Hello all! How are you?
This week was awesome for so many reasons!
There was a baptism, a Christmas Conference, and I found out that this coming
transfer I will be training a new Elder here! I will go to the mission office
tomorrow for transfers and pick him up there. I have no idea who he is or where
he’s from but it should be exciting!
This past week we had a Christmas Conference
with the entire mission which was something else. We had a huge round with all
of the missionaries singing the “12 Days of Christmas” which was really
entertaining— there were only about 20 people who actually know the song, or
even the language it is usually sung in. We separated into groups—one for each
of the 12 days—and each group had an action move that represented our
respective day. My group had Day 7—Seven Maids a Milking. When the song came
around to our part we sang and pretended we were milking cows. Odd, but I think
people understood, more or less.
Now on the most important part of the week: E´s
baptism. She is the aunt of a church member here in the ward (congregation) and
she was so spiritually prepared to hear our message and learn about the gospel
of Jesus Christ. She followed the spiritual promptings she received after
praying about the Book of Mormon and was baptized yesterday by her nephew. It
was such a neat experience. People who follow the promptings of the Spirit and
act in faith on the Lord’s promises inspire me to be better, and to want to
help others more. Awesome experience.
We also had the chance and permission today on
p-day to visit an old area of Elder Rojas´ before he goes home in six weeks.
The area is called Guararema, and it is absolutely gorgeous here. It’s in the
middle of a green, green valley and has huge trees everywhere—and has more
Christmas decorations than any other city I’ve ever seen, and it rather looks
like Stars Hollow from “The Gilmore Girls.” There’s a small little branch
(congregation) here with about 40 people, and it feels like home to me. Elder
Miranda from Guanajuato, Mexico is serving here now— we both served in São
José—and it is nice to see him again. We all went on a hike to visit a
waterfall area, then ate a huge lunch that a church member cooked for us, and
then promptly took naps.
During my personal study this week I read a bit
in Doctrine and Covenants Sections121–123, when Joseph Smith was in Liberty
Jail. The chapters are all about enduring through circumstances and hard
experiences—how we can be humble through those times. When we need motivation
because our circumstances seem too hard or challenging for us, we need only
remember the message of those scriptures that our trials are only tiny things
when compared to an eternal perspective. And as eternal beings, our trials, if
we let them, can be for our personal benefit and a blessing in the long run.
Looking for the positives and looking for humor can be blessings. And we are
promised that as we turn to God, He will be with us.
That was the week! Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will
find out who my Filho, or trainee, will be at the transfer meeting! Exciting! I
hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Elder Hughes
Also, please pass along a congrats to Troop 206
Eagles!
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