Merry Christmas! We had a transfer on Sunday, December 9th. I will be staying here in Cidade Vargas for the time being with a new companion, Sister Ferres who is somewhat new to the mission field; she is awesome!
We recently found a man named Eduardo that we are hoping to baptize this coming week. He has already been to church! We will see what happens.
Remember I mentioned that we approached a young man walking home down the street in an area we were at. We haven't been able to find the boy home that was walking up the street but who knows what could happen in the future? Luis was a miracle that God sent to me for sure. I remember the first day we talked with him I had a strong feeling to talk with him while he was sitting waiting for the bus. We were able to go back to his house and teach him. Sister Melo noticed he wasn't paying much attention and asked him why. He said that he was with a lot of things in his head, he was hesitant about going to church and didn't really want to go. Sister Melo then bore powerful testimony about the Plan of Salvation/Plan of Happiness with her dad passing away at the age of ten and how the gospel changed her life. He then said without a doubt that he would go with us to church on Sunday, December 9th. On that Sunday we taught him in front of the baptismal font and committed him the date to be baptized. Also, I have never seen anyone become friends with the other youth in a ward so fast. Before we knew it, he wasn't even wanting to talk to us Sister Missionaries anymore haha. Since he doesn't live near family we had to ask for authorization of his godparents. His godfather did not want to talk with us or let him be baptized. I had a strong feeling to to leave the form with him and it would work out; the next day we got there, to the church house he had it signed by his godfather. He was baptized this past Sunday by one of the youth. The smile I saw on his face as he looked back at me after his baptism is something that I will never forget! Eduardo wasn't baptized but we were able to see lots of miracles this past two weeks.
President M. Russll Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve came to visit the mission just over two months ago. When he spoke to us as a mission he promised us if we talked with ten new people each day we would double our baptisms and we did - we doubled our baptisms this past transfer! I am doing well and am happy! This last week was great; we are talking with and working with upwards of thirty-three investigators in the Vargas area of which seventeen are progressing! I am learning and the work is progressing tons. My new companion Sister Ferres. She is really,really great! We both were able to relax Christmas Eve during the day which is pretty new for us haha and spent Christmas Eve night with a family in our ward, Claudio and Eneida - they are an awesome family. Christmas will be spent in the house of another family where we will be calling my family via Skype. Merry Christmas to each of you! I send my love to you all.
Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign—Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14; 2 Nephi 17:14).
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; 2 Nephi 19:6).
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (St. Luke 2:10,11).
The Nativity
The Christmas season is a time to celebrate the priceless gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His birth is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God and the Redeemer of all mankind.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. © 2012 by Intellectual Reserve. Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.mormon.org/Christmas)
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