A White Christmas! 🎄

Hey yall! 

This week we celebrated Christmas! It's cold here and feels like Christmas so we made June 25 Christmas day! On Monday we put up our Christmas tree and decorated it! Then, throughout the week we did something every night to celebrate. We made gingerbread houses, Christmas cookies, had a sleepover with the other hermanas in our district and had a white elephant.

It was a white Christmas, because on Christmas Eve our friend Gaston got baptized! There was a little stress leading up to the baptism, but the service was special and the spirit was strong. Gaston was so happy and had a special light!

Alejandro (one of our friends we have been teaching for a while that is trying to stop smoking and drinking) went two days without smoking and drinking. He is really trying and he brought his son and son's family to church with him on Sunday! He was so happy to have his family at church with him. Also, one of our friends we met last week from Cuba came to church! He moved here and his family is in Cuba and Russia. He originally told us he would not be able to come to church on Sundays because he works, but the spirit did its work during the charla and he made the sacrifice to come to church. He told us after he really liked it and could feel peace! 

It has been so fun to listen to Christmas music and celebrate Christmas! But, we can have the spirit and joy of Christmas with us all year long by focusing on our Savior Jesus Christ. I love this quote, "In every season of our lives, in all of the circumstances we may encounter, and in each challenge we may face, Jesus Christ is the light that dispels fear, provides assurance and direction, and engenders enduring peace and joy." Christ is the light of the world!

Have a great week!

Hermana Neuberger 

Joy!

 Hola! 

This week was a normal week on the mish. Last pday we went to Cuidad Vieja and it was super pretty! We also saw the Uruguayan soccer team that won the world cup. Everyone was going crazy! 

We had intercambios on Tuesday and I was with Hermana Haynes. It was a fun day! On Saturday our friend Gaston passed his baptismal interview so he should be baptized this Saturday! 

 During church on Sunday we had a lesson on Christ's sacrifice for us. The spirit was so strong and our amigos were speechless...shoutout to Kevin (the best lesson ever). Later that day we visited a dot on our map and met a Venezuelan mom and her kids. The parents recently got separated and the mom wants her kids to have the gospel in their lives. We are going back this week to teach them! So please pray for Annie and her kids! Meeting them was evidence that God is aware of us...it was a miracle! We have been trying so hard to find and one of the last things we did this week was visit that point! It was a reminder to not give up.

Not going to lie this week was kind of hard. We have been trying everything to find people for the last few weeks but we have not had too much success. I was getting down on myself, but I love this quote my mom sent me, "Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmastime when we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” And we can feel it all year round. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy! That is why our missionaries leave their homes to preach His gospel. Their goal is not to increase the number of Church members. Rather, our missionaries teach and baptize to bring joy to the people of the world!” I love getting to talk to so many people every day and help bring them even just a little joy. I decided to come on a mission to help people find this joy through Jesus. I'm grateful for this opportunity to serve here in Uruguay even if it is hard sometimes! 

Also, happy fathers day! I am so grateful for my dad! He is the best! He is a peacemaker, loving, and always knows how to make everyone smile! I hope I can be like him! 

Have a great week!

Hermana Neuberger 

 

 

 

Elder Soares!

 Hey yall! 

I hope yall had a great week! Here is a recap of my last couple of weeks:

- We got transfer news and my comp and I are staying together in Montevideo for another transfer. The other hermanas in our ward are also staying...6 more weeks to party! 

- Hermana Finch turned 21! We had a fiesta and sleepover to celebrate! 

- We had an apostle come to our mission this week, Elder Soares. He spoke to both the missions in Uruguay. His message was uplifting and a good reset to the mission. It was also testament that we have a living prophet and apostles on the Earth today. It was fun to be with so many missionaries and see my friends! 

- Our friend Gaston is still progressing and should hopefully get baptized on the 24th, as long as he will take off his gorro!

- A couple weeks ago while we were doing some calls, we met a mom that is the only member of the church in her family. We set a day to visit her but she canceled a couple of times. However, this week we were able to meet with her and she was so nice. She has 2 teenagers and a husband that aren't baptized. We are praying we will be able to set a day to go back and teach her whole family, but they are super busy with school, sports, and family. So please pray Maria Noel and her family will have time to meet with us!!!

- We are still on the finding grind! Now that it is getting colder it's getting a little harder but luckily people still have to take their dogs to the park, jaja! 

- There is a smaller division of the world cup that has been going on and Uruguay won! We were trying to find during the championship game and nobody was outside. We all of the sudden heard "goaaallllll" and lots of cheering. Then, a few minutes later everyone came outside and started celebrating. There were cars honking their horns, people outside with drums and people waving flags. One old lady was outside banging her pots and pans together it was so funny! (And she was so happy about the victory she let us teach her the restoration real quick!) I went home and put on my Uruguay jersey and scarf! 

Some thing I loved that Elder Soares' wife talked about is the need to have a positive perspective. She said its okay to feel sad but its not okay to stay sad. Missionary work is joy, it's not a sacrifice it's a privilege. She said we need to change our attitude and make the best part of our mission the part we are facing right now. She said differences in a companionship can be an opportunity and the Lord can help differences be a benefit. She said if invite the Lord to be in our heart and mind in every moment, we will love the mission. I loved this! Lately, I have caught myself complaining and feeling bad for myself. The mission is hard, but if I change my perspective this part of my mission can be the best! I know only God can help us with whatever we are facing and Jesus Christ is always our companion!

Have an amazing week!

Hermana Neuberger