12.29.14 - Feliz Noche Buena!

Somehow it escaped my attention last Christmas that the hispanics don't care so much about Christmas as they do Christmas Eve. That is when Christ was born after all. We put a big emphasis on being on out talking with people on both days and handed out plenty of Christmas cards. We really wanted to push the spirit of the day and get to know as many people as we could while their families were home together.
 

Thank you so much to everyone that reached out and wrote me a letter or sent me a package! I felt like a really spoiled missionary on Christmas morning. It was such a fun day!
 

We ate with the Olvera's, they're both returned missionaries from Mexico and I learned a lot of Spanish from chatting with them while we took turns Skyping. It was so good to see my family. Wow. I got really choked up when talked. I didn't feel sad for not being there with them, I know i'm in the right place doing the right thing, but I have come to appreciate so much more the importance of the Eternal family. It is ordained of God, and it is the basic unit of his plan. We learn to follow his plan by living the gospel within our families and with that sacred unit many of the greatest joys and pains of this life will be felt. I love my family, and some time deprived of interaction has helped me to appreciate the blessing God has given to me.
 

This week, we went on a few exchanges, I dented the back of my Dodge Caravan on a Ford on Tuesday, we taught about 15 lessons and went to some really good District Meetings.
 

I've been learning more about consecration. In a monetary sense we know God gives us all that we have, so it is not a sacrifice, but the submission of a child to a parent when we obey his command to give more of ourselves to others. In the same regard that all of our earthly means come from God, who we've become to this point in our lives is equally by the grace of God. As we make plans looking forward to become more committed to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we must continue to rely wholly on his grace.
 

We have a lot to do this week! I love you!
 

Elder Tyler Meidell