Festival of Lights

Is the Branch President in Wesley's baptism picture?

Yes, I think. He's Japanese.

How big are the spiders there?

In the house, they're the normal size. In the forest, they're the size of your fist. :)

-------

Marathon is defined as a long-distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles and 385 yards. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that this week was the very same. Beyond the fact that we probably walked as much this week, we were doing a lot of hurried work to obtain our goals in the little time that we had. 

In this season, the spirit of Christmas is starting to penetrate the mission. Many people animated to find the families that are more open to the spirit this season, and others more animated about speaking to their own family. That, and we have a lot of activities. This week, for example, we had our Christmas Mission Conference where everyone in the mission unites, share their sad excuses for theatrical presentations, bear their testimonies, and take a look back on the events of the whole year. This time it was really good, and powerful. Even better than that, it seems more areas came prepared for their presentations than last year. :) However, it took out a whole day of work, so there is little more to do than put your shoulder to the wheel.

This week we were blessed, though, with one more baptism. Bernardo is a friend of one of our other recent converts. We started teaching him when he arrived one day during one of the discussions. When we saw him ready to return later, we invited him to participate, and we gave him a Book of Mormon. Since then, he's been even stronger and more spiritual than his friend, reading every day, praying every lesson (even asking to do so) and animated to do everything the Lord asks of him. When we invited him to be baptized, he didn't wait a second before he shouted, "I want it to be in the lake!" :D No objections there!

This goes to show a few things. One, there are bright pearls among the worst of people;two, that there are always people being prepared of God; and three, we must give everyone an opportunity to hear the Gospel, because we never know where we'll find them.

Yesterday, we went to sleep to the sound of fireworks bursting in the sky, celebrating the birth of our savior, and this wonderful season. Too bad we don't have fireworks at home. :)

 

ELDER ANGUS

Word of the week:

Fogos (foh-gohs) Meaning "fires," or in this case, fireworks.

Photos:

-Baptism of Bernardo

-Lake Peixoto (pay-SHOW-two) Where we did the last two baptisms.