Christmas is coming- Novmeber 12, 2012

This week was a great week! We had more members attend sacrament meeting which was fabulous! We almost don’t find in our little branch any more which is a good thing. We are enjoying working with the members. We have found the through the members there is a lot more real growth in the church. The actives get more actives and the less actives become active. The new members find new investigators as well as the less actives who seems to have more contacts with nonmembers.

The work is progressing and the mission overall has seemed to be progressing as well. I have seen how true it is that by small and simple things great things are brought to pass. A visit to sing a hymn, a note of enthusiasm, or a smile and a wave all have a rather important part of helping one another feel loved and I think that  is what the gospel is all about. Helping one another feel the pure love of Christ.

We are preparing for the Christmas holidays and remembered that Thomas S. Monson said that the spirit of Christmas is the spirit of Christ. Today we read Alma 18 15 (I think) which talks about bringing a soul unto Christ (and then later bringing many souls unto Christ) how great shall be our joy in the kingdom of Heaven when we rejoice with them. What greater gift can one give to another than the gift of the gospel, and invitation to a Christmas activity, the Devotional, a nativity. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. We are so excited about the Holidays and about being able to invite others to participate in the celebrations.

Thank you all for being so great. I love you and hope you all have a fantastic week. I hope that we can all find those small and simple ways to participate in the spirit of Christmas and invite others to do the same. I know its still only November, but the Christmas spirit is drawing closer day by day (even though I will be lacking the snow).

Love,

Elder Peine

Brother Manuel, just after having been ordained Elder