TURKEY DAY AWESOMENESS

Hello family!

How're you all doing? Sounds like all is going pretty good. I enjoyed hearing the voices on Thanksgiving - haha, I was totally expecting you to call, but decided it would be bad to talk since my comp can't talk to his parents - he's the only member in his family, he got baptized after 15 days of hearing the missionaries, he said he knew it was true without a doubt in his heart... and his parents are in Mexico and live in a little ranch that doesn't even know what missionaries are or any other church outside of the Catholic church. They have really no idea what their son is doing, pretty hard with such little support, but he doesn't care. Anyhow, but it was good to hear from you all! And going down to Bountiful was sweet - we thought it was going to be a bad ride. Tuesday there was a monster blizzard, total whiteout, like 10 inches in 5 hours. Intense. Thursday morning we went to the stake center to play soccer with the elders - -7 degrees. In case you missed that, that's 7 BELOW 0. COLD. But the ride went well. Went with Riley, a long distant cousin of mine living in Logan. It was sweet to see Grandma and Grandma Baer and Kayla all day, played a lot of games, yes hung up christmas lights for Grandma, ate a LOT. Good stuff.

Hopefully your Turkey day was good too! Sounds like the food as always was a hit. I love home food. But I will miss Hispanic food too...

Hmm, well, the week is going well. Elder Ruvalcaba is my new companion, super good missionary, loves the Lord and the people, its really good serving with him. He has a lot of faith. Like I said, he's had an interesting 3 years since he was baptized. His girlfriend and other friends and even his brother basically rejected him for life for joining the Church. But he felt the Spirit, he took leaps of faith, and the Lord showed him the way. He said that when all that happened,he decided instead of feeling rejected, he'd prepare to serve a mission. They sent him from Twin Falls Idaho where he was living at the time, to Ogden Utah! Great guy.

My last companion is now officially NOT a missionary! Pretty traumatic, the process, it seems like. Though 24 hours after he was released, he got a girlfriend and on Sunday was called as a ward mission leader. Funny.

We are really excited for the baptism this Saturday. Janet keeps saying that every time she reads or goes to church one more time, she likes it more and more and feels its right. A lot of faith. Through all the experiences and spiritual confirmations she has had, probably one of the most converted people we've seen.

This weekend is going to be amazing. The Lord has blessed a lot of people with the oppotunity to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. There are 16 people that despite all types of challenges and backgrounds, have decided to be baptized into the Church and make covenants with Jesus Christ. 16! In this our zone! Its cool, some were people that my companion and I in Layton last February were teaching and had moved, and now are found again and have been preparing to act on what they had learned so long ago - for example, there was a man who was going to open a restaurant, we taught him about the Sabbath day, and he said he couldn't close his business on Sundays. But after he moved he decided to do it, has been blessed, and now is being baptized with his whole family. Lots of miracles. We're psyched. Other families are teaching their friends about finally finding the church, about the book of mormon, etc. Yup.

We're really enjoying the work here. There's a lot to do.

I hope all is as well at home. Holly, hope thanksgiving got better for ya! I miss the family a lot. Did everyone start school already again? Has it snowed yet there? Is it even COLD??? What kind of plays or high adventure, or musical performances are going on? Is mom still sick? If the meat pie had leftovers, leftovers can do that - our refrigerator is still pretty amazing at growing things. We dont really eat at home...

Well, we are going to get going here, but I love each of you! The gospel is true. Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and friend - and this is His church on the face of the earth. The priesthood, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the temple, the gospel in its fullness, knowledge about the pre-existence, eternal families, and the purpose of life - they are not found in any other church. Not one. This is the truth. And the Spirit is willing to testify of this over and oever and over again. We just have to invite it into our homes and lives. Sometimes you just want to grab people and say "LOOK, if you have a little faith and exercise it, just open your heart I know what we're feeling right now - you'll feel it too, and KNOW! If you just read the book, if you just pray and mean it, you wont have any doubt! Your problems will get better, your marriage wont fall apart, you will find a job, and you will be happy." When people are able to do that, its awesome. Thanks for all you've all done for me. Keep on being such a great family!

Love you all, Elder Thelin

PS HEIDI HAPPPPPPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! Como estas? Heidi, you really cant be turning 14. Like thats old. Like stake dances and stuff. When did you get so old? Sheesh, last time I saw you you were 12. You're awesome Heidi, a good actress, a good singer, student, friend, and just a great sister. Hope your birthday is sweet and you have a really happy day! Love ya, Chris!