Hello Everyone,

Well Christmas is definitely in the air, it is getting chilly, everyone is hurrying up to do their Christmas shopping and to decorate and everything. But it is also a wonderful opportunity that we have to be together as a family and remember the great gift that Christ gave for each and every one of us. We had another pretty good week here in Aix, and I spent a little bit of time in Avignon as well, which was nice too.

Tuesday we did some good contacting in the morning and then in the afternoon went to institute because Jinane was going to be there. It was a good lesson and she seemed to enjoy it. We then went to see Frère Phillibeaux and he told us that just somehow he knew that we would be coming that day. We had a great lesson with him and it is still so amazing to me to see this man who was inactive during thirty years of his life continue to cultivate his testimony and grow stronger and stronger, it is incredible. We then went and taught Kim, a recent convert who is super strong, and then we were supposed to eat with a family but it got cancelled so we did some pass backs for the evening.

Wednesday we had a lesson with Jinane in the morning and it was a little rough. We didn't exactly have the responses that she wanted and it was obvious that it wasn't the best lesson. Afterwards we were invited by a member to eat at Flunch, a restaurant, and it was very good and we had a nice time. Afterwards we did some porting and then we went and saw the Sinquin family for the last time before they move to Nice. We watched the Joseph Smith movie and it was really great. Unfortunately, we had to leave pretty quick because we met the other missionaries to go practice some songs we are singing for Christmas with a family in the ward and then we ate with them afterward. Lots of eating that day...

Thursday, we did some contacting and actually found someone to teach for that afternoon. We ate and then went and taught her and had a pretty good lesson but she was only going to be in Aix for a few more days before returning to Iran. So it couldn't be much more than a first lesson. We then did some contacting, had a rendez-vous fixed but he didn't show up and then we went and saw Jennifer and Erica and had a pretty good lesson with them as well.

Friday we saw Jinane and cleared up some concerns she had and talked about how much perserverance and diligence is necessary in receiving an answer. The lesson went a lot better, thankfully. We then ate lunch and then I headed to Avignon to be with Elder Bonnett. We had to finish his studies, because he has extra, since he is new, and then we just did some door to door in the evening. It was a good thing because we stumbled into a less active member and was able to fix a rendez-vous with her.

Saturday we went and did some Street Meeting and it was freezing! We met some great people though and I had some really good conversations with people. I realized how much I do enjoy talking and conversing with people. We then came back and ate and did some studies and then stopped by to see one of their investigators before heading back to Aix. In the evening we did a little bit of contacting and then saw Erica and Jennifer and had a good lesson with them. It progresses, very slowly but always a bit.

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of going up to Manosque with Elder Smith. The Branch up there was very nice and church was great. We then taught an eternel investigator and then headed back down. We ate and then we went to the church for the Christmas Devotional by the first presidency. It was a really good meeting focused on the birth of our Savior, it was really great. We then headed in to do our weekly planning that we had missed earlier in the week.

Voilà, that was our week this week. It was pretty busy, which was good. I hope that you all of a great week. I love you all and hope you make this time of year particularly special. Have a great week!

Elder Kirkpatrick