Christmas Pictures

Deck the halls?

Drew as a king in a nativity play Dec 2007

My Christmas eve was great. We spent it with the younger Eklund family. They have 6 children and the oldest is 12. We did a nativity and listened to christmas music. It was much like home and made me think a lot about it. We had the same experience christmas day with the Eklunds parents and a lot more kids! As you can imagine the group of lots of people was just like home! They're so kind here.

Christmas Time 12-19-07

This week has been good! I got a little sick (yes that's the second time on my mission!) Ridiculous I know. My trainer Elder Frost thinks it's funny. It's official I'm staying in Rocky Mountain House for another six weeks at least. Our time lately has been consumed by Mr. Kreugers Christmas. The stake president of Red Deer bought 2,000 of these DVD's and sent 1,000 out to less active members. The other thousand he's asked members to refer names to the missionaries to have us deliver them with a treat or personal gift from the members doing the referring. It's a good Idea I think. We're instructed to do NO proselyting on the door step. People are far more friendly to us as delivery boys than to us as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. It for the most part has put the rest of our work on hold. I don't know if it's worth it but I suppose that may be why I'm not stake president! ha ha I have confidence the Lord knows what he's doing.It's been much warmer up here lately! Instead of - 18 degrees Celsius we've been hovering at a pretty constant -4! It's amazing the difference that makes. The snow stays forever and is 100% powder! As Christmas approaches I just want to add my testimony to so many others concering the true meaning Christmas holds. In 1 Nephi 11:16 Nephi seeks the Lord. He has a revelation. The angel asks him "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" I've read this at least 5 or 6 times before. It never caused a second thought in my head. President Edwards gave a presentation on this verse and the subsequent verses. Christ (under direction from God) created Earth and the Heavens. Such a powerful display. We all gain physical bodies to step up and gain a perception of physical law. Christ very clearly has and had before His mortal life a mastery over physical laws. In Abraham 3 Abraham sees a vision of the Premortal life. In verse 24 it says "there stood one among them (the noble and great spirits) that was like unto God." Christ wasn't as powerful as God but his Glory was like unto that of our Heavenly father. Now picture a premortal Christ. Picture the majestic, great spirit Abraham saw. Our Savior in all his power and glory, submitted to his fathers will. As we think of a baby it is near the most helpless thing on earth. Our elder brother Jesus the Christ condescended from his position of power authority and majesty. Not only taking on the form of a babe but in such humble circumstances as a manger! This is the love our God in heaven and Redeemer have for us. I know Christ came to the earth for us. I've heard it said he would go through every thing he did again if only for the sake of one of us. If the Savior had to go through Gethsemane again for only you... He would. This is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Love,Elder McCarty

12-12-07

Good Afternoon! This is my newly committed weekly (or aspiring to be so) newsletter for any who might want it. Let me know if you've got some other email addresses for me to send it to if there's someone you think might enjoy it! This week has been amazing! Last Saturday Mandy Christensen took Elder Frost and I to go find Christmas trees! We got ourselves a 6 footer so that it fits in our small Pad. Her father is not a member and her mother is a recent convert. It was amazing to have so much hospitality. The same Sister Christensen bought me a blanket since I hadn't yet purchased one when I was in the field for less than a week! We were at dinner with her and her children (her husband works on the oil fields and is away often so we can't be in her home without the presence of another adult man.) We were eating in the cafeteria of the local grocery store. Elder frost (my training companion) mentioned it was no bother that we were eating at the cafeteria since we were going to buy me a blanket that day and we were going to do it while we were there. She seemingly paid no mind to it. We continued with our dinner talking about all sorts of things and when we had all finished she looked at her sons and daughter and said "well are we ready to go pick out Elder McCarty a blanket?" I was a little stunned and said that it was too much for her to do and that I would buy the blanket. She persisted saying that if her husband were there he wouldn't let me buy it! So don't worry about me back home! Every sister in the ward has been kind and hospitable to me! Also I'm ultimately in the Lord's hands! We still are struggling to build up a teaching pool since we're opening this area. We tract often and find many people kind but not the least interested in our faith. The other churches around town preach against "The Mormons" and so many have false ideas about us. I'm learning tons and soon we'll get things picking up! We plant seeds every week and just like the parable of the vineyard even the most infertile patch of ground can yeild good fruit. I hope all is well back home! I've been asked by a few what I want for Christmas. I don't really need much. Your prayers are enough for me! But if prayer isn't enough for you to give I'm looking for some good music. Anything that invites the spirit of Christ and is in accordance with the guidelines set apart in the missionary handbook under music. If you find some good stuff that I might like (especially Acoustic guitar) I'd appreciate it very much if you could let me know or if you're near my family see if you can sneak it in one of their packages! I'm grateful for all of your support and pray for you all daily that you'll feel of the Lords love and find his blessings! Elder McCarty