So as it turns out every 6 weeks (on the week of changes) we write on Tuesdays!

Changes = Im staying with Elder Mendenhall another change to complete my training:)

anyways, MERRY CHRISTMASSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! FELIC NAVIDAD!!!!!!!!!!!! How was it everyone, tell me about whats happening in the states:D

Oh my goodness. Christmas here is crazy. Our mission president granted special permission to the mission to stay up until midnight the night of Christmas eve. Why you may ask? because at midnight, everyone and their dog sets off as many fireworks as possible at the same time. There are more fireworks here in 10 minutes, than in the states on the 4th of July. It was crazy! you turn around and in every direction there are morters, and firecrackers going off.

Anyways, Christmas here was amazing. Let me just say that I have the most incredible family every. It was such a blessing to talk to them Christmas day. especially Brittany! I feel kind of like Alma the younger when he sees the sons of Mosiah as missionaries, and the joy that filled his soul. She is such an incredible person and an inspiring missionary.

Haha, on cabios (changes) this week I was working with Elder Polter (Ive decided he is the archetypal wise old man of my missionary life, but that is beside the point) we walked into this super nice guys house (who we ended up teaching a super spiritual lesson and the guy Im pretty sure is going to progress far) and notices this beautiful window he had. it was about 2 meters by 2 meters and would have been a really nice feature had it not been overlooking a cement wall 2 feet in front of it. We thought that was pretty funny. Welcome to Uruguay.

Anyways, something I learned this week: The Lord doesn't want us to go through pain. However, even greater is His desire for us to learn, grow, and progress. As a result of this, trials will come into our lives that we feel inflict and torment our souls. What I have found though is, for some trials at least, once we learn the lesson we are meant to learn, the trial is removed, the burden lifted, and you realize how much you have progressed through the trial. In this moment, gratitude fills your heart if you let it, and your soul is mended with joy and peace. I had a moment like this this week. It was so amazing. I swear, I have never felt happier than I was in that moment. The gospel is incredible, and Christ really is there to strengthen us. He puts things in our lives to augment our strength and keep pressing forward. He helps us to swim through the dark tunnel that at times feels like it is filled with jello and thick syrup, to the brilliant fresh air at the end. There we can rejoice in looking back and seeing how far we have come.

La Iglesea es verdad,

Elder Eliason

P.S. soooooo Ironically Brittany called me to repentance this past week and told me to send more pictures. Today I MAY have forgotten my connector cable for my camera. One of the other elders has a sd card connecter, but there is a line, so there may be no pics this week.