Week 57  (12/23/19) Feliz Natal “Merry Christmas”!!! 😊

Hey Family!

Well here we are in week 5 of the transfer, also this week is Christmas!! Merry Christmas to everyone! Feliz Natal is how we say it in Brasil! This past week was 13 months in the mission for me. As always, time passes by so quickly. 

Yesterday we were planning for a baptism, but Satan is real and he doesn't want people to be happy. So to be short in words, we didn't have a baptism and it was pretty hard. This last week as we were teaching her about tithing, there was something she didn't agree with and she was full of doubts about everything we taught her. Until this moment on my mission, I have not had any issues teaching or helping someone learn the principle of tithing. I tried testifying to her the power of living this commandment, and how it has blessed my life, but it didn't seem to help. 

My question for those who are reading this? "In what ways has paying tithing blessed you in your life"? I would love to hear your responses. I know Satan is real and filling her head with doubts as she has returned back to drinking coffee. We keep praying for her and trying to help her progress towards our Heavenly Fathers Plan of eternal happiness. 

Yesterday, I hope your sacrament meeting was really special. It was super special for us.  Antonio and his family, and another lady we are teaching went to church. It was super spiritual. We had our Bishop play the piano, his wife who is "crazy smart" sing and played the violin. It was super beautiful. We had a few people talk about Christ, then our bishop spoke. He told us if we are waiting for a sign to tell us these things are true, were not going to get one!
He said "what more proof do you need"? We have the Book of Mormon! We have Churches! We have Temples! and so on. 

This past week was very draining for me emotionally, physically and spiritually. "Spiritually how you may ask? When serving a mission we speak to many people with lots of different beliefs.  I don't remember if I spoke to you about Javier. The best way I can describe his beliefs are more like agnostic. He says that he doesn't believe in God but more of a higher power. 

We have met several other people who don't believe in Him, and sometimes make you think "what if they are right"? What if he doesn't really exist? But I feel like I have had many of my prayers answered. In the world that we live in, things are hard but I know we can have the faith and hope that we are being prepared for something better. If he doesn't exist, I would still rather choose to believe in him, than not.

I love you all and Merry Christmas "Feliz Natal" !!!

Love, 
Sister Pierce