Transferred to Santa Maria, Baptism of Eduardo

Nativity Scene in Santa Maria, Carson looking over the Baby Jesus

 

How was your week?
Really confusing and hectic. but now it´s just perfect because i know the Lord works in mysterious ways. I´ll explain everything that is going on below.

What are your plans for Christmas (besides Skyping us)?

We are going to be eating with a lot of other missionaries. Then we will be visiting some less-active members and playing some basketball.

Can you email us back your Skype account user name & password ?

I honestly have no idea what it is. I´ll have to figure it out tomorrow. if anything I´ll just make a new account.

Did you have a Christmas Program yesterday for church?

Kind of. Just the little kids got up and sang a song, then the bishop gave the final talk on Christmas.

Did you get packages (2 flat ones from us, 1 big box later from us, 1 from Grandma Frome and 1 from Grandma Shepherd)?

I got a package from Grandma Frome and Grandma Shepherd.

Hello Family!

Okay so today will be fairly short, but I will explain what´s going on. On Wednesday we had our zone conference for my area in Rosario do Sul. After the training President talked with me and asked me if I would be willing to transfer to Santa Maria. He told me he needed me here. I was kinda bummed, but I said okay. The crazy part was that I was supposed to pick up a bus the next morning to come here, so I had literally no time to say goodbye to anyone - ( I picked up a new missionary. He is from Santiago, Chile. He speaks like 80 percent Spanish. His full name is Italo Benjamin Gula Chacoff. I really like him though and we are getting along really well. We live with the assistants.... I am pretty sure that´s why President had me come here. Because I have been doing divisions with them, and I`ve been the senior companion?

We all went and played basketball this morning, so that was like the highlight of my time since I´ve been here. Elder Gula got transferred here last week too, so we are basically opening this area. The elder´s that left here had a baptism marked for Saturday, so I baptized my first weekend here! haha. it was really sad leaving Rosario, especially after watching that area grow so much. I got there with 45-50 people at church and left there with 70-75. I really wanted to see the area get to 100. Oh well, I did my part and the lord will now take care of the rest! They will have baptisms all throughout January now. Sorry today is going to be really short. I´ll attach a photo of the young man we baptized on Saturday. His name is Eduardo. He´s 14, a way cool kid. He´ll be really good in the young men´s program. 

Eduardo's Baptism,  In Santa Maria December 22, 2012

 I went from one of the smallest branch's in the mission to the strongest ward. There were about 130 people at church yesterday. I´m in the middle of Santa Maria, so it´s way different with huge buildings all around and people everywhere to talk to.  But..... lunches have been amazing!!!! I´ll be able to describe it all to you tomorrow.

I´ll still be calling you around noon your time.  

I love you all! Merry Christmas!

Love,
Elder Shepherd