I hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful Christmas season. I have to admit that without snow it just doesn't feel like Christmas time to me! This December has definitely been the fastest one of my life. There's no time to sit around and wait for Christmas to come! This month we have been serving a lot and trying to help everyone to focus on the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmas season.
This past Wednesday was transfers. Elder Pinto and I were almost positive that we weren't going to have transfers, because we only had one transfer together, but we got surprised! I received my new companion, Elder Payne, who I am training to be the new general secretary of the mission! Elder Miller's old companion, Elder Cruz, who was the retention secretary, left the office to train a new missionary and so Elder Pinto became Elder Miller's new companion. The office is changing a lot! In my time here I've gotten to see so many missionaries come and go, so it's weird to think that I will soon be leaving. I'll probably be here like 2 or 3 weeks training Elder Payne and then I'll have transfers! I have no idea where I'll be going after leaving the office. (Haha.) Elder Payne is from Cedar, Utah, and has the most orange hair I've ever seen! He is awesome and will make a great new secretary for the mission.
They also put two new missionaries in the San Juan ward. Our area got divided into two sections, San Juan 1 and San Juan 2. We gave the bigger part of the area to the two other missionaries because they aren't in the office and have more time to work in the field! The sad part is that we are no longer teaching Jordan, Samantha (Bryan's wife), and Emilio and Emily because they are in the other area. I was a little bummed out because they are all so close to baptism and we had gotten to know them so well! But the other two missionaries are great missionaries so I know they'll help them get baptized. Jordan now has a baptismal date for Jan 5, and Samantha for Jan 12.
The good part is that we have witnessed ANOTHER miracle here in area. The Lord really is blessing us as we've been diligent. We have a baptism for next Saturday, the 29th, of a man named Alberto. I'll have to tell you about Alberto in our phone call because his story really is incredible.
This week we have to prepare all the stuff for two big Christmas conferences that we are going to have on the 26th and 27th with all the mission. So it will be a BUSY week!
I love and wish you all a Merry Christmas!! I know that in this time of the year it is easy to get distracted by all the gifts, lights, etc., but I hope we can all use this time of the year to remember the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We will feel a lot more joy as we look for opportunities to give, share, and serve others.
Love,
Elder Mitch Parrish
