Christmas in San Diego!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! 

This week has been a good one for us. We had our Christmas themed Zone Conference last Wednesday. It was shorter, outside, and it was all focused about Christ, more specifically the creation, His mission, and His role today. Afterwards, President and Sister Gimenez gave each of the missionaries Light the World masks and a hand written note. The notes were personal and so amazing. They are literally the best. We also all got donuts and hot chocolate to eat outside!

Elder Norris and I with Pres. Gimenez and some other Zone Leaders

Our Zone at Zone Conference

Our District

All three zones with Pres and Sis Gimenez!

We had a great Christmas season as well. We were able to do exchanges with the Assistants on Christmas Eve and exchanges with two companionships in our Zone on Christmas day! Since all of our exchanges are virtual at the moment, we were able to do multiple shorter exchanges of studying Luke 2 together and talking about Christmas. 

Volunteering at the Salvation Army on Christmas Eve
We helped put together these food kits.  We are able to serve there
because it is considered an essential service.

For Christmas, Tom bought us many gifts which was very kind of him. He has made here a home away from home. We had a great day on Christmas and were able to teach a lesson to a member family about this season and this year in general that was really great. 

Christmas Suits from Tom
(Elder Hendrickson arrived after he gave them to us)

Christmas Dinner in our African shirts from Tom

Since then, we've continued in our work. We aren't allowed to really go anywhere except the church and it doesn't look like its changing for a while. I've been able to send out lots of message to others to hopefully tell them about the gospel. I had a great conversation with a lady on Friday. She wasn't interested in the gospel, but she had lots of respect for what we are doing. She found out I was going to BYU after my mission and ended up telling me that she would buy me flowers when I get engaged at BYU, which she said would be next year. Haha, it was pretty great. 

The El Cajon sign at night!

We have lots of hope for the future and for this work here. We are optimistic despite our circumstances, for we know that this is God's work. 

Elder Brooks

Notes from our video call:

They continue to hold church outside.  The Swahili Elders do translation into headsets each week.  The sister missionaries have permission to attend the nearest ward that is holding sacrament meeting so that they can partake of the sacrament.  The two sets of sisters in their zone will be attending their ward, so there will be four sets of missionaries there.

They were able to hold Zone Conference since it was a worship meeting and was held outside.  They met with three zones combined.  Elder Brooks did one of the musical numbers (Pres. Gimenez wanted good ones and no one else in their zone wanted to do it).  He recorded it again and posted it on Facebook.

He and Elder Norris delivered treats to all of the missionaries in their zone on Christmas Eve.