Christmas Conference

Well, another week in the work of the ministry. Somehow we pulled off teaching 11 lessons this week, even though a bunch of people "rescheduled". It was all good though. We found a girl named Rebecca while street contacting in town last week and we were able to teach her a simplified version of the Restoration. She seems pretty interested. Hopefully I'll have more details next week.

We had our Christmas Conference yesterday, so we got to wake up at 4:30and drive to Edmonton. It was really good. President Manion gave a really good training to start it off. He also gave us a warning to not waste our Christmas. He said that sometimes missionaries have a tendency to just go from active member to active member on Christmas and just hang out and party. He shared an experience from his mission in which he and his companion went to the train station in Frankfurt. It was Christmas day and they decided they would go and talk to everyone who was alone. Sure enough they found a number of people, mostly U.S. servicemen and workers who were spending Christmas in the city because they had no where else to go. They invited all of these folks to come out to a restaurant with them and have a little get-together. He said it was a wonderful experience with all of these folks as they talked and laughed together that evening and he encouraged us to not waste this chance to lift some burdens on Christmas day. Elder Dodson and I have some plans to make this Christmas a good one. Of course a part of that will be the chance to skype all of you! I'm definitely looking forward to that.

I'd encourage you all to look up a song called "Star ng Pasko" on Youtube and see if you can find it. It's a Tagalog Christmas song and I think you would all enjoy it. You could also probably get the English translations for it. But it sounds way better in Tagalog. 

I have received both the Christmas and Birthday packages! I set up the little tree with the battery power light on the table. I think I may move it to our little display in the main room as the centerpiece. We actually have quite a lot of Christmas stuff thanks to members and investigators haha. the main room is Decked out! I'll be sending pictures for sure. Thank you all for contributing to my birthday present! the ear muffs are way warmer than my other ones! I hope you all have a great week! I hear that Aubrey and Ashlynn have been tearing up the vocal scene! Good work y'all! I will be playing my violin in an old folks home tonight believe it or not! wish me luck! 

Love, 

Elder Higginson

All Is Well

Greetings from Canada! We expected it would only get colder up here, but low and behold, we got ourselves a Chinook! The snow's been meltin' and yesterday it was a balmy 8 degree's Celcius. No coats necessary! 

     Well, we had some pretty high goals this week, but we didn't hit them. people are getting busy and we didn't teach as much as we had planned. But hopefully it will be better this week! We did however invest a good chunk of time helping out with the annual ward nativity display. people come from all over town to see it. The members of the ward brought in about 200 Nativities and they set all of them up in the gym. it was quite the sight once it was all finished. The time we invested payed off though! we got 4 referrals from the members. We will hopefully be meeting with a couple from India this week to teach them gospel! The members in this town are phenomenal at missionary work! Especially the Filipino's. I think that they think I'm the new one to go to when the have a Filipino friends that they want to invite to take the lessons hahaha. It's not my stewardship anymore, but maybe I could be useful in helping out the Tagalog Elders. 

We had a baptism on Saturday! Lisa Goldsbury is now officially Sister Goldsbury. She is the greatest and is enthusiastic about the Gospel. The member of the ward have been a great help in the fellowship process and it has really helped Lisa feel welcome and accepted. And she's also a super good missionary! she told us about a friend of hers in a little town called Caroline in our area. She said that individual had begun reading the Book of Mormon for some reason or other and she's inviting her to church after Stake conference! So many prepared people are out here, just waiting to be found! We anticipate more Baptisms to come!

A couple weeks ago, we met a man named Elke, who lives in a members basement. We talked with him for a bit and he said that he'd be interested to sit down sometime. So we met with him last Saturday and had a great little visit. He had some good questions and we invited him to read from the Book of Mormon and pray about it to find out the truth of our message. We had one for him in dutch which he was very interested in. The next day we were talking with the member who he lives with and she said that after we left, he immediately started reading the Book of Mormon, through the introduction and testimonies of the 3 and 8 witnesses and talked to her about it. We look forward to meeting with him again this week and hopefully get him out to church!

As we were going about the work of the ministry here in Rocky this week, the words of my beloved hymn, "Come Come ye Saints" came to my mind:  "Come, Come ye saints, No toil or labor fear."  This is what being a missionary is all about. It is all about work. This labor of love will yield the greatest and most satisfying rewards and we cannot fear cutting down on lunch time or elsewhere in order to get that great reward- the building up of this part of Zion and in building relationships with wonderful people that they may obtain the ordinances of salvation. 

There is so much good going on in the area and we have a lot to do! I trust that everyone is doing fine back home! It's the most wonderful time of the year, for sure. keep me updated on everything!

Love 

Elder Higginson.

The Year Mark

Greetings from the Wicked North! It's getting cold here and we got about 10 inches a week ago Monday and it's stickin' around. Sorry I didn't email much last Preparation day! We were in a hurry to get out to Abraham lake and a little mountain town called Nordegg out in the far reaches of our vast area! So we didn't have much time to email. Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes and thank you for the package. I have not yet received it, but mission Christmas conference is coming up so i'll probably get it then, or sooner. Sister Manion has asked that I perform in the Conference with a few other guys. Should be good! 

So in case I haven't told you yet, Rocky Mountain House is awesome!!!!!!! we have a lot of investigators and a Baptism this Saturday! surprise! She's been investigating since September and she's ready and exited to make the big commitment! We have set goals to teach 15 lessons this week, which is killer. We've got some people who are getting close as well. The Ward members are super awesome out here. they are really missionary minded and we are getting a lot of them to come out and teach with us. I've been fed almost every night since I've been here haha! What a wonderful way to spend this time of the year.

My companion is Elder Dodson, a good natured fellow from Sugar City Idaho. He's a good obedient soul. He's going to be leaving the area at the end of the month and I'll be taking over. 

So interestingly enough, Barbra Brant the main investigator who I taught in my first area, who then went to Calgary and disappeared - has suddenly got in touch via Facebook! I know where she is and I'll try to get the missionaries back in touch with her. We'll see what happens! 

I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season in Idaho and Utah. Thank you for taking time to think of me and send me nice things and emails. I will be praying for Mckay. So sorry to hear that he is having a difficult time. Every one be merry and enjoy yourselves! 

Love, 

Elder Higginson

This is out next to Abraham Lake. We were going to get some pictures of the lake and stumbled upon a herd of Big Horn Rams! about 28 of them all together we think. I got some video of them butting heads, Check it out!