He will come again, and we shall see him!

FELIZ NATAL!!!!!! ESTOU ANIMADO DEMAIS! Wow! This will be the best Natal yet! We had a week of badly-needed rain, rising temperatures, lots of running around, and a few miracles along the way. Sadly, despite our efforts, nobody went to church. But this week, we are going to work even harder to help them! Today we are going to the city´s center (last time didn´t work out) so that Elder Sharp can withdraw money from the Western Union bank. Tomorrow, as a zone, we will have a secret santa gift exchange. Wednesday (Christmas Eve), we will dine with members in the evening, then spend the rest of the day at home (it gets pretty crazy around Christmas and New Year´s). We´ll be calling you guys to confirm the Skype stuff. Thursday (Christmas Day), we will probably sing christmas carols at the train station as a zone, we will talk with our families, and head home early (18h). Here are our investigators: Isaura - A senhora (60ish) that we are teaching. She investigated the church in the past, but was never baptized. Now, she wants to be baptized! We just have to help her quit smoking (she´s down to just one or two). Her baptism is scheduled for this Sunday. Laila - A young woman (16) who also investigated the church in the past, but stopped because the Sisters that taught her were transferred. Now, we are helping her to be baptized. But it seems like every time she is about to go to church, something happens that prevents it. We´ll have to envoke the powers of heaven to help her overcome the opposition. Her sisters, Pamela (18) and Leticia (14) are inactive members that we are trying to bring back. We have a family home evening with them tonight in a member´s home. Danila - A woman (20ish) who is a friend of Alessandra, a recent convert. She feels that the Church is true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that baptism is essential. We just need to help her to keep the Word of Wisdom, and also to go to sacrament meeting. Zoolaide - A single mom (35ish) who we met through her neighbor, Rosemere, an active member She has three sons, Carlos Eduardo (15) and Carlos Augusto (15), who are twins, and Carlos Henrique.(12). We taught her the Restoration in a very spiritual lesson, and now she wants to come to church. Damiana - (35ish) Another of Alessandra´s friends. She´s pregnant and very interested in being baptized. She has already given up drinking, and we are following up with her on not drinking coffee. The only problem is that she isn´t legally married to her husband, Gildasco. We are working with them to gain a testimony and be legally married so that they can be baptized. Flavio - He´s Junior´s (a less active we helped reactivate in Palmares) father. He and his wife, Adelia, and thier grown children, Levi and Natalia and Daniel are all inactive. We are trying to help them to come back to activity in the church, especially in this time when the ward is in such great need of them I know that Jesus Christ lives, and I have seen Him not only in my life and the lives of my friends and family and companions, but also in the lives of those whom we teach. I have met Him in my afflictions and appreciate His Atonement so much more now that I have tasted (in just a very small portion) of the suffering He went through for me, because He loves me. I know that He is our Heavenly Father´s Only Begotten and perfect Son. I know that this is His Church, and that I am His missionary and representative. He is the Jehovah of old and the Messiah who came. He is my Older Brother, my Redeemer, my Lord and my King. He is the Gift sent from our Pai Celestial. He will come again and we shall see Him. I testify of this in His name, Jesus Christ. Amen. I love you guys! Have a great Christmas Eve! --