Hello Everyone,

      I'm guessing everybody had a Merry Christmas. The Holiday was great here. L. Tom Perry, Neil Anderson, and Greg Olsen (artist who paints many pictures for the church) came to speak to us. Also, the director of missionary services came and showed us a ton of the "Homefront Commercials", it was a lot of fun and some of the commercials were really funny. On Christmas Day, there was a Talent Show. It was very entertaining, as it was meant to be I'm sure. One Elder played a song on the piano about the Brazil missionaries and about how they are waiting for their visas. The music was from the Sublime Song "Santeria", he dubbed over the words and added his own. All of the Brazil Elders were laughing so hard when he said "Believe me when I say that I got somethinf for your family!" I guess you had to know the song in order to get that one. In the song he mentioned Elder Mender who had been in the MTC for thirteen and a half weeks waiting on his visa, poor Elder. The MTC President played his harmonica for his talent, He looks like such a stern guy but the more I learn about him the nicer he seems.
    Sister Clarissa Thomas has the same p-day/gym time/ meal time as me and I see her all the time.
    Elder Tim Frost arrived last week. Elder Frost is my best friend from BYU. His classroom is two away from mine and I see him every day, it is crazy.
     Saturday night I had the oppurtunity to use the Call Center again. I spoke to a man named Kenny Dougharty from Fort Worth,TX. Kenny said that he didn't believe in celebrating Christmas, he only celebrated Jesus's Birthday. When I asked about the Bible we sent him he said that he had given it to a sixteen year old girl who was going through a rough time. He continued to say that he was speanding Christmas alone because his family was buying gifts and worshipping money. Later he told me that he was a narcotics and alcohol counseler and that it was hard for him to see the good side of the world because he mostly saw the bad, he told me that he has had drug issues himself. Kenny focused all his mind on the book of Revelations and helped all his clients by having them fear the end and having them believe in Jesus. This was a very sad and confused man. I told him that the book of Revelations was a small part of a giant Bible whose main message was one of hope and love. I went on to tell the of the Restoration and of modern day prophets and how we are given to us because God wants to save us, not condemn us. He seems shaken by these words and he agreed to let the missionaries come to teach him. I'm going to call him back next Saturday to see how he is doing. I got a taste of the work and I want more.
     Fifty visas came in yesterday and they have flight plans for only forty of them, which means I could get mine today... and if I do expect a call.
  Brazil is waiting and I'm ready to fly. I love you all so much. I love you Natalie.

   Com Amor,
         Elder Nothum