Elder Jacob F Smith: December 15, 2015 - Christmas time in Escuintla!!!

Wow. Cant believe I’m back here writing another email! I blink once and I’m writing my wonderful family yet again! Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season like I am and living it up in the good old Granite Bay.

We had a Christmas miracle type of week. We were able to baptize Araceli and Victoriano. They are sweet sweet people that I will always remember and hold dear to my heart. Araceli even gave her testimony this Sunday and said, ''I knew this church was true a long time ago. And now I’m finally baptized.'' Never too early and never too late! After his baptismal service on Sunday after church, our ward mission leader was about to end the service with a hymn and a prayer but our convert Victoriano got right up and said ''I want to share a few words'' (he was a former pastor from a Evangelical church) and boy did he share a few words! A little bit of his evangelical pastor came out but it was the sweetest testimony I have ever heard. He talked about a dream he had had where the Lord told him to jump up and grab a bar a few feet above his head. He jumped 3 times but couldn’t reach it. On the fourth time he jumped as hard as he could and finally got it. He said ''With that in mind, I have now been baptized 4 times. Take it as you will.'' What a faithful old guy that I have come to love so much!

We also had our Christmas devotional/activity as a mission last Thursday. We had to last minute plan for a zone Christmas presentation. Elder Wilkes and I furiously read Helaman 14, 16 and 3 Ne 1 to put together a little play about Samuel the Lamanite and prophecies of Christ. I think the highlight was when everyone started to throw dirty socks at Elder Serrano aka Samuel the Lamanite. That got a good laugh out of everyone. Then all of a sudden I hear Elder Wilkes saying from the pulpit (he was the narrator) '' Now we will listen to the testimony of Elder Smith'' ha ha ha it was the most hectic unplanned thing I’ve ever done but it ended nicely.

Man do I love you guys. I came out of that conference with 5 packages! I felt strange because most get nothing (except for this year because every Elder was given an awesome package from the mission) but I knew that I was holding 5 packages full of love! Thank you mom and dad and Matthew and Kathryn and Grandpa and Grandma Smith and the Robison Family and the Lebaron Family. I loved your gifts and treats and appreciate every effort and prayer on my behalf. The prayers are heard and candies are half eaten already! Thank you so much. And mom, fyi the tree and ornaments are all super glued on the wall now. Thank you for that labor of love!

Well its back to work now. We are doing great work here and I hope that the Lord feels the same. Love the Lord and Love His Work!!!!

Christmas greetings,

Elder Smith