It's December 19th and LIFE IS AWESOME!!!

This has been an awesome week! One of our investigators got baptized and we have two baptisms for Christas Eve (a brother and sister)! Jackie's baptism was beautiful. She found us and has been completely prepared for the gospel. She understands so much and accepts it all with faith. She's read a lot of the Book of Mormon and says it makes her cry sometimes because it just fills her up inside. It was definitely a special day for all of us! Jorge and Karina are getting baptized this Saturday and they're very much like Jackie. Their parents were less-active and since we've been coming they've made changes in their lives very gracefully. They pray as a family and read the Book of Mormon; and they've testified of the happy changes they've seen happening. They're sweet and sincere and they have sooo much love in their home! The gospel IS TRUE! I love missionary work!! The people that we teach are prepared to hear this message and it's beautiful when they recognize the truth!

I'm excited for a Christmas in the mission field and I'm not homesick at all. People always look down on it and think it's a sad thing, but it's special! I'll only have 2 Christmases in the mission field and I'm thankful for them! Everything's different and special while you're out on your mission serving. I think it will be a lot of fun and a very special Christmas! It already has been! Check out the mission bloghttp://nevadalasvegaswestmission.blogspot.com/ to find out what we did this last Saturday. It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE THE BEST DAY EVERRRRRR! I loved it all!!!

Being a missoinary is RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING!! There aren't words to describe it. We see miracles!! I love my life and my love for my mission is just growing and growing. I've come to cherish it even more. Many missionaries here talk about how Nevada is their home and I'm starting to feel that now. This is where I belong. Being a missionary is who I am. I feel like coming into the mission field means shedding your old skin and creating a new missionary identity. I've been going through this process and now, 4 months out, I feel like I'm fully a missionary. Training has a lot to do with it. I'm working my buns off!! haha. That dedication is real! As a missionary, you experience A LOT each and every day! I looooove it though! I feel like I'm truly living life more than I ever have before. My joy has become more full and I'm one happy person!!!