Šťastný nový rok!!

(that means "Happy New Year")I hope all of you had a great News Years! I LOVED the pictures you emailed me. Made me feel like I was there. I've forgotten that you can still get away with shorts and a t-shirt down there this time of year while I am wearing a big winter coat+scarf+thermals. But in actuality, it hasn't been that bad. It's been a warm winter--hardly any snow. Last I remember it snowing everyday, all day. I think Elder McClellan brought his Las Vegas weather with him. I'm sure you're all wondering what missionaries do on New Years. We had to be inside by 6. And then Elder Tomlinson and I made our version of "Christmas dinner". Just turkey legs and broiled vegetables. It was actually pretty good. And then we went to sleep. I took some Advil PM so I wouldn't be woken up by the fireworks. We had church in the morning, vieš! Every week has been a little interesting so far. This week, the teenage girl I assigned a talk refused to give it after I announced it from the podium. I announced her as the next speaker and you just hear, "Ale nie!!" Just as I thought I had them all under control. So we ended sacrament meeting a little early... Because the week between Christmas and New Years is slow for missionary work the mission home gave us some activities to do throughout the week. We had "service day" that was spent in the building cleaning everything. The primary room is finally (almost) organized with only one more cabinet to got. We hung the pictures back up and the building is looking like a real church building now. We're just waiting on more artwork to arrive. I want to start giving "tours" of the building-- but it's literally like three rooms.You missionaries with Stake and Ward buildings have no idea how lucky you are. On Wednesday we had "District Day" so the Trencin elders came and we made a little street display. Got a couple sweet potentials that we're going to try to meet with this week. And we finished the week with Specialized Training. President Irwin spent his part of the program talking about the councils of the church and how they ought to be working in the branches. Incredibly applicable to me as I am the one that is supposed to hold branch councils. So now I have a better idea of what we need to see come out of those councils. Before I looked at them as almost a waste of time (and they are for missionaries) but I know that as I utilize councils the way the Lord intends them to be used our little branch will be ready to grow and take care of a bunch of new members! 2012 is going to be great in Zilina! This week is the last week of the transfer which means that I won't be emailing until Wednesday and that this week is Tyžden žiadneho strahu!!! (NO FEAR WEEK) You remember Elder Bodily and Elder McGowan's "No Fear Week"? Everyone does. Well we are going to have our own and take this last chance to really make our area look like an area with missionaries in it. Wish us luck! Well family, I love you and miss you, and I'll talk to you on Wednesday! Elder Williams