Sister Kassidy Walstad: FELIZ NATAL

First things first: I am very sad to pass through Christmas without my family and it doesn't really feel like Christmas (AKA 110 degrees) but it´s okay!

Second thing, this week was the first week of Transfer #4 and honestly it went really well! We reset that date with Bruno and he is feeling way stronger and more excited than before and we were able to have 19 lessons with a member present, which is always good for the pesquisador because they see that there are normal people in the church and not just 2 strange chicks from other countries that can't drink Coke:) Awesome!

Third, Sister Portillo worked with us this week:) She travels and works with different people rather than stay in one area. Can't believe she goes home in January!

Last thing, we had out Christmas conference with the entire mission and it was way cool! Way fun to see my CTM buddies all together. And nothing changed. It was the same fun crazy relationship and it was the best to catch up on everything that's happened the past 5 months. Also Elder Smith and I sang “Silent Night” in Portuguese and English but I sadly don't have the video. It was cool.

Quick Story: We were knocking doors when we found Suelen. She accepted our invitation to go to church and to leave a message with her. We went back and taught the Restauração. She let us finish, acting like an elite from God, just to say, "Na verdade.. Eu sou membro da sua igreja. fui batizada faz 22 anos" Translated that means "The truth is I am a member. I was baptized 22 years ago" But she has since then left the church and wants to return. It was INSANE PEOPLE. INSANE!

I am been forgetting my “blue popsicle” moments and I want to start again. So my blue popsicle this week was a very special quote from a very awesome person named Mike: "When you need to get from one peak to a higher one, you must first pass through a valley"

Now to end this all, I want to leave a thought I had during this time of year. It's been very hard to be away from home during Christmas, as I am sure you can all imagine. But the spirit of Christmas is something that can't change. Christmas in Brazil is not “Christmas”, but it is something we have to remember personally… to remember that because of our Savior and Redeemer we literally are never ever alone. Because of Him we have a second chance a million times over. Because of Him we can have complete joy. I know this Christmas will be very different for many of us, but never forget to thank our Father in Heaven for sending our Savior to take our hand and carry us through. It is all because of Him. I love my Savior. I love my family. I love you all!

Merry Christmas. Feliz Natal... graças ao salvador, podemos vencer tudo. Sem esse conhecimento, eu não poderia estar aqui. Eu amo Jesus Cristo. (Translation: Thanks to the Savior, we can overcome everything. Without this knowledge, I would not be here. I love Jesus Christ.)