WEEK 16 - HARK! THE HERALD ANGEL SINGS!!

Hey everyone, it's me, Elder Weber! Yeah, I've got another great week to tell you guys about, but before I do, some of you have been concerned about what I said pertaining to Elder V last week. So, it is my deep pleasure that we are doing much better this week. I mean, we haven't come close to killing each other just yet (unless it's over how the Monopoly game is going, which Elder V almost always seems to win), so that's good! We're still getting into slight disagreements, but we're starting to get along better, and talk out our problems a little more, rather than just go ballistic with each other. So, we're doing fine. And, unless something truly troublesome comes up in the next four weeks, I don't see us grating on each others nerves any more than we had last week.

Now then, onto the week itself. Now, I know that I must have started sounding like a broken record with this almost a month ago, but things are slow here. The lessons don't come in at wild numbers, like where twenty lessons is the lowest you can go. But, even though we only managed to get eleven lessons this week, I have to say that this week was a great week because of the things, not necessarily lessons, that we experienced this week. To begin with, let's go to Tuesday, where we went down to the Peakview neighborhood, where some of our strongest yet humblest members live. We were meeting with Brother Camarao and his family, and had planned on teaching a lesson on the importance of scripture study and prayer. Of course, we all know what He thinks of plans. Instead of teaching about the importance of scripture study, we ended up spending about an hour and a half talking with the Camaraos and explaining how the events in the scriptures happen and line up. They wanted to dive right in and get into as much of it as they could, and I could see by the fire in their eyes that they were so ready to learn what the prophets of old had to tell them.

On Wednesday, Elder V and I headed out to Timnath, and had the happy occasion to teach the McManus family once again. This was Elder V's first time teaching the family, so I was afraid as to how he was going to work with them. After all, they weren't exactly the average investigator family. They're the kind of family that wants to know all the answers, the explanations for the answers, and how they all connect together in the end. Much to my surprise, and delight, though, Elder V totally dominated in the teaching, and we got a great conversation lesson going, kind of like the ones that I'd have with Elder Proffit. The spirit was strong in the room, especially when Sister McManus asked us if we knew when the Christ would come again (because we were teaching about the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and I was able to bear my testimony that though I don't know when it'll be, I do know, with all the conviction of my soul, that when He does come, I will be ready to great him as the King He truly is. Then, that evening, Elder V and I went back over to the Banagas' house. They were setting up Christmas, so we decided to lend a hand. Then, we sat back and watched a documentary on Handel's Messiah, a beautiful documentary both in music and in spirit.

Friday found Elder V and I at a Rehab Center for a Service Project that the Tribly District Elders had received, and asked us to join in. Basically, the center was going to be holding a Country Christmas Party, with music, food, and square-dancing, and because most of the patients at the Rehab Center were in wheelchairs, we had volunteered to do the square-dancing for them, by wheeling the wheelchairs around like we were square-dancing. We had a great time with it, and of the patients that joined the circle each round, there were two grinning and clapping old women that never left the circle, both having far too much fun to leave it. It brought a smile of my own to my face. Then, that evening, we headed off to the Ward Christmas Party, and enjoyed watching the new Mormon Message at the end, called, He Is The Gift. It was a great message, and if I could be so bold, I would ask that all of you reading this right now look into it.

Well, that was my week. Now, for the spiritual message.

One dark and lonely night many years ago, a few shepherds sat out by their flocks in the fields, keeping a close eye on each one of them, as all good shepherds do. Any wolves that happened to be prowling around in the dark of the night would be mighty fools to think they'd be able to get their fangs on any lamb that night, these shepherds were far too vigilant to let their flocks get caught by a hungry wolf. But there weren't any wolves lurking in the shadows this night--just the shepherds, their sheep, and...AN ANGEL OF THE LORD?! The shepherds were astounded! An Angel of the Lord, one of the great messengers from above, had appeared before them. Them, lowly shepherds! And what a message he had had to give; "Behold, I give you good tiding of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!" Immediately, the shepherds gathered together their sheep and headed into Bethlehem, to see for themselves the babe that would one day be their King of kings. Now, this is the interesting part; it was not a great king or priest that first came to Christ on his birth, but lowly shepherds, simple men who had one goal in their occupation--protecting their flocks. I find it interesting that the very man those men were sent to meet that night was to be the greatest Shepherd of them all, even the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

I know Jesus Christ lives. I know this, and I know that He will come again someday, to rule and lead His people once more. This I bear witness of, in His holy name, even the name Jesus Christ, Amen.

Well, that's it for this week. See you next week, everyone!

--Elder Z.S.Weber