California Fresno Mission May 2013 to November 2014

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Semana 25 en Ceres -- Feliz Navidad!!!!

Querida Familia y amigos --
"I'm dreaming of a White Christmas..."   but more on that later......
           This week we taught quite a few lessons, but we also go to go caroling! On Monday, we had a great lesson with V and J. We talked about the importance of family unity and made a wreath out of their hands and we connected them all with a red ribbon that symbolized Christ. We also had a lesson with J and L and with their children! I love this family so much! They are so wonderful! I hope and pray that they can be sealed as a family.
          Tuesday, we had a language study with the other hermanas. We love studying with the other hermanas because we can help each other better understand the grammatical concepts of Spanish. I have been so thankful for the background that I have had with French. It has made learning the grammatical part of Spanish a lot easier. We also went caroling with the ward missionaries and the ward mission leader. The members and the investigators love it!
           Wednesday we had a wonderful lesson with a new investigator named Y. She is from Peru and she wants to be baptized and share this message with her family as well. Unfortunately, she is going to be out of town for the Christmas holidays. We are excited to see her again after Christmas! As we were doing harvest blessings we talked to a wonderful family that was kind of having a hard time. As we left a blessing upon their home the mother began to cry and told us that for the first time she felt at peace about what was going on. How wonderful the Holy Ghost is! I know that He can bring peace to our souls.
 Thursday, had a wonderful harvest blessing hour! We talked to a ton of people, sang some Christmas hymns while tracting. We also went and talked to a family that we met while in Walmart on Preparation Day. He has talked to missionaries before and his wife was so welcoming. She seems very prepared! I can't wait to see them after Christmas.
 Friday, we has a great lesson with V and J--we played scriptural Pictionary--the little girls loved it! Then, we got a miracle phone call--it was V! She said she and J wanted J to be baptized on Sunday! We were so excited!! We also had a wonderful lesson with S in a member's home--we watched the Restoration with her and she believes it to be true. Now, we just need her to come to church. We also received a new investigator--A. She is a friend of a member in our ward and we taught a lesson about Faith and got to know her. We have a lesson this week with her and are very excited to help her and her family feel more unity through the Gospel. We also went caroling again with the other missionaries.
 Saturday, was a great day! We had the branch activity and everyone came. We had tamales and atole and arroz con leche. Yum!  S, J and L, V and F and J all came. Hna W and I sang "O Holy Night" --it was a special request from the branch. We also got to go see El Salvador del Mundo (Savior of the World-- a musical production that church members put on) again because we had investigators that wanted to go see it. I love this production! We have seen many miracles because the Spirit that was there touched the hearts of many people.
 Sunday, was a miraculous day! Here is where the "dreaming of a White Christmas" comes in..... Christmas came early this year in Ceres! The white was not of snow, but of covenant and of purity. J was baptized yesterday. She was all dressed in white and was so happy and excited! Her uncle baptized her.  This was the highlight of the week! That, and almost all of her family (the familia R) came to church! We were so excited! Almost the entire capilla (chapel) was filled!
 I love this work! I love this gospel! How marvelous it is that we have a Savior that was born to be our Example and our Redeemer.  I love the words of Isaiah at this Christmas time, "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, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (2 Nephi 19:6). I know that Jesus Christ, the Babe that was born in Bethlehem so many years ago is our Savior and Redeemer! I know that through Him we can return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father and our families forever. What a wonderful time of year to celebrate this gift that our loving Heavenly Father has given us!
                Love you all so much! I hope you have a very blessed Christmas! 
 Los quiero mucho! Feliz Navidad!
Hermana VanWie

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