Hello December !

Hola Mis Amigos!!

Como estan a hoy? I hope this letter finds you all well. I feel the Savior's love for each of you during this holiday season!

I cannot believe that we are already in the last month of the year. These last almost five months since I entered the Missionary Training Center have just flown. In the mission, I feel like the days are long sometimes but the weeks are short. Every Monday I stand amazed that I have arrived at another week.

This week I would like to spend some time devoted to Christmas. Here in Laredo it does not feel like Christmas. There is no snow, the sun is shining and the coldest that it has been is 57 degrees. Needless to say at 57 degrees we get out our sweaters and turn on the heat!

Every year on the first Sunday of December the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and his two counselors give a Christmas address. This address reminds us that past the commercialism of Christmas with its beautiful trees, perfect presents, and ugly-sweater eggnog parties lies the true and real meaning of Christmas. Christmas is a day that we put aside to remember the Savior to think about his humble birth in a stable more than 2000 years ago.

Christmas is a time to remember the prophecies of old that spoke of Christ. People faithfully waited for the coming of Christ. I think of their faithfulness to know without a doubt that Christ would come and redeem them. That even though they might never know Christ or be able to read of Christ's life here on earth, these believers remained faithful. I wonder would my faith have remained before the coming of Christ? A question that I will never find out because that prophecy was fulfilled when Christ was born.

As each of you prepare for this Christmas season, I encourage you to do something different to remember the Savior and the true meaning behind Christmas. For some of you that may mean dusting off those old Scriptures and reading of his birth in the Gospels. For some it might mean praying for the first time in a long time. To others, it might mean talking with a friend who does not know of Christ or somewhere along the way has lost faith in Christ.

What ever it may be, make a change this year during the Christmas season to put the Christ back in Christmas.

Con Amor,

Hermana Zani