DICEMBRE

Happy December Everyone :) it's still unreal to me that we were able
to start our advents yesterday...but also so happy because Christmas
is my favorite time of year! Especially as a missionary. There is just
a special spirit, magic, in the air and everyone is more open and
receptive. We also have the incredible opportunity to have the church
initiatives. This year's video "A Savior is Born" is so different yet
so powerful. The first time we watched it at the last zone conference
my first thought was that it wasn't super "Christmasy" but then as I
watched it for the second time and have continued to watch it - it is
incredible. The simple message of the Savior's birth coming from the
mouth of children. I love too that even though Jesus Christ has so
many names they focused on Savior. And as you go to
Christmas.mormon.org there is another video talking about what if we
didn't have a Savior? We ALL need the saving grace of our brother
Jesus Christ. Such a special gift we can celebrate every day and
especially during Christmas.

I chose my ponderize scripture for this week to go along with the the
Christmas mood. It's in Isaiah 9:6 "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."

This week was a pretty normal week of seeing people we usually see,
but as always a few miracles occurred. Also I know I've mentioned it
before but I just love the people here in Stamford so much. Eating
dinner with members like Hermana Arenas or Hermana Garcia just make me
feel so at home and happy. They are just incredible example of
magnifying callings and Christlike love. Also they're incredible
cooks. And we got to help Hermana Garcia with some of her Christmas
decorations which was so so happy. I loved it. Christmas is just the
best.

We also met for the first time with what we call and "Eternigator"
this week. Her name is Marie and she has a lot of member friends and
has been visited by missionaries and been coming to church for the
past 8-10 years but still hasn't been baptized and everything hasn't
really clicked yet. It was and interesting lesson and hopefully we'll
meet with her again and in time she'll be able to come to know the
truthfulness of our message.

Sunday night we had an awesome Noche de Hogar with our Barrio all
about testimonies. It was so good. And after we had some time before
we needed to go home for the night so we went to lookup a less active,
Magnolia, she let us in and told us her sister who isn't a member was
coming over too! So we waited a minute and then were able to teach
both of them. We showed them the new Christmas video and read from El
Libro de Mormon. It was so special, and she seemed sincerely
interested in learning more about her sisters religion so hopefully
they will both be at church this week! Gotta love last minute member
present lessons and new investigators on Sunday night.

Friday night too we were trying to do some lookups and couldn't find
parking, but we got to this one lookup and there was a spot right in
front of house. Perfect! But then they weren't home. So we knocked the
door next to them and Teresa answered! She let us in, we shared last
year's Christmas video and talked about the Book of Mormon. She was so
excited and said she's heard of our church but didn't know anything
and sincerely wanted to read the Book of Mormon. So incredible. I have
such a strong testimony of God's timing.

Also! Do you has remember Stevie and Adelyse in Monticello?? They're
getting baptized on Saturday and even though I won't be there it just
makes me so so so happy. It's such a blessing whenever we get to see
lives change as missionaries, even after we've left areas :)

I hope everyone has the best first week of December, eat a few
chocolates in your advent calendar, and just be happy realizing that
it's CHRISTMAS and a Savior truly was born for each of us.

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart