Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Sister Connie Hollingworth prepared another ward missionary newsletter, with excerpts from recent letters or emails from all the ward missionaries, including Elliot.  You can see a copy of the newsletter after the jump.

Oklahoma sports report

Here's a slightly tardy report on the outcome of one of the Oklahoma-related college football bowl games.

University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane

The Golden Hurricane traveled to Hawaii where they played the BCS No. 24 Hawaii Warriors on December 24 in tne Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.  Hawaii's offense was great (550 yards and five touchdowns), although they also threw five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.  Hawaii also left their defensive unit at home, as the Golden Eagle had 531 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in a 62-35 trouncing (video highlights).  Tulsa junior Damaris Johnson had another great game, finishing with 326 all-purpose yards and a career record 7,796 total yards.

Oklahoma State University Cowboys

Don't forget to watch OSU in tonight's Valero Alamo Bowl, where they will face the unranked Arizona Wildcats in San Antonio, Texas on ESPN.  Game time is 6:15 p.m. PST.

Elliot's December 27 email

Here's the latest email from Elliot.

Hello!

It was awesome to talk to you all on Christmas too. It was nice to hear all of your voices and to know you all are doing good. I hope you have a great New Years too!

This past week was a bit slower work-wise with having a cold and Christmas and everything, but it was still great. Yesterday especially was awesome. We taught like 5 lessons and really had a great time at church and everything. We have investigators (who can't get baptized yet because of issues of getting married) that go to church every Sunday who are just really solid and will definitely be great members of the branch when they get everything straight. In Gospel Principles class Yolanda (the wife) was sitting there studying super hard the Gospel Principles book, reading and writing down every scripture and asking questions. She reads the Book of Mormon very often and writes down questions about anything she comes across that she has questions about so she can ask us when we come over. Then during the Priesthood meeting Jose (the son) walks in and says "We need someone to come to Primary." The person conducting says "Okay, I'll be there in a minute," to which he says, "no, now." Everyone laughed and joked around about how he's a future bishop. So me and Elder Whipple went to the Primary and talked about why missions are important and we stayed for a minute to just listen in. Our investigators' children were answering all of the questions and participating and it was great. Jose told me after church that he can't wait to get baptized. I can't wait either. They're so awesome and mean so much to me.

Anyway, I'm feeling just about 100% better after being sick and am gonna go play basketball again soon, but I love you all and miss you and appreciate everything you do for me!

Love,

Elder Elliot Adair

An audio message from Elliot!

We got to talk to Elliot today. For those unfamiliar with Mormon missions, the rules he has agreed to live by for the two years he will be in Oklahoma permit him only four phone calls home -- Christmas and Mother's Day. Of course, we have weekly emails, letters, pictures, and packages, but no visits at all and only four phone calls. So today's phone call was a very special occasion for the family. Lori, Alyssa, and I got on the speaker phone at home, while Keith and Kim joined in via Skype on the computer. We talked for a long time and loved it, except the part when we had to hang up. We thought it would be fun to share a little bit of Elliot on the blog, so we recorded a very brief message. I hope the link works. If not, leave me a comment and I can email the file to you you. Merry Christmas!

20101225_Message_from_Elliot1.wav - Christmas message from Elliot - BADONGO

A new picture of Elliot and a message from his branch president

We received a text message from the branch president where Elliot is serving, along with a picture of Elliot in his natural habitat -- the dinner table.  It was a great surprise (especially since we were in grocery store when we got it!).  We're glad to see he is doing well.  Here is the message from President Espinoza and the picture of Elliot.

"I am President Espinoza from sixth branch where your son is serving. We wish you a merry Christmas and we are thankful for your beloved son and we take care of him as you can see in the picture!!!!!"

Merry Christmas from Elliot and the Adair family!

A Christmas message: "They Gave Up Their Christmas"

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."  Matthew 2:11.

We are often told that the spirit of Christmas is giving.  The members of the Spanish ward in Madera, California, in the beautiful San Joaquin Valley, have taken this message to heart.  I will let the video tell the story but it reminds me of the goodness of the Hispanic people, of their dedication to the Savior, and their unselfish labor on His behalf.  They understand and live the spirit of Christmas.  Elliot is blessed to work with such great people as a Spanish-speaking missionary.  Enjoy the video after the break.