First Christmas in the Mission Field (Week 18)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY 2016! :D

What a lovely week it has been over here in Cidade Nova, Itu, São Paulo, Brazil. The weeks leading up to Christmas I thought it would've been strange to have a hot Christmas outside of home and far from the family and... it was strange nevertheless it was very special and a week I will never forget. :)

So this week began with the Mission Christmas Conference on the 23rd. Me and Elder Yegros almost came in late because we were trying to buy a Secret Santa present. I panicked and bought pencils, a pencil case and some sweets which all went well over my 10R$ budget. :P Anyways, the fireside at the beginning was super special. An Elder with a super deep voice narrated the nativity whilst in the middle of the scriptures the whole mission sang the carols. The spirit was incredible in that room and my testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ was strengthened and nurtured. I finally began feeling the Christmas spirit after feeling it was missing in the streets here in our area. Sister Farnes shared the following story called Mary's Dream which made me reflect on how I view and celebrate Christmas:

I had a dream, Joseph, I don't understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren't for our Son. They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They'd decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful. Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son. I don't think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn't it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate someone's birthday if they don't know Him? I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration He would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus -not to be wanted at His own birthday celebration. I'm glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real.

Sister Farnes then invited us to write on a piece of paper what gifts we would give to Jesus Christ this Christmas and in the new year, It was a peaceful moment of reflecting our spirituality and dedication to the Lord.

Afterwards we had the infamous Mission Christmas Picture. It was hilarious trying to get everyone to fit and so on but in the end we managed. I still haven't seen the picture but I'm sure my family have. Let's play a game of "Where's Elder Torres?" ;)

(KATY COULDN'T FIND MISSION CHRISTMAS PICTURE!)

I gave a drawing I had been working on to President Farnes and his family. Elder Yegros had the idea to draw them walking on the water and it turned out great. They loved the picture and I was glad to give something back to this wonderful family who gives everything to help all these missionaries in São Paulo North. :)

The talent show was hilarious and each zone of the mission did a little play showing missionary life. They were all very OTT but funny, very funny. :P The secret santa was a disaster, haha, the Elder who received my pencils (pencils, oh dear, why did I buy pencils?) was begging the Sisters to swap with him. Haha, epic fail. :'D

After the Conference we returned home to our areas full of the Christmas spirit. On Christmas Eve we were a bit downhearted as no one wanted to receive us. We decided to visit Vinicius our recent convert. We only found his grandmother who was home alone. Her daughters had left her and she was at home with her drunk son and husband. She was devastated and felt very lonely. I am glad we came at the right time to give her some comforting words. We sang "Silent Night" and read a few scriptures. With tears in her eyes she thanked us for coming. We then visited a member who lost their 18 year-old son about 4 months ago. We got there and shared with them Luke 2 and sang "Angels We Have Heard on High". We shared with them out testimony that they would one day hug their soon once more and that they had to rejoice for a Saviour was born. Speaking through tears, this sister said that before we had arrived she was crying of sadness, praying to God for help. Now she was crying of joy and hope and said we were angels that came in the time when she needed it most. It was an amazingly spiritual experience to go and care for the needy this Christmas, just what Christ would have been doing if He was walking among us today.

The dinner on Christmas Eve was at Bishop Arias' house and we began singing hymns and reading scriptures of Jesus. The spirit was lovely and the food was yum! :D

Christmas Day was the best, we had a humble lunch at a family's house but as my parents have always taught me: it's not the size of the house or the plate, but yes the size of the heart that matters. They're heart is massive and they tried their hardest to please us on this special day. Then we went to Irmã Silvania's house to SKYPE WITH THE FAMILY!!!

It was so great to speak with you guys and see all your beautiful faces. I'm happy to see you so happy and healthy. I love you all, til Mother's Day! :D

Sunday was one of the most incredible days of my mission so far... We had the baptism of Gislaine and Daniele. Gislaine has been going to church for MONTHS now and was only waiting to get married to be baptised. She knows a lot already and I am excited for her new journey as a member of the church. Daniele is Jeferson, Jean, Julio and Jakson's cousin and accepted our baptismal invitation and learnt everything super quick and enthusiastically. What a wonderful Christmas gift to help someone take part in a saving ordinance. :)

After lunch, we visited all the people who I and my companions had helped to be baptised. It was a bittersweet experience. The most special moment was when I said goodbye to Fernando, the 9 year old boy I baptised in my first transfer. He was visibly upset so I grabbed a piece of paper and we began drawing together.

He drew a picture of me and him hugging and I will treasure it forever! He began crying when I was about to leave but he promised he would go to church every week and help his family do the same. It moments like those that make all the hard work worth it, changing someone's life through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am now being transferred to work in the Mission Office and am excited for this new calling. I will let you all now how it goes!

I love you all and speak to you in 2016! :D

Lots of love,

Elder Torres