To start off, this time last week Sister Ingersoll and I were sitting here typing away, when a man pulled up beside one of our computers and asked if we could find the internet. We helped him find it and right before he left handed him a "Light the World" card. "Mormons?" he asked. "I used to study with the Mormons." He went on to tell us how he had in prison for the past thirteen years, really changed his life around, and had just gotten out four days earlier. Apparently there had been missionaries who held a Latter Day Saint service in his prison in Indiana. We set up a return appointment a little later and one of the first things he said was, "Oh, I forgot my Doctrine and Covenants!" He came to church, and invited his fiancee who has two kids and literally it was the coolest miracle of my life to see Allen carrying a small child on his hip into the chapel.
Luz, the Puerto Rican woman we have been teaching also came to church this past Sunday. She was the sweetest, and said she would definitely have to come back! Also, the Spanish group was really full in Relief Society so I had to use the headphone things to translate and I felt so fancy and like I was at the branch, and very cool. Translating is very difficult though, especially live translating. Completely butchered some people's comments. But the Lord helped, that's for sure!
We also had our famous Smith Farm Christmas activity, where all the sisters gathered together wearing Santa Hats and shuffling groups through to the different homes where there was caroling and barn dancing and hot chocolate. What joy was had. We also hosted a field trip at the Smith Farm for a group of first graders in the Palmyra school district, which is HUGE. There is some anomosity/hesitancy within the community about the sites here, but Elder Bradford finally had it approved and assured religion wouldn't be talked about. So we talked up the homes, read story books to them, and taught the barn dance from the Smith farm Christmas to them, and even more joy was had. And even though Christ's name never left our lips, Elder Bradford later said, "who you were, how you loved them, and what you showed, will do more for them than you know."
Brother Rivas continues to be amazing and always makes us treats. Word got out I loved lemon things so he made us a lemon cake. He informs us about the weather each morning, which by the way has been getting very cold. We had our first real snow of the year this week, which was fun! We still visit the Santiago family and love seeing them.
Seriously, there are so many amazing things and people and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
1. Smith Farm Christmas!
2. The Lemon Cake Brother Rivas made for us
3. Sister Guimaras and I reading to the first graders
4. Dancing in the snow with Sister Ingersoll
5. All of the lovely sisters
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