Singing in the Choir, A new, powerful, ally and teaching with the Spirit

What a week! Sorry I didnt get the chance to write last week. I was super rushed with internet time because we went to Monguagua to go on a hike with the other sisters in our zone. It was a blast!

I LOVE when missionaries come home to their home wards! they are always so excited for the work and ready and willing to do everything to help us. A brasileiro named W came home this week. He spent all of Wednesday with us taking us to the homes of his family members and friends he left behind before the mission. We met his cousin A, who is bom de mais! (the coolest). A is 18 years old and living a life that is contrary to the laws of Heaven, and he knows it. But he straight up told us in our first lesson with him that he doesn't think he can change. He wants to, but he doesn't think he can. He said, "Sister, I'll be honest. I don´t have the desire to change my life right now, but I have the desire to have that desire." He had no idea how powerful that desire to have desire could be. We left him with the commitment to read Alma 32 which teaches us about faith. Verse 27 touched his heart. It teaches us that if we just have the DESIRE (Sis Cabral has been teaching us a lot about our desires lately. D&C 11. We are going to get whatever we WANT. God gives us what we WANT, so we have to replace our hearts with a heart that wants what God wants so we can inherit all He wants to give us.) that desire is the catalyst to start a mighty change of heart.

Anyway, we taught A about repentance and his countenance illuminated and he was so excited to know how to apply it in his life. when we went back to teach the restoration he was so excited about the first vision that when we described what happened in Joseph's words, he was speechless and he was just like, it makes so much sense.... he accepted a baptismal date and he is going to be baptized the 19th of December!! :D I love teaching him, the spirit always fills the "front yard(?)" when we teach him and I haven't felt the Spirit THAT strong in teaching since we taught H.

Speaking of yesterday was one of the BEST DAYS EVER! I got to go back to Guaruja for one of our cantatas and all my people from Santa Rosa were there!! Including H. Now, that is complete joy. My heart was so full of alegria that I thought I might just die from happiness right then and there. My moms hugged me tight and wanted to steel me. haha. I got to see so many of the people that I LOVE so much! As I stood at the pulpit and sang of the Savior´s love for us and the remarkable gift He gave, I looked around and remembered the stories of the people sitting in the crowd. Everyone of them with a story of how Christ transformed them. I think of how Christ has transformed me. My heart was completely full. I am so grateful to be here. I am so grateful for the Savior. He's the reason I'm here. He's the reason any of this even matters. I love Him.

Anways, I feel like I'm rambling, but there is so much more that I could say about this week. Just know that I know that Christ LIVES. He is the way, the only way, that we can change. He is the only way that we can be forgiven for our mistakes and weakness. Think about Him this Christmas season and think of what you can give Him this Christmas. I love ya'll. have a great week!

Love,

Sister Byrne