We enjoyed a great Christmas week. We spent Christmas eve hanging out with the Cuernavaca and Civac zones. It was our pday so we were able to play bball in the morning, mafia with cuernavaca, and then Elder Nah made us a super delicious dinner with the Civac zone. We also broke a piñata that the sisters made. After all that, the bishops wife made us dinner to take to the house. We ate it on the roof with Elder Smith and Elder Porter. The partying continued the next morning when we went to the offices to open presents. We did a gift exchange withe the secretaries and everyone also bought presents for their companions. After opening presents, we went to President and Sister Kusch´s house to eat, They made us an amazing meal with ham, sweet potatoes, funeral potatoes, cinnamon rolls, orange rolls, etc. I realized after that meal that I miss american food like that A LOT! So we probably partied a little too hard because everyone in the offices got sick with colds, flu, stomach viruses, etc. It was a rough week health wise. Elder Azueta and I were busy with several trips to the airport in Mexico City. We enjoy traveling but it usually wipes all the energy out of me. Elder Quinnelly called me this week with some worries about the area in Chilpo. We talked a little and he told me that a member of the ward who was the ex-bishop, told him that when Elder Quinnelly and I were there that he would get mad at the current bishop for not taking advantage of having the best two elders that the ward had ever had. I felt good that someone did notice the hard work we did on a daily basis but it is sad at times when we as missionaries dont receive the support we could use to have more success in the work of the Lord. In the mission, we are trying to help the missionaries earn the confidence of the local leaders and the members so that together we can bring about this work. This past week I received a little bit of revelation for my life right now and also for the future. It is nothing new that I havent been taught before but I gained a stronger testimony about it. The last few weeks I have had days when I just feel like I dont have energy or that I feel more tempted, etc. As assistants, we occassionally have days when we are traveling the whole day or fulfilling assignments from president all day. On those days, we dont have our regular hours of study that all missionaries always receive. After reading some notes from the mission and praying a lot, I realized that my happiness, charity, and even physical energy had gone down due to a lack of reading the Book of Mormon on a daily basis. In past emails, I have talked a lot about having a sacred grove every morning when we can pour out our souls to our Father in Heaven and feel of His spirit to start every day. Apart from that great habit, I have come to know that we must feast upon the Book of Mormon everyday. The Book of Mormon is a source of energy, happiness and love. We can receive answers to current day problems in that testament of Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is essential to our happiness. It is an evidence we have of the truthfulness of this one and only church of our Savior. This week, we are starting a new year. Along with a self-invitation, I would like to make an invitation to each one of you. I invite us all to have a ¨Book of Mormon Banquet¨ or a ¨Book of Mormon Buffet¨ (whichever you prefer) every single day. I recognize that there are many great books out there that we can read, including the Bible. It is great that we read those books, but in addition, we must enjoy the words from the Book of Mormon everyday! Even if it is just 15 minutes, we will feel more energy, more love, and more happiness in our DAILY lives by creating and maintaining this habit. And remember, when we think of banquets and buffets, we dont think of taking a few bites and then leaving the restaurant. We think of all types of food from different parts of the world in front of us on several different plates!!! I dont know about you guys, but I LOVE buffets. And every time I go, I try to eat as much as I can! May we have the same feelings as we study the Book of Mormon this year. To those who have not read the Book of Mormon completely through, read it completely through this year!!! You wont regret it! To those who have already read it, continue to study it and apply it to your life. You will find answers and you will find peace. This will be a great year if we all develop and maintain this great habit of receiving personal revelation through the words of Christ Himself. I will wait for your letters containing experiences you will have with the Book of Mormon this year. Love you all!!!!!
Elder Stutz
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