RIP La’queesah and Jerome, and Merry Christmas!

12/25/2019

First of all, Merry Christmas!! Thank you all for the sweet and wonderful gifts I received this week. You are wonderful and I hold you all dear to my heart!

As a mission, we have been studying weekly the topics on Jesus Christ on Gospel Topics for a while and I need to say that it has brought me so much closer to my Savior. Studying about him in this time of the year is such a blessing. To think of him and what he represents. Who he was and who he is. It is special to me to know that so many people out there celebrate Christmas and remember who’s life they are celebrating and it breaks my heart when they focus on the presents and forget the greatest gift of all, given by God to all him children.

I absolutely love the Light the World calendar this year and how it is centered in outward expressions of love and service. I’ve grown to love more the people here as I reflected on the Light the World prompts each day. It amazes me how much light can be shared with others in so many ways.

I also love the word light. It is everywhere in the scriptures and it means so much to me. The Light of Christ each one of us carries individually is powerful. It can heal a broken heart and a broken spirit. It only depends if we let it shine or if we hide it under a bushel (Mathew 5:14-16) or if we use it to guide the ones who need guidance (Ether 6:3 my favorite scripture ❤).

I love the story of king Lamoni in the Book of Mormon. He was a king who was intrigued by the goodness and hard work of one of his servants, Ammon, and not understanding the light of Christ that he carried, he asked if he was the “great spirit” that governs the earth because of his actions, Ammon said no and taught him about the Creation and the Plan of Salvation. The King then fell on his knees and asked God for forgiveness. He was in a “spiritual coma” for two days and this is how it is explained in the scriptures to what was happening to him at that moment.

“6 Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God.” (Alma 19:6)

I know that Christ lives and that he is my savior. He died in the cross and came back to life to show me how I can have a resurrected body one day also. He isn’t present on earth in flesh and bones at the moment but he will, again. His light is part of us, those who chose to follow Him and praise His holy name. I’ve grown to love and know more about my Savior these past 6 months (tomorrow 🎉) and I am grateful for his light in my life. I am grateful for the wonderful family I have and parents that taught me to love God with real intent and through outwards and inwards expressions of love and desire to serve him.

There is much to be learned about God’s mysteries and they are given to those who seek him with an opened heart and mind, continously. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope you all are seeing Heavenly Father’s hand in your lives and in your homes this holiday season. I love you all!

Ps: Forgot to tell you about Jerome and La’queesha. They were my babies for two days until they died last week. I got them through district white elephant… I love my district lol. Elder Olsen got some goldfish that didn’t live for too long either. We had a district funeral for them after making district P-Day plans through video call. Down the toilet they went. Sad day. They will be forever in my heart ❤.

District P-Days are a thing now!!! It is great to finally be able to have contact with the missionaries I work with. It will strengthen the district unity and make this mission more fun. Exciting times 😁.

We also handed out a little less than 1400 Christmas cards with candy canes at the Washington Crossing the Delaware reenactment in our area with our district. We got kicked out for “soliciting” in private property. I guess they thought we were selling Salvation or something… We gave them out at the parking lot infront of their property instead haha good times.

Anyhoo, enjoy the pictures friends. Love you all and Merry Christmas!!

Sister Santos.

1702 Sweet Briar Drive, Morrisville PA 19067