Christmas Miracles-FELIZ NATAL

This is going to be short because i dont have a ton of time but this was such a good week and I am so glad to be her this time of year, really! This week we havd a zone conference for Christmas and gathered with all the missionaries in Sergipe. we stayed the night with 4 other sisters which was so funa nd I am grateful for the friends i have here. They really feel like family, along with my ward members.

Saturday and Sunday nights we sang with out ward in different parts ofAracaju which was so fun. I absolutely love Christmas.

Yesterday- our Christmas miracle!! :) We were at chruch when a random guy from a ward on the other side of Aracaju showed up with a friend that lives in our area. Her name is Camilla and she is 22. She loved church and told us later that she wasn't sure about coming but something made her feel like she should go. We gave her a tour of the church and talked to her and Lucas, her friend, for a good hour after church. We are visiting her on Wednesday and I am so excited. She already texted Lucas thanking him for bringing her and saying again how much she loves church and meeting everyone there. We are woirking so so hard and moments like that make it so worth it. Paolo and Betania also came to church and we are working with our bishop, who is a lawyer, to plan their wedding., They are both so excited and it is adorable.

Tender mercy: an american family visited our ward yesterday and when i talked to them I found out they are from Lake Stevens, WA!! It was so good to have a little reminder of home and be able to try and speak english with them.

Also finished the Book of Mormon in Portugese this morning!! I am so grateful for the opportunity to read it in a different language because I have had to read slower and thus pay more attention to things that I have missed in the past. I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that it has power I don't yet fully understand, and that it is proof that we have the complete church of Jesus Christ restored on Earth today. I am so grateful for the gift of the gospel in my life and though I thought this would be a really hard time of the year for me, I find myself feeling so much joy and peace. When Christ is my foudnation, everything else can change and He is always there, never changing, I know it sounds cheesy but it is so true. One of my new favorite songs is 'In Christ Alone' - thanks mom - and wanted to send the lyrics cause the words are a lot prettier than mine.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
I will stand
I will stand, all other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I'll stand

He is the reason we celebrate and I am so grateful to be here helping others feel his love.

Wishing you all a very FELIZ NATAL from Aracaju !!!
Love,

Sister Lauren Mather

PS. thank you olsons for the christmas package!!!!

I don't have time to label all the photos...