Thanksgiving

Dear Family and Friends,

For thanksgiving well, I was a week off. I ate turkey at a restaurant the Thursday before haha. One of the ladies from the ward though made my favorite dish on thanksgiving which is called aji de gallina. I love it! She is so sweet. One of the people who was getting baptized this saturday cant because he left town this weekend. He is a really great person but he needs to put God first. Also, one of the girls we have been teaching will be baptized in two weeks. She works like crazy and studies and supports her sister. Im super excited for her.

Diego finally received the Priesthood.

We only had 15 minutes one day when we were going do visit him, and we had just went through this huge ordeal with our lideres de zona y presidente de estaca so that he could get the Priesthood on the first day of December. He told us that this day he was leaving town because his uncle had paid for a kind of a cabin on the beach a few hours away down south. We taught about the sabbath day again and some how, the Holy Ghost touched his heart and he decided to come back a day early. Later on Sunday, he told us that he had an interview with the bishop and the bishop asked him if he really thought he would be able to get back on time from his trip to get to church. He said no. Diego ended up canceling his trip. His faith is so great. I seriously am amazed by the choices he makes. He is a twenty year old kid who is really growing his testimony so much. He always says he is prideful and money is his weakness and all this kind of stuff, but really he is pretty humble and wants to do what is right, and changes his choices all with the faith that it is worth it. He is an example to me and my companion. We also recently found out that he wasnt drinking a clove and cinnamon drink because he thought it wasnt allowed because it was a kind of tea. Really its perfectly healthy. His mom was upset at him for not drinking it earlier. I can only imagine what she will say when she finds out that he really can drink that. haha

One thing we started doing with the Elders to find more people is we set up a table in the market with all of the pamphlets and books of mormon and there is this sign that says, TODO ES GRATIS. The people then just naturally come to us. It is actually a really great way to bear testimonies and set up appointments. =) My companion and I also started singing Christmas carlos at bus stops.

Im also surprised by the number of people that speak English who are visiting. We have ran into a few. Its a good thing my companion knows English. Its very interesting feeling the Spirit when we are in the lessons speaking in English. Im so used to it being strong in Spanish lol.

My companion and I in preparation for Christmas also made this tree out of water bottles and tape and then used Ensigns that we had to cut up the branches and leaves and then Hermana Jimenez made a star. She is so awesome. One day I promise I will send more photos!

Love Always,
Hermana Bendixen