La Navidad

My first Christmas in the mission has come and gone. It was actually quite bizarre because to me, well, Christmas isn't Christmas without snow, a giant tree, our family traditions and everything else I associate with the season. However, this Christmas I did focus more on the birth of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I have been depending a lot more on Him for strength, help, direction, etc. so I figured that I would focus more on everything hHe has done for me. I am most expecially grateful for the ability that I have, through the gift of the Atonement, to have a Forever Family. I know that through Him my family and I can be made united throughout the eternities as well as my own family that I will have in the future. I know that the Atonement is real, and through some of the experiences that I've been blessed with on my mission I have come to understand a little bit more of our responsibility to our Saviour, how He thinks about our sins, and how He intercedes with the Father on our behalf.

So Christmas here is celebrated a little bit differently than we celebrate it in the states. Here, at about 10 p.m. families eat a big dinner with a stuffed pork, chicken, salads, etc. At midnight they throw firecrackers and have giant fireworks all over the place. It is very interesting and seemed pretty symbolic to me: first, eating outside as if there were no room in the house, second, with all the fireworks it seems as if the people here are re-fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah (the night shall be as day...and there shall be a new star in the heavens). Also, side note, sparklers in spanish are called "estrellitas", in other words, little stars. Cool, huh? 

My companion and I are working harder and this week  we're really going to try and find 5 new awesome families to teach and help prepare for baptism. I have been struggling to find new families that I think might progress and this week I dropped my only progressing family (sad, but had to be done). I am starting to see the blessings of my faith in my area, as the branch is becoming more united, there are lots of people getting reactivated and the members are working more with us. I am starting to feel a hange in the brach and I'm seeing a change in my companion, I think that he is starting to really love the people here again. 

I want you all to know that I love the members of my district and that I love my companion. The Lord may be trying me, and it may seem rather difficult at this time, yet I have faith that miracles are going to happen here in this change. I am grateful that I have this opportunity to help the Lord change the lives of not only my investigators, but the lives of these fantastic missionaries as well. Also, it does help me to know that I have all of you at home rooting for me, praying for my success and trying to help in whatever way possible. After reading mom's email I realized something, I get so worried about my "numbers" sometimes, but in reality the things I'm doing right now won't really reflect in "numbers" per se. I know that what I am doing is important and I know that I can work miracles here in Managua.

I love you all so much. P.S. Does anyone know how I can get my hands on a copy of that cut-out diagram of the Plan of Salvation (mom, like the one that you use in seminary), but in Spanish?

Love, Elder B