Feliz Año Nuevo!

Amigos y Familia,

Matias

Things have never been better!  Here’s a little recap of December…  Rosio got baptized on the 15, got her temple recommend on the 23rd, and went to the temple on the 28th.  Carlos got baptized on the 22nd and reactivated his entire family. The whole family has come to church the past 2 Sundays and invited us to lunch this coming Martes.  And finally, Matias got baptized this past Saturday the 29th. So, it has been a very white Christmas ;)

I had an incredible 2nd Christmas here in Chile spent with amazing people that I consider my family.  Christmas in the mission is unlike any other. I have grown to appreciate more why we celebrate and the incomparable gift we have been given - the Savior and Redeemer of the World.  

As we close 2018, I want to invite all of you to reflect on how He has blessed you this past year and what you can do to become closer to Him in the year to come.

Thank you all for the letters, packages, emails, prayers, and constant support; I love you all!  

Feliz Año Nuevo!

Elder Vincent

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Dinner at the Lagos house 

Spiritual week

Feliz Navidad everyone!

Sorry I haven't written in a couple of weeks.  We've had a lot going on.  

Rosio got baptized on Dec 15.  She was so happy!! The next day Rosio and Matias (who is getting baptized next week) both shared their experiences and testimonies with some of our investigators in Sunday School class.  That moment filled my heart with such happiness.  I had the biggest smile haha.  

Working with Tony

I've also had the chance recently to go out and work with some of the people I previously introduced to the church.  In the morning we worked with Noberto (who I baptized back in October).  Really cool experience for me.  He is incredible.  Later that day, Tony (a Haitian who I baptized back in September) came out to work with us again which made me so happy.  We met another Haitian in the street and Tony bore his testimony and it was incredible.  Two amazing experiences with my converts in one day.  No better feeling. 

Hospital

On Dec 18th we got to go to the temple.  The last time I was inside the temple was a year and a half ago when I was in the language training center in Mexico City.  I didn't understand Spanish very well back then.  So, being able to understand everything in Spanish now, and actually standing in the Celestial Room where the Prophet stood a month ago, was easily the most spiritual experience of my entire life.  

Dec 22 we went to the hospital and sang Christmas hymns and gave out candy to all the sick kids.  Lots of tears from everyone who was there.  It was a very powerful experience.  Then we went downtown to the plaza and gave everyone we talked to a Christmas Liahona.  After that, we went to the church to baptize Carlos.  He came out of the water smiling and gave me a fat hug.  He was SO happy!  

Carlos

After Carlos's baptism we had a big ward Christmas party that we had been helping to plan for the last 2 months.  We had a choir, good food, decorations, etc.  It turned out really nice.  It's cool that Rosio is already part of the choir and was able to join them in singing that night.  She is dope.  

On Sunday we went to the temple and sang to all the people walking by which was cool.  Overall, it was a crazy spiritual and special week of my mission that I will always remember.  

Tonight we are having a Christmas Eve dinner at the Barriga's home.  Sister Barriga is like my Chilean mother.  Being with them is always amazing.  I'll take some pictures.  

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  I hope you are all enjoying time with your families as you celebrate the birth of Christ.  Thank you so much for thinking of me and writing me while I serve here in Chile.  I love reading your letters and think about my family and friends back at home all the time and how blessed I am.  

Feliz Navidad!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Vincent 

Rosio

Christmas Conference

Rosio

Another busy week!

Hey Everyone,

Things here in Concepcion have never been busier.  All is well in Cruz del Sur.  We are working a lot with Rocio, Carlos, and Matias who are preparing for baptism along with a few others.  This past week I was in Santa Sabina on a week-long interchange with the AP.  It was a great learning experience traveling the mission, working with tons of missionaries, and helping the mission reach its potential.

One experience I want to share is from Wednesday when I went to work in a zone called Chiguayante.  I worked in an area in Chiguayante named Tierra Bella back in the beginning of this year. While there recently, I got to talk to the missionaries in Tierra Bella and they told me they had just come from eating lunch with a woman named Fresia, who I baptized back in March.  I learned that she is still very active, gives lunch to the missionaries every week, and will enter the temple in a few months.  But the best news of all is that her son now too is a member of the church.  She is a great example of truly enduring to the end.  

This week was full of many personal and spiritual experiences that I will remember forever.  I continue to feel blessed to be here in Chile, to help all come unto Christ, especially during this Christmas season, helping all to know of the great gift Christ has given us.  

Thanks for all your letters and support.

With love,

Elder Vincent

Mosiah 14: 3-7

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.