Christmas (week 24)

                                               A picture my son Blaze drew for his brother

                                                              Santa found him

                                                 Trying out a women's scarf

                                             Got matching tie and scripture covers for Christmas
This has been such a great Christmas week. We had a great week even though the snow just doesn't seem to want to stop for us. It just keeps coming and keeps pilling up. I think I'm finally getting down how to drive around in it with out sliding around too much. I haven't had any crazy scary slides this week so that must mean I'm doing a lot better now. Good thing the roads get cleared and sanded here. It would be a nightmare if they lacked the tools like Texas does. 

On Tuesday I got to go on exchanges with elder Moser here in Omak. It was a great time. We got to go out for a bit and do some tracting. We got to talk to a lot of different people and I got to see how awesome of a missionary elder Moser is. He isn't afraid to open his mouth and talk to people. We got to have dinner at a pizza place here in Omak We got they garden pizza which had olives, slices of tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and chicken. It doesn't sound like something I'd normally have but it was good. It's cool what food you can discover you like when you just try things. We then were able to visit a couple of our investigators. We visited a family that speaks mainly Spanish so it was a little hard for Elder Moser to follow since he is an English missionary and doesn't speak Spanish.  But it was a good lesson and we think that they are going to be ready for baptism some time in January. The Father loves reading in the scriptures and is getting pretty far into the Book of Mormon. I know that he is going to find the answers he is looking for as he continues to read and search for that knowledge. 

 We also had a great district council this past Wednesday. We talked about sacrifice and how we can apply it as missionaries. We related it to the pioneers and the sacrifice that they had to give. We may not be asked to up and leave everything behind and trek across the plains but the lord asks so much easier of us. He asks to share the gospel and help others make use of the atonement. One of the bigger sacrifices that we have to give is our comfort. It may not be fun to step outside our comfort zones and do things we aren't used to but the Lord will bless us if we do what he asks and follow the promptings of the spirit. 

Christmas Eve and Christmas day were really enjoyable. We weren't able to go out and tract either of those days but we made the most of the time we had to go and visit families and share this wonderful time with some of the members. We had an awesome Christmas eve dinner with the Chandlers, the senior couple here in Omak with us. Then on Christmas day we got to go to Grand Coulee Dam to have a Zone Christmas breakfast and watch the best two years. It was a lot of fun and the food was great. Not too often that we are able to have pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast. Then once we got back to Omak we were able face-time home which was awesome. It was great being able to see all the family and see how everyone is doing. Then we spent the rest of Christmas day visiting some of the families in the ward. Elder Colunga had me sing for two of the families we visited. I wasn't expecting to be singing for any of the families but it was nice being able to do it. I sang two songs in Spanish for the Bauers and then sang a Christmas song for the Mills. Good thing there was someone in both families that could give me some piano accompaniment. The gifts I got for Christmas were great. Thank you for sending them. I love the tartan scripture case and the family tartan tie. And the scarf and sweaters are great. Now I have more stuff to keep me warm. 

Saturday and Sunday were pretty good days as well. we didn't get to see all of our investigators because some of them are still out of town be we did get to see a few. One of the families we have been teaching came to church again this past Sunday which is awesome. They are really progressing and them coming to church is going help them receive the answers they are looking for. They told us that they think they will be ready for baptism in January which would be a great way to start the new year. I hope they will be able to take that step and find more happiness in their life. 

I hope all is well back home. 

Love,

Elder Boren

Merry Christmas ( Week 23)

We almost died this week. I mean not really but it felt like it. Because there is so much snow the roads are really getting slick and it's even worse when they haven't sanded it all yet. So we were driving down the main road when all of the sudden when I start driving into the curve the car keeps its momentum and slides into the opposite lane. Freaky huh? Good thing the car in the other lane saw and stopped in plenty of time. Then is morning we were driving to some stores and I took a turn and the car didn't want to so we slid into a big pile of snow where the plows had pushed it. We haven't gotten hurt so all is good. Nothing to be worried about. I think I'm figuring out how to drive in this dang stuff. Hopefully it will stop snowing sometime soon and they will be able to clear the roads better. 

