I must confess: Christmas 2014 was the most fulfilling and satisfying holiday I have had in quite some time. As someone who doesnt have much family here in the Midwest, I thought it would be appropriate to devote as much time as I could to service and teaching the gospel. December 25, 2014 will be revered in my memory for decades to come as I ponder the miracles and wonders that occurred on the day we symbolically commemorate our Saviors birth. I spent the entire day with Elder Taylor and Elder Martinez, missionaries serving in the Huber Heights Spanish Branch area. Let me be clear: I can read and understand some Spanish, but speaking it is a different story; I know the minimal amount and can barely structure sentences properly. However, both families with whom we spent substantial time were bilingual (that is, most members of the family were) and I could code-switch and these lovely brothers and sisters wouldnt miss a beat. The Spanish Branch has two recent converts (a mother and her son) who are amazing, humble, and incredibly considerate. In town for the holiday was the older brother, Jorge, who is in the grey sweater in the first picture. He lives in New Jersey, but has been taking the discussions with the missionaries for merely a few days. While Elders Taylor and Martinez were interacting with the family, Jorge and I had forty minutes where we talked about the peace the Book of Mormon brings to him, the Spirit that he feels when he meets with the missionaries, and his desire to become more like his Savior. I felt prompted to explain to him, after reviewing Moronis promise, that when we feel a burning in our bosom (or experience a fire in the belly), we can typically know that the Holy Ghost is bearing witness to us of the truth of what we are being taught or told, and it is when we have a stupor of thought that we may be inclined to presume that what we are being taught or told may not be of God. Jorge has such a strong testimony of the Spirit already, and he is yearning for more, and with his permission I was able to touch base with the Bishop of his local ward in New Jersey where the local missionaries will be ready to teach him and prepare him for baptism. Of course, because he has seen the great and marvelous strides his family has made over the course of the past few months of multiple baptisms, Jorge naturally wants to be a part of a forever family and do as his Savior would, that is, to enter the waters of baptism. It goes without saying that he accepted the challenge to be baptized. We were so pleased with our visit with that amazing family, and the Spirit in the home was miraculous, bearing witness to us that they strive to live in righteousness as they happily progress through our loving Heavenly Fathers plan of salvation. We then ventured over to the humble abode of another family, these sweet souls being from Puerto Rico. Our evening was full of Puerto Rican cuisine, laughter, and a wide-ranging conversation. Of course, we talked about the gospel and how the Lord provides a perfect example of how to live as we make our way through this beautiful world with which we have been blessed by Father in Heaven. We then spoke with the older daughter, who at first was apprehensive about the discussion pertaining to faith and trusting in the Lord, but her heart was soon softened by the Spirit as we watched The Restoration in Spanish. I knew most of the words and could easily follow along as a result of watching that beautiful short film over and over, but I also began to realize that the Prophet Joseph Smiths testimony was, in fact, being fleshed out at a dining room table in a humble apartment in Dayton, where a young daughter of God sat as tears fell from our eyes as our Heavenly Father pointed to His Son and said Éste es mi Hijo Amado: ¡Escúchalo! The gospel will be and is being preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Of that I have a solemn witness. It came time for me to bear my testimony, which I had the privilege of completing mostly in Spanish. My mind drifted back to a decade ago, where the lovely ward in Rhode Island that I had the pleasure of belonging to was trilingual - English, Portuguese, and American Sign Language. I can still remember Elder Reeder and Elder Beckett pulling up in the Ford F-150, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir blaring from the cabin while I joyfully hopped in as we drove to appointments in places like Pawtucket and Central Falls. I slowly but surely learned to speak the language of the people around me, bearing witness of the love that I knew our Pai Celestial had for us, and that through the espírito Santo we are able to know the truth of all things. I remember Bishop Lanes First Counselor, the venerable Silva Rosa, a sweet brother with a smile ever at the ready, teaching me the fundamentals of that beautiful language that I might convey the feelings of my heart when speaking to investigators from Cape Verde or Brasil or Portugal. Brother Rosa was a spiritual giant with such a large heart that it rivaled his voluminous mind of scriptural knowledge. And so it is with the amazing Spanish investigators and newly baptized Saints. I can see the light in their eyes - la luz en sus ojos - as they delight in their newfound peace and strength as a result of their choice to follow the Savior into the waters of baptism and take upon themselves His name, remembering to strive to become more like Him as we endeavor to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. During Christmas Day 2014, we had a spiritual feast. We spoke of la casa del Señor, where we can have the privilege of making promesas sagradas. We discussed how we can become more like our Salvador, Jesúcristo. Uncontrollably, when asked to bear my testimony of the truthfulness of the work in which we are engaged, the words fell from my mouth through no power of my own: Sé que Jesús es el Cristo. Tenemos un Padre celestial amoroso. Sé que José Smith es un profeta de Dios y Thomas S. Monson es Su profeta en la tierra hoy. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amén. I am incredibly blessed to be alive and I thank my Heavenly Father for every breath that passes through my lungs, for every soul that may feel the Spirit around me, and for the promptings and opportunities that allow me to be His hands, His servant, and to assist in the building up of His most glorious Kingdom. Merry Christmas to all of you. Lets begin 2015 with the light of Christ in our eyes - la luz de Cristo en nuestros ojos.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 12:45:15 +0000