Christmas is Coming!

   Christmas is coming up quick! Not too many people are interested during the holidays to even bother with mormon missionaries. But this is the perfect time of year to share our message that is centered on Jesus Christ. My new comp (Elder Fransen) and I have been trying to use catchy phrases to catch people's attentiion, such as: "This message will help bring that Christmas spirit into your home."

   We have also done what we call the down town walk, where we walk the entire two blocks of Elk City's down town area while people are out shopping. We just OYM (Open your Mouth) at everyone and we and hand out Mormon.org cards. It's fun but we've noticed that if we do it for too long, then people walk in and out of stores when we walk by to avoid us on the sidewalk. haha!

          I just found out that our mission is "the belt buckle of the Bible belt."  Apparently it is the hardest mission in the States. President Taylor also told my comp, who is district leader, that our area is the hardest area in the Oklahoma City Mission. And I've been here my whole mission so far! jeez. At least this areoa will make be a better missionary because we have to be humble and have Faith. We plan on getting at least two baptisms by the end of this transfer. 

     We had a cool thing happen this morning! While we were doing comp study, the phone rang and we didn't know who it was. The man on the phone said that he had a son who is 11 years old and was baptized into the Mormon faith when they were living in Hawaii. They have moved to Sayer, OK and it is in our area. The man is not a member but told us that every church he has investigated has always made him realise that the LDS church is the one he knows is true. He gave us his address and number so we set up an appointment to help him quit smoking and baptism may be near! It is awsome!  My comp and I were freaking out after the call. haha!!

Merry Christmas! Luv y'all!

--Elder Shumway