On Tuesday we went to Grand Rapids for a missionary party. It was really really fun. There were games, and lots about 100 missionaries there. For lunch we went with the Spanish Elders and went to this delicious Chinese buffet. After lunch we went back and had some more fun. After that on our way back to Paw Paw we stopped at a family that E. Benitez knew and had dinner with them.
On Wednesday CHRISTMAS EVE, we had lunch at SUBWAY thanks to a gift card from that family that E. Benitez took us to. Then that night we went to the Walkers and had Christmas eve with them. It was really fun the Ortons and the Marshalls were also there. We played games and read a book called "My boy Jesus". After that we came back to the apt.
On Christmas eve I spent a lot of time thinking about my family and what they were doing. I was getting so excited to talk to them on Christmas. I was also thinking how time is such an interesting thing. How fast and slow it seems to go at the same time. It seems like just yesterday I was enjoying my last Christmas at home, now it is already a year later and I am in Michigan. Crazy.
Christmas arrived. And Santa did in fact come. That morning I called my family at 0630. I woke them up and had a prayer with them. Then me and E. Benitez had our own little michiganary Christmas. Then I called my family again. It was incredible to hear their voices. I loved every second of the conversations that we had throughout Christmas day. Even the moments when there was just silence, it was just nice to know that they were on the other end of the line. We had lunch at the Szekely's and they gave a gift of the standard works pocket sized and a calendar. Then we went and had dinner with the Dangers. Both places had fantastic food. The Dangers also gave us each a gift they gave me a Minneapolis PD K9 Crown Victoria and a STAR WARS mug. We are extremely blessed here to have members like these folks that treat us super good. Then we went to the Szekely's, right as we walked in sis. Szekely said " I think that STAR WARS is approved." I agreed with her. And she put on STAR WARS Ep. IV A New Hope. It had almost been a year since I had seen that life changing film. I loved every second of it. Then that night the Hambrights dropped by the apt. and brought us a gift as well. It was a stormtrooper tin and a Stuffed Ewok. The members here are really some of the best. I was able to talk to my family one last time. It was great.
And as quick as it came, it went, as it always does. Friday we were Christmas hungover. I missed my family.
Saturday we door knocked a bit.
Sunday was good, we had a excellent sacrament meeting. Then we went out and had a pretty good time door knocking. We came across a super friendly English mastiff, I could ride that thing. We had breakfast for dinner with the Szekelys.
It was a good week.
I hope you all had a very Merry CHRISTmas. Remember to keep Christ at the center of the things you do.
Elder Cody Grant Fairbanks
MTFBWY
eldercodygfairbanks.weebly.com