful, since it's hard for either one of them to climb ladders now.

Oh yeah, and we're going to have a Christmas Potluck in the branch this Saturday. I'm going to be helping with the Primary's program for the event, playing piano accompaniment. Yeah, it's pretty funny. They finally found out that I could play the piano, and I've been here for about five months now.

How it happened was the branch, being small as it is, didn't have anyone to play the piano for priesthood exercises, because the guy who usually does it was on vacation with family for Thanksgiving. But then my companion, Elder Devenberg, had to point a finger towards me when they asked if anyone could play.

So, I got up to the piano, and just played a little bit of Praise to the Man, albeit a bit rusty. Everybody just looked at me like, "why didn't you tell us you could play?"

I just replied, "You didn't ask..."

So, while our usual pianist was gone, I've been playing for Priesthood openings at church, and now just recently, for Primary. I've found that the primary songs are pretty easy to play, and the kids (plus the primary leaders) loved it. Yesterday I was playing for them all of 2nd hour, practicing for their part at the Christmas Potluck.

So yeah, I'm having fun over here... though I hate to say it, Mom was right. I wish I'd played more before the mission. But oh well, I know enough to get by.

Our investigators are doing okay, too. Diane is still reading the Book of Mormon. She even went to that FHE social with some other members, and she loved it. She wants to go there every week now. I think her problem really is that she wants to know if this Gospel is true or not, but before you can receive a witness, there needs to be a trial of your faith (See Ether 12:6). I liked what Mom wrote to me in response to my last letter, "Do your best to teach with the Spirit and help them recognize it and that's all you can do!" I'll have to focus specifically on that the next time I see Diane. She really needs to learn recognize the spirit, because I think that's the only thing that's stopping her from being baptized. I'd love to see her be baptized before I leave after Christmas to a new area.

Andrea and Gordon are doing good, too. We need to see them again later this week. They're horrible when it comes to answering the phone, so it's more effective to see them at the end of the night in person.

We did some service for Rosa as well, just rearranging some stuff in her living space because she's going through surgery on her knees this week. I have no idea when she'll be back, probably not until I'm already gone from the area. Pray she makes a full recovery!

That's all from me for now. I feel like I'm going to fall over right about now... just kidding.

Love you all!

Thanks for reading!

-Elder R. Austin Moe

Wa-Tac Missionary