Week 24: I don't know Christmas is in a week

Hola,

How's everyone doing?

We had a solid week down here in Copán Ruinas. Lots of really good lessons that helped strengthen my testimony and also lots and lots of walking.

We had transfers this week and child protective services did not take my kid away from me so we will ball out together one more transfer in Copán before I leave. I also got assigned to be district leader so that will be interesting having some more responsibility but I'm excited to learn more.

We did a lot of service this week and I just love service, especially at this time of year. It's the best way to celebrate Christ and remember his life. And we celebrate Christmas because of what he did during and after his life. Please go watch The Christ Child video and the behind the scenes video this Christmas. They are so powerful.

We had one lesson this week with an inactive recent convert that might be my favorite lesson yet in the mission. We were sitting in the back of a truck bed discussing the plan of salvation (my favorite thing ever) and just asking her question after question and the Spirit was so strong and guiding every word of every single one of us. Her face absolutely lit up at the idea of being able to go to the temple when it is finished in 4 months. I could not stop smiling as I saw the potential this girl has as a member of the church and thinking about all of the people who are so anxiously waiting for the temple to be completed. I am so blessed to be able to teach the plan of salvation in this special time in Honduras with a temple about to be completed in my mission. For all those reading who live close to a temple, please don’t take that extraordinary blessing for granted.

As I reflect on this week, I realized something that I have taken for granted my whole life. Prayer. This week, we had more opportunities than ever before to teach people how to pray. How special is that?! My whole life, I have been familiar with this gift and been blessed immensely by it. But there are so many people who don’t know they can talk with their Father in Heaven. People who don’t know they can lay out all of their problems, concerns, fears, joys, questions, etc. on the table to someone who knows exactly what they are going through and can help them exactly how they need. It is very special to help teach people of this comfort and constant help we all have access to through our faith and every day I am more and more grateful for the time I have to serve my Savior.

Love you all so much! The Gospel is everything!

Élder Snyder