This Book is on FIRRREEEEE

Well, to start. We had this bombbbb family that we were teaching like the mom and the son were so interested and I could truly see the gospel changing their lives. The son had committed to baptism and we were so pumped. But then one day we returned and the mom told us that her ex husband freaked a lil and said that we couldn`t teach her children anymore and ya de ya de ya.. so sad. And now all of the sudden she hates us and refuses to even look at us. And she won`t let her son come to church or anything. But sometimes we see him on the street and talk to him and this week we saw him and I was so HAPPY. I was like COMO ESTA BRIAN have you been reading the Book of Mormon and praying and you get the point. And hes like `no..... my mom threw my Book of Mormon in the fire place and told me to never even think about reading it again.` So thats my life summed up in a paragraph. Hahaha so sad.

But other than that! hahaha this week was good! We had Christmas Eve din din with one of my favorite families. The Briga family. And don`t faint as you read this Christmas miracle but..... HE MADE HUMMUS. I could have shed some tears I was so happy. He didn`t even know its my favorite thing on this planet and he made it. Like they don`t even have hummus here and he randomly made it I was like wow thanks big man upstairs. He also made my a Pumpkin Pie as big as a Large pizza from Pizza Hut. So I think I will be content until my birthday.

Also here on Christmas Eve it`s no where close to Utah haha. Kids sound asleep in there bed dreaming of sugar plums and fairies does NOT exist here. People don`t even start eating dinner on Christmas Eve until MIDNIGHT. Like no one. We above a bar and there was a party going on ALLLLLL night long. Like no rest for the angels that live above the bar hahaha. Thank goodness my mother took me to Backstreet boys concerts when I was little and let me sleep through the entire thing because now I have cholo music blasting all night everynight outside my window hahaha.

Now on a more spiritual note.

Today I have been thinking of all the little things I witness everyday to show God`s love for my and my heart is so full. It truly is the little things. For example something so simple as Hummus on Christmas Eve. It may sound like a silly thing but it truly brought so much comfort to me. Or when I was coming here on the plane and they had all of this bread and treats and nothing I could eat on a 10 hour flight and then the guy came up to me and said that some one had preordered some healthy food and had missed their flight so I could have it. Or how every single day my companion and I are directed in what we need to teach or who we need to talk to. I truly feel his hand in my life everysingle day without a doubt. And I remember when I used to hear people say this and I was like wow why do I never have any glourious experiences but what I have come to realize is that I just wasn`t looking for them. Heavenly father is simply always there. He is our biggest fan and he will never give up on us. I know this to be TRUE.

This week as I was studying in personal study I decided to read the Sacrament prayer. And I decided to make it a goal to everyweek focus on a different sentence from that prayer in sacrament meeting. I remember in young womens they would always tell us to really really focus during that time that we partake of the sacrament but all I could ever think about was eating that piece of bread hahaha. But as I have been here in the mission and have been learning more than I could have ever imagined about the Atonement I have come to realize how truly truly important the Sacrament is in our lives. I read my scriptures in spanish and english side my side everyday and this week as I decided to read the sacrament prayer I come across the word `derramar` and then I looked at it in English and I was like oh okay `shed` .... next word. But then I felt a prompting that I need to look up the definition in my Spanish-English dictionary. And it is `derramar: to spill, to scatter, to overflow, to leak` and it just opened my eyes a little bit more to the Atonement and how Jesus Christ truly SUFFERED for us. Blood was leaking and overflowing out of him. Not to make it a gory thought but I just can`t even comprehend how much love he has for us and the pain he experienced for each and everyone of us. I encourage you to take more thought of the Atonement in your life as you partake of the sacrament each week because wow.

I don`t know even close to all things in the gospel but I do know for sure that Jesus Christ suffered for me and he suffered for you. He knows us. Personally.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

And with his stripes we are healed is my favorite line eva eva eva. USE the atonement in your life my brothas and sistas. And you will never be the same. I love this gospel and this letter is like a mile long so sorry but I hope you all have the most FELIZ NAVIDAD. I love you all and remember who you are and that I love you and that I pray for you.

XOXOXOXOXO hermana Jarvis