Christmas Zone Conference.

This past Tuesday we had a family night with Rafael, one of our recent converts and Sandro, our eternal investigator haha. We went to the house of two members Claudio and Eneida. They have to be the cutest family I have ever seen. They both helped give the lesson and all felt the Spirit of Heavenly Father during the lesson. We had to leave because it was almost nine o'clock at night. We got up to leave and Rafael was still sitting in a chair. We didn't know what to do because he didn't want to leave. Claudio said that he could stay and come to find out he stayed till 10:30 talking with Claudio and Eneida. On Sunday when Rafael was confirmed, Eneida gave him a big hug. He said before baptism he didn't like suits and wasn't going to wear one to Church. We said that wasn't a problem. Needless to say he was in a suit on Sunday at church with the Book of Mormon we gave him in his hand! What a neat thing to see.

This past Saturday we checked on a referral given to us from one of the youth in one of the wards here in Vargas. He said that this young man had been to church once before, yet felt like he needed another visit. We went to the address given to us. A woman that came out said that nobody lived there with that name. In the distance I saw a young man coming up the side of the road and had a thought come to me that it was the young man we were trying to visit. We stopped him and sure enough it was him. We challenged him to come to church this coming Sunday. We hope he will be able to attend.

Recently, we found a young man named Luis. He had recently lost his mom. He invited us to enter his house so that we could leave a message. He lives with only his sister that is seventeen years old. He is very mature for being only sixteen. He is looking for the peace that comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were both giving the Restoration as our lesson. A moment later, Sister Melo noticed he wasn't paying attention. She stopped the lesson and began to share her testimony and talk about how she lost her father when she was young. We then said, "Will you go to church with us this coming Sunday?" Earlier he had some doubt but after she shared her testimony he said "yes" without doubt or hesitation. He went to Church this past Sunday with us! I have never seen a teenager gain friendship with the youth so fast. We are hoping to baptize him this week!

The past zone conference was the best! Also, we had a talent show and ate a bunch of wonderful food (too much). The best part was visiting with the other missionaries, my friends that I love! The mission office secretaries made a video of all of the missionaries families saying Merry Christmas that was shown at the zone conference! Thanks to my family for sending one. I loved it and cried a little haha - I know you all hate to be in videos! I got a nice Christmas package from my family. I have already opened everything early haha, I couldn't help it. I loved every bit of it, especially the cards and notes from many back home. It means more than you all will ever know and gives me a lot of strength!

(L to R) Sister Arruda, Sister Melo, Sister Smart at a mission zone conference.

We stayed in trio for only three days with Sister Arruda. She then went to stay with another sister but it was good for the three days. We are still doing the Christmas choir going around to the stakes to sing. Yesterday we were in Piratininga, Brazil - northwest of São Paulo. Here in the near future, the mission office staff is helping create a new Christmas video - watch for me singing in that one. I can not wait to here from my family on Christmas day via a Skype call.  My English should be a ton of fun to try and understand. Merry Christmas!