Haven't touched Huntsville soil for all of 2011...

Hey fam!

wooooo! 2012!! Hard to believe that I haven't touched a piece of Huntsville soil for all of 2011. I definitely looked over the 2011 predictions that you sent me last year...and it turns out that a lot of them were right on. Others, I have no idea. But here are a few of my predictions for 2012 to add to the list:
-Mitch will be assistant to the president before he finishes his mission.
-Clint will find a job outside of UT
-Amanda will put her foot down when Jed asks to buy an RV (please). Actually her prediction would definitely have to be that she's gonna be prego.
-Curtis will baptize a complete family, while still not able to speak fluent "Spanish"
-Dad will find a hobby that will surprise us all.
-Rachel will start her own etsy shop
-Mom will NOT take a mac, camera or iphone class.
-Jed will help Kelli through her awkward stage of post-mission transition, by continually reminding her how awkward she is.

Send me the rest that you come up with.

For New Year's it was a normal work day, but we went to our ward mission leader's home instead of hanging out trying to contact all of the drunks. They usually have a big barbeque and bring in the new year spending time with the family. Some say that if you eat lentils at midnight it will bring you good luck all year. Also, some say that if you pack up a suitcase and you walk with it around the block that you'll travel sometime throughout the year. Then, there's this other tradition that you put 3 potatoes underneath the bed - one completely peeled, one half peeled and one not peeled at all - depending on which one you pick out will tell you how successful economically you're going to be in the upcoming year.
Most Chileans are pretty superstitious.

Hna. Kemp and I are just sprinting and working and SWEATING and drinking lots of water. We are trying really hard to pump up the ward, trying to find people who really want to progress, trying to get the good news out to everyone. I set the New Year's Resolution to learn how to lead a consecrated life inside and outside the mission. You really do feel so much more free when you just surrender to the Lord. When you just accept everything He wants, instead of what you want. It feels so GOOD to know that you can be an instrument -with all of your weaknesses and problems and human-ness- to bring people to the knowledge of their Savior.

This week a very Catholic grandma named Luz ("light") offered the prayer and asked for forgiveness from the Lord if she had been following Him in the wrong way all of her life, and asked for an answer to know if this was the true church. She then accepted the invitation to be baptized if she received an answer, and told her husbad next to her that she would take him along too. He just nodded his head. You can see why they've been married for 30+ years :)

Well, I love you all so much! I hope that all is going well at home! Bring in the new year with goals that you can reach! You're all the best!

love love love, Hermana Child

photos:
1. Our Bishop and his wife. Super amazing. He owns a panaderia---bakery! They got baptized when they were first married.
2. They had a banquet for the ward for the end of the year! Catered and everything. We were really happy with the turn-out!
3. Our incredible ward mission leader, Rudy and his son, Rudy (called "tutti"). He's got a lot of energy and excitement and great advice. He's been in the stake presidency. SUCH a blessing for this ward.
4. the Hermanas! and the 2012 microwave brownie.