Feliz Ano 2013

Hola Familia!

It was a great thing to be able to skype on christmas day with the fam.  Sounds like everyone is doing really well and I must say that skype ROCKS. 

So this month was the month of the most success in all of 2012 for the mission.  There were a lot of people baptized and confirmed.  We ended the year really well here in Cusco Peru.

But I must tell you this week was HARD.  I might even say the hardest I have faced in my mission.  EVERY single one of the people we were teaching fell through.  We literally had nothing to work with.  So we knocked on doors. Of all the doors we knocked on, one let us in :)  gah! I guess its a shock to me because all the other areas I have been in it has been pretty easy to get in the door.    I started to feel a little discouraged, but I just kept going.  And then Sunday came.  Our convert didn`t come to receive the Holy Ghost on Sunday and we called and called and she didnt answer we went to her house and her parents were so mad (even though she is 18) they would NOT let her leave the house and they forbid her to go to church we tried talking to them and we talked with her but in the end we left with the situation the same as we found it.  We were sad.  Very very very sad.  And to top it all off we went to church late and found a ton of members wanted to talk to us because they wanted our help with their families they had a lot of problems going on.  To go even further, my companion was found sick throwing up for these past 2 days and could hardly go anywhere and our hot water went out.  Is it the end of the world?!?!  haha it sure felt like it. 

But the Lord is merciful.  Always.  Last night we had a fabulous Family Home Evening with my convert and her family and her mom is not a member and we watched the video ¨"Together Forever" and she was SO touched she began to open up to us and is really interested to learn more.  I see real progress here.  Then we played games and we laughed so hard we were crying it was a super great night.  The Lord shows His mercy. 

All in all, I love the work even though it was super rough, I love the gospel, and I am so grateful for the things that the Lord teaches me every day.  I am so happy to have this opportunity to serve Him.  It has brought such blessings and joy into my life. 

Thanks for all your christmas wishes and I hope you all enjoy feliz año 2013!  here in peru it is a tradition to eat 12 grapes for each desire you have for the whole year...and you eat them under a table.  haha its funny but I like it.  HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Hermana Lindsey