lol, we always said ``i´ll be home for next next christmas´´ or ´´I´ll be home for next christmas´´ but now my last christmas on the mission is over and it´s weird to think I won´t spend another christmas here in brasil. But my christmas sure was great! I loved seeing all of your faces and talking with my family. I love you all so much. But now that I already told you all about the christmas conference and my christmas eve and christmas, I don´t have much to type this week... Or do I? ha.
So, something I forgot to tell you is that this week when we got back from Brasilia we went out and we marked 3 baptismal dates for the 10th of january with three men! can you believe it? (when I say men, I mean some guys in there 20´s because a man to us is someone that can hold the melq. priesthood) But it was a huge blessing because it has been a while since we´ve marked a date with a potential melq. priesthood leader (also, I am abbreviating melq. because I forgot how to spell it in english...) The first one was with a guy my age, he is into lifting weights, programming computers, and loves american football. He´s a cool kid. His parents are super catholic but he has never really been religious. We taught him the restoration the first visit and the second visit we asked if he had prayed. He told us that he is really wanting to know the truth and told us after pondering about it he wants to do this ´prayer´ on new´s year eve. He said he wants to start this year differently. So legit. His name is francisco. So we are really working with him.
BUT, the story that takes the cake this week is what happened saturday. Saturday, I had to go to Miracema with Elder Barker to do a baptismal interview. I went with him because no one else knows palmas like I do. So we headed out Saturday morning but we ended up waiting a while because the buses were running on holiday schedule. While waiting a storm rolled in and we got the bus literally the second it started raining. It didn´t just rain a little bit, it was raining buckets! When we got off the bus the bus driver was like ´´are you sure you want to get off?´´ it was hilarious but we ran to cover near a building really fast. The problem was was that we had to get another bus that was about 300 yards away from us to get to Miracema... We were already late because of the bus and we decided to go for it planning our route before hand with where we were going to stop and get cover. Our first little dash left us completely soaking... But I also jumped over a lake of water and landed in another lake of water splashing mud all over my back. It was horrible. We both were completely soaked and dirty. We decided to just keep going because we weren´t going to have time to go back to the house and change. So we just ran and ran and ran to get to the stop. We eventually got there soaked and it was a blessing because the bus passed really fast. We got on the bus and the air conditioner was on... I know I have been complaining about the heat a lot but being soaking wet on a bus with a/c made it feel like I was in the snow! haha. It was a hilarious adventure. We got to Miracema, did the interview, and ate with the sister missionaries there at a members house. The member has a missionary serving in Argentina and she felt bad for me and gave me a white shirt to change into that he left. The difference was incredible in whiteness. I will be sure to send a picture to y´all so you can see it. :) but I did all my laundry today and I was able to clean the shirt up. :) But it was an awesome experience and the girl was baptized. The things us missionaries do to save souls eh? lol :)
The rest of the week (sunday) was great. We visited a few of our people and taught everyone about Christ like always. I just want you to all know that this Christmas was one of the absolute best ever. I actually liked that none of my packages came because I was able to realize that I don´t need anything or presents to be happy and enjoy Christmas day. What made it special for me was being with the elders Christmas morning making breakfast, having a christmas lunch at our recent convert familys house. And then being able to ´spend´ Christmas with my own family was what made it the most special. Christmas really isn´t about the presents as I have learned on the mission (even though presents are still really cool :) hehe) It´s about family, life, love, and the Savior. I am super thankful that I am able to be His representative here in Brasil. I know that time is going by really fast but that is just making the work to me much more precious and special. We are working super hard every day to help our area and our zone. I love all of you and thank you all for the wonderful Christmas. HAPPY NEW YEARS to you all :) woohoo! I will be sleeping duh!
com amor, Elder Patterson
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