From December 12

Family!!!

So hard to believe that it is almost Christmas! Isn't that crazy!? Today we came down to the office after playing some basketball and there are packages EVERYWHERE! There was literally no pathway to our office haha. The week of transfers is over and went really well. All the new missionaries are in and settled, and all the old ones have departed, which is always strange. Just drive up to LAX with a truck bed full of luggage to drop off some of my very best friends who I have gotten really close to over the past year and a half. . . .Did you get my pictures last week? Hope so, thought you might like some more :)

Here's my short testimony about the temple in Spanish (to include with yours in the books for my converts)!

Queridos Amigos,

Solo quierro compartir algunas pensamientos con ustedes en este temporado de la navidad. Este tiempo es un tiempo para amar, para sentir la paz, y para tener gozo. Recordemos que paso 2000 anos atras y pensamos acerca de porque celebramos el nacimiento de un bebe que vivio y murio para que no tuvieramos que hacerlo. Si, hay regalos, hay los arboles y las luzes, pero el temporado de la navidad es mas que eso. No tenemos que enfocarnos en lo que podemos hacer mas para comprar la familia los regalos mejores o las cosas mas carras. Solamente tenemos que pensar acerca de la razon porque este bebe chiquito vino. El vino para salvarnos. El vino para fijar un ejemplo. El vino para que pudieramos entrar en el santo templo y hacer algunos convenios con el padre. Entonces Jesucristo ya nos ha dado el regalo mejor. Es nuestra responsabilidad para abrirlo. Les quiero mucho y quiero que sepan que bautismo es la puerta, pero la destinacion es el templo. Les voy a volver a ver ahi para que un dia yo pueda volver a verles en los cielos.

Con Amor,

Elder Molinaro

This past week has been way busy with transfers and such, but we have also been planning a training and different things that go along with it in order to jumpstart the productivity of the mission... We have called it "Operation Pearl". Cool name, huh? haha It talks a lot about breaking down daily plans into hourly blocks and holding yourself accountable to it to increase productivity. Instead of saying that "I need to teach this many lessons a day" it is OK to say "In the next hour I need to teach one and find a new investigator." Then by the end of the day when that has been done for every hour, the totals are much higher. Cool, huh? I know it is way simple but missionaries here are not doing it so hopefully they will catch on.

Christmas on the mission is great, but I really do miss you guys so much, especially around this time of year with all the traditions and family gatherings and stuff. But I am doing well, happy as a CLAM!

Love you, miss you, praying for you all :) God bless us every one.

Love,

Elder Molinaro