So
Wednesday we had a zone conference and it was amazing! We learned about
the Christmas inciative of the church. During this time the Church has a
new video out called "He is the Gift." Pretty much everything we are
doing as missionaries around this time of year is centered in this
video. We learned that the Church will have a big screen ad in Times
Square new york of this video and that the Church will be the only
advertiser on the homepage of youtube for an entire month starting
December 7th. I cannot describe to you how I felt as I learned about all
of this. It was such a motivation to me to see how we can spread our
message during this time of the year. I can just see the contacts
talking about it and the references coming and watching the video with
members. I literally just can`t describe how I felt when I found out
that so much of the world is going to see something so good. This video
at www.christmas.mormon.org
is a 2 minutes and 30 seconds of awesomeness. The spirit literally
enters the room instantaneously when it starts. Jesus Christ is the gift
of Christmas. I invite each and everyone of you to Discover your
Savior, Embrace your Savior and Share your Savior during this time of
the year. Share it with everyone and put in a little extra effort to
think and learn of your Savior at this time of the year. The best give
we can give anyone right now is a gift of hope and love that there is
more to this life and God has a plan for us that was made possible
through our Savior Jesus Christ.
Thursday I
got going on the Christmas music first thing. I didn`t have celebrations
to wait on to finish so I just got crackin. The Christmas music you
sent me Mom is AMAZING! Love hearing you and the Uncles sing. And that
vocal point arrangement of Emmanuel is so so so good. Definitely happy
to start ringing in the season the best I can. Elder Ortiz and I put
together the tree Mom sent me. We also found a tree in the house that
was already decorated and Grammy`s presents were put under it so that I
can open them on Christmas. Huge shout out for your package grammy!
Those snickers peanut butters are my favorite you`re amazing! I`m
excited to see what you got me for Christmas :)
Saturday
was freaking cold and rainy and I was stoked out of my mind! It was
cold and rainy in the middle of Summer! BOO YA! It really just started
to feel like Christmas to me. I was cold and wet and couldn`t be
happier. I think Elder Ortiz thought that I had lost my mind lol. But I
was just stoked to feel a little bit of Christmas right then. I don`t
think we really talked with anyone that day and we had one lesson with
Patricio who is a recent convert but I didn`t care that the day was slow
it was a stinking good day.
Sunday the Ward
spent all of third hour arguing about how to clean the building and what
not... Maybe it was a blessing that we didn`t have any investigators
show up. Patricio came though but thankfully he left early before that
meeting. Lunch was super super late and we didn`t get back to the house
until like 4:30 so we decided to forgoe language study and work till
dinner. That night we had a lesson with Alex and Carola with the video
"He is the gift." Ricardo from the ward came and he did a really good
job of being a friend to Alex and Carola. It was a short lesson but it
was powerful. I really think that they are gonna try and discover,
embrace and share the gift this Christmas.
I
hope that all of you try to do the same this Christmas. As you get into
the Spirit of Christmas I ask you to do it the right way and to do it
through Christ. He is the season. The spirit that we feel this time of
year can be felt year round as we embrace our Savior. Can you imagine if
you lived every day like you did Christmas and Christmas Eve. Taking
time to look out for others, enjoying your family, and remembering your
Savior. I will say that this Spirit is extra special at this time of the
year and it`s something very very hard to replicate all year long but I
encourage you to try. But during this time while that Spirit is around I
challenge you to share the gospel. It doesn`t have to be something
deliberate. It can just be your example. I read a quote today that I
loved. "Always live your life in such a way that those who don`t know
Christ will want to know Christ because they know you." So during this
time of year take this inciative upon yourself. As you personally
discover and embrace Christ you will begin to share him naturally
through the person that you are.
Love all of you tons,
Elder Shell
Tree that Mom sent
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