#34 - Feliz Navidad y Christmas Miracles

Chuy's Baptism!

 On Friday I got a call from Hermana Balls and Hermana Feldman in Madera that Chuy was getting baptized on Sunday and President was going to baptize him! Not sure if y'all remember him, but he was the one that came to stake conference and we were outside in the parking lot for 30 minutes singing and praying and pretty much dragging him into the church because he was so terrified, but afterwords he fell in love with the Mackays and had a total change of heart. President came out teaching with us to him once, and has gone back a few more times since I left. He has made so many changes in his life and really has used the Atonement of Jesus Christ to get baptized. His whole family came to the baptism as well and they're all being taught now! I'm so greatful for two sister missionaries who contacted him on the street last February so that he gave us that call in July and that I was priviledged to see this miracle. I couldn't think of a better Christmas Eve.  A member took me up to Madera (which by the way, Hispanics celebrate the 24th more than the 25th and I couldn't believe how sweet she was to do that, it's almost an hour up North). I arrived at the end of Sacrament Meeting so I saw a ton of members that I knew and love so much. All the missionaries sang Silent Night in Spanish as an interlude and Chuy's mom starting crying, the Spirit was so strong and I just felt so much love for everyone.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We only had an hour of church, and it was combined with the English ward. The Monroy's brought a friend that we had met before and will hopefully start teaching soon. There's this little girl named Alex who we met our first week (she's on our records but moved to the English ward) and she sat by me. She didn't want to go up and sing so I told her that if she did I would give her a sticker, then she ran up haha!

After church we caroled to a few members and friends. Then one family picked us up and we spent Christmas Eve with them, I got to play the duet part with their little girls on their piano pieces.  Afterwords Hermana Oldroyd and I headed back to our apartment and had a little Christmas celebration. Thank you so much for all the gifts and cards! It was very sweet.

Our Palm tree Christmas tree

Christmas Day we skyped our families, ate pazole, went over to a few members' homes, and then the  Brandts (the senior missionary couple) invited the whole district over for dinner. Our mission president also said that we could watch one Disney movie, and we had to have the cars parked a 6:30, so we went to another family's house and watched the Lion King that night. 

Christmas Day dinner at the Brandt's

Also this week, the elders had a baptism and one of our investigators made it! His wife's a member and their whole family came. That was definitely a miracle as well. Also it was a miracle that the font got filled, the hot water wasn't working at first so we had this chain of missionaries with pitchers of water from the sink trying to fill it up. 

Exchanges with Sister Peterson (blonde) and Sister Dixon (Reddish Blonde)

This week was also exchanges. I went up to Clovis with Sister Dixon who I know from Madera, and their area has an assisted living home. So we painted with one of their investigators and talked about the Book of Mormon. When we walked in the lady asked if we would play the piano so then we sang to them, I was grateful I brought my little hymnbook (Thanks Chels!)

We painted with one of the investigators at an assisted
 living center and talked about the Book of Mormon.

Love you all so much. Have a great New Year!

Silvina Monroy took us to Fresno last monday for some shopping