Going HAM on our area!

Gotta love Mondays.....at least I do!!  Elder McLain is definitely DOING some WORK!

Hey mom! 

I just have to start off by saying I don't have as much time today because we have to go help the senior couples move some stuff into our apartment around noon but I'll type fast.

So this week we just went HAM on our area. We worked really hard. We don't have a car right now and so we have to walk to all of our appointments, some of them being as far as an hour and a half away. And most of them are usually a half an hour or more walk apart. But it has been a blessing in disguise to be without a car. Oddly enough our weekly numbers have almost doubled. We've been teaching 4 and 5 lessons a day. It's not easy, and when we get home I sleep like a rock, but it's been a blast. Our hard work pays and that's probably why we were able to get a baptism this week. Well it is why.

The baptism was almost perfect. Our font has failed on us the last two baptisms so we've had to go to the Short Hills chapel but it works out great either way. The night before and the morning of were so stressful and I didn't think it was gonna happen and then we got her (Georgiana) a ride to church and then from then on it was like clockwork. I gave a little 3 minute schpeal or however you spell that on the Holy Ghost and it was actually really good. I don't remember what I said but I felt good about it. And then the baptism was great and the Spirit was felt in that room pretty strongly. Just everything worked out great. 

We also went and did service on Saturday in Eatontown again and it was pretty gnarly. The homes had flooded above the ceilings and some were clean swept off of their foundation. I didn't get any pictures but I have some good pictures we got from a couple of weeks ago. Sad stuff. But the service was good as always. We came across another group of church folk (Sayre Woods Bible Church ?) who were also wearing bright yellow shirts that said something along the lines of Sayre Woods Bible Church helping hands... it made me laugh but we were definitely appreciative of their help. They were good people doing good things for this community.    

So I wanted to mention a few things I thought of that you could send to me for Christmas... if you want to:
- I think I already said this but an Amano Chocolate bar
- Info on what the massive building next to MetLife Stadium is. It is a super oddly designed building with no signs or anything and we pass it all the time so I was curious to know what it is. It kinda looks like a mega ramp that would launch you into the MetLife Stadium. You don't have to print it out or anything, you can just email it or whatever cause we're just curious.
- Some expensive cheeses. No just kidding but some unique cheese like the stuff that Regan gets from catering that would be good with crackers, and crackers too. As long as it can handle a week without refrigeration. Please don't send frozen shrimp.
- Oh and about that CD that was sold out... If you can't find it on amazon then I think you can just get the digital copy and burn it to a disc. I can't think of any other way to do it. Not a big deal though. You already sent enough stuff just in that one envelope!
- I think that's it.

Oh funny story time. We met some crazy people in the last week and so did the other elders. We walked by a guy and, of course, said hello to him. He was looking down but he all he said was, "Ahhhhhhh pooped my pants!" really loud. I immediately started laughing. 

We meet people all the time that try to argue about the skin color of Jesus too. It's really annoying. The other elders said they met a guy who told them how to build a pyramid in extreme detail. I think they said he talked to them for almost 30 minutes about it. They also met someone that said he had enough potassium in his banana to blow the whole block up. There are a lot more that I can't think of off the top of my head but I'll write them home in my next letter. But needless to say we run across many crazy people every day.  

Ok I won't leave you hanging any longer... Anne got her mission call to New Jersey!!! I already went off when I was wrote to her, plus this is going to be posted on a blog so I won't embarrass myself. But that's pretty cool. I'm so excited for her! And as you already know, I sorta called it. Wild. I don't know if I told you this already but we're supposed to be getting 75 new sister missionaries in the next 4 months. I think the elders are going to have to start training sisters.... maybe not. But it's going to be a mad house here. I'm really excited for it! Dad probably already knows this but for some reason the sister missionaries always are extremely hard working and really successful.

It's too bad you didn't get to give a talk in sacrament meeting about me. At least they got to hear a full account of the missionaries who are close to coming home. They have more stories and probably have more spiritual experiences, and that's why Sister Payton and Sister Burr took so long. I'd love to hear how they are doing. They're both stellar missionaries I'm sure. Ah Elder Hill! I hope he gets better soon. He hasn't been out as long as I have has he? Either way, he'll be back at it soon. I'll be praying for him!

I smiled when I heard that dad got right back into skiing. Oh I want to see that. I wouldn't be surprised if he was randomly really good at it. Of course he looked good so that adds to skill points. Let me know when he goes through the park. I know it's sundance but I want to hear how that goes. 360!!!

Sad news about the Connecticut shooting - we were actually teaching right when they turned on the tube to see what had happened. They talked a lot about it in church yesterday so that we could do what we could to reach out to those affected. 

I'll be letting you know more on Christmas Eve probably what time we'll be calling/skyping. Most likely it will be between the hours of 3 and 6. I'm not sure yet. But I'll let you know for sure. Oh and I sent a package home that has one thing in it that you can return. Tell everyone hello for me! Sorry dad I couldn't write you today. Next week hopefully.

Oh we will most likely be having 2 more baptisms this month, if all goes as planned. We've been getting pretty lucky. You'll hear some way or another! The work is going well. We're working hard. 

I love you all and can't wait to hear from you next week. It's almost Christmas time!!!
Merry Christmas to all

Love,
Tab


Hey Dad!

I got to read your letter. I wouldn't want the app either, so I don't blame you. I'm glad that you will finally get a break from school! you deserve it :)

Interesting that you quoted President Monson about inadequacies, I just came across a sentence in PMG that talked of the same thing. Our confidence should be in Christ. It is his work. I firmly believe that because I saw it happen for me this week.

Those statistics were really surprising. I thought the most surprising was the second one. Thank goodness for sister missionaries though! They are great. We'll have a lot soon enough.

Thanks for the awesome letter as always. I've got ten seconds  so I've gotta go.

Love you!

Tab