He's full of Holiday Cheer.........and a baptism!

Sounds like he's full of holiday cheer! Another baptism.....SNOW.....and good work this week.

Hi Mom!

Ah man I missed Bishop! Next time he comes, tell him to call us - we'll go out to lunch or go out and teach or something like that. Can you imagine? Taking bishop Barnard on a team up to go teach my investigators... that would be so awesome. Haha!

So this week was pretty good. We didn't have that much time to go out and teach because of storms and our temple trip and other meetings. But we still did what we need to and I enjoyed it all. I went on exchange this week with Elder Morrill again and he is great as ever. He knows what he's doing. He knows a lot about everything haha. But he's a fantastic missionary! Elder Pabla handled things well (he had to run our area) and so I was happy to hear that it went well for him too. He helped Diane prepare for her baptism and she passed her interview and the baptism went well! Even though it snowed a lot on saturday night, we had a good turnout at church and so many people came to the baptism. Okai performed the baptism and it was his first time. He did everything right, but unfortunately the water level in the font was pretty low so he had a hard time. It took him three tries :) I think he was a little bit embarrassed, sadly. He shouldn't be!

We had a nice snow storm and it was awesome. I enjoy going out in the snow! Don't worry, we stayed warm. We did a lot of sidewalk shoveling at the church so I actually got really hot.

Good ole Elder Vargas and Elder Traasdahl. I saw Elder Traasdahl this week... it was a sweet experience. I hugged him for a couple minutes. I got a nice picture too. He's a fabulous guy. I miss those two.

Tell Nate happy birthday for me! I had no idea. I will get some balsamic chicken one of these days. I'll find it somewhere. I passed a super yummy smelling vietnamese restaurant in New York... but the rule is no eating in restaurants in new york so I had to pass it up :( They had Bon Mis! The place was called Boi, maybe you could look it up to see if it's any good. Cause if it's not, that would make me feel better. The new temple video is really good. 

I got two funny ties for Reese and Clark, really funny suede ties. Reese is actually on the computer right now so I am chatting with him. it's nice! Ok he's done. Question! Could you send me a couple pairs of pants in my christmas package? Ones that I already own. My black corduroy levis and I have a black pair of RVCA pants that are like jean material. You can include them in any package you already planned to send - no rush. Also, I do need new white shirts. 5 will be good. Cause mine are getting a little gross now. Have you already purchased some? I like any collar style. I'm not picky :) 

I'll be praying you do well on your tests! In turn you can pray for Lula, that she'll get baptized soon.

Tell Regan that I say I love her and that she should write me back that slime!

I am taking more pictures, I just forgot my camera today .... :?

Yes, I think I will still email next monday! I hope it snows. 

Thanks - I will have a good week! We are going to go sing today. Haha. 

Love you all!

Love,

Tab

Here's a portion of Tim's letter. I wanted to share it since it is such a good message for the season!

Hi Tab,

I hope you had a good week.  From what we can tell here, the cold weather has arrived in NJ.  I hope you are adapting quickly to winter weather and that you are staying warm. I read in President Jeppson's weekly letter that you and Elder Pabla were able to baptize Diane yesterday. That's really great! It's nice that she and her mom can be new members together — hopefully they will be able to help each other.

Before I forget, two people told me to say hi: Taz Murray and Bishop West's counselor from PG (younger guy with dark hair).  I guess Bishop Barnard was out seeing Joe last week, but didn't have an opportunity cross paths with you.

For a Christmas thought this week, I have a couple of things to share.  First are excerpts from Elder Uchtdorf's 2011 Christmas Devotional talk:

In his 2011 Christmas Devotional message, President Uchtdorf said that we, “like the Wise Men of old, should seek the Christ and lay before Him the most precious of gifts: a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We should offer Him our love. We should give Him our willingness to take upon ourselves His name and walk in the path of discipleship. We should promise to remember Him always, to emulate His example, and to go about doing good.”

President Uchtdorf’s  went on to say, “We cannot offer perfection, and the Savior does not expect it, but He does require that we bring as gifts our best efforts to move ourselves, one foot in front of the other, walking in the ways He has prepared and taught.”

President Uchtdorf concluded, “Of course, we do not need a Christmas holiday or Christmas traditions to remember Jesus Christ, the Savior. … May each Christmas season remind us to lift up our voices and fill our hearts with joy and gratitude that Christ the King has come! Christ lives! He is real. He is our Redeemer at Christmas and always.”

One of my favorite thoughts from Elder Neal A. Maxwell is that the only gift that we can give to God that is uniquely our to give is to surrender our will to Him. Elder Maxwell said it this way:

The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give! Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender which is also a total victory!

Tab, I am proud of your efforts and service.  I'm sure you are a great missionary.  I hope that you are finding ways to have your individual will swallowed up in God's will. I hope you continue to have a wonderful Christmas season.

Love,

Dad

Love you too Dad!

Thanks for the thought. I hope you got my letter this week! New Jersey mail... I sent it a week ago. It should come today! 

Tab

Diane's Baptism (Her mom, Comfort was baptized 2 weeks ago)

Diane was baptized by Okai (in white on the right)