Sister Sarah Elizabeth Crofts: Week 15, Imbituba

Feliz Natal!

Can´t believe that tomorrow is Natal! It definitely feels like a different type of Christmas here. Not many decorations, HOT weather, and none of the other Christmasy things that I am used to. BUT the spirit of CHRISTmas is still strong, and it has been fun to share ways we can become closer to Christ during this time of year.

Highlights:

-We went to FLORIPA for Pday, got to shop, explore, eat Acai, and Mexican food!

-The next day we had Christmas conference with our whole mission! It was way fun to see everyone, and to celebrate Christ’s birth together as a mission.

-We have a wonderful investigator named Marlene . This week we were reading the Book of Mormon with her ans I felt the spirit so strong, she started crying and said, Î know this is true.” There are never sweeter words said.

-So summer here means hot and humid and wet during the day and huge summer storms with tons of lightning and thunder and pouring rain EVERY night. I am getting used to being soaked at this point. We have had many a nights running with lighting flashing super close all around us.

-We do have saving angels (random people) who every once and a while give us a ride when we are in desperate need during the storm.

-LUIZ! He is doing great, still getting over smoking, but we are still maybe on for the 29^th for his Baptism! He has such a good testimony of the gospel, and has been so prepared by God! I love how eager he is to read the scriptures and pray. Ah it is the best! Here are some funny Luiz quotes from this week:

-“I like Americans, they are a simple people, going to the Walmart in Pajamas. Ha!”

-He always wants to give us rides, especially when it’s raining to help us. But we told him there has to be a women in the car, so he said, "So you are saying I need to find any woman, and tell her 'Shut up and get in the car, I’m trying to help my friends?!””

-Walks on the beach! Sometimes we take the few mins longer way to an appointment just to be able to walk on the beach!

-We taught a family for the third time on Friday, and it was such a golden lesson. We taught about the Book of Mormon, and I felt the spirit so strong, it was tangible, when we testified of the truthfulness. I know they were all touched, and they were eager to have us come back and teach more. Teaching prepared Families is the best!

-Getting caught again in the pouring rain, waiting it out in Lider (Brazilian Costco) and eating lots of cake samples.

-Sunday we had someone pick us up that we had met before and she fed us panitoni and orange juice and we snuck in a lesson, then she drove us all the way to the top of one of our hilliest areas! Tender mercies.

-We taught the daughter of our super Catholic friend Anselmo that used to investigate the church. He didn’t love it, but let us teach her!

-LUIZ ONLY SMOKED ONE TODAY! AND NO COFFEE! FASTING WORKS.

Spiritual Thought:

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear"Name that movie

I love this quote for many reasons, but especially recently I have realized the power of music! We have been sharing a lot of Christmas messages here, and always sing a Christmas song as part of it, because people here love it. But there really is a special spirit that good Christ centered music can bring, it lifts our spirits, and helps us to soften the hearts of those we are teaching so that they are more open to our message! Music has a lot of power, and especially this time of year we can get so caught up in the "Jingle Bell Rock"That we forget the," Ôh Holy Night."Take time to share, or listen to music about what this Holiday is really about, Christ and the Cheer he brings!

I would love to hear of the Christmas traditions you have, fun things you do this time of year!

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Sister Sarah Crofts