Westin called on Christmas Day. It was a wonderful call and we summed up the call as this:
Things we learned from Westin’s phone call: he loves his mission, he loves the scriptures, he loves the people he’s serving, he loves Mexican rice, he has dinner appointments almost every night ( thank you sweet people in Oregon), he can read in Spanish beautifully (he read some scriptures to us), he got lots of cards and packages for Christmas (thank you to all that sent him something), he says time is flying by, he said Sister Morby (his mission president’s wife) said their voices would sound like angels to their mothers on Christmas morning (this is true).
Westin has had a great Christmas in Oregon. He said he has enjoyed singing at the Portland Temple Visitor’s Center. He had a great mission party with lots of food, fun and friendship. He told us in his e-mail today that he had roast beef and crepes for Christmas dinner.
Westin is now a facebook missionary as well. He has a facebook page devoted to missionary work. He is allowed to answer gospel questions on his page. To find his page on facebook search for: “Elder Westin Laing” He said this about facebook: “President Morby said at Zone Conference last week that we get “mobile devices” mid-January. These are designed to let us use Facebook from them, and download our Area Book and planners on them. They are to go with us from area to area, not just to stay in the area.”
Today in his e-mail he told me about a sister missionary in Johnson City TN that lost her apartment to a fire. He was concerned for her and her companion. They are ok, but just lost everything. He was very much appreciative of all of the cards and packages he received at Christmas. He was so excited to hear from former teachers and students in Renaissance from Cleveland High School.
Westin shared a video about this favorite miracle Jesus performed in the Bible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHBo7ka3YZQ&feature=share
Westin in Portland 
Hello Elder Laing, Hayden and I have the flu and not up to doing much of anything so I have spent the last hour or so reading your blog for the first time. I have to say what a spiritual uplift it was to me! I can see such growth already in such a short time. I am so very proud of you. My sister, the only other member in my family of 8 brothers and sisters who is a member of the church, also served a mission in the Portland Oregon area…many, many years ago. Your blog reminded me of the time she was there. She loved the area and the people as I can see you are coming to do also. I want you to know that I have been praying for you and for your parents. They are truly doing well though and can not talk enough about you. They are so very, very proud of you and rightly so. Even though they miss you greatly they would not ask for you to be doing anything different than what you are. So rest assured you are exactly where they want you to be! At times your mom gets teary eyed, that is well understood, and sometimes when she feels the need to have you close by she would get Hayden and hold him a bit longer and tighter than usual to help the ache of missing you but all in all she is handling you being on your mission really well. Some of the things you shared, books to read, DVDs, sites to check out etc have interested me and I want to follow up on some of them. Some I am familiar with and some I am not. I have got to say you have me wanting to do more scripture studying than what I have been doing. so I will get busy on that. I got some new books for Christmas that I want to dig into also…one in particular, Sherry Dew on women and the priesthood is one I am excited to read. Anyway, please know that the Lewis family loves you and is praying for you. L. David asks about you from time to time also. Now that I have found your blog I will be able to keep him better updated. Take care and God Bless.