Christmas is Coming :)

11:30 works for me :) (That's 3:30 my time, right?)  (this is about our Skype schedule for Christmas)

DAD! Can you look up my login info for me? Seeing as I've only done this three other times in the past two years, I kinda forgot my info haha

Mom....that video is upside-down hahaha but this is for her: "Alyza B! You gotta listen to mommy! You gotta stay healthy for when Dayday gets home so we can play games!"

Anna - Congrats on the grades!

Trev - How's Mission Prep going? Don't forget I expect my annual letter for 2015 before I go home!

Allie - I believe in Santa :) Do you? Also, you should ask Santa for an extra set of Pokemon cards so I can play with you when I get home :)

In the airport I just want Mom, Dad, Trevin, Anna, Allie, and Alyza there. No one else. They could all just come over like an hour or two before Trev's game and then we'll go to his game. Obviously depending on when I get released. Hopefully it's not too late!

QUESTIONS:

1. Did you really get acupuncture? How did that go?

No, I decided the thought of having three-inch needles shoved in my neck could wait until I was home and in a more....American health clinic place.

2. 70 boxes came??? We got a pic of you hauling boxes! Were any of them yours? From whom? Did you open them? If so, reactions please.  If not, wow, I'm impressed. We got a letter from you but we can't open it and it's driving us crazy!!!!

I have gotten both the package from grandma and the one from you. And seeing as I'm a very impatient person, I already opened them haha. That gift seriously took some stress off my shoulders! (Which helps the pinched nerve too hahaha) And obviously I loved (and devoured) all the food :D

3. Where do you go shopping for gifts in Chile? Do they have Target there? :)  

We have what's called "La Feria" (basically a flea market) that has mostly Farmer's Market type stuff, but sometimes you'll find a shirt or something like that. We don't have Target, but we do have Walmart :)

4. Will you get a Christmas dinner at President's house? 

Not on Christmas Day, nor Christmas Eve, but we are having a dinner at his house :) And the rest of the week we'll be with members all day haha (except for when we Skype, obviously!)

I didn't send you a b-day letter?? I knew I was missing something...but hey! At least I sent that pic on the right day, right? :D hahaha I can never remmeber if it's the 7th or the 8th :P Sorry Mommy!!!

Anyway, I'll keep it nice and short today so that we have lots to talk about on Christmas Day at 11:30 :)

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Great New Comp

This week flew by! I finally have a companion, but the first week of changes for the office it's almost always impossible to get out to the sector :P Hopefully next week we'll start getting out more :)

Elder Nielsen from Gilbert AZ is my comp :) He went to Highland (High School) and did track, so I'm sure we've crossed paths before. We get along super well, us two and Elder Salisbury (he's in charge of the missionary's houses). The three of us do a lot together because Elder Salsibury's comps are only here until the 18th when a handful of missionaries who should be going home with me are leaving because BYU's classes start the week we'd be back. And for some this would be their 3rd Christmas away from home, so Pdte is sending them home early.

E' Nielsen is catching on super quick, so I've taken up reading the Book of Mormon in French to see if I can learn it this change :) Wish me luck!

About technology. I think I'll be fine with my laptop for now as long as I have the Windows Phone so I can work on my app dev'ing. I have been thinking about getting a tablet for school because it would be easier to take notes, but I'm not planning on getting one for this first semester. I've already got way too many expenses on my plate :P

1. Have you guys decorated the mission home for Christmas?

We're not allowed to decorate the Mission Office (or maybe it's because we can't find the tree they used last year...), and I've got no idea if Hna Barreiros has decorated her house yet or not.

2. I heard you are training someone. Tell us about that.

See above :)

3. Is "watching over" the sandwiches your favorite job? haha

Haha, it is now that I have nothing to do :P Actually, the Assistants are supposed to watch them, but Pdte had some more changes to make before the meeting started, so they were all with him in his office.

4. How long have the Bertagna's been on their mission, and how long is their mission in total?

They leave on February 6th. They'll have been here for 18 months.

5. You never told me if there was any chance of you being able to visit the Cortez family before you leave?

There was. Then Pdte changed his mind. Now there's not :/

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider