December 29, 2015

Summary:
What a great week of Navidad! It was so great to see the family on Skype! Family is really what it's all about.

The week was full of fun events such as caroling, Christmas dinner with a less-active family, and a Christmas deviotional with all the missionaries from the whole Santiago East mission. There are some missionaries with incredible musical talents and we were able to hear some beautiful songs. It inspired me to really think more deeply about all that happened before Christ´s birth, as well as afterward. We were also able to share the Ha Nacido Un Salvador in many different homes this past week and it truly brings a beautiful spirit.

Rosita went to church! We're planning to go to the temple this weekend and do baptisms for the dead for her parents! We also met a family that are less-active members of the church and they have been wanting to get back to the iron rod. Their names are Leonel and Susana and their two sons Leon and Santiago. I don't think I've met a less-active family so desirous to go back to the church in my whole mission! We had a lesson with them yesterday and say that we'll see them in church on Sunday.

Spiritual Experience:
My companion and I were able to teach part of Zone Class yesterday. We talked about using our own individual talents and strengths to bring to pass the work of Salvation. It made me think of the process of calling missionaries. It's not a random raffle, but an inspired calling from God through the first presidency of His church. One day, I was talking with Presidente Morgan and he asked me what my nametag says. I started to say, "The Church of Jesus Christ of..." He cut me off and said, "They all say that. What else does it say?" I looked at it and said, "Hermana Martin." "Exactly. It doesn't say 'Generic Missionary.' Use the strengths that God has given to Hermana Martin."

Funny:
On Christmas Eve, we ate dinner with a less-active family. The wife was setting the table and wanted a certain candle that was shaped like a reindeer to set in the middle. She says to her husband, "Carlos, go get me the reindeer decoration from the other room." Carlos went to look for it and came back with a reindeer decoration, but it was the wrong one. She's all, "No, it's not that one. Try again." He left again and brought another one that was wrong again. She's all, "Are you serious, Carlos? Try again." He left again and brought the wrong one again. Ingrid's all, "Oh my gosh how many reindeer decorations do we have?!" Haha we were laughing so hard.