Merry Christmas from India!

We had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Elder Nixon on Christmas morning around 8am. Although we were given an hour, the time seemed to go much to fast. It was so wonderful to hear his voice and to hear first hand about his experiences in India as well as hearing a little bit of an Indian accent. He is currently teaching a family of eight, all interested in being baptized within the next couple of weeks. However, Billy has just been told that he will be transferred to another area of Hyderbad about 45 minutes away from where he is serving currently. Billy mentioned how difficult it was on Sunday to say goodbye to all the members of the Branch. He has been apart of their Branch for 4 months and he has really developed a love for all of them.


Before Christmas, Billy thought it might be fun to introduce some of our traditions with the members of his branch in India. He thought it would be fun to dress up like Santa for all the children. In order for him to do this he took to the streets of India looking for a Santa costume. Finding a Santa costume proved to be a challenge and Billy and his companion searched high and low in many stores for a Santa costume. He finally found success in a small store that was tucked away down an alley. He sent us a picture of him dressed up as Santa (see below).

Bill shared with us some of the Christmas traditions that they have in India. One of the things he mentioned was that they all buy themselves a new outfit to wear in celebration and prepare a feast with chicken and rice using a great assortment of different flavors of curry. They do not share gift giving. Most families are very poor, but at the same time they are eager invite the missionaries in for a meal and feed them very well. Bill said that it is sometimes difficult because families will offer them so much food that they begin to feel ill but they would not want to offend them by refusing to eat.

Billy sent us all gifts from India. He sent everyone pajamas (a family Christmas tradition) and few popular Bollywood and Tollywood movies. The most precious gift was when he sang a very meaningful Christmas song to his mom. This particular song has a special meaning to Billy and his mom and there was not a dry eye in the house.

Our home was filled with the Christmas spirit. We are very blessed to have a missionary like Bill who loves the gospel and is serving the Lord.


I would like to thank those of you who have taken the time to write to Billy and let him know that you are thinking of him. It has meant a great deal to Billy and us as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Elders had a Thanksgiving celebration at a Marriott hotel. A couple of turkey's were flown in for the festivities. Billy said that it was wonderful! He said that the food was fantastic and that while he misses home, he feels that this is the best Thanksgiving ever because he is serving the Lord.

TURKEY BOWL!

Of course Billy wouldn't miss out on the opportunity for a good game of football. Naturally, he was the one that put a Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl together for the missionaries. Looks like they had a good time!

Another Baptism!

NEW PICTURES!!!

To keep the true essence of Billy, we decided that all this post would include is the pictures Billy sent and his hand-crafted captions. Enjoy!


This is the funniest sign I have seen in India. This place is so dirty and there is trash everywhere! I once asked a man for a trash can and he said, "Sir, you are in India, you are standing in it!" He wasn't joking, people throw trash everywhere!



You travel in a posh car... I travel in a tin can! Sometimes this automobile can get up to 30 Miles an hour, going down a very steep hill. *This is an auto. It charges by meter and the people who drive them live in them. They are very interesting people who tend to cheat people out of money. But, if he doesn't give me my change, I have been known to steal his chupples (sandals)! Just until he gives me my change that is. I always give them back! Ha ha.

Billy's First Baptism...

Fireworks, fireworks, everywhere fireworks. It was wonderful to hear from Billy. He described last night as being remarkable. He started off by asking if we remember seeing the movie, Aladdin. Specifically when Aladdin flies on the magic carpet to India and there are fireworks everywhere. Well, that is what Billy and his companion experienced last night during a celebration of Dewali that went on all night. The Elders were told to stay indoors because of the danger of all the fireworks. Billy said they all went up to the roof so they could see the huge fireworks that filled the sky. He said he has never seen such a display, and he doesn't think any other firework show would come close to this one. They felt like if they reached out, they could actually touch them and the noise level was unbelievable. The forth of July doesn't compare to this holiday. Billy said that nothing can be compared to a Devali night on the roof of a eight story building.

The work in India is very hard, but very rewarding. Members is India are so excited about the missionary work, and they dream that one day they will have a temple of their own.