This has been a great week though. We had an amazing Christmas gathering this week and we all met in Quincy. It was a day full of driving. I think we drove like 6 hours that day. We had about 3 hours to drive there and another 3 to get back. And Quincy is in our zone! But I got to see all the elders and sisters that were in Othello with me. I got to see both elder Turley and Elder Mercado. It was awesome to be able to see them again. Don't know when the next time will be though. We had an awesome lunch provided by the Gates family then we had a little Christmas program. Each zone had a musical number and then shared a spiritual thought. In our zone we sang silent night and joy to the world. All the zone had Elder Moser and I stand next to each other in the front because we are the best singers. It was really fun. A lot of the spiritual thoughts that were shared were focused on having gratitude during this Christmas season and being thankful for all the gifts that we have been given. As well as being grateful for the greatest gift of all. The birth of a savior. We then got to watch Meet the Mormons. I know I've seen it before but it's a great movie and better the second time around. Then after the movie we took a big group picture and then went and got gifts that they arranged for us. We all got a mission shirt and a goody bag. Then we got the packages that had been sent to the mission home. It was a little surprising to get 6 different packages but I am thankful to have gotten them. Now I have stuff to open on Christmas. 

We haven't been able to see as many people as we want to but we have been trying to go out and talk to more people. You'd think more people would be open to hearing a message of Christ at this time of the year but most people seem to be distracted by the gifts and what the world has to offer at this time of the year. We are still trying to share the "A Savior is Born" video and we hope that people are able to feel of the spirit that it brings. The spirit that this season brings is so strong and something we should strive to keep though out the year as we remember Christ and his birth and sacrifice for each of us. We had one of our families of investigators at church this past Sunday and they really enjoyed it. We had a great Christmas program with lots of the members sharing their wonderful talents. I love the spirit that comes with the music and scriptures that are shared.

I don't have too much to write about this week but that's a pretty good synopsis of whats been going on. We should be having a pretty full week upcoming as we have Christmas and a few meetings. I'm looking forward to being able to skype this Friday.

Con Amor,

Elder Boren

                                                          Snow, snow, snow

                                             Just an hour of being parked here

                                                           Shoveling snow for church

Rain, rain, and more rain week 22

This past week was great. Lots of rain and no snow this week. Most of the people here say that they would rather have the rain over the snow. I think the opposite since the snow looks better and doesn't drench us as much. But the snow does make a mess of the roads and makes it a bit harder to drive in. Maybe well get some later on in the winter. 

We had a great zone training meeting this past week as we talked about becoming a consecrated missionary. It's something that is hard to do because it takes giving up literally everything and adopting the lords will and desires. The blessings that come from doing so outweigh any challenges and difficulties that we may have in the process. That is how we can become successful missionaries. Overcoming the natural man and the fears and doubts that come with it. We may want to keep to ourselves and not be so bold in inviting people. I know I have trouble being bold in extending invitations. But Heavenly Father will bless us if we yield to the promptings of the spirit and do surrender our will to his. We had a lesson yesterday in church and we went over how in reality we need to yield to the spirit. We need to be ready to stop and listen to the spirit and its promptings. 

We have been really trying to share the Christmas pass along card with everyone and invite them to watch the great video that the church has prepared on the birth of our savior. Not very many people have been open to talking to us but we can just about always share the card and the video that goes along with it. I'm hoping that the people we share it with are going and looking up the video and watching and feeling of the spirit that it brings. 

