🎵This is the Best Christmas Song That Ever Existed🎵

Merry Christmas everyone! I know it’s a day late but oh well haha! This week was crazy busy but just because of Christmas celebrations. Some key highlights include:

On Wednesday and Thursday we helped a member in our ward who speaks French named Chancel create a job resume.

On Thursday we had our zone conference, and it was all Christmas themed, so it was a ton of fun. We all played a bunch of games together and had a giant gift exchange as well. Overall, it was a ton of fun hanging out with so many amazing people all in one room. We also sang songs including the 12 days of Christmas. The gift I got from the gift exchange was an ugly sweater and I love it.

Also, on Thursday our wards Elders quorum went Christmas caroling and they invited us to go with them. We had a turnout of 9 carolers, and it was a ton of fun.

On Christmas Adam (Friday) the Bassford family was nice enough to invite us over. We had a ton of fun getting to meet Brother Bassford’s family and hanging out with them. They were super nice and bought us presents to put into the pile for a gift exchange. I got a 6-pack of chicken cordon blue and I’m really excited to have it. It was also pretty cool because Brother Bassford wanted to carol for all the women in the house (his wife, his daughter, and the sister missionaries) so we had 5 of the 9 carolers sing in their house and it was pretty awesome.

On Christmas Eve Elder Funk and I went to Lee’s house and then immediately after went to the Jones family’s house where we had dinner, read a children’s Christmas book about three trees standing on a hill, and a talent show. The Elders didn’t really have an idea of what to do so the four of us all stacked up on each other and sang a Christmas song from our past day or two of caroling. After the Jones’ house we went to Elder and Sister Davies house for the rest of the night. We started a game of Skull King and then finished it Christmas day.

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! I got extremely hyper on Christmas, and it was the most hyper I’ve been since I left home. I straight up felt like Buddy the elf. After church we went to the Davies house and stayed there the rest of the day. We did multiple get to know you questions, opened some gifts the Davies had for us, played an inflatable deer antler reindeer ring toss game, ate dinner, called family (I broke my record again for longest call with my family, I think I hit two or so hours on the call.) and then played the candy game. It’s where you pick or steal a candy and then if you’re candy is stolen you can steal. Overall Christmas was a ton of fun. Then when we finally went home at 9:30 I opened my presents.

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and that you were able to have an amazing time with the people around you. This year I realized more than ever that Christmas is truly about remembering and celebrating Christ’s birth with those around you. I love you all so much and thank you for your support. I look forward to talking to you all next week! À bientôt!

[Insert Creative Title Here]

This week has been busy but overall, pretty normal.

Monday was a ton of fun! We had what was called zone P-day where we got permission for our entire zone to gather for P-day at the church in Yarmouth. We played chair soccer which was a ton of fun. In chair soccer you're trying to be the last person standing and if your chair gets hit by the ball you're out. I won one of the rounds which was really surprising. Then all the missionaries split up into different rooms and I ended up playing the skull king with Elder Funk, the Davies, and a bunch of other missionaries.

Tuesday, we had dinner with our ward mission coordinator (I think that’s the name of his calling) which was pretty fun.

Friday was District Council which was pretty fun because there was an absolutely absurd amount of snowfall. President had actually grounded all vehicles in the mission but because Portland is on the coast, we didn’t get bad roads at all, so we were able to get special permission and keep going about our day as normal.

Saturday, we had exchanges with the Portland English Elders. Before we started the exchange, we all grouped together for service at the bishop’s storehouse, and it was a ton of fun. Once exchanges actually started, I got to go with Elder Taylor again and it was a ton of fun. 

The rest of the week was just the regular stuff. Nothing to crazy happened this week. Although there was a pretty cool miracle where a ton of situations happened that all led to us talking with a cashier at a gas station who wanted to find a church. We gave him our information so BOOM! Seed planted. Anyways I hope you all have a good week and I’ll talk to you all later!

Jor Jor Banks

This week has been a learning curve for me, but it’s been a ton of fun! Elder Funk and I are both listed as senior companion however because I’m the one who knows more about this area that makes me the Elder who has the SIM card and drives everywhere.

On Monday I celebrated my birthday by going to Chick-Fil-A, talking a ton with my family, and going to Target to purchase a Halo Mega Construx set because I am a nerd!

