The Christmas Letter From a Missionary

Hey guys! Merry Christmas. What a week it has been. It's probably been what of the best on the mission. As a district we've been getting up a little earlier and all meeting at this barn full of workout equipment and working out to start the day off. It's super cold in the barn so we all come in coats and stuff. It's super fun. We are having a competition of who can gain the most weight this transfer. 

     Apart from that, being a missionary during Christmas is really amazing. Going into the holidays I thought that I was really going to miss all of the Christmas songs, movies, and traditions. With that all out of the way though, I feel like it has made this the most meaningful Christamas ever. I've never gone into the celebration of His birthday before feeling so close to Jesus. There is a song that I recently heard called "el burrito sabanero". It was playing at our ward Christmas party and I asked my companion what the song was. He told me that it's a really famous song all throughout Latin America. That song stayed in my head for a day after and I kept thinking more about it. I think that there is something really powerful about a little kid from a country on the other side of the world triumphantly singing about a donkey on it's way to Bethlehem so that a Baby can be delivered. 

     I just want you guys all to know that I love Jesus with all my heart. My entire life, I've always made tough decisions by asking myself what Jesus would do. Usually the first thing I think of is that there is no way that He would've gotten himself in this situation in the first place. Following that however, whenever I took the time to really think about it, that's always when I was able to choose to do things that were hard but that I knew were right. Since being on my mission though, I've really seen what it means to put Christ at the center of everything. Striving to be like Him in everything I do is really hard but it is really rewarding when I'm able to really put someone else first and do things I never would've wanted to do a year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Elder Hackworth

Please watch this video. It is only 3 minutes. I'm not a crier realler but it's hard not to get emotional with this video.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

The church is getting a lot of negative press lately.

It all has to do with the amount of money they have in their coffers and in reserve.  The church is being accused of not using the money for charitable purposes, even tho that is how they file taxes.

As I was driving home from the gym yesterday, I thought of Lehi's dream....

Specifically, I thought of the crowds of people in the spacious building pointing fingers and laughing at the people holding on to the rod of iron.

I realize that is happening more and more.

It's hard to see it happening and to know that people I love are leaving the church, although this has been predicted it would happen.

Man, people are attacking the church from every angle.

It's interesting because they leave the church, but they won't leave it alone!

So, I just want to reaffirm my stand.

I love the Gospel, the Book of Mormon, the Prophets, and most of all:

THE SAVIOUR!

Artwork by Kristi K Anderson

Many Good Neighbors and Friends

Kristi made this and I LOVE it!

Every night this week, someone has dropped by with a plate of goodies or something tasty to eat.

I am overwhelmed at the generosity and kindnesses of people.

Here's some that I remember:

Dorothy and Garn - caramel corn
Mark Armstrong - Truffles
Vanessa Thatcher - Chocolate covered giant pretzels
Matt & Katie Pelo - plate of cookies
Don & Lisa Sjogren - sugared pecans from her own tree and some pistachios
Mike & Loretta Allam - oranges and brownies made by Mike
Christiansen family - sugar cookies

It Not Being Worse

Fender Bender on my way to the gym..

I'm a little shaken right now.

But, it could have been so much worse.

And, I'm very grateful that it wasn't worse than it was.

The Saviour's Birth and Life on Earth

I'm listening to the Old Testament as I exercise.

In a word, it is

HORRENDOUS@

WOW, those early Israelites had so MANY rules and regulations and stipulations and expostulations.

It seems so amazing that the GOD of the Old Testament is the same God as in the New Testament, where LOVE is consistently preached.

I'm so glad to be a part of this new world where Jesus came to show us a kinder, better way.

And, I am so very grateful.

I'm also glad that I am not a Jew having to follow all those old rules and laws.

Truly, the Saviour's way is so much better and makes people happier.

And, I am grateful that I recognize what Christmas is all about....

A Missionary!

...called Elder Hackworth, Bridger to us.

I'm very thankful to whomever posts these on FaceBook.  Thank You!

A Garage

For the first few years of our married life, we didn't have a garage.

Which was fine....

EXCEPT on cold winter, snowy, frosty mornings, which was most of the time in Rexburg, Idaho.

I remember living on Widdison Way and just yearning to have a garage.  Imagine not having to scrape the windows with frozen hands, imagine not having to push off mounds of accumulated snow.

When Allen built the garage on our little home, I was so very grateful and though that was the height of luxury!

Since that time, we have had garages, and I continue to be grateful.

There's not much snow to keep off in St George, but the sun beats down and does a numbest on cars, so it's good for them to be protected.

In the last few weeks, we have used our garage for a spare bedroom and for a dining room, so there's that about having a garage.

Oh, I do love having a garage, and I am grateful.

Until recently, we had Allen's boat squeezed in between the vehicles, but he recently moved outside.
WOW, now, there is room to move around in our garage!

My Life Right Now

I just met Dixie.....she just moved into our neighborhood.

She's wonderful.

But, she has a challenging life.  8 people live in her home, including two daughters, a disabled son-in-law, and three grandchildren, on of whom is handicapped.

Her husband died in 2011.

She is driving up north to help a daughter who just broke her neck in two places and has to wear a very restraining brace.  This daughter of Dixie's tends her three young grandsons.

I hear stories like Dixies's and I am just so grateful for my situation right now.  It could change any minute, but at this moment things are good.

And, for those blessings, I am so very grateful!

Gratitude Month

November is over.

December is here.

And, for one month, I focused on giving gratitude.

It's good to focus on what I'm grateful for.

And, I have so many things to be grateful for.



There are challenges in my life, but the blessings far outweigh the downsides.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all my many blessings.