Hey guys!

You will not believe how fast the week flies. Life time of experiences in what feels like a day. Time is moving too quickly. Never enough time to get everything done!

Elder Boekweg is leaving me, that dummy! Just kidding, Hes going to a hick town (exactly where he was hoping not to hahaha) but Its for the best, He’ll love it! My companion is named Elder Beard – came out with my trainer and “Dies” in 2 transfers…So ill either be here 6 more weeks or 4.5 more months…I still am senior companion though, so thats interesting!

We’ve been caroling in the past week or two to lessactive members, investigators, and random people. Its been pretty sweet with Elder Atchison on the guitar and us on the vocals. Were auditioning some for drums, electric guitar and maybe some bongos. Maybe we can become some crazy trans-Siberian Orchestra dealio. Anyway, we sound sweet – especially with half the missionaries being sick we have our electric guitars.

We’ve been teaching Somplice! (Donas friend that only speaks French) We showed him the Restoration video in French! Coolest thing ever! I dont need to serve in another country to have the foreign feel – thats Tejas for ya! We also took them both to a concert the equivalent to our “Messiah Singalong” but called “Sing Noel.” twas awesome! Somplice was humming along to the music, then whispering to me, “This song in my country, but you it English, me it French” He loved it. Seriously dont let the picture fool you…I dont think hes used to taking pictures….hahaha The picture makes me laugh so hard.

We have been teaching some great lessons recently! Holly is moving toward her baptismal date next month, and we are working with the others to get them more solid.

We happened to have a member that told us he had a French Book of Mormon that we could give to Somplice instead of waiting for one to be shipped to us! So he is reading it!

I love Dona to death. This African friend of ours is so sweet and kind, yet so many people have taken advantage of him financially. He takes all of his trials as if that havent happened at all. He lives the next apartment building over and check in on him often.

We found a pick mountain bike in our storage closet and we are fixing it up, going to spray paint it, then teach Dona how to ride a bike! He said hes been wanting one, so we are going to suprize him with one! Wish us luck in fixing it up! haha

We found a place that serves all you can eat pancakes. needless to say, I am fat. Paprika is getting big.

Yesterday we found what it must feel like to be bishop. We were hurrying around most of the day trying to make sure people get to church, pass out carroling signups in all the auxiliaries, make sure to get people to bishop to fill out some forms, had meetings, missed sacrament. Got to go help someone with a blessing, taught a youth lesson, back to church for other wards sacrament, missed lunch, went to pick up some package for Dona from a member…Elder Boekweg is leaving the area so he was trying to get pictures….My back hurt, I was hungry, but somehow I had strength to do it all! I love service!

Ive said it once and Ill say it again. Once someone meets with the missionaries once, they will always run into them again. They are hooked. Too many experiences like this, but Ill just give one:

This week we were over talking to Dona while he had a mechanic fixing his car. Dona had another African buddy there chillin I guess and we started talking to him, His name is Edward. We found that Edward was baptized a member in Kenya and won a chance to come to the US. He hasnt come to church much here, but he said he used to at our church building. He then said that missionaries had called and left a message for him in the past, and we told him that we may be able to tell who they were, so he played the voicemail for us and it was totally Elder Boekweg, my companion!! We were so confused! Then I remembered finding a past missionary’s planner in the apartment and I looked through it as to see what others have done in this area (being a new senior comp in an unknown area). I found a number in there and decided to call it. This was Edward. Then the Lord brought him to us! We then refered him over to the missionaries next to us in whose area he lives in. Crazy stuff! The Lord works in mysterious ways!

I love Yall lots! Thanks for the letters!

Love,

Elder Householder

Alex! Hes a big guy!

And the Buis family! From Arizona as well, love them!

Dona and Somplice! They love the concert, dont be fooled by their expressions! hahah

Our Christmas tree! be jealous!