Me with the kids of the couple that we teach English to - Sarah and Johnathan. They're awesome. And their kids are incredibly cute and sweet. There's Lina, James, Noella and me, Dora and Diahna. This was us visiting them on Boxing Day.


So we had not an inch of snow for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day...........and then boom, overnight a TON of snow! And now it looks like Christmas haha. And it's colder than before. Exactly what I wished for? naw. It's been fun though. Sister Hamblin is a very nervous winter driver, and I've offered many times to drive for her, but she never lets me haha. Darn.

So I'll tell you a little bit about my Sunday, it was an interesting day. I got assigned to teach Gospel Principles, so I was all ready to teach it on exaltation, the last lesson of the year.......and it ended up just being Sister Hamblin and me, our recent convert Christina in class and then two guests visiting. We get talking with them only to find out that they were from Utah, but not members. He is from this area originally and they met at school in Utah and they were here to introduce her to his family.........Then we ask them a little bit about their background, only to find out that he's a religious minister (probably self-proclaimed).........and anyway, a few minutes before we started class, I pulled Sister Hamblin out of the class and said that I didn't think we should teach exaltation to them haha. She started freaking out because she recognized him from home as a bible basher that would stand outside her institute class like every day on her campus in Utah. Apparently he chose Utah to do his ministry to convince all of us mislead Mormons. hahah wow. So we decided to just team teach the Plan of Salvation, a step simpler than exaltation. It went............ Well we didn't even make it past Adam and Eve. We hadn't been teaching for a minute and he had already opened up his Bible with some crazy questions. It was so awful. We were fine. But it was a whole lot of him not making any sense and trying to make us look like fools and a whole lot of getting nowhere with the points that he was trying to make. Sheesh. I'm glad everyone was away for winter vacation haha. It was such a frustrating day overall. We got to bear a lot of testimony to them, and Christina did great, adding her testimony, but yeah, overall, frustrating. Bashers always are. But bearing your testimony to them is a powerful thing as well. The Elders had fun with him in Priesthood meeting. I'm not sure why the couple came to church; they weren't there to learn at all. They were there.........for some dishonest reason. He was like talking to members after church and trying to teach them. I hope it was testimony building experiences for the members as they faced a little opposition!

Anyway, to top the day off, we'd had freezing rain all day and while outside walking later that day........I had my hands in my coat pockets and slipped down these cement steps and caught myself on the corner of one step on my elbows. hahaha. It hurt so badly. I was so stunned when it happened. I couldn't even respond when Sister Hamblin asked if I was ok hahha. I'm fine, but I've got some internal bruising on my elbow, nothing to show tho.

So anyway, I hope everyone enjoys the New Year!!! Every day and every moment can be a New one because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for the hope that He gives us in change and a new perspective, new peace, and a new light.
Love you all!
Sister Jen Olsen