Nothing much super interesting has happened but we have been working with a few family and helping them progress in the gospel. We are trying to help them see the importance of acting on their faith and taking those steps to follow Christ and his example for each of us. It can be hard to accept that no matter what we teach that they still have the choice to make on whether they want to follow the Lords teachings or now. But that is one of the most important parts of the plan of salvation. Our agency is the one thing Heavenly Father has given us that he himself does not have. We should help others see that there are some many blessings that come from following Jesus Christ and his example and this is one of the best times of the year to do so. 

To answer a few questions. In my opinion Omak is actually bigger than Othello. Then we also cover a lot of the surrounding areas. We have a pretty large area to cover and because of it we have the car and a good amount of miles to get us around. The weather isn't that bad just a little wet just about all the time. Which is odd for this part of Washington. But this area is beautiful and the mountains are awesome. Whenever we drive to Coulee Dam for zone meetings and other activities we get to drive on a scenic road through the Cascade Mts. We drive through Disatel pass and the drive is awesome. Reminds me of driving through Colorado. 

Hope all is well back home and everyone is enjoying the Christmas season.

With love,

Elder Boren

New area and snow, week 21

This has been a really good week. Transfers, lots of snow, and an awesome Christmas Devotional. 

So as you know I have now been transferred to Omak and had to leave Othello. It's not fun having to leave all the people you get to know and love. But the Lord needs me here and I've got work to do. Sadly I never got a chance to say good bye to either of the bishops there in Othello. They were both out for Thanksgiving weekend. Hopefully I get transferred back to that area before I finish my mission. If not I can always go back and visit the people that area there. 

Elder Colunga Flores is from Laredo Texas. Which is on the boarder of Mexico. He was born in Cancun Mexico and moved to Texas when he was 5. So he is fluent in Spanish and fluent in English. Means I get to improve my Spanish as his companion. He has actually been out as long as I have. We got to as we say greenie bust each other. 

It snowed again and in Othello we got about 2 inches which is pretty awesome other than the fact that Elder Mercado is going to be walking in it. I hope he got a car with this transfer though. Up here in Omak we probably got like 5 or more inches of snow. It is crazy and there was so much falling. Defiantly something I am not used to. Here in Omak is beautiful. We are really close to the Cascade Mountains. They are right in our back yard. And we also have lots of snow on the ground here. One thing I found out at the transfer site is that I'm the driver since Elder Colunga doesn't have a drivers licence. Means I get to learn how to drive in the snow and ice. It hasn't been that bad so far since its mainly just been the snow and none of it has frozen over yet. And they have plenty of snow plows to get it all off the roads. The only time I have to really drive on it is when we go a bit out of the city or its snowing and they haven't started plowing. It's a fun experience though.

We had the Christmas part here in Omak on Friday and it was pretty good. We had three different investigator families there which was great. They all spoke Spanish but they said they really enjoyed it. They had some good musical numbers on Christ and Christmas. There was plenty of food there and they had us take home tons of left overs. I think they ended up giving us all of the left overs. 

The Christmas devotional was great. I really liked the talk the David A. Bednar gave on Christ and how he expels all fear and darkness. I enjoyed the insight that he shared on the Saviors birth and his death and resurrection. Christ is the one that dispels all darkness and our faith in him can help us overcome any problem or challenge in this life. The Nephites were in fear because of the "deadline" that the unbelievers had set for the birth of Christ. They feared for their lives and Christ was able to expel that fear with his coming and the beginning of his earthly mission. This time of the year is great because we are able to see that light bringing joy to the lives of others. A great way to share that joy and light with others is the new website that the church has set up for Christmas. The two videos on there are a great way to help others remember the true reason for the season.  

Hope all is well back home and you are enjoying the Christmas season. 

Con Amor,

Elder Boren

P.s. Some snow boots would be nice. I don't know how much snow we will get so I guess it would be better to be safe than sorry. 

 Went to the Taquerria and had burritos campechanos. They were huge!

                                              

                                              ​One last picture as a group of elders in Othello.

A picture with Elder Mercado before I got transferred.

​Elder Colunga Cleaning the snow of our car. I got to drive in that mess.