Hey Y'all!
Wow it has been a great week! First off I want to thank everyone for the great packages and gifts. Thanks for the cupcakes Mom, they were so good! I was able to take them around to some Elders in the zone and we left some of them on their doorstep, knocked and ran, kinda fun, but they were really good! Thanks Grandma Smith for the package of treats, it is all really good as well, and it was so good to see Aunt Gloria. It was the middle of the day so usually we would be out of the house, but we were up in our room planning for something when the doorbell rang. The Rosequists son brought up the package and said, "There's an older couple at the door for you"...haha I knew immediately who it would be. That was nice of her to come and see me, I appreciate it. And Grandma Birch, thank you for the letter and the gift, that's very nice of you! So our thanksgiving was great, the Rosequists smoked a turkey, which was the best turkey I've ever had in my life! haha I need to learn how to do that. They had all their family there, so there have been a bunch of little kids running around all week! It's been fun. The Turkey Bowl was really fun, we didn't win, but we won 1 of the games we played. It was fun either way so that's what matters. A member brought a pizza oven and cooked a ton of pizza for all of us. Over 250 missionaries and there was still a lot of pizza left, pretty crazy!
 So about some of our investigators, we have a lot of people that are close to baptism, but they all just need to take that final step and commit, Bobby, Erik Mega, Kaumaka, and Mike and his daughter have all been taught all the lessons or have a good understanding of them, but each one of them have specific things keeping them from taking that final step right now. So thats what we are doing right now, trying to resolve concerns and keep meeting with all of them. We also have Tony who was a media referral, meaning someone else referred them online or through the mission office, is someone that we just started teaching. He is great! He's from the Philippines and works here with a lot of members. We are teaching him again tonight and hopefully bring up baptism and see how it goes. I feel like him and Kaumaka are the closest right now to baptism. Kaumaka is the 13 year old whose mom is recently returning to the church. They just need to start going to our ward instead of the ward in Henderson, and then we can set him with a date. So as you can see, the work is progressing, slowly, but it is progressing and we are trying our best to teach Gods children in this part of his vineyard. I'm so grateful to be here right now and I'm grateful for this holiday season we have to remember the things we should be thankful for and remember Christ our Savior as well. I'm excited for Christmas and to be able to talk to everyone as well!
I hope everyone has a great week and remember I love all of you!
 Love Elder Smith