My Heart is in Texas: Hola! Me Encanta Texas!

Que Bien!

Spanish is going so awesome! I am going to miss Hermana Hoj so much but I am excited to have a new companion and her name is Hermana DeLaO. She is from Vera Cruz, Mexico and is learning English. So we have a good time speaking Spanglish with each other. She is teaching me soooo much. I just love her and we just laugh at all the mistakes we make in English and Spanish. She has been out for about 7 months.

It is amazing to see all the miracles that have happened since she has been here. Because she is a native, everyone feels so much more comfortable and open around her. I am so happy that she is here. We are hoping that we will be able to build a Spanish Branch here in Huntsville.

Journey Through Bethlehem!

The highlight of this week was Journey Through Bethlehem. Basically what it was is at the beginning there are actors who talk about the importance of shepherds and lead the group of people to Bethlehem to sign the census and pay taxes. As they reach the shepherds in the field, a group of angels appear and sing- on the last day, there was a group from a black baptist church and it was AMAZING! I was singing and clapping and "halleluja-ing" all over the place. They were having sooo much fun!

Afterwards they are led to Bethlehem where there are crafts, games, and things to eat. There is a spice shop, sweet shop, and then also a place where you can get your name written in Hebrew and Greek. And then at the very back there is a manger with people acting as Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. There is even an angel on top of the manger with goats, lambs, and camels. It was soooo awesome!

Hermana DeLaO and I were supposed to do spanish translation but no one felt comfortable or needed it. So we ended up being at the beginning and welcoming people in. We talked with as much people as we could in Spanish. This is an event where the whole community gets involved and many different churches in Huntsville. We were welcoming people in with a Pastor and his wife from the Church of the Nazarene. They were over the spanish youth group. It was such a great way to get to know the community and let them know that we believe in Jesus Christ as well. I loved it!

It was a wonderful way to start the Christmas season, to really recognize and understand the true meaning of Christmas. I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the wonderful gift of the Atonement that he has given to me.

If you haven't gotten the chance, watch the video, He Is the Gift on christmas.mormon.org or Youtube. And then #sharethegift :)

Love y'all!

Hermana Loo

P.S. Oh and Lori is getting married and baptized this week! Please keep her in your prayers. She has been confronted with a lot of opposition. We are sooo happy that she will be able to finally get baptized!