Monday, December 8, 2014

Branch Christmas Party

Well it's that time again... P-DAY!!

Dear Family and Friends,

You know you're in Florida when you find a bike like this!
Sarasota has been all a buzz lately with the Christmas season. Given that it is a touristy city many people have flown in to have a tropical Christmas adventure. The weather does not depict winter in the slightest! Palm trees sway in the light breeze and the ocean beats constantly on the sandy beaches where snow birds sit on lawn chairs in their swimsuits under their umbrellas. Meanwhile Christmas music fills the downtown, boats are decorated with lights and good cheer is spread abroad. What a great time and place to be on a mission!


"So what's the latest in missionary work?" you might ask. Well, we've been busily trying to prepare our 5 date-sets for baptism and convert their families in the process ;) 

Danny, Mayra's brother, is getting baptized on the 20th. So is Allan (the son of one of our recent converts), and Emily (9 year old daughter of a less active). They are all super solid too! Needless to say we can't wait for the 20th. Allan and Danny were talking about their baptisms yesterday during church, it was awesome! 

We're also teaching Danny's mother Victoria, his sister Itzel and her husband. They are all super close to baptism as well. We had a really spiritual lesson with Victoria and she told us that she knows she wants to be baptized but she just doesn't know when. Please pray for her! 



We also had the best lesson with Allan the other day!!! We asked him to pray about his date for the 20th and he did and then afterwards he exclaimed, "Wow! I felt like God was right in front of me telling me 'yes!'" I about died and went to heaven when he said that! 

Emily's uncle is flying in from Belize this week and will be the one to baptize her. All things seem to be falling ever so nicely into place.


On Saturday we had the branch Christmas party. It was so much fun! The youth did the nativity and all the children acted as Shepherds while their teachers played the angels telling them of Christ's birth. One of our investigators' babies played Jesus and another investigator was one of the wise men. The skit was really impressive! 

Branch Christmas Party
Afterwards we ate and chatted with all the members and the friends they had brought. There was SO MUCH MEAT!!! More than anyone should ever eat in their life. There was only one salad (don't worry it was a potato salad we're not THAT healthy) on the table among the largest compilation of meat known to the southeastern united states! Regardless it was delicious.  



Unlike last year I didn't get the chance to dance but even better I ended up teaching about the Book of Mormon to a Portuguese friend that one of the members brought! I was just conversing with him when our member came up and gave him the Book of Mormon. I was like, "sweet!" I had him open it and we started reading. Haha we had like 5 members around us all of which were ready to chip in, it was great!

Me and our ward mission leader and his wife
Well sadly that's all I have time to write about. 
I hope everyone is doing fantastic! 
Con Amor,
Hermana Mathis



Solanie, "Sister's what day was Christ born on."
Emily, "Mom why don't you just ask Google?"
Hahaha!


Hermana Martin and I, I love her so much!!!

The primary and youth put on the Nativity


Us and our branch president Gazziro

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