Letter #73

Dear Family, 

Today I begin the day feeling thoroughly humbled. Add to this a sleepless night and my letter getting to you early this morning and the only possible word wanting to escape your lips has to be WHY? Well, it's that time again, transfers, and this certainly has outdoozied all prior transfer madness due to the surprising and, as I said before, very humbling news that I have been called as Assistant to the President.

I begin today. That's a lot to take in especially, ya know, on a Monday. Well, there you have it, I've said it and only the coming days and weeks will tell what that portentous sentence really holds inside. . .

For now let us move on to other things. (Oh, just to clarify a little bit, this means that I will be going back to Londrina. I catch the bus this afternoon.)

Other things: We baptized a very sweet spirit this week. She is a wonderful person, a widow and made history as being the first person to pay her tithing before she was confirmed! She also walks to church and attended last night the Christmas devotional by herself. Very cool. She is the lady that last week I invited to church, calling out to her in the street and she went! Miracles large and small follow those who believe : )

Another small Christmas miracle was a grandfather of a member who is less active, I found him looking for less actives. He lives alone in a humble yet orderly house. He had been to church a few times before we invited him but this week we passed by and taught him the first lesson. He understood, was touched and accepted our invite to be baptized. We also invited him to come to the Christmas devotional Sunday night. And he went! What wonderful Christmas spirit shone in his eyes as he reverently left the sacrament hall! He stopped me, looked at me with a quiet smile and said, "You said it would be special and oh! how it was!" You could see conversion and testimony and the Spirit written into his wrinkles and parted white hair. Here was a man who after a lifetime discovered Christ where He is so easily found: in Christmas. 

Some pictures I sent are of a churrasco (BBQ) a member did for us Saturday, he is the president of the young men and a wonderful leader.

I think that's all I have to say. I'll miss Elder Arnaud. It seems my companions are staying for shorter and shorter times, but it was a great time with him and I'll never forget it, nor our zone here : )

I don't have any details on the Christmas call as I'll be leaving and the prior arrangement no longer will work.

On the young man who messaged you, he is a very cool, very special man that I interviewed this last week and was baptized on Sunday. He found the gospel through Mormon.org, and facebook and asked for a Book of Mormon. He's excellent and speaks both English and Spanish. Tell him congratulations! : )

I love you my dear family. I share with you my growing testimony that this work is true. More than that, that Christ lives. He is the master and molder of our lives and if we deliver ourselves to Him, what joy we will have we know not, what peace we know not. I love you, love you, love you : ) I know it's not Christmas yet, but I've found a part of it here, so, Merry Christmas, Feliz Natal,

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