taryn 12.23.09

Happy Birthday MOM!!!!!! i hope that you got my letter in time.. you are incredible. i hope your day was great! i love and miss you so much!!! >
Merry Christmas!i get to talk to you all soon!!!!!!! i have been thinking and i think the best time would be for you to call around 7-730 PM i note... PM... your time, so 9 in the morning my time. i hope this works!!!>
OH morgan you are so lucky to be in the MTC at this time! my trainer would always talk about how amazing it was there at Christmas time and the awesome speakers they had. >
Thank you so much for the package!! the christmas trees are so cute! i got teary eyed putting up the paper tree with the cute ornaments and i am so excited to have a few things to open and read! it really spiced up our appt, the only christmas decorations ive seen in a long time!!! thank you for sending the ipod! i just have to say that when the dave matthews christmas song came on, i was in heaven. we have listened to that song many a times since then! also, it came just in time. our branch christmas party was on saturday and we used it to play over the big speakers! hah they were amazed at it, they didnt know what an ipod was. we are pretty spoiled. >
this christmas is very different. no one even really knows what christmas is. i miss the christmas feeling. hah we went caroling after eating at a members house to a few of her buddhist neighbors. we were sweating. hah ive never had that before, it felt like caroling in july! >
one neat thing that happened this week was that we set a baptismal date with Ben (a girl). about 2 months ago i was looking through our previous investigators and came across her and decided to call her, we have been meeting with her ever since! she investigated about 2 years ago and even had a baptismal date but just wasnt ready. Its all about the Lords timing! >
in relief society on sunday, baawanpen, our crazy old recent convert about 1 year who i just love was saying some out there things as usual, still mixing up our doctrine with biddhism and hinduism, said something that made me realize why the Thai people love their king so much. i mean they really love him. every car has an i love the king sticker on it, every single home has pictures of him, and all over the streets and neighborhoods you find huge posters and alters to him. he is a very good man, but i always wondered why they would give their life for him. sunday, baawanpen made the comment of how the king gives them rain, i thought it was just another crazy comment, but everyone agreed. i realized they are taught from when they are young to love him and that he is the reason for everything good that comes in their life. such a different way of life.>
i finished the Book of Mormon today for the first time on my mission. i started it in the beginning of the MTC and have really studied it, it has taken me awhile. what an incredible book . i add my testimony to the many many that have said this before that i know that the book of mormon is a true book from God. i am so greatful for it. it has been a source of comfort, inspiration, peace, and learning for me these past months. i am so excited to turn around and begin reading it again!>
well, its that time again. i love you. i miss you. i wish i was with you at this time, but that will come in not too long. please stay safe and keep the true christmas spirit! dont forget the true purpose. TALK TO YOU SOON!!!!>
i love you> love, sister young