Maligayang Pasko!!

Wow what a week! well first off we had our christmas conference with 2 other zones and it was really good! we even got to watch a "Babilonian" movie "the ultimate gift" watch it! it's way good but it was good to have that! haha i don't really know what to talk about cause i just talked to you guys on the phone and it was way good to hear you guys! the was the best gift i could ever get! and i was proud there were no tears! oh yeah haha. well this week was better the work was good and we were able to find some more less actives and help them it was really neat. a lot of them came to church and i was way pumped and im hoping it wasn't just cause it was christmas. but that's the culture here is most people only go to church on christmas so we'll see what happens! gotta have faith! haha our christmas day here was nuts! haha we had a eating appointment every hour from like 2 to 6 and i don't think i have ever eating so much food in my entire life haha but the people are really nice and just want to help us out! we have a busy schedule this week and im excited for that and hopefully we will see some real progression from that. haha waking up on christmas morning and seeing the sun shining and it being warm outside was a little different then i am used to and it was a little lonely for sure. Church was absolutely amazing and the spirit was so strong and i was really grateful for that service. i started feeling kinda sad and lonely but i was quickly reminded by the spirit what christmas was all about and it made things a ton better and it will be a christmas i never forget! sounds like you guys had a great christmas as well! that's really good to hear and im glad the family got together and had a good time! i'm reminded all the time of the many blessings we have out here and all that we have to be grateful for. just like the hymn. count your blessings! it really makes a difference and helps! i really appreciated everyones letters i got in the christmas package! oh man that was the greatest! reading everyones testimonies really helped strengthen mine and i thank you for taking the time and writing them! the language is still tough and i have my days but i feel its slowly getting better. just have to have patience, perserverence!! and hard work. haha sorry i'm at a loss of words cause i just talked to you earlier haha. well i love you guys and thanks for everyones support in all this! hope everyone had a merry christmas! and a happy new year! love you guys. mahal kita Elder Machen