Ranas y sapas

I heard there was a cold front in Austin and I guess there has been one here in California, but I'm still walking around in short sleeves and doing just fine. It has, however, been raining like crazy. We were talking to a family the other day and I said it was raining cats and dogs and they corrected me and said no, it was raining bullfrogs and toads (ranas y sapas). I don't want to sound like a white fool so I'll be sure to use that from now on.

 

I have an amazing new companion and we are super pumped to recharge this area. She's from Canada, is 5'11" and a redhead so she's really just a taller, foreign version of me. It's hilarious to see the faces of people when two, beautiful white girls with flaming red hair approach them and start speaking Spanish. It's like the best thing ever. I should take a picture of everyone's first reaction of us and start a tumblr - it'd go viral. I warned her early on that we have a sketch area and there are a lot of places we can't go unsupervised at night. Not totally believing me (as if my precious face is questionable pshaw) she wanted to go check them out herself...I was more than happy to oblige. As we stepped out of the car she said yup, I see what you mean, we probably shouldn't come here at night. I chuckled and we went forth to preach the loitering men the gospel and she decided not return after the safety of the sun goes down. baha. Told ya.

 

Yesterday the Elders had a baptism and they made us give the talks. Don't worry we had 5 minutes notice. Of course the President showed up to this baptism, which I didn't notice until I got up to speak and saw him staring at me. Awesome. At least I looked cute. Anyway, I talked about the Holy Ghost and I took advantage of the Christmas season and talked about the feeling in the air right now that makes everyone smile, be a little more kind, feel good and hopeful. To me, this was the best way to describe the feelings of the Holy Ghost, a confirmation of all the perfect and pure things God has to offer us. As a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we get the special blessing of having the comforter, the Holy Ghost, with us all the time. It's like Christmas all year round and as we live worthy of having him be our BFF we get even more blessings from our loving Heavenly Father; we receive inspiration, spiritual gifts, confirmations of truth and of course feelings of comfort, peace and joy. As missionaries we are just banking on the Christmas spirit to help people see what they could have with them forever! We couldn't ask for more. So take a few moments with me this week to remember the wonderful, eternal gift of the Holy Ghost as our chance for Christmas cheer all year round.

 

Also, if you haven't already heard, there is a new Christmas website: mormon.org/christmas that has a beautiful short nativity video, free music, e-cards and offers for a free bible. There are tons of ways to share this awesome tool with friends and family with a click of the button - take advantage!

 

xoxo

Hermana Hall