#65 November 28, 2015

This week was super fun! So Dad and President Silva have the same birthday, pretty crazy! But anyways we planned a surprise birthday for President this week and it was awesome! We talked to his daughter Rebecca, got the keys to his apartment, and rebecca got them out of there house so we could go in and decorate it with christmas stuff, put the cake, sweets and presents into place and waited. 

We got totally freaked out because their son Renan got home before they did and took us by surprise haha. But anyways President and Sister Silva got there and loved it! We got their favorite wedding picture that they have, took it to an artist in the center (which is a really cool place kind of like pikes place market) and he made a painting of it. We then got it framed. 

But it was way fun! President pulled out his mission box with all the cool things from his mission 30 years ago. He showed us his scriptures from his mission and dang the guy knows how to study! I hope to be able to know the scrips like he does one day. 

Also this week we have been planning the christmas conference and getting everything ready. We are going to do a white elephant party with all the missionaries and play a bunch of games. Make some funny videos and it is gonna be fun! 

Flavia left for Fortaleza this week and we pray that she comes back! Their relationship got a lot better! And I think she will come back! It is awesome how devoted Rubens is now. He is always reading the book of mormon and the bible and really getting it. He is one of the best investigators i have had with respect to studying and applying the book of mormon into his life. He is doing great! 

I read a really cool talk a week ago by Elder Christensen titled, "Seven Lessons in Sharing the Gospel". AWESOME TALK! He explains very simply how we can share the gospel in our busy day to day lives. He says, the commandment is to share the gospel, and if we all really believe in 1 Nephi 3:7 like we say we do, then we know the Lord will prepare someone for us to share the gospel with. It shouldnt be the responsability of the missionaries to find people. The mission president has the keys to baptism, the Stake President has the keys of missionary work. If everything was perfect we would just be teaching. But it isnt that way so we do everything possible to find as well! 

But it is not as effective! The talk speaks about marking a date with the Lord to find someone before that day, and doing everything possible as a member to fulfill that goal. Because the Lord wants us to find people! He wants people to come to the church so he is gonna help us out! 

But im out of time. Hope you guys have an awesome christmas season! Its the most wonderful time of the year! love you all! 

Elder Keller