Feliz Navidad!!!! By the way, did you send me one more package? I checked this morning and still no mail, but we're going back later to check again because there are a bunch of trucks coming by today. The mission office's packed with packages!
Oh, yes, we did have a Christmas party/training for the mission...it was quite a treat, let me tell you. they had a talent show and there were some interesting acts. Unfortunately I left my camera in the chapel, so I didn't get it on film... but there were some really crazy things like beat-boxing and one missionary even dressed up like buddy the elf and sang a song that goes like, "I sure do like them Christmas cookies, sugah!" He was accompanied by two backflipping santas. The highlight of the whole thing, though, was when President and Sister Nieder dressed up as mr. and mrs. Claus and Sister Nieder sat on the lap of two elders in the audience...yeah, it was awkward...haha.
I'm sending you a Christmas package today. Obviously it probably won't get to you by Christmas, but it's the thought that counts, right? Haha.
You'll do so great as the Primary President! I'm so excited for you.
This week was a little difficult at first. It's really hard to set up lessons and teach with the whole Holiday season. Most of the people are either in California visiting family or sick. That's no excuse of course, but as the week went on I had to pray for the strength to keep going without feeling like a terrible missionary... I felt kind of like I was trying to so hard and Heavenly Father wasn't blessing us with success, like He was disappointed in me. Which was unfair to even let cross my mind. He puts us through hard times or rough patches so that we can be made strong, grow in faith and patience. So we kept trekking along and yesterday we had a pretty miraculous night. We had a lesson with Stefania and it was completely guided by the spirit. Sister Abernathy and I, without going in with a solid lesson plan, were totally on the same page and we ended up committing her for baptism. I love when that happens! I led up to the baptismal commitment and without doubting it or even wondering where I was going with it all, sister Abernathy extended the baptismal invitation. Moments like that, when we both are on the same page and feel prompted to hit the same points...yeah, that's when you know the spirit is just using us like puppets. She was hesitant, but we testified from the heart, to the point where I was almost in tears because I felt such an overwhelming love for Stefania and also because I could feel the spirit speaking through me. She ended the lesson by asking God in prayer if she should be baptized. We are going to set her with a specific date next time we go over. She already knows the Book of Mormon is true and everything, she is just worried of what will happen to her family. We testified a great deal of how we need to put all of our trust in Him, act on the faith and conocimiento that because He loves us, he is not going to do anything to hurt us if we do His will. It was such a cool experience. I could feel so strongly the love that Heavenly Father has for her and how much He desires her to be baptized and be that example for her family. I also shared with her the experience my recent converts from Ensign had, (Norma y Michelle Martinez.)
Then, we had a prompting to drive to the other side of our area to visit a family we had found on Sister Abernathy's first night. The Ventura-Rodriguez family. We walked up to their door and they literally just pulled up from their vacation to California. They let us in and the whole family was there. The parents (Francisco y Alma) and their 3 kids, (Patty, Sara y Heaven.) We talked to them a little bit about what our message is centered around and did a blessing contact with them. We asked them to imagine if Jesus Christ was sitting in their home, what would they ask of Him? Then out of the blue, I added, "...que ustedes necesitan en este momento" With that one added sentence to the question, the mother started crying immediately and told us about her father who is very sick. Then we went around the room and they all shared what they needed in that moment. We then said a prayer, including all of those necesidades. It was such a powerful experience because just that one extra sentence (obviously inspired by the spirit) opened something up in her. For whatever reason she needed to hear just that. It's interesting to realize that sometimes we just say things as missionaries, not always noticing that certain things that happen to come out of our mouths, are not our own. The blessings and guidance we receive are often so simple and so sneaky that if we don't listen to the people and how they react to our questions or testimony or whatever, we might not notice that the Holy Ghost just put into our mouths what to say. Heavenly Father is so aware of all of His children. I'm so blessed to have this opportunity to serve Him and see miracles happen each and everyday. Miracles that are so hidden in the details that they're almost invisible if one isn't paying attention.
I love you all very much! I wish I could express how much! Never doubt that Heavenly Father always has His eyes on you. Those days where you might feel lonely or forgotten, He's just preparing you for something greater...preparing the storm of blessings that we can only receive if we are patient and trust in Him through the hard times. I've seen that pattern time and time again throughout my mission. He gives us experiences to grow in character - opportunities to develop Christ like attributes...and if we endure it well, He pours blessings upon us!
Feliz Navidad! :)
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