The Best White Christmas

Mi Querido Familia,

How are you? This week was full of happy experiences, getting to know new people, and work. Elder Acevedo and I are still working hard. We're are concerned about the Zone here in Independencia. The numbers were low this week but we are trying to think of everything we can do to help them. It's an especially exciting time here in the mission because we're getting close to Christmas, my favorite day ever!!!

We had 4 baptisms this week. We baptized Tania Delcarpio, Ayde Barrera, Josep Pizarro, Gina Alarcon. Josep and Gina are boyfriend girlfriend. He's 22 and she`s 19. It was a spiritual baptism.... kind of. Brisa was going to get baptized...a 9 year old girl, but she freaked out when she got in the water and after 20 minutes she didn't go through with it. It's okay. She needs more time. We have 6 more baptism dates and a lot more people to talk to.

And dad was right. They only gave me a salt shaker. Normally here in Peru they just use salt. Pepper....who wants pepper anyway? I'm sorry to hear that dad's mug died....you can use mine dad. The family of one of my converts made them! And something else..... my package might come back. If it does don't worry and don't feel bad - I won't. It's just that I heard a ton of packages got sent back because the signatures were bad.....but..... who knows maybe mine was good. (We had to sign a paper for our packages). I'll let you know when I get it!!!

And Briana I'm proud of you. I love you. Eric and Curtis, don't be disappointed if you get all clothes for Christmas.

It was funny. Yesterday a man came up to us in the street and asked us. In what year did God create the world? I answered.....year one haha!... then I said I didn't know. Then he changed the subject In what date was Jesus Christ born? I said...hmmm... well, I'm pretty sure it was around April, but traditionally we celebrate it in December! Then he asked me the same question again....like I didn't even answer him the first time. I answered him about the same way, and he asked me again.... but do you know exactly when Jesus Christ was born? I said Look, hermano... it's a good thing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ? He said... yes. I said, well, it doesn't really matter when and where, if it makes us happy and it's something good. Then he just got mad a little I think and left. Kind of a random experience I think.

Also my companion and I gave talks in Sacrament yesterday. I talked about Zion in the ward and home, and my companion talked about references.

I just looked right now....10 days until I get to talk with you!!!! I'll be calling on the 24th for 5 minutes to figure out everything and we'll talk on the 25th for mucho tiempo! On Christmas Eve we have permission to stay out until 11. We're going to the Bishop's house....

Christmas is a little different than the states here.... it's more like new years. Bishop's going to have a ton of fireworks!! Yes!!! Then Bishop`s going to take us back to our room and we're going to go up on the roof (we live in the 3rd story) and we're going to watch the huge firework show at 12. It's a lot bigger than the stuff in the states because there's not really any rules....hahahaha.

We've been teaching Jordan....the boyfriend of Sonia a recent convert from Ermitao when I was there. Sonia is the daughter of Consuelo. Consuelo is the sister in law of Bishop here in Pinos. Basically I told you that because I was really close with the family of Consuelo back in Ermitao! I ate lunch in their house every Saturday. Now I've gotten to know ALL their family. Jordan has to travel for 1 or 2 weeks but when he gets back he wants to get baptized. He assisted Ermitao several times when I was there but lives here in Los Pinos. The challenge is that all his family doesn't want him to get baptized. They're Catholic. He's 19 so he's doesn`t exactly need permission...but he wants their consent at least. Last night we shared with him the story of the tree of life.... we related the people in the grand and spacious building to people that would impede us to make a decision extremely important in our lives. He knows the church is true. I know he'll make the right choice.


That's about it.

I love you very much.....MMMMERRRYYY CHRISTMASSSS!!!!!

LOVE,

ELDER LAYTON