December 21, 2021

Everyone!

Ethan said he was going to take time today to write an email to everyone but...he got busy and didn't get a chance.  He did send pics and an email to Grandpa Oman so I hijacked it.  That's where I got these pictures from. ;) 

Here are some things Ethan shared with us on our phone call today.

If anyone is wondering, it is warmer in Loveland, CO, than it is in Ivins!  Ethan has been enjoying great weather and we have been pretty cold.  I told him that he needs to tell the people wherever he serves in the winter that they will be having mild weather while he is there.  It seems that he has been missing all the cold stuff.  That will probably change but right now it's in the mid-60s and Ivins has been in the low-50s.

Ethan was so excited to tell us about a family that they started teaching this week.  The father is an inactive member of the Church who reached out to the missionaries to ask to be taught.  His wife and 2 sons (ages 10 and 8) all want to be taught.  They had a great lesson and were given the assignment to read the intro to the Book of Mormon.  When Ethan texted to follow up with them, they had already read the intro and wanted something else to read.  Ethan gave them 3 Nephi to read and the wife asked if there was any extra material to help them study.  So the elders sent them a link to the Book of Mormon Come, Follow Me book.  They have had 2 lessons with the family and talked about baptism but they don't have a date.  But Ethan was super excited because the family is very interested and wants to learn more.  It was cool.

The YSA guy they were teaching was passed off to the YSA missionaries who have him on date for baptism for January 1st.  Ethan was excited about that one too,

And the girl they are teaching in the ward, who lives with her grandma, went to church on Sunday and is now on date for baptism for January 22nd.  Loveland is progressing and Ethan is seeing the fruits of his labors.  It has been a good week for him.

They had Zone Conference yesterday and learned about how to use the Book of Mormon in their teaching in a more effective way.  They were able to use what they learned in the second lesson with the family they were teaching and saw some great results. They also had a gift exchange.  Ethan bought a nerf gun from the thrift store that needs batteries (which he didn't send with the nerf gun), some chocolates, and a bunch of condiment packets from their apartment.  It has to be all under $5.  Ethan was watching when the gift was opened and he could tell the sister who opened it wasn't impressed by a nerf gun that didn't work.  He tried to drop hints that it needed batteries to work so she wouldn't think she got a lame gift, but he doesn't know if she figured it out or not.  He got a foam football and some gummy bugs.

There is a family in their ward who has "insisted" that the elders spend Christmas with their family.  Ethan said they are a cool family so he is excited.  That is great that they will have someone to take care of them on Christmas.

The district always plans their p-day activities together.  Ethan and his companion got on the call late so they weren't able to give input.  The sisters told them they are going to make gingerbread houses.  Ethan wasn't upset and said it sounds like a lot of fun.  I am hoping to see pictures.

Thank you to everyone who has sent Ethan a Christmas card, gift, or letter during Christmas time.  He has felt loved.  He has been so busy that he hasn't had time to put up the paper Christmas tree we sent him.  That is a good thing when you are a missionary!