Elder David Maynard: December 2016

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas! It was very special down here in Argentina and I loved seeing my family. I love you all tons! Merry Christmas!

Here in the mission another transfer has come to a close. The time passes incredibly fast. I have been super excited this week. I am ready to keep on working and pushing along in the Costanera Ward. We set some mission goals this week for the year 2017. Our goal is to have 600 baptisms for the year. We had about 380 baptisms in 2016. We are going to be starting out strong in January. We just got to keep working hard and I am super excited to do it.

We had a Christmas activity in the ward this week. We did a Christmas Talent show to ´´Light the World.´´ We sang ´´Feliz Navidad´´ with our chins (See the picture below!!) and everyone loved it. It was a super great time and everyone was full of the Christmas spirit. We had a family of investigators come and our good friends Mariana and Alejo came so it was a great activity for the missionary work too.

Our dear friend Liliana is doing awesome!!! We had some great progress with her this week. We took her to see a baptism and she liked it. I asked her if she is willing to do it and of course she said yes. We also did a service project for her this week. She needed us to take down a shed that is on the side of her house. It included smashing some things and a falling roof. It was super fun. As a missionary it is extra fun to smash stuff. It is stress relieving. Liliana also came with us to church yesterday. We got her cruising in the fast lane right now. We should start the new year off with a splash for sure. We are excited for January.

Christmas Eve was great! We spent some time with President Pérez. It included too much food, some jokes and laughs, and a few presents. The greatest part was that we had a little testimony meeting. I just felt so much warmth and comfort while listening to the testimonies of all of my friends here in the mission. The Christmas spirit was strong letting us all know about the truthfulness of our Savior Jesus Christ. Alma 7: 7 ´´For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.´´ The thing of most importance in this life is that our Savior came into the world. I know that He lives.

Christmas day was a special one too. I can already feel the summer heat. I sweat just as much as I do while playing basketball in Las Vegas. That is kind of gross but that is how hot it is down here. Despite all that we were able to have a great time in church and afterward we went around the neighborhood giving some gifts to friends, members, and investigators. Then I got to talk to my awesome family!! I love you guys!

Merry Christmas everyone! Also have a happy new year this week. I cannot believe that 2016 passed by so fast. it has been a great year. Continue to light the world and spread the joy of Christ to all. It is the key to happiness. I send you all my love!

Feliz Navidad,

Elder Maynard