Hudson was able to call us for about 15 minutes last night and a regular call today. They were able to get some wifi outside the library. It was spotty, but they were trying to make their contacts. He said that Christmas was good, just different. He attended several parties, was fed a lot of food, sent home with way too many leftovers and got some very nice presents.
Christmas eve was spent at the Cheatwoods and Hudson had his first tag on Facebook from a missionary stand point.
The crowd was smaller but the feeling of love was bigger than ever. So grateful for my family and for my knowledge of the Saviors birth, Gods biggest gift to the world. 
Christmas day included a gift exchange amongst the district in Columbia, TN. Hudson felt good about his puppy mug for the white elephant, until his heart was touched by the Hermanas. The Hermanas gave hand drawn Pokemon cards depicting each Elder and a handmade scarf.
Hudson then set off for the Newshams were the TV might have been broadcasting a football game. He got to hold the infamous 1925 Military grade Tommy Gun. It was loaded when Papa Newsh brought it to the front room. He told Hudson he shoots it all the time at things.
Hudson and Elder French opened the presents at their apartment Christmas night around 10 pm. I was very impressed when Hudson said he put the flannel sheets on his bed THAT VERY NIGHT, and "they felt wonderful".
Besides a short Merry Christmas message on Facebook messenger, I have not heard from Hudson. The reason seems to be a bomb that exploded in Nashville today.
With the upcoming holiday. P Day was changed from today to Christmas, which is Friday. Hudson will not send an email today.
Hudson was able to go to a mission Christmas party in Brentwood, TN. With covid restrictions they split the bottom half zones and top half zones of the mission. The bottom half zones started in the morning with some instruction. The entire mission then met in the gym to eat at the same time. They were instructed to stay at their tables as not to transmit disease. Hudson said it last about 5 minutes before everyone was milling around talking to everyone else. He saw the elder he rode by on the plain as they came in to the mission, that was fun. The mission presidency was at a table in the middle and didn't say anything to correct the happy chatter. After a great meal they all were able to to be entertained by David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheco. Hudson said it was a great concert, but a bit more subdued then he thought the Nashville Tribute Band (who he was expected to perform) would have been. After the concert the bottom half of the zones left and the top half zones stayed for instructions.
Hudson walked across the parking lot to get a picture of himself in front of the Nashvhille temple. Guess what, it is not really in Nashville.
Hudson made another trip out to the Newshams. Elder French really likes cats and mama Newsh has a doozy of one named Gracy May. The cat will not allow anyone but mama Newsh to pet her. When you try to, the cat brings up her paw and swats you away. Mama Newsh finally pinned her to the kitchen table so Elder French could pet her.
One of the first investigator Hudson was teaching in this area has resurfaced. If you remember he was supposed to come to church with the elders about a month ago. When he didn't show up the Elder's called him with no answer. They went by his house with no answer. Hudson was concerned that something had happened to him, since he lives alone. After all this time he reached out the Elders. Turns out he was ill with a blood disease and has been in the VA hospital all this time. When he became coherent he had a lot of missed calls and messages on his cell phone. He deleted them all and did not know the Elders had been so concerned about his disappearance.
Hudson was happy with the Christmas Sacrament meeting he attended today. Several familiar faces from the Cheatwood family presented music to the ward.
Hello y'all another week down in Lawrenceburg, today actually marks the first 3 months down in my mission, WaVy, exciting stuff all around. We had a big day yesterday, we had our interviews with President. At the end we were talking about future stuff and I was telling him my plan to maybe do aviation, President said he's actually friends with the CEO of southwest, so I may have an in🤷♂️ but other then that interviews went well. We believe that elder Parkin is staying in Linden, and we dont know about me or elder French.
We had kind of a cursed dinner with the
Caudles, we went to a Mexican restaurant with him and cherri, is just weird. I
feel bad but idk, I felt bad for the waitress. She wanted a water cup to take
her water, she wanted this jalapeno shrimp cocktail, with no jalapenos, where
the base is jalapeno, and then she complained it was too hot. Idk shes way
older and it was cursed. Brother caudle wrote a book about her called cherri
and me, it was reviewed in the New York times on Sunday, I guess hes a writer,
army vet, lawyer, pilot, all kinds of stuff😂
The 4 Elders went bowling!Hudson was introduced to his new favorite beverage. In Tennessee it is call "Boiled Custard". They pronounce it without the OY sound. When Hudson tells me about it, it sounds like he is saying bold custard. It seems he is picking up on new ways of speaking. He said it was about the consistency of egg nog, but it is vanilla flavored. You buy it in the dairy section at the grocery store. Hudson is enjoying showing off his goldfish attire. Thanks Aunt Maddy!
Hudson also had a Facebook invite from himself? It seems when Gordon Knapp created his Facebook account, to prepare for entering the MTC, his computer auto filled his name as Hudson Nelson. Whoops. In a stroke of good fortune Gordon was at the house when Hudson called today, and was able to have one last quick conversation before beginning the MTC on 12/16/20.
Hudson was up to his usual tricks of guessing his presents and was gracious to share a quick video with me.
Hudson has been in the mission field for a few months now and is in need of a haircut. His curly wings are showing through. Their is a member who used to cut the missionaries hair that is related to the Cheatwoods. He has made contact once, but no luck with a haircut. After speaking with his district he realizes he is not the only one suffering. A sister missionary took a free haircut from a member and now has chunks of uneven hair and a long bang hair hanging in front of her face. Hudson decided to trust Elder Parkin with an old pair of clippers to trim his sides. The result was good. Neither of them thought it was a good idea, however, to use the kitchen scissors to cut the top.
Hudson finally got to meet the notorious Lindenburg couple mama and papa Newsh. He said they were over the top of Southern Goodness. They took all four of the elders to a restaurant called Junkyard Dog in Hohenwald, TN. There was a film crew on site. The Newshams encouraged everyone to order steaks. When the check came Mama Newsh pulled an envelope of fifties out and started counting out the bill including a $50 dollar tip. She told Hudson if he did not know something to ask. She told him this would make him look smarter. Her catch phrase is "don't be dumb." Papa Newsh was having fun telling the elders what make of gun everyone was wearing on their hip as they walked in to the restaurant.
Teaching has been really good this week, we've
had a golden referral, she knows all the lessons and we just need to put her on
date next lesson. Then I "found" a girl named Lydia on Facebook, it
was a woman that Sister Wilson had been telling us about but hadn't been able
to schedule anything. Well we were able to schedule stuff and have an awesome
lesson with Sister Wilson, help is always nice! The lesson went so well that we
even.put her on date on December 20th, unfortunately that date will have to be
moved around but hopefully we can baptize in 2020!
We are in Linden again yesterday, been some
serious mon'ing if you know what I mean;)
