The holidays have always been a special time for our family. Christmas is Dallon's favorite holiday and he is having the time of his life. We are so grateful for all the people in his life that help make it memorable. We are grateful for their love and service to him. Their care is a gift of comfort for us.
"Feliz Navidad...Feliz Navidad...Feliz Navidad, Prospero ano, y felicidad! That song means so much more to me now that I actually understand everything that it is saying! haha I have been singing it all week. I love Christmastime. It is definitely the best part of the year. I have been immersing Elder Izelo in Josh Groban's Christmas cd. haha It's like the only Christmas music I have and I think I have it completely memorized. I'm glad that Elder Izelo puts up with me...as well as, our neighbors. haha I guess we have the spirit of Christmas with us. Every moment we are in the pension, we are listening to Christmas music. I feel like it comes and goes way too fast."
"Great news is that we were able to place a baptismal date with Fabian. I can't believe how easy it has been. We put a baptismal date with him in the first lesson and his family has been really supportive. It was fun because he is so excited to be baptized and he is awesome. We were teaching him about the restoration and we get to the part about Joseph Smith and the first vision. Fabian is like, oh yeah, I memorized this and goes off. He had learned it for the primary program. It was sooooo cool! I am praying that the Lord helps everything to work out. Ana and Patricio were confirmed and are loving the primary. Diego had his baptismal interview and will be baptized on Christmas day! Pres. and Hma King said we truly are going to have a white Christmas! haha It will be really special."
"We had interviews with President on Tuesday. It was good like always. President told me that he would probably keep me here in Rinconada another change. I was not expecting that, but I am glad. I love it here. It is the best! I really feel like there are a lot of people here who love me. It has been such a blessing. The members are taking care of us and are giving me my fill of cola de mono. I love that stuff! We have had a lot of hermanas fighting over where we go to eat and the calendar fills up fast. I love this ward so much. The Bishop's wife has been helping me out a ton. She is so awesome. She runs and does errands for us and always tries to help us out. The Alarcon family bought us a happy meal the other day and we had a blast. We are given so much stuff, it's embarrassing. I feel bad that we get so much."
"This week there were a lot of Christmas activities in the Stake. It was a little stressful because of communication problems between the Stake and Wards, but I realized that I am pretty good at staying calm and making things run smoothly. There was an activity every day. They had dances, a costume nativity party, a nativity display that was AWESOME!, and the whole primary participated in the Nutcracker show. It was so fun. Two of my converts participated and it was really cool."
"Veronica Escobar, the mom of the familia Barrueto, came to my ward yesterday! She came and sat next to me and just talked, talked, talked. haha She said that she really feels like my mom and that she finally gets to be with her son when she comes to my ward. She told me about a lot of stuff back in Diagonal. They are moving and they wanted to reassure me that their testimonies are still firm. The whole family couldn't come because at least one of them had to be at church so that they can keep their goal to be sealed in the temple. They are going to talk to President King this week to ask if I can go to their sealing on the 6th of January. They want me to be one of the witnesses. She told me that she would seal me to her family if she could. haha It was such a happy visit. I am happy for them and love them so much. They bought me a really cool plaque made of copper with the Santiago Temple engraved on it. It is so hard to take when I know they sacrifice so much to make me feel special. I don't know if I deserve it. I am so lucky to have a relationship with them. Veronica told me that everyone from the ward are trying to come visit me, but they aren't letting them because they would lose the whole ward! haha Anyways, I felt very special and my heart was filled with gratitude and love."
"That was my week, full of experiences that I'll never forget. I am excited for Skype this week. I always feel like there is so much to say, but when I am finally right there, all I want to know is about you guys. I don't want to talk about me. haha I'll try to go half and half. I will be calling you at 7:00, so over there it should be around 3:00. I haven't received your Christmas package, but I bet I will tomorrow...or if not, Friday at the Christmas devotional. It is going to be really fun. My white elephant gift is a pineapple. haha It is so random, but I think it's cool. We don't have a Christmas tree, but we have been helping the members out. They all think that I am a professional tree decorator. haha I know how to make them look ggguuuhhh oooooood!"
"Oh a funny thing you should know. President and Hma King went to a conference with all the mission presidents and their wives, along with the area presidency last week. They told me in my interview that they shared my poem with everyone! haha It's embarrassing, but it was kinda cool too."
"That is awesome that you are going to Elder Doyle's family temple session. You can put these names on the prayer list: Rosa, Fabian, Guillermo, Norka, familia Barrueto, familia Morales, Andrea, Gustavo, and Elder Izelo. I love you all very much and hope that you have a very merry Christmas! I'll be home for Christmas...if only in my dreams! haha HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR! ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho...ok, I'm done. See ya on Sunday!!!
Elder Dallon Smith