Hiking - 31 December 2018

Michael is enjoying being in SoCal. He went on a New Years Eve hike in a canyon and found a neat tree stump. If you notice, Michael is wearing an isolation shoe on his right foot. He fractured his foot jumping over a fence to get a soccer ball that went over several weeks ago on a P-Day activity.

Weekly Letter - 31 December 2018

Michael asked me to post his weekly letter to his blog. Many of you receive his letter each week but I am going to post it each week anyway.

Hi everyone! 

This week has been great. I have been able to talk to a lot of people this week and learn and grow in my communication skills. It has been really fun, we also found a new person to teach which is always the greatest feeling for missionaries! Can you believe that tomorrow is 2019!!!!! I cant. I have been seriously thinking about new years resolutions and I have decided what it is going to be. I hope you don't think it is dumb but I am really excited to focus on this. In 2019 I am going to focus on putting negative things behind me and never looking back so that I can more fully focus on the good things that life has and becoming more like my savior. In Ether chapter 12 verse 27 it says "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I think that this verse from the Book of Mormon is a perfect verse about new years resolutions. I want to invite you all the seriously think about one weakness you have, then once you have chosen that weakness I want you to pray and ask God what could you do to make this a strength, after that then you need to think about what you could do, come up with ideas and then use the plan that you have made, write it down and put it somewhere you will always see it. Then write in a journal about how you did that day using your plan and continually ask and seek help from God. I know that you can all do this because I have. And that doing this will not only make you a better person it will bring you closer to Jesus Christ because He is the one that will help us make weakness's strengths. Thanks for being great and
I will talk to you next week!

Love Elder West

Merry Christmas - 25 December 2018

If you haven't seen this, here is Michael's Christmas card that he made on his phone.

Not only is today Christmas but it is one of two days a year that we get to Facetime (Skype) Michael on the phone. It was awesome seeing him and hearing his voice. He is doing so well and really loves being on a mission. We are so proud of him! One of the best gifts we received this year was this phone call.

Ready for Christmas - 24 December 2018

Michael is ready for Christmas. Jen sent Michael a 2' prelit Christmas tree and he has received his presents. I love that he set the tree on top of the stack of presents to make it bigger.

We are very excited for Christmas tomorrow because it is one of the two days that we get to talk to him via Skype or Facetime. Can't wait!

New Area and New Companion - Dec 18, 2018

Michael was transferred to the Santa Margarita Zone this past week. He now is serving with Elder Walker. They are excited to serve together!

Ward and Mission Christmas Party - Dec 17, 2018

Michael got a sneak peek of Santa at their Ward Christmas Party.

All of the missionaries in his mission got together for a Christmas party. Here is Michael in his last San Clemente Zone picture.

At the missionary party, several of the missionaries performed a skit for entertainment. Michael and his companion Elder Martin, performed a cooking skit and had everyone cracking up. To give a bit of a background on this skit, the week before the party, the Mission President decided that church members were not allowed to feed the missionaries in their homes anymore because it was taking away from the ideal hours for them to find people. Also, they are on a limited food budget as well. So Michael decided to do a skit on how to make soup from the natural things around their apartment like sticks and leaves and to season using dirt. I was told that it was hilarious.

Weather - Nov 17, 2018

Received an email from Michael this past week that replied to an email I had sent of a snow storm that we had here in Fargo. He said that he "missed the cold because the weather never changes here, it is always sunny and 70 degrees". Poor guy, must be horrible to have to be in that weather and to see palm trees ever day.