¡Prospero Año Nuevo!

Hey errybody! I've contracted a disease this wonderful P'day... driving in on the combis, I always get "flojera".. haha. I just get super lazy after riding the combis to come into Central to get on the internet. I'm sleepy tired. Changes were last night, but Elder Garcia and I aren't going anywhere! However, Elder Lamb is heading out, and a Latino is coming in in his place.. so. I'm thinking, this next change, I'm going to loose a good portion of my native tongue, which is kinda super cool, and a little sad at the same time...

But, this week was super cool! Got to talk to my family! (Merry Christmas to me!) But, Christmas Eve, my companion and I spent all day teaching with our box, and dead serious brought a couple people to tears with our piledriving spiritual power. We're just that good. In the night, went to a members house, ate some really yummy turkey, and then went back to the room. We may or may not have purchased a 3 liter Inca Kola, some paneton (like, fruit cake. It's a Christmas tradition here), and played Monopoly til midnight, BUT it's cuz we wanted to witness a tradition here. At midnight, everyone lights off fireworks, and it is super sweet, cuz it's EVERYONE, at the same time. We were able to look out our windows and just see for miles, fireworks everywhere. It was super cool. Um... Christmas, not a lot happened. Everyone was busy basically, so we didn't do much other than call our families..

Really, not a ton happened this week til the end. Saturday, we had an activity for Christmas/New Years. Like, 60 people came, we (the missionaries) taught the Restoration with some sweet visual aids that I thought of (again... just that good), and then ate some food. It was pretty sweet. Got a couple references, and some of our investigators and less actives came. 

Sunday too was super cool. The goal for members in Sacrament Meeting for this year here in La Joya was 100, and we've been hovering about 90 every week. Yesterday, we had 104! BOOM! It was awesome. We basically talked about families and temple work yesterday, and it was maybe my favorite Sunday out of my whole mission so far. The kids had a big activity that they ate paneton and hot chocolate and got toys, the youth were watching Mormon Messages, and the adults were talking about temples and families, and the last hour, we talked about temples and stuff more. It was just like, awesome. The fact that our families can be together forever is seriously the best gift we can possibly have. It was just a really good time, and was sweet to see the families here who are sealed. The people here really are pioneers, and their kids are gonna be the next generation to lead and direct this church. They rock. I love these people.  

Um. But, I think that's it... Not a lot today. Alex has been coming every week but his dad still wants proof that he's ready. We have planned this week to do everything in our power to get permission to baptise him. Hopefully! Jessica and Gabriel are new investigators that we have that are progressing really well, so I'm excited about that. Yesterday, we met a few new familes that I'm excited about. I'll let ya'll know next week how they're doing. Anyways... until next year! Love and miss you all!

-Elder Richman