Last Sunday, Billy had his first Baptism. He baptized a sister by the name of Sujatha Judke and Elder Tyler baptized her husband. They have been teaching the couple for about a month and a half and it was a so wonderful to help them make that necessary covenant with the Lord. They are a great family and are very dedicated. The Judkes travel an hour and a half by bus to get to church every Sunday. Walking to their home in dress shoes is hard on the feet, but trying to run from their home to the bus stop to catch the last bus at night is a real challenge. There is a reason that the Lord sent athletes to India. You definitely get your speed up.



It is very interesting how the Lord prepares people. As a missionary, we can tell who is prepared to receive the message and who isn't quite there yet. There are three ways you can tell if someone is prepared: (1) they know you are representatives of the Lord; (2) they keep the Commandments; and (3) they are looking for the truth, but do not know where to find it. The hard part of any mission is finding the people who are ready. Once you find them it is remarkable to see how fast they grow and how fast the spirit teaches them.

Currently, Billy and his companion are teaching a family of four.

A funny story. Billy said he realizes how hard a domestic mission would be. Last week he and Elder Tyler had the opportunity to talk with an American women who happened to live in Washington DC at one time. It was so nice to talk with someone from home. She asked why we were in India and they told her that we were serving a mission for our Church. She laughed and said to save it for someone who cares. She was quick to say that she and her husband didn't have time for this and they really don't care. After she walked away, Billy's companion asked what religion he thought she was and Billy said, "American." He said that it is so disappointing to hear and see how hard-hearted so many Americans have become. He related it to the story of Alma, when the Nephites become prideful and lived in wickedness. The Lord cannot bless one wicked son over another.

Billy loves serving the lord and is truly enjoying the people of India. Transfers are coming and he is hopeful that he will be able to remain in the same area for a while. He loves the members and he feels like he would love to have the opportunity to see the people he has been teaching commit to be baptized.

October 15, 2008 e-mail

Billy writes that things are going well. He is still with his same companion. They are working hard, they are both recovering from being sick, but they have been keeping up on the work. Apparently part of the problem with the acceptance of Christianity and the people who preach it, stems from catholic missionaries paying people to convert.

He says that India is great. “I have already felt I have changes a lot.” He doesn’t understand how people in America can complain about their living conditions. Many people live in one bedroom or smaller, and have many family members with them. He says that the people are so loving and grateful for what they have. “Family is very important and I really hope our family can stay close like that.”

He says that the environment problems here in American are minimal compared to where he is. The pollution is pretty bad, and his white shirt looks black at the end of each day. In order to dispose of trash it is burned and the smell can be difficult to take at times.

Many people chew tobacco. He says that he is taking a new approach to missionary work. “Everyone I see that is chewing or smoking I approach. Teach them about the word of wisdom and how they are polluting a gift from God. One time I even went up to a stranger as he was about to put it in his mouth and I told him to throw it away and he did.” He goes on to say, “I really think that I want to come home and be a dentist.”

They took a zone trip to Ramiji Film Studio and he said that it was a lot of fun. “It was like a very very very small Hollywood. It was nice to take a break and see something that reminds me a little of American and home.”

He appreciates the care packages he has received. His favorite thing that we sent him was the peanut butter and jelly because he can’t get it over there.

“I love it here and I love studying the scriptures. The more I study the harder I desire to work. I realize that I am an unprofitable servant and I have a lot of debt to pay for the wonderful blessings I have received in my life. I love the gospel and it has helped me grow so much.”

He says that he has been trying to work out every morning but it is so hard because at the end of the day he is so tired and his body is so sore from all of the walking. “Missionary work is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it is so rewarding. Even on very hard days I am so grateful for the blessing of being on a mission.”

“There are a lot of times I miss home and wish I was back there but I know that this is more important. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and I am so grateful for the love I feel.”

“We watched general conference last Sunday and I loved it. I learned so much. Please work hard to help with this great work and help bring this church to a unity of faith.”
With regards to the BYU football updates my dad sends Billy he says: “I loved dad’s e-mail report on the game. Man I am so happy BYU is doing great. For every door I knock BYU gains a yard. I promise to keep knocking on those doors.”