December 23, 2013 -- Elder Dana Sorensen, Valencia

¡Hola Familia!

This has been a fun week. I'll dive right in.

Monday night we had another family home evening with the bishop, E____, and A_____. We ate a TON. Next morning we ate breakfast with a less active, later lunch with a member family, and then dinner with a member from the other ward who we thought was a less active from our ward.

In other words, I'm getting fat.

I wish the members would give us more opportunities to teach their friends instead of so much food.

As if as an answer to that wish, we went out with a member to meet all her friends. She had given out 7 (!) Book of Mormons to friends, and we got to go out and meet them all. She's going to be a good missionary.

A____'s (our recent convert) Dad (first councilor in the ward) took us to meet one of his friends. His name is F_____, and he´s had a very hard life. But, we feel like now is his time. He is very prepared to receive the Gospel. We've been meeting with him, and he (and another friend) have come to church the last 2 weeks.

Friday night we had the ward Christmas dinner. There was a musical program first, then a ton of paella. It went so late that we barely caught the last bus back to the piso.

Christmas is practically here. The other night P____ dropped by and gave us about 40lbs of oranges for Christmas (he picks oranges for work). We gave him two church DVDs to send to his family in Nigeria who he's trying to convert. We printed out and framed pictures of A____'s and E____´s baptisms to give to them for Christmas. Tomorrow we're doing a white elephant gift exchange with the missionaries. It's a fun time of year, I just miss the snow (trees are only now starting to loose their leaves over here).

I'm attaching a sheet the office gave us that has all the missionaries in the mission on it. In case you'd like to see some of the missionaries I'm working with.

I'm really enjoying Doctrine and Covenants. I've never read it all the way through before. I really like this scripture from D&C 84:88

 88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

It´s really true. When we are really focusing on the work, working hard, and putting our trust in God, we see success and we are comforted in whatever happens.

I´m out of time now. Thank you for your support and prayers! Have a very merry, white Christmas,

Élder Sorensen

PS  It was fun, but it´s actually a mission rule to not play soccer (too competitive with the Spaniards). We played American Football, then Ultimate Frisbee, and then Capture the Flag in a nearby park.

About the package, it´s still in Madrid. They´re still waiting for Madrid to respond if the release request has been accepted or not. So, I´ll probably get it, but in another few weeks. But it´s no problem.

If there are any problems with the call we can communicate by email to fix it.

¡Feliz Navidad!