La Navidad Ha Llegado!

Christmas time is here!
I can't believe that, it's crazy. It seems like yesterday when I was about to celebrate my first Christmas in Chile, and the second one is already here. This week was a better one for us, hallelujah, but it was still a tough one. I'll explain.

  So. We are still dealing with a drought of investigators here in the sector. We really only have three investigators at the moment, which isn't very much at all. We have Jennifer, who is gonna be baptized the 9th of January, and Victor and Gema. Jennifer is going to the beach next week with her family and there they're gonna practice with her so she can get over her fear of water, then she'll be ready to get baptized on the 9th.
  Victor and Gema. Man, we had some cool experiences with them this past week. Something not so good happened though. Oscar, they're 2 1/2 year old son, was on the second floor of a set of stairs near where they live, and fell off onto his face. Gema was there though and was able to take him to the hospital and let Victor know it happened. This event started some really crazy blessings though. So, Oscar was hurt pretty bad, and is still hospitalized. He messed up his face, he was bleeding and stuff after the accident, and he got pretty bruised up, Victor said he looked like a boxer after a fight. But miraculously nothing else happened, he didn't go unconcious, all the brain scans and everything showed no problems, but he has a very tiny fracture under his eye socket, but the doctors say its not a problem and they're holding him there til it heals. So. Victor and Gema were both pretty shaken up by the accident, Gema especially. We've been passing by almost every night since then (Thursday) to make sure things are going good and stuff. Victor is usually there by himself in the night, cuz Gema is with Oscar in the hospital. But it's been amazing to see a change in Victor since the accident. He told us that when Gema first called him and told him what had happened, that he prayed. He prayed and told God that if he protected Oscar and made sure that everything turned out good, that he would follow him in everything He needs. He then told us how outstanding Oscar is doing, considering the gravity of what happened. He said that the doctors are saying it should've been much much worse than it is, that it's miraculous that he was and is in such good shape already. Victor then went on to tell us what he learned from the experience. First he said, he knows for a fact, 100% surety that God exists. Second, that he believes and knows, that everything we've taught them is the truth, and third, that he is gonna do everything that the Lord requires him to do (aka stopping smoking, getting married, and finally baptized), from here on out. What a blessing. He went on to say something very very interesting and very true. Victors a super smart guy and he understands things very well. In this case, he understood why this accident happened. He told us "this wasnt an accident, it wasn't Gemas fault, it wasn't Gods fault, it was something that just HAD to happen. It had to happen so that I could realize the things that I now realize. It had to happen for me to know that I need to follow God. And now I know, and nothing is gonna stop me from not following Him." The Spirit was so strong in the lesson it was crazy. Victor and Gema were and are truly being prepared by God to receive this gospel in their lives. So soon we should start seeing more and more progress in them, and I'm so excited to see it as it happens.
  So yeah, we're excited for the things we have here in Los Platanos, but that's all we have. We have no other investigators. So, this whole week, we knocked. A lot. And we still didn't find anyone! It's pretty frustrating, but we're just gonna keep on going, we'll find something soon, I know it.
  Sunday we had the church activity for Christmas in the ward and it was good. It was the choir singing a bunch of Christmas songs, in the order from the announcement of the birth of Jesus, til his birth. As they were singing, the primary kids were going up to a little stage and forming a live nativity scene. It turned out pretty cool. And there were also a bunch of people there that weren't members, so we're gonna hopefully have more people to teach! Tonight we have a family home evening with a family and their neighbors(nonmembers) who went last night. More blessings!
  And that was our week. Keep praying for us and for success in finding people! We need it haha.
  And this next week is gonna be amazing. One word.....CHRISTMAS. On Thursday we got permission to eat dinner in a members house, and on Saturday afternoon, I'll be calling home to you guys. But not only calling home, we all got permission to video chat!!! So we'll all be able to talk and see each other on Christmas day. What a wonderful blessing. So I'm very excited for that. And of course opening presents haha.
  Hope you all have an AMAZING christmas. We'll be over here, sweating like pigs, because its blazing hot already! But it's alright. Love you all and have a gret week. ¡¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!
Talk to you Saturday! :D

Elder Aaron Mayberry