Selamat Hari Natal!

How's the weather back home? It's nice and hot and sunny here in Manado. There's been lots of rain and there is still not any snow here.

I sent a couple pictures. One is of the traffic that is crazy here, some Nasi Campur food, the island and city I am in, and Elder Wijaya and I by a big Christmas tree! 

This week I got a new companion named Elder Wijaya. He is the 2nd of 10 children and is an awesome companion. He is the greatest teacher of the gospel I have ever met! He teaches so clearly and always shows the principle, blessing, and meaning behind a scripture. It is a gift of the spirit and it is blessing our teaching so much. I am so happy to be his companion and I know I will learn lots from him. 

This last week we have been sharing a message about Christmas to the members and to the investigators once in a while as well. The great thing about Christmas is that you don't have to be there at the time of Christ's birth in Bethlehem, or at home with your family,or at a big Christmas party to feel the spirit of Christmas. If we ponder about the birth of Christ, His life, His example, and His love for us, we can feel the spirit here as strong as if we were with Him at His birth or even walking with Him. I have felt that spirit already this month and it is remarkable. Christ came to earth and lived a perfect life for us. When Jesus was born, He was born in a manger. He had the power to choose to be born in somewhere nicer, like a hotel, or even at a different time period. But we would not learn anything from that. We learn from His birth in a manger that He was meek, humble, and that He loves us.  He loves us so much that He came to earth and redeem us from our sins. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and this Christmas season. I hope you all will have a Merry Christmas and I pray that you will be able to ponder about Christ's birth and His love for us. 

Love,

Elder Litster

Hello everyone! 

Sorry, I don't have much time this week to write, but this week has been awesome! 

There was a baptism this last week and Elder Kyle was able to baptize the new Sister in the ocean. It was very spiritual and cool to see. I am so grateful for God's plan for us here on earth. 

My companion is moving to become assistant president in Jakarta and I am getting a new companion named Elder Wijaya tomorrow! I am excited to be companions with him and I know he will love it here in Manado! 

 

By the way I just graduated my 12 week training program! 

Elder Litster

This is a lake that changes colors every hour!

Hello Family and Friends!

There is still no snow in Manado, just rain. Tons of rain! The streets flood and everyone all of a sudden disappears. I think they go inside buildings.

Saturday night we were really busy and did not have time to get food for Sunday. On Sunday after church we were starving! We had no food the whole day except for a couple snacks that we had to scrounge from the house. Our rice was gone because one of the elder's dropped their phone in the gutter and he asked if he could put it in the rice. So we let him use the last of our food to try and fix his phone. All of our appointments fell through while Elder Taulu and I were planning in our home for the next week. So we had no idea what to do! We prayed for help. Around 6:00 pm, right before we were done planning, we got a phone call from an investigator who never can meet with us. I have never met with her before. She said to come over to her house right now. We finished planning and went straight over there. She immediately told us to eat! There was a huge feast and her whole family was there! There was tons of rice, chicken, fish, pork, vegetables, cookies, crackers, pepsi, water, and beans! We were so so grateful to her. We asked her, how did you know we haven't ate any food at all today? We were so grateful to her and her kindness to us. The Lord fed us when we were hungry and answered our prayers. After we finished eating, she invited us to get to know her whole family. So we talked to them for a while and told them that we were missionaries and that we share a message about church, gospel, Book of Mormon, and families. They said to come back again soon and possibly this week again! Spiritual seeds were planted in them and also physical seeds were planted in us. haha I am so grateful to the Lord for His protection over us and the food He provided us through this kind investigator,  

Christmas here is amazing! I took some pictures of what it's like. There is no snow, just a ton of rain. Here's a picture of the rain outside our home. The people here have Christmas devotionals every day at someone's house and they feast together and read the Bible together. Their lives revolve around their religion and their faith. It is so different than having our faith revolve around our lives. Christ should be at the center of our lives and then we would not have to worry about our next meal, our job, our circumstances, or anything. If we seek for the kingdom of God first, everything else will be added upon us. ( Jacob 2) I am so grateful for the Lord and the blessings we have received here in Manado. 

There is going to be a baptism next week! We are excited and are preparing for it this week. Thanks you for all your love and support and your letters. 

Love

Elder Litster

Hello everyone!

This last P-day we went to a volcano! And it is still active so it is under surveillance at all times. After the volcano we went over to a Pagoda that was near by. There are thousands and thousands of places that are incredible that people have not yet discovered. It is unbelievable how beautiful is is here in Manado.

After a hard day's work in Manado, we are dead tired and ready for sleep at 10:30. The other night I was sleeping and one of the Elders heard me sleep talking. I said," hati hati di belakang," and then I said,"Be careful behind you." haha so I said some words in Indonesian and then I translated it into English! I will sleep talk once in a while and it is always in Indonesian. So hopefully it means my language is improving. We met with Tante A today. she just quit her job and said she wants to find the Lord! She quit her job so she could go to church and meet with the missionaries again. She hasn't learned from the Elders in about a year! She is prepared now. The Lord is hearing my prayers to help us find and talk to people who are prepared to hear the gospel.

The other day I ate sardines and dog. Dog is actually not too bad. It just tastes like meat, but chewy and a little grainy. I have had it a couple times before according to the other missionaries, but I tried it on purpose this time and it wasn't half bad.

President Donald came to Manado today and he strengthened us a lot! The progress in this area is booming and the work is moving forward. I am so grateful for all the amazing leaders in our church. They are truly inspired by God and I love to hear from them.

My companion, Elder Taulu, will be transferred soon to Jakarta. He is going to be assistant president. So that means I will have a new companion in the next couple of weeks as well. I am excited, but nervous at the same time to teach my new companion. I will have to know all the routes and where everyone lives. I will also have to teach him the Manadonese language. Indonesia has a ton of different languages and they are completely different. He will be confused at first having to learn Manadonese, but I know he will be just fine and learn it quick. They mix Indonesian and Manadonese in their speech so I will have to teach him, even if he is a native Indonesian. The Lord will help me and I know that faith power works wonders in our lives.

Thank you for your emails and I hope you have a wonderful start of the Christmas season.

Elder Litster