one month

Tomorrow is my one-month anniversary in the mission field. As another missionary pointed out, that means I only have 21 months left. I'm not very anxious to start counting down to the end. So far, it is true that time picks up. It doesn't feel like a month has gone by. Before I know it, I will be home and wondering what happened, and perhaps even wishing to come back to my mission.

The wedding and baptism for the Yeomans this weekend went great. The wedding ceremony was simple and performed by the Bishop, followed by food, music, and dancing. Latinos know how to party. The following day, at the baptism, the Spirit was so strong with the support of almost the entire Ward in attendance. We even had other investigators come. The part that was most nerve-wracking was the announcement that Elder Robinaugh, Elder Wood (the other companionship in our Ward) and I would take some time to talk. Apparently this meant we were to teach the first lesson. For the first time, I taught the Restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith. It was also my first opportunity to bear open and straightforward testimony to our ward. With the help of the sympathetic Holy Ghost, I did it, and did it well. Not that I am fluent at all, but the improvements in my Spanish are hopeful and truly miraculous.

All the Spanish missionaries in the mission meet the first Saturday morning of every month to have Spanish Class. It was the first time I had seen my MTC companions since we all left the first transfer meeting with our trainers. Once again, I had a sudden jolt of realization that this is actually my mission. Sharing stories of the past month got me thinking about how I will be telling mission stories for the rest of my life.

And as for Christmas time ... With Christmas lights on our house, and a borrowed Christmas tree in our living room, the holiday cheer is sneaking up. I was on an exchange with another missionary one night this week, and as we were walking around, I started to look at the stars. The stars in our end of the Phoenix area are fairly vivid, moreso than Salt Lake in any case. Walking through the desert with the stars, I imagined a star brighter than the others in the wide expanse of sky, pointing to the new-born Christ. How silly to be wishing for snow, there certainly wasn't snow the day Jesus was actually born in a manger. What does snow mean to Christmas, really? So Dad, I accept your challenge to make "White Christmas" mean something more than winter time. But even more than the goal to see investigators dressed in white, I want to become more "white" inside myself. I want to sacrifice more, I want to give more, to become pure through service to others with. Christmas is a time to become more like Christ, by loving others, by being happy and focusing on family and God.

Merry Christmas everyone, I love you. Take care and enjoy the winter in Utah.

-Elder Sam Bostwick