Hello all!
So, I already forgot what I wrote about last week and what happened this week. Everything seems to blur together and then I get all anxious when I get here because of the time limit and I can't think of anything intersting, cool, or inspiring to tell you. Kerble snoff boffit.
Here we are in December. It's weird to think it's Christmas season when there's no snow or cold, but I don't really mind :) I like the warm.
Winter here is pretty much over so now it's sunny and windy windy windy all day. It's pretty perfect actually.
Sorry I probably won't be able to send you guys anything for Christmas. I wanted to try to make something but I don't think I'll have the time or the money to do it or send it. I think you all understand though.
So this week the district president, Presidente Espinosa, went out to teach the recent converts about the priesthood with us. He's really young (29 I think) and was already the bishop of Volcan for 4ish years until they called him to be the district president in August.
I learned a lot more about the priesthood and how awesome it is listening to him. BUT what I really wanted to tell you all about him is what he does when he reads the scriptures. He has his mission Book of Mormon that he uses when he teaches lessons at church or to other people, but when he reads at night, he uses a blank Book of Mormon. If he finds something he wants to take notes on or underline, he writes it in his used scriptures.
When we have things marked and notes written, when we go back and read, we tend to look at the scriptures the same way. But when we start again with a completely new book, it's a new experience and we learn a lot more.
I've definitely had this experience as I've been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish, because I've had to dig in deeper to understand the words, plus there weren't any notes from before. I've gained so many new insights.
Presidente Espinosa said that on his mission he would read and blank one, mark as he went, give it away when he finished, and start over. Now he doesn't do that because he doesn't have the money to keep buying new books. But his example inspired me and gave me an idea for a goal for our family.
We are six, and if we each made the goal to read a new Book of Mormon this year, marking as we go, we could give away six marked Books of Mormon with strong testimonies at the end of 3-6 months (depending on how fast we go).
I decided that's what I want for Christmas. I guess it'd be for Christmas next year, but think of how awesome that would be. And if all our extended family did it as well--man, the western U.S. would be rocked :)
I know we will receive blessings for sharing and also for looking at the scriptures with a new eye.
Ok I'm out of time but I love you all and I'm excited to talk to you soon.

Love,
Natalie

Will Liz and Jamison be in Latvia for Christmas too?