I had a great week, but had some disappointments too. Tuesday was an awesome day. I did a division with one of our LZ named Elder da Silva. It was such a blast. We ate at Bishop's and went off to work. Right before our Bishop told us he wants us to baptize 3 people before the New Year, and 2 in the first 3 weeks of January. He said find a way, or make it happen. When you're serving a mission, it's hard to feel the same type of a "pump" I feel if I'm going for a new max weight lifting, but I felt so much energy and motivation as we went off to work.
We went home that night and I had some letters to read but we just talked instead. It is amazing the people you meet on your mission. Elder de Silva is such a wonderful man. He told me the last time he heard from his parents was 4 months ago, and before that was a year ago. His whole family is active in the church, but they just aren't writing. The last email he received was from his mom and it said that is Dad has been a little less excited about church. He is so strong. He said he is just entirely into the mission now. It was so much fun to work with him. It was raining and cold, but we had a blast. (It has rained every since last week when I told you about the rain! Today is really hot though and it's actually kind of nice.)
The good news this week is with Andreza Bruna and Joice, particularly Andreza. They have been reading The Book of Mormon really consistently and we had been giving good chapters throughout but we challenged them to start reading from the beginning. We returned the next day and Andreza was in chapter 4. She said she feels the book is true. We watched the Restoration with them and they said they felt something good when Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They will travel during Christmas but I think they will be baptized in the beginning of January. It's amazing to witness the power of The Book of Mormon. They are consistently reading and it makes a huge difference. They went to a dance our ward had Saturday and went to church yesterday.
So this morning I was thinking about Christmas. I read about the birth and child hood of Jesus Christ in the book Jesus the Christ. There was a part I wanted to type out really quick. I just love it.
"His advancement was from one grace to another, not from gracelessness to grace; from good to greater good, not from evil to good;from favor with God to greater favor, not from estrangement because of sin to reconciliation throguh repentance and propititation....Jesus was all that a boy should be, for His development was unretarted by the dragging weight of sin; He loved and obeyed the truth and therefore was free." -Jesus the Christ ch 9
There is something about the birth and early life of our Savior that really sinks in with me. The humble circumstances of Mary and Joseph. As I was cleaning our house to day and thinking about our Savior, all of the struggles of this week were put into a different perspective. A faith and hope entered my heart, faith and hope that all would be okay. I imagined our youthful Savior, and his progression, unretarded by sin and I imagine worry as well, and my worries seemed to be for nothing. The trusting aspect of faith seemed to be what I was missing. I felt this motivation enter inside my heart. It was a mental connection, which caused a logical desire to work. But it was feelings communicated to my heart, that my the results of service to my God seem much less important than simply honoring Him by my service. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know He lives. I testify that He lives. That He is everything and more than we read in the Bible. I urge anyone who happens to read this email, to study about the life of our Savior. Think about His life and what one who has faith in Him believes Him to Be. Then ask in prayer if these things are true. I know that the very best way to receive a testimony about the Savior is through the Book of Mormon, for the pages purely testify of Him. Through that book, and an answered prayer, I gained my initial testimony of Him. His reality has been testified to me many many times sense. I pray that an interest can be sparked in your heart to learn about the greatest story ever told. It's true. His sacrifice is so awe-inspiring. A perfect sacrafice. I love Him.
I love you all this day. I am so excited to hear your voices. I will call around 8 in the morning on Saturday I believe. I know it will work out because I will use the Bishop's phone. Friday night I think we're going to be at our Bishop's house until late if we get permission because the big celebration is Christmas Eve where you eat a ton of food and play games. I can't wait to talk!!! I love you all.
Merry Christmas!
Love, Elder Calvert
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