Merry Christmas to everyone, and I hope the holiday season is treating you well! It certainly is for me, though as predicted we weren't as busy as usual, and so there's not too much to say for this week. That being said, it was still a great one and we got some good stuff done.
Much of the day to day was filled with hours of shoveling snow, visiting families the Bishops had referred us to stop by and see either for helping them out or asking about Hispanic families or friends they might have for us to teach. Elder Rivera has also been scoring a lot of lessons on Facebook, and though I have had not nearly as many, in the more down times or while waiting for people to respond I've been practicing Christmas carols on the piano. I now have a handful of carols down and was able to play piano for District Training Meeting this week. I hope to keep up the habit, and perhaps in time I'll have a belt full of hymns to choose from. In the spirit of service I'd also like to mention me and Elder Rivera's amazing hot chocolate creation we made for the district at that meeting, which was enough to fill 10 missionaries with leftovers.
In terms of lessons, of the few that we had, many were actually canceled or postponed due to holiday festivities. No hard feelings there though, we went to a few of our own festivities! We got to see many Christmas programs and parties this week, and I must say it has worked wonderfully in bringing the spirit of Christmas into this valley. No where else do I receive a warmer reception to saying goodbye with a "Merry Christmas!" The carols seem to be showing up everywhere now and the snow just makes it all the better. It really is the most wonderful time of the year, and it's so fun being a missionary in the middle of all of it!
But once again, this week's highlight was a baptism! This time for Toree Coleman. Having taught her from the first lesson several weeks ago, I'll be the first to say that Toree is a prepared person. Genuinely seeking a way to better her life and put behind her anything that'd hold her back. In spite of a rough past and a Catholic mother that did not want to have her last daughter to be baptized like her two older siblings before her, Toree chose to fully embrace the gospel and its teachings, repenting, changing, and preparing for baptism. She was baptized by her father, who had been making great efforts of his own to be prepared to perform the ordinance. I was able to be a witness with Elder Rivera for the baptism. As I could see her face under the water, eyes closed and face content, I could feel the spirit testify to me of the power and cleansing of this divine ordinance. This will have a huge impact not only in Toree's life, but also in her family's and her many friends' lives. I feel so honored to have been a part of it and an instrument in the hands of The Lord. She was confirmed yesterday by her brother, who also had made his own efforts to be prepared for the blessing. What better than the gift of the Holy Ghost for Christmas?
Well, that's about all I got here, as short as it feels. Merry Christmas to you all, and may your days be Merry and Bright!
-Elder Martin
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