THIS WEEKS EMAILS

Her new comp on the left
FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!

I seriously can’t believe it is Christmas week. Probably because I am sweating like a pig and the only time we hear Christmas songs is in our house if we are lucky and the CD player works (thank you Whitney, my comp almost started to cry she was so happy to see that I got a Christmas CD!). Christmas is just very different around here. They do have little trees that some people put up in their houses but about 1 in every 500 house have Christmas lights.
BUT this may be the BEST Christmas ever…why? Because my nephew will soon be sealed to his family, my family, for time and all eternity. My dad has finally been blessed with a good job after many months of fasting and prayer. My little sister is stronger then ever in her testimony. My brother Brandon is doing well in his work and I am assume well with his new wife (she is winning points with me with the fun little packages ;). And I think my new nephew is alive and strong but its been a while since I have heard from the Stevo side…I guess its pay back for all the letters I didn’t write him J. And I get to be a missionary with one of the coolest, hippest brothers in the world! LIFE IS GOOD.
AND we had three baptismal interviews this week and they all passed, Omar has to get a second interview for something in the past but we are pretty confident its going to be fine. He has almost completely stopped smoking, in the past three days he only smoked half of one which is a huge step for him. He and Victor accepted to get baptized on the 30 even though they did not want to at first. And little Gabby is going strong. She is 9 from a HUGE family of members, some active some not. But she has the support and completely understands when she needs to do. So we are totally stoked, going to start the new year off good.
So many blessings, but I would lie if I said that this Christmas week has been the Best Week Ever (good show VH1). It is tough knowing its Christmas but not really feeling it, it just isn’t the same here. Instead of dwelling on the differences we decided to get out and sing for the people. We have been going house to house singing and sharing a short message for Christ. The people have been super receptive and it has been a good reminder to me what Christmas really is all about. And even though I am feeling a little sad that I don’t get to be with my family on Christmas I know that I am apart of something much more important right now. Bringing the message of our Savoir to other families. Yesterday we taught a family that just lost their dad one month ago (he was stabbed right in front of their house) and I felt so happy to be able to share with them a little message of hope.
I hope that we can all remember the real meaning of Christmas this year. To celebrate the birth of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ.
I Love you ALL!!
KEEP THE FAITH





Wow so lots of stuff to talk about. First of all im writing now because i got changed! Totally unexpected. My comp had more time than me in my area and he was expecting to leave, but we got the changes and it was me. Its been tough because one family is getting married today(!) so that they can be baptized on saturday, and their kids cried when i left because the oldest wanted me to baptize him. ANd another family of 5 is getting baptized in two weeks, but the Lords will is what we follow. I may have been a little shocked, but i know the Lord has plans for me her. i am in Poza Rica area Totolapa with elder Alvarez he only has one change in the mish so hes really new. But it should be great here. Christmas in a brand new area and everything should be interesting. I get to talk on Christmas for 45 minutes, but it will be great to talk to the fam, even Tyson!! Hopefully we can work this out to be able to talk to bree. Well also on wednesday last week we had a baptism of Hermano Villalobos who had been an investigator of 10 years! And he was the only one who wasnt a member, but now they have got the goal to go to the temple!! I love it. Its just so awesome being a missionary. Its the best calling in the world. Man time is just going by soo fast. I love Christmas! This time of year is so marvelous, even though im sweating. I hope you all have a merry merry Christmas!!
Feliz Navidad
Elder REdfern