Week #10 - Granados

FELIZ NAVIDAD TODOS!!!

What a wonderful week it has been. Yesterday Hermana Inmunda and I had the chance to visit with the Guererro family who kindly offered to have us over for a little family time this Christmas season and to prepare us dinner. We are so blessed with such wonderful and loving members in the Granados Ward who have such strong testimonies of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Marco Guererro is the 2nd couselor in the bishopric, and loves sharing stories and his experiences while on his mission here in Perú. He has always been there to support us and to help us feel loved and welcomed. 

Last night was pretty crazy. The people in Perú celebrate Christmas in the evening, so fireworks were going off all last night. Hna. Inmunda and I had trouble sleepìng, so we watched the fireworks for a while that were literally just behind our apartment. It was a pretty cool show! It´s been hard for both of us being away from our families and the norms during the holiday season, but our opportunity to serve and focus on the people of Perú and our Savior has made this Christmas so meaningful for us. I know I´ll remember this Christmas forever.

This past Thursday we had our Zone Conference with President Calderón, and he shared such great messages focused on strengthening our companionships and always showing love towards them. We need to be united in our companionships to be effective missionaries, and most importantly, we need to be united with the Lord. He knows the hearts of those we are teaching better than we do. Later, I got to go to the mission home for the first time, and I absolutely loved it. It was so warm and welcoming and I loved having tons of missionaries around that I knew have been experiencing and feeling the same things that I have. There we were fed lunch, which was some vegetable salad, something that tasted like applesauce and some mystery meat... no one knew for sure what it was, but that´s kinda how things go around here!! I don´t think I´ve ever drank more hot chocolate in my life than in these past two weeks. The people literally serve it every meal haha. We got to watch a movie which was fun.... Can´t remember the title but it was all in Spanish. Also, we sang Christmas songs in English and Spanish, and even got to watch Pres. Calderón dance a little for us!! He and his wife are the best. We´re going to miss them so much when they head back home on the 29th this month! Presidente Marble will be joining us again with his wife, and I´m so excited to meet him. After conference Hna. Inmunda and I attended the ward activity, and I got to play Christmas songs on the piano for the choir. Tons of people came and we got a ton of new investigators from the activity who we can visit!

I hope that you all have had/are having a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Remember to take time to reflect on the Savior, and to follow his example in all things. I love this gospel so much, and it is truly a privilege to be able to help others come unto Christ and change their lives. My calling as a missionary fo the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will forever be a blessing to me.

Love you all!!

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Hermana Doney