Week of December One-EIGHT: Calls coming soon--LIFE is GREAT!

Elder D!

Subject: Well... I thought yesterday was Mother's Day!?!?! (should I be worried or flattered?!)

Hello Family,

I am not going to lie, I am SUPER excited to talk to you on Christmas and it will be a very nice treat!  Well, I have some news, I can call home and I can SKYPE!!  YEEEEEHA!  I am stoked so I will probably call before I go to church and I will also be able to Skype after Christmas!!!  I am really excited to do both and yes there is NO limit to how long we can talk!  President and Sister Y----- said its a present from them to us for our hard work.  But they did say not to abuse it.  And I don't plan on it.  So family I am excited to talk to you and I am hoping to see you all FACE to FACE soon!  Katie, I was given the OKAY to call you as well on Christmas too!

So I got my birthday presents!  I am wearing them right now!  I am in my slackes and in the sweater, I have the pen in my pocket and I slept with Dave (an UGLY DOLL Nicholas and I hand picked for him at the FAO Schwartz while we visited New York in August) for the the last two nights.  So yes, he has already demonstrated he is a born leader and how much you care for me!  I am not wearing the new white shirt because I am saving it for tomorrow.  Tomorrow I am going to the temple and I am very excited about it.  My birthday was an awesome day.  My companion, Elder B----- made me a cake and breakfast while I was getting ready.  And a ward family made me cupcakes and put candles and sang "Happy Birthday."  I thought it was very kind of them. 

We had exchanges with the Zone Leaders on Tuesday and I thought it was a very good experience though nothing major happened.  We did find two potential investigators. 

Well I am excited for Christmas!  I miss ya and I can say that the Spirit has been telling me constantly that you are doing very very well!!

Love!

Elder Christian James Delis
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Hermana Kate Delis

Subject: WOO HOO PHONE CALLSS!!

Hello, fam! 

I'm really sorry that I scared you so bad about the lost birthday present.  It is found.  And my neighbors aren't wearing my clothes, haha.  It was so great--I can't believe how cool that banner is mom!  Also, MIJ (the UGLY DOLL Nicholas and I chose for Katie) is crazy!  I sleep with her all the time, and she always ends up in random spots when I wake up, like staring at my face when I open my eyes.  I try not to be creeped out, but you know, she is an UGLY DOLL.  Haha, she's crazy. :)  Thank you so much for all the love and effort you put into my package--it was really fun.

Well, phone calls:  I should be good on my time.  Two members have skype in my branch (one downloaded it last night so she could have us over, haha), and we should be able to come over and talk.  Either way, I'll call before hand to get your skype names--cannot remember!  But plan on a great call :) WOO!

Well, life is rocking out here in Carpentersville.  I'm jsut at such a cool point in my mission, and it blows me away daily--hourly it feels like these days.  It's incredible.  I feel like I'm living the moments of the mission people talk about all the time--the experiences with people that just change your life in profound ways. They're just incredible.

I had an experience at an appointment with my companion where I watched God answer so many prayers in the lesson.  Hna H----- (the investigator), Hna C----- (her companion) and mine.  It was so so neat.  This happened yesterday and I just felt like I lived and breathed the words of Ammon when he says I will boast in my God for His strength, I can do all things.  With all my heart I know that is true.  Family, I love to be a missionary.  In all that I am I love it because God lives and loves us so much.  He exists.  His promises are real, and if we just desire to know Him, we will come to that knowledge.  I know that.  I am so grateful for Christ.  He makes God's plan of happiness possible.  I will forever be changed by my opportunity to serve a mission.  I had no idea what He wanted to give me by being out here.  I go to bed knowing that I have walked where Christ would have today, I did what He would have today, I said what He would have today.  I am a representative of Him.  Can you believe He lets me do that? ...Most of the time I can't, haha.  Weird little Hna Delis.  But I hope those who meet me know that I will forever boast in Him because of the love He has freely given to me.  I pray that when people talk to me they see Him.

AH!  We're so blessed!  Haha, tell your friends!  Just tell them you love them!  Ah!  Just share it--share the ways you feel love. :)

Okay, I love you!  Talk to you soon :)

Hna Delis