12-28

Hello Family & Friends!Hope you all had an AMAZING Christmas and will have a Great New Years!Haha, so since I have been waiting for my computer in the library I have made a new friend Michael Miles.. haha he is a little 3 year old who keeps coming up to me and saying he got a "fire iPod" for christmas... iPods make fire now... goll, I am missing so much! haha He asked me my name and I said Elder McBride.. and so he keeps saying "Elore, Elore..." and I look at him and he says "what, I didn't say anything.." haha He asked me if I worked here and I pulled out a picture of Jesus Christ and said "nope, I work for Him" I was like "oh". I told him it was Jesus Christ and so now he is going around to everyone in the library and asking them if they want a picture of Jesus.. haha It's so funny! This week we have been very busy [ya, you think we would be less busy and get to relax... NOT THE CASE!] But one things for sure, we had fun! So these unknown parents of a missionary out here gave each missionary in the mission a $50 gift card to Walmart as a Christmas present... which is about $10,000 total!!! They said that we could spend it on ourselves.. OR we could be selfless and spend it on those who need help in the ward... so Elder Cason and I thought of some people who needed help and went shopping for toys ... also I bought a visa gift card so I could go to the Ensign store to buy scripture stickers to Brenda F. (which she loved) haha.So my Zone Leader out here in Riverside is Elder Williams! And on Wednesday we got to go on a companion exchange. It was really fun! We went around caroling to houses with his guitar and singing to people. We had a miracle experience of going into this appartment building that Elder Williams had always wanted to go into (but his companions had not). So we went and asked people if they knew anyone who would want us to sing to them. We talked to a couple of people and were lead to this one couple who rad to their door and the wife was like "oh my gosh, this is the first time that I have ever had carolers!" And in the middle of the song the man was like "oh, it's the Elders!" This man had friends in the church who had told him that he needed to come check our religion out... AND WE WERE LEAD TO THEM! They greatfully took a pamphlet and told us to come back... too bad it is in Elder Williams area; so I won't be going back.Christmas Eve we made some cookies for our Less actives and Recent Converts (we are running out of investigators, but we would have made cookies for them too.) We delivered them and shared a Christmas message and then went over to our dinner at the Jorgensens. You would have never guessed what we had for dinner....Tomallies...Ya, so not a Christmas tradition, but it was good... no complaining :) They gave each of us a huge gift basket for Christmas after we played Scattagories and sang happy birthday to Jesus.. haha just a little weird???Calling home was seemed like a dream... so WEIRD! I dialed the number and just starred at it on the phone for like 5 minutes before calling... kind of scarry! haha, but I was so glad that I was able to make it throught the calls with no "allergies" or tears... all except for a couple of times ;) I love all of you soo soo much and it was so great to hear ALL of your voices! That hour and a half went by FAST!Well I love you all so much! Thanks for all the Christmas presents! I loved them all so much! I might just gain a couple of pounds, but it will be worth it! haha Hope you all have a great New Years! Stay safe, keep the Christmas spirit, and love you again!Love Elder McBridePS. Brenda said that you can call her anytime to chat :)