Gratitude and 2 Nephi 9:52

What's up peeps! This week was pretty darn fun! I hope it was great for you too! But if not congratulations on getting through the week! You are officially stronger than you were a week ago! And that's something to celebrate!  Some highlights for the week are:

• We had a fun cup stacking lesson with our teaching friends Suzie and Bill! They absolutely loved the activity we did trying to describe the priesthood. It was so much fun! Suzie leaves for Taiwan this week, which is sad, but we'll still get to teach Bill! 
• We had a member meal with Sister Yan this week and it was so good! She used to be a chef in China, so she loves cooking for us! She's the best!
• We had Zone Conference this week and it was awesome! We talked about the power of prayer and faith. It was a huge spiritual booster, which was amazing! 
• We went with two of our friends to "Hot Pot" style food! And it's so cool! They just bring out this boiling broth and then you stick stuff inside of it and it cooks it so fast because it's so hot! So you stick it in for a little bit and then pull it out and eat! I had a baby octopus, so that was good! Also, some cow intestines. 
• It's cold. I thought Logan, Utah, was bad. Nope! It's real cold already here haha! 

I figure it's only fair that because we have Thanksgiving coming up that we talk about gratitude today! In fact, in Chinese, Thanksgiving is 感恩节. Which means, the grateful holiday! So, I just wanted to say a couple things I'm grateful for and then go from there! 

I am so so grateful for my amazing family! I have the coolest family in the entire world! Sorry to everyone else out there but my family wins! I have the coolest grandparents in the world that support me from both sides of the veil. I have amazing grandmas that send me the best emails and sweetest letters of encouragement! My parents raised me better than I deserved! I hope to have a marriage just like theirs! I am so grateful for their examples and the love they continually give me! Now, siblings are the coolest people in the world! There isn't a better group of people I could grow up with and who continue to be some of my very best friends! They are spiritual giants, they serve others constantly, love and support me always, and are absolutely hilarious! I love them all! And, of course, we just added an additional member to our family, cute baby Ivy! And she makes me smile so big every week! So I'm big time grateful for her! 

I am so grateful for my amazing friends! I am so grateful for a special someone I truly love, my cheerleader and bestest friend, Abbs. I'm so grateful for Abby and all that she does for me! Week after week, she helps me out with all of my struggles and challenges! Her example to me of faith is absolutely incredible! I truly wouldn't be where I am right now if it weren't for her! She's one of the biggest blessings in my life! I love you, Abbs! 

I've got my best friend, my main man, my accomplice in all crimes, the legend, Sean Madsen! Sean is an absolute rock star! Talk about someone who always looks on the bright side! You won't find somebody who is more outgoing than Sean! And he doesn't just keep it to himself. He shares it with everyone around him! He takes care of his family, he puts up with me, and makes everybody laugh as he goes along! You're a stud Sean! 

Now, I feel terrible but I'm just gonna group and say "the gang"! You know who you are! I had the coolest friends in the world at Utah State and throughout high school! You all know who you are! People often say you become the people you're surrounded by! Sadly, I'm under all of them still haha! But they help pull me along! They are the coolest people ever! I am so grateful for them and the love they've always given me! They have had to put up with my weird self for quite some time and I'm so grateful they did! 

Alright I'm realizing that this could turn into quite the lengthy email if I go through everything! So I'm going to end it on the thing I am the very most grateful for! And that's my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Words will never adequately describe my gratitude for his sacrifice! Each day as I get to study more about Jesus Christ, his mission, his character, his love, and his atonement, I grow closer to Him. The mission is a cool experience, but I have had some really really tough times while being out here! But it has been so cool to experience how, in those insanely hard moments, that's when the Savior picks us up! I am so grateful for his atoning sacrifice that makes it possible for me to improve each and every day! I'm so grateful for his gospel that we have, as well, to help strengthen our families and relationships! I just am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and that he was willing and loving enough to send his Only Begotten Son to come and learn how to be our perfect best friend! 

I invite all of you all this week to try at least once to do an all-gratitude prayer. Don't ask for anything, but just tell Heavenly Father all the things you are grateful for! The list can be long or short! But trying saying just one of those prayers this week! I know you will feel his love! I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving! 

再见，

司长老

Apostasy cups with Bill and Suzie

Dinner at Sister Yan's

Poor Elder Luo is NOT used to the cold!

Playin a little prank on Elder Hofheins...

Gotcha!