Hey so are people putting up Christmas lights in Santapoke yet? They are here and I love it. I LOOOOVe Christmas time, and Christmas Music and everything about Christmas. I love being a servant of the Lord whom we celebrate at this time of year.
Just so you know, last Thursday, E. Pavlakos, E. Pratt, Sis. Nielsen and I went downtown to the sheriff's office and got booked.... Just kidding. We only got background checks for our new visa applications and everything was clear. So that was cool to know that we took a step forward in the process. I'm grateful that I get to stay here for Christmas. The lights, the cold, the snow, the songs, they all just hit me straight in the heart. I try not to let it distract me, but I just love everything about this time of year. I could go on about Christmas, but I'll save that for later.
Something really cool happened yesterday. As you know, Fast Sunday was yesterday, and let me tell you, testimony meetings in Spanish branches are different than any one I've ever been to before. You know how one of the counselors from the bishopric usually starts it off and ends by saying, "The time is now yours..."? Well that was still the same, except it was in Spanish, but what was different was that while he was talking people starting getting up. At first it was just a couple. They got up and sat in the choir seats on the stand. Then more people stood up. It was a nearly constant flow of people standing up to wait in line to bear their tesitmonies. By the time the counselor finished, half of the choir seats were filled with people wanting to compartir their testimonies. The meeting went over by like 15 minutes as everyone from the stand bore their testimonies. The same exact thing happened in the second branch we went to yesterday! It was so incredible to see. There wasn't a second when someone wasn't moving towards the pulpit to share their testimony. I didn't catch all of the words that were said, but just the scene that I was seeing was just as strong as any verbal testimony that could be heard. I've never seen anything like that before, and I don't think I'll ever forget it.
I've found that the language barrier is kind of like a super filter to my own testimony. I have to think so hard when I bear my testimony as I try to translate from English to Portuguese to Spanish. There are often long pauses in between words, and even longer gaps between sentences, But I mean every single word I say in my spanish testimony. Every word is such a deliberate effort that it's nearly impossible for me to say anything but "pure testimony" when I'm in spanish mode. It's been such a blessing to see my testimony from another point of view, to simplify it and distill it, and to share it with humble, loving people. Spanish has been a big challenge for me, but it's been a big blessing too. I love being able to share my testimony. My testimony has become more precious to me than it ever has before. It has become more REAL than it ever has before, and I feel so blessed to bear my witness of the reality and the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. He truly is the Son of God, and He is The Savior of the World. He brings families together. He heals hearts. He performs miracles. He does it everyday. And He offers His Love and His Grace and His Mercy to anyone who will accept it. Family, I love you so much. Merry Christmas! Thank you for everything!
Love,
Elder Rogers
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