On Tuesday we had a zoom meeting for our new French Facebook page that just barely launched for all of our French speaking friends we're teaching. 

On Wednesday we had a lesson with one of our friends named Patrick. He had a ton of questions that needed to be answered. 

Thursday was wack. Not a single lesson went through that day. It was a very slow and boring day but that's just the way the cookie crumbles!

On Friday we had two really good lessons with Susan and Welles. We shared the story of Nephi and his family sailing across the sea with Susan and shared the story of Nephi and his Brother's getting the brass plates from King Laban with Welles.

Saturday was cool because we were able to go to the Yarmouth ward's Christmas party. They let us come because the Portland ward isn't hosting a Christmas party for some reason. They did a ward wide Christmas singalong, and it was so cool! Elder Funk made me die from laughter and it was so funny. I quoted Star Wars and turned to him, and he looked me in the eyes with a deadpan expression and stated, "Jor Jor Banks." And I just lost it for at least 5 minutes.

Yesterday was pretty fun because it finally snowed! We also got to see a train crossing close which was cool with all the snow.

Overall, this week was really slow because almost all of our lessons we had planned each got canceled last minute so most of the week was just us trying to figure out what to do. But yeah, that's my week it's been slow but fun. I'm looking forward to the future and am excited to continue serving and growing. Talk to you all next week!!!

Hey, OH, Now We're Gonna Rock Until the Lights Go Out!

This week has been extremely crazy but so much fun! We had transfers week so everything pretty much revolved around that!

On Tuesday I had a crazy busy P-day because the district wanted to get together for one last hoorah before all going our separate ways since ⅜ of us are remaining in the district. We went to L.L.Bean and just hung out together one last time. Then two Elders came and slept over for the night and that was pretty fun.

Wednesday was a pretty sad but fun day because Elder Wood and I went around to as many of our friends as we could and to say goodbye. Everyone was really sad to see him go since he’s been here in Portland for 3 transfers. Francisco called us “His United States family which God has blessed him with.”, Lee gave him a hug which has never happened before, Chancel took a picture of all of us together and added it to his slideshow that plays on his home screen, Will said he’d miss Elder Wood’s visits and Paul asked for us not to forget him (I reassured him Elder Funk and I would keep teaching him). It was a very bittersweet day but it was fun. We finished it off with a district night, ZL’s included, at Texas Roadhouse. There was a really bad storm going on and just as we were finishing our meals the lights began to flicker and then they turned off for a second and back on. After that we paid our bills and were waiting for the waiter to come back when the power went out for ten-ish minutes! Everyone was hootin and hollerin with joy and it was so fun.

Thursday was transfers day! Crazy stuff happened. Elder Wiltbank and Elder Taylor had come over for one last quad sleep over, so we all went to McDonalds in the morning for breakfast. Then Elder Wood and I packed up all of his stuff and left. We drove out and picked up Elder Wright and Elder Neesom on the way to transfers. At transfers I said hi to all the missionaries I’ve met so far and left with Elder Funk. He had forgotten his produce at his apartment which was a major problem because he can’t eat a bunch of foods so with permission from Elder Ritchie (one of the AP’s) we drove to a halfway point to meet the other elders with the food which just so happened to be Nashua!!! It was surreal being the driver on those roads that I was so familiar with. Then we began the two-hour drive back to Portland but twenty minutes in I made a wrong turn. Then as we were re-routing and driving through the town, I realized that I hadn’t gone to the gas station like Elder Wood had instructed and I was almost out of gas! (about 68 miles left) We were able to refill and complete our journey safely. It was a miracle I missed my turn because if I hadn’t, we would’ve been stranded because the stretch of road after that turn went into the forest with no gas stations around.

On Saturday we had a mission wide workout session and that was pretty fun. Elder Funk and I made another bed for Paul's friend who also needs help with English so we're going to start teaching him.

On Sunday the six missionaries in our ward ate at the Mpinga family's house. They cook really good food, so it was awesome! Then we went to Elder and Sister Davies house for the Christmas General Authority Devotional which was pretty fun.

That's it for this week! I want to thank you all so much for your support and for all your birthday wishes! I loved reading, watching, and hearing from you all! I love you all dearly and I'll catch ya next week!!!