Letter 31 - "Merry Christmas!" - LaBlanca, Guatemala

well i guess i should start by saying MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you!!!! i really hope that you can have a wonderful and safe christmas and that you never forget the true meaning of this wonderful day.  

well that being said i guess i will update you on what happened here this week.  the most eventful and wonderful part of the week was the baptism of Reyna and her son Antonio.  all week long we had so many things that we had to do for this baptism and it was super stressful but with the help of the Lord we were able to get everything done for this baptism.  the story behind this baptism is very special.  a few years ago a very great young man named mario was preparing to go on a mission.  he got mixed up in some very bad stuff and ended up not being able to serve.  for a couple of years he was completely inactive from the church.  he got to know reyna and they began living together. recently he started coming back to church with reyna.  mario got all the things take care of and then the only thing more he had to do was get married.  on friday he was married and then he was able to baptize both his wife and son.  even though logistically the baptism was set up terribly, it was without a doubt my favorite because the spirit was so strong and i really learned the truthfulness of the scripture in isaiah that says

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

so that was the biggest thing that happened this week.  

i guess with it being christmas and all i should probably share a christmas thought so that is what i will do hahaha. this week i had to speak in church and i decided to speak on christmas - i will more or less share what i shared with them.  we all know that at this time of the year we celebrate the birth of a baby who lived 2000 years ago who was born in a stable, but why? was it the miracles he did, was it his teachings, was it his example? no it was what happened 33 years after his birth that is so important.  it was what happened in the garden of gethsemane, on the cross and in the garden tomb.  for that we celebrate His birth.  the hymn o come all ye faithful in spanish is called venid adoremos which translated is come, let us worship.  we are asked to come and worship, but how do we do that? we come  by doing the things He did, we worship by following His teachings, none of which is more relevant than that in Matthew to

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I haveccommanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

if we really come worship and share of the gospel with all, we will find the true meaning of christmas.

well with that i wish you all a merry christmas.  i hope the week is one of the best of the year and that you can appriciate the cold, but here it is dearly missed.

love 

elder meyer

GO HEELS GO AMERICA