Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

 

This week has been good one. We had our Christmas Zone Conference, we went hay-ride caroling with the ward, and found an incredible new family to teach.

 

We have been studying the Gospels as a mission, and reading them has been a testimony building experience. I have learned a lot about how the Savior taught simply, but with power and authority. He was bold in warning against sin, but he was very willing to teach personally and lovingly. For as little as we have about the Savior's earthly life, we can learn so much from him.

We found an incredible new family to teach! (the cool thing about the Pasco 1st Ward is that everyone we talk to here is a family. Everyone. :) ) The Hernandez family is a family that has been prepared! We had a fantastic Restoration lesson with the husband (the wife and the two kids had to leave before we really got started). We had a member with us, and we were able to answer his questions, teach to his needs, and invite him to be baptized! He said that he absolutely would as he comes to know that the Book of Mormon is true! We're really excited to teach them.

 

On a more serious and somber note, last week, Mike Gilbert, who was an investigator that I taught and who was baptized in Kennewick, had a heart attack and passed away. We went to the viewing on Saturday. He was doing really well, and this kind of shocked everyone. Brenda, his wife, was at peace during the whole thing because she knew that Mike had found the truth and was going to be fine. The hope is that now she will continue to meet with the missionaries get baptized, and be sealed to Mike in the temple.

 

It's amazing what the Spirit and the gospel can do to comfort those who need it. This message of the Restored Gospel really does change lives and gives people a hope for a better world. Ether 12:4. With all my heart, I know that God is real. He is literally our Father in Heaven, and he loves us deeply. Christmas is a time for us to remember that we have a loving Father who sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for us, and give us the opportunity to live with our families in God's presence for eternity.

 

Have a Merry Christmas!

Love, Elder Plehn