FELIZ NAVIDAD!

This week was a little interesting because the companionship in our house has been fighting. We did divisions twice this week. It is really stressful being a missionary, and Hermana Puac is really feeling it right now. We got permission from the President, well I should say my companion and the other Hermana got permission and after I found out not knowing before hand their plans. It was an interesting day, all I did was listen to all her problems...and Heaven forbid that I give advise! I almost got my head chewed off. But we taught lots off lessons which was really good. After the day ended we thought that Hermana Puac would be okay, but we were wrong. In the morning she desperately wanted to go home, which was really sad. Eventually they ended up in the Mission office talking to President. I believe that helped them a TON! It is sad that they were letting little things bug them and bring them further from the Spirit. So that was the drama this week. I am so grateful for my companion and that we get along. It is so much easier to teach with the Spirit when you have companion unity.

Remember that one family who saved us from the rain? Well we went back to visit them, and boy do they like to feed us! We ate dulce tarte, which is just a sweet bread, and soda, and everything else they would shove at us. They also gave us a bag full of mango's, which is awesome!!! I Love mango's! Here is mango season so pretty much every tree has mango's! They are a little different, but delicious! We are going to celebrate the husbands birthday with them on the 27 and teach them a lesson. The people here are great!!!

Friday we had our zone choir, which turned out really great. We all met at a public park, all dressed in red and green and white. They had a short movie about Christ's life playing and narration in between each of our songs. There were a lot more people that came than I thought.

Saturday we had our FIRST BAPTISM!!!!!! We made banana bread in the morning and after went to check if we had water in the church. We checked the font and I was shocked!!! There were these GIANT spiders floating in the font. And I mean GIANT spiders!!!! UGH... and all sorts of bugs in the water. We had to wait for the other Hermanas to come and show us how to drain the water. Unfortunately it was not working very well so we grabbed buckets and poured the water in the toilets. It took HOURS!!!! But luckily it was all prepared in time for the baptism. Jorge was so excited, and we took a ton of pictures! His uncle was super excited as well, because he had the wonderful opportunity to baptize his nephew. A few of the members came, and gave wonderful talks. When Jorge came up from the water I felt the spirit so strong, and felt such a strong love for this Gospel! Everyone in the room had huge grins on their faces. The next day he was confirmed, and yet again I could feel the Spirit. Later on Sunday we brought him to a lesson with us, and he bore his testimony. He testified how the Gospel has changed his life, and he notices the difference. I know the Lord prepared him for baptism and really does love and thing of ALL his children. Jorge can't wait to be a missionary in 2-3 years!

So Christmas here will pretty much be just like every other day. On Christmas eve we have 2 invitations to visit their houses. One is a members house, and the other is our investigators house! Other than that it will be a normal day. Christmas here is really different. Everyone paints their houses crazy bright colors, but mostly lime green! and everyone gets new clothes and EVERYONE has nativity scenes in their yards and in their houses. On Christmas everyone makes a ton of food, but it is the traditional food of Paraguay, like sopa paraguaya, chipa, ensalada de frutas,{fruit salad} and other foods. You guys will have to look them up. Then I believe New Years will be big here, and there probably will be a lot of drunk people. We will have to see. It is 90 degrees... or higher... everyday and night. It's awesome!!!! {sarcastic} But it's all good, we just keep doing what we do best.

Well I love you all so much, and wish you a Merry Christmas! I think about you always, and feel your love and support! Stay warm!

Love, Hermana Sanders

 

Paraguay Asuncion North Mission