lit. up.

Famwe! I love you! I loved loved loved getting to see your faces for Christmas! It was the best recharge to my batteries-and the best Christmas present I could ask for. Thank you to all that were there! I missed seeing/talking to Rich and Lo, Cammy, Emily, and the kids, so give them my love and belated Christmas wishes k? For the rest of you-sorry I talked your ears off-I wanted to hear from you too I promise...I just was so excited to talk to you! haha. I loved getting a few minutes with you! sigh...ok.

So a recap of the week: 
MIRACLES, Christmas and all. Oh my goodness... so I have so crazy good news that I can't wait to share for its order in the week.

WE HAVE 16 SOULS ON DATE!

Our zone now has 41 people on date, and Chicago comes in after that with I think 26? Our district leader, Elder Eager, was telling us how Hna Noyes and I have 3/20th of the baptism dates in the mission. So cool. I'm so grateful to be were I am, with the hard working companion that I have, with the attitude that I have, the gifts I have been given thus far in my life, for the people who are prepared, and the leaders to inspire more from us. Its the recipe for some really delicious success.

Let me give some background on the week-and more detes on La Navidad and then I'll end with the miracles etc.

Friday we went to Beloit per usual and taught our investigators Rosario and Augustin. We were really bold and pulled out some scriptures on having faith and not waiting to be baptized. We committed him to make a step towards really getting his divorce finalized...they've been separated for 15 yrs!...progress, and lots of faith. Hopefully by March or at the latest May we will have had a divorce, a wedding, and then a baptism! They're like our little Mexican Abuelitos. I love them.

Saturday we took around little gifts to everyone in the branch and to all of our investigators/families. It was so fun and Christmas spirity to go do it. So so fun. We rocked out to Christmas music all day-even in the gym (that we have with the apartment...we really are spoiled...nvm that most of the machines don't work.)
Por La Noche Buena we went to Creston to spend the night with our little families down there. We had some crazy yummy tamales, tortas, and ribs, and crazy yummy ponche-aka Mexican wassail-probably my favorite think ever. (I probably ate my weight in tamales this weekend...and everyone sent us home with some...so I'm glad the time for new resolutions has come! haha.) We had the  Raya crew and the Francisco and Jessica Raya crew  as well as cousins that we're trying to start teaching. I felt right at home. The Raya boys are just like our boys. so so funny. I left there just so grateful to have that kind of experience...there really is nothing like a Christmas in the mission.

Sunday morning we woke up and opened our presents to the tune of Kenny G and JT (of course!) I was reminded again of how loved and supported I am. Thanks to all who gave me a little something-it was above and beyond the call, but I definitely appreciate it. Thanks! It was a sweet experience to have Christmas on the mission for sure. We immediately got ready for church and went to the chapel to await our investigators. We were grateful for the problem of having to set up translation for 7! so so cool (one of which agreed to be baptized last night!...more in a second)

We then went to the Romreills to talk to you sweet people and to use their kleenex. I was totally a kid in a candy store. How cool that we can skype our families and not just call them for Christmas. I wish I had more time with each of you...but we can always write!
Then we went to the church again to play games as a district...I almost won Settlers of Zarahemla, but then we got called by Nazaria to go make tamales with her. So...I learned how to make tamales!!! I have been wanting to! Another cool Christmas present. (I got right in with the goopy animal fatty grossness haha) She opened up on lots of their problems as a couple that their facing which worried us a little more for them, but shed some light on what we should teach them for sure. We also were able to place a LdeM with the dad of Maria's kids (Julio Cezar-Nazari'as oldest daughter)
Then we went and had a very american dinner at Presidente's house with 2 other families from the branch. It was lovely.

Monday I had to go take this language assessment for the MTC...ick. But its over with. Then we drove to Harvard to do exchanges with the Woodstock sisters! I went with Hna West in her area and got to see some sights and to help teach a few lessons and Hna Noyes got Hna Freeman in our area (the same sister that did my very first contact on the L with me)
Then yesterday was miraculous-we traded back...and then...

Hna Noyes is a planning wizard-she was able to get an appointment with Ezekial...family friend of Nazaria's crew who was at church Sunday. We needed a women/a place and somehow it all worked out! We were able to go to Hna Salazar's house and teach him the first lesson. By the end we gave him all of the classic commitments which he readily accepted. We testified to him of how much living the gospel would change his life and make him so much happier. I think he knew that before we ever told him though. He has been so golden. He accepted the date of February 4th. Now, we just need to really help him make the changes and stay committed with them. But when we gets there, he's going to be so solid. I'm so excited for him!

Then we went straight from their to la famliia Castro. We talked to them about Repentance and taught them most of the third lesson. I pulled out the scripture from Mosiah 18 that talks about..."What would keep you from being baptized if you want these things?!" I asked Shayla (mom) what the scripture meant to her..."I guess that we're ready to be baptized." "That's right you are! How about we set a goal for the 4th?" The girls were giving us some weird looks, and were getting antsy. They told us about their mom in Panama which didn't like the idea of them leaving the Catholic church, but we testified again of how the Lord would help them in their decision. They had a big smile on their face, "Oh we know, we're ok with the 4th." Perfect! Prayers definitely were answered-by the whole district! Now if only dad could get a spare minute to get in on the action...

Just after that appointment the zone leaders texted the zone to tell us how we had 36 on date as a zone "4 more to 40! keep up the good work!" We...giggling shot one right back..."We got our family of 4 and one more!" It has been great to raise to the call. I'm definitley feeling the stress to not lose any of our investigators or the progress of the famliies that we have progressing right now. Its the best problem in the world to have, but all the same. I'm praying that I/we can remember all of the little things that need to happen to make this happen. We're going to have a busy month to be sure. A really exciting, busy month.

Monday morning before we split for transfers we had district meeting and a guest speaker RM who has been working with the ZL's in their area. He is awesome! He shared some of the things he learned on his mission-from experience, PMG, and other leaders to help us really get the fire for contacting. I LOVED it! It practically beat out Christmas. I was shooting out an amen to everything he said. The best part is that Hna Noyes was liking it too. She said that when she went out tracting with Hna Freeman later that they contacted 20 people! The way that he taught us to contact really is powerful and smart-and emphasises ( i can't spell anymore...sad day haha) how we aren't sowers-we're reapers. I love that idea. It is so so true. The Lord has already prepared people to be taught and except the gospel. Its our job to be the mouth piece to help them make the steps to receive all of the truth, peace and joy that we have to offer. We have some really glad tidings.

I have learned by now that tracting isn't the only way to find people to teach, but its still necessary. If you're going to do it-then you have to mean it for it to work. Find people with power. I think I'm being known for my boldness.

Anywho-I'm heading out. I love you all so much. I'm glad to hear all of the wonderful things that went down for Christmas. I'm a little sad the Christmas traditions have changed, but its a necessary evil. I'm glad that all of the individual families had such success with their own Christmas and there was still some classic Moffat fun for the holidays.

Make the new year resolution to bring at least one more person unto Christ. I'll do it with you ;) There really isn't any better feeling or purpose. The Lord won't let you fail. This I know and promise.

Love you!
Hermana Moffat

ps-its so fun to hear about everyone's business success. Keep up the good work! I'm so proud. :)