¡Feliz Navidad!

¿Cómo están todos?

We are having a wonderful time up here in Edmonton during the Christmas season. The mood around here is amazing.  I love how it changes during the holiday season. People are more open to talk to us and people say "Merry Christmas" as you are walking down the street. It has been moderately warm but we haven't had any snow lately. It is supposed to get really bad after the new year. Looking forward to that.

Christmas Conference on Wednesday was incredibly fun. President Campbell gave us some great training on how when we talk to people we need to genuinely be interested in them, not just talk to them to get a number. He talked about his father-in-law that would just talk to anyone and be friends with them within 5 minutes. It reminded me a lot of Papa and his amazing skill to just talk with people. I have been working on that skill for my whole mission and I still have a long way to go. But the talent show was a amazing. My boys did Noche de Luz on the guitar and the violin. Another sister in my zone (Sister Milburn) and I did a parady on "Baby, Its Cold Outside". It was about this district leader that was trying to get a sister in his district to stay on the phone during stewardship. It was a hit. I had to be sure that President knew that there was nothing implied.

We also had our 4 stake wide Latin Christmas dinner last night. We had about 100 people that were able to come and it was really successful. Marta and Mauricio were both able to come out and they had a blast. They are becoming really good friends. Recent converts are the best "fellowshippers". We had a small little spiritual message and songs in the chapel to begin and then the dinner that followed was incredible. I really love getting all the spanish people together to feel the unity that there should be in the city. Man, they really know how to throw a party. We were listening to a talk recently that talked about 2 conversions that one needs to go through to be converted to the church. Spiritual and the social. The missionaries are the spiritaul and the members of the ward are the social. I encourage us all to keep an eye out for those that are investigating the church and making them feel welcome into theire future ward family. There has to be both to get a quality conversion. Spanish people are great for this. That is why I love working with them so much.

Marta is loving coming to church now and she has been free of coffee since Wednesday!! It is so awesome to see the Atonement in action. She is going to be baptized on the 29th and she is so excited. We are going to be working this week to strengthen her testimony of the commandments and the Book of Mormon. Eduardo is making more friends at church and is workign to overcome his problems. I am sure the Lord is so proud of him and the changes that he is making. I love these two and can't wait to see them progress more. Vianney is back up in Edmonton and I can't believe that we are not calling him a recent convert anymore. Love that guy.

I hope that you all can feel the Christmas Spirit. If not, get it. Read Luke 2 and feel of the Savior's love for you. I love you and wish the best.

Mucho amor,

Elder Kipp