Transfer 3 is officially over!

Hey guys! Thanks for the emails! Christmas is next week! It's SO crazy how fast time flies! This morning we had transfer breakfast (where our zone gathers the day before transfers and when we are eating breakfast, the ZLs announce the news), and I'm staying in Tremonton and will be getting an Elder Kyle Barnes. A lot of people loved him and I'm looking forward to having him as my next companion. My current companion, Elder Vickers, is transferring down to Ogden. 4 companions in my first 4 transfers, all in one area. Dang...I weighed myself a couple nights ago and I gained 20 pounds. Yikes! I need to be more consistent with exercising!

Day 1 (Tuesday, December 10) - Elder Vickers and I got to go to Logan with the Garland Stake Elders and we just shopped at Deseret Bookstore, Wal-Mart and Levens (an amazing tie store. Missionaries can buy ties for 5 bucks!)

After shopping, we got to go see Kevin and he fed us Papa Murphy's (a really good pizza place in Utah) and we had the meat-lovers pizza. It was so good. I only had room for one slice of pizza. We talked about the Book of Mormon and how it can help us. He said that he will read it this week and he never said, "I'll try.". He said, "I'll do it."! Unbelievable! I love being a missionary!

Day 2 (Wednesday, December 11) - Elder Vickers and I got to go see Robert Hall and before we sat down to talk, he told us some big news: he is FINALLY getting divorced, meaning that he can marry his fiance and then get baptized! :D We decided to talk about baptism and how it helps us get closer to Heavenly Father! It was a fantastic lesson!

We also got to go see the Glover family and we taught them how to do a FHE (family home evening). We talked about the Iron Rod and played a little game. It was a super fun lesson. The Glover family is SO awesome!

Day 3 (Thursday, December 12) - Elder Vickers' ankle was hurting really bad that day so we had to take it easy. His ankle was one of the reasons why he got transferred to Ogden East which is super close to the Mission office.

We didn't have any lessons on this day but we got to meet with the Stake auxilaries and got a ton of referrals. We have been contacting those referrals for the past couple days! :)

Day 4 (Friday, December 13) - Elder Vickers and I got to see Kevin today and he told us that he hasn't been reading the BoM so it was really disappointing. Because of that, we got to talk about commitments and why we extend them (we might have to drop Kevin because he seems not to be interested in progressing but to have friends who listen. :()

We got to see Sister Sherlene Brown (Elder Zarse and I taught her before she moved to New Mexico and she moved back up!) and she is doing awesome. We talked a little bit about CPR and it turns out, she is doing them! She is doing all three of them! :D It was a fabulous lesson! I'm glad to be finally teaching her! :)

Day 5 (Saturday, December 14) - Elder Vickers and I got to go to the Spanish Elders' baptismal service and I could not understand anything that was going on but I felt the Spirit so strong and it was amazing. The Spirit is so awesome!

Sister Brown invited us to go with her as she visits a family whose house is DECKED OUT with Christmas decorations and we decided to go. Holy crap! The family went overboard with the decorations. It was really cool though!

After seeing the awesome house, Vickers and I got to go see Wendy Head who wants to go through the temple but has a smoking problem. She told us that she bought e-cigs to help her quit smoking and I hope it works! She has been reading the BoM, going to church and saying her prayers daily. As long as we keep the commandments, the Lord will bless us with things beyond imagination!

Day 6 (Sunday, December 15) - Elder Vickers and I decided to go to the 8th ward Ward Council and holy crap! It was GLORIOUS! All we talked about was missionary work! The ward is getting fired up on missionary work and I love it! It's the best!

During sacrament meeting, I had a gut feeling that we were going to speak. I asked Elder Vickers, "Are we speaking today?". He replied, "Nope.". Guess what?! One of the guys in the Bishopric went up to the pulpit and said, "We will have the privilege to hear from Elder Vickers and Elder McGrath today."! I KNEW IT! We just bore our testimony. It was pretty fun!

After that, we went and talked to a Sunday School class consisting of 16 years old kids and they asked so many questions about missionary work! It was so awesome answering those questions!

Day 7 (Monday, December 16) - We got to go see Robert Hall and his fiance, Lori Larsen and guess what?! Robert is getting divorced later this week and Robert and Lori will now get married on February 1st!!! We set a baptismal date for February 8th! It was awesome! We talked about eternal families and the blessings that comes from going to the temple! They were so happy and loved the lesson. :)

We got to eat dinner with one of the WML and we talked for a couple hours sharing stories from the mission. He has SO many cool stories from his mission. He served in the Argentina Buenas Aires South mission! Yes, I told him about you, Dad! :)

'And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end, they are received into heaven, they thereby they may dwell with God in the state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." Mosiah 2:4

I love you guys! You guys are awesome! Have a great holiday season and stay safe! Love, Elder Sam McGrath