Letter dated 9Dec2013

[Dear family and friends, here is the letter we received from Daniel this morning! I will post the pictures he sent on his blog. If you have a Christmas message you would like to pass along to Daniel, simply hit reply and I will forward it to him! Thank you for your love and support! Daniel's editor - BWS] Dear Family and Friends! This week was sweet! We had the first snowfall, and it's actually feels really good to finally have snow because it had been just a lot of water on the ground that would make your feet wet. And it's starting to feel like Christmas as well, which is always a huge plus. I also got loads of letters -- thanks family, Andrews, Sister Huggard, Sister Richards, and Elliotts! A lot of the work we've been doing here has been with less-active church members. One family, the Pavones, are really great. The dad is from South America and the mom is Swedish, and they have 3 kids; they're the funnest people! We played soccer as a branch on Friday night and they came with us to that. Their 5-year-old son was really quite good, and it was a blast! Then they, as well as several other people we've been meeting, came to church on Sunday, which was super! And our most positive investigator, Marie, came to church also. It was especially cool when everyone came into the chapel in the last 10 minutes before church started, making it a little bit dramatic. Everything is going great. It has been difficult finding people who want to learn and progress in the gospel, but it is always rewarding to invite people to come unto Christ. Pictures: 1st snowfall, Christmas-tree art in the local library, and a really incredible door-knocking invention! I really love John 14:15, where Jesus says 'If ye love Me, keep My commandments.' It is both easy to remember and profound. I've been thinking of this now that it's Christmas time and am so grateful for the gift of Christ and His Atonement which we can use through keeping Christ's commandments. I love you all so much and hope and pray that everything is going in the best way for you. Have a fantastic week! Love, -- Äldste Daniel Schindler