Woo!
Well our New Year´s was probably one of the best New Years I have ever spent, and here´s why. A couple weeks ago, Elder Thomas and I were walking to an appointment and we saw this guy paving some cement outside his house. We asked if we could help, and after saying no (story of my life), we got to talking for a bit and got his name. Hugo. He told us we could come back another day, so a couple days later we came back. Shocker I know :)
He let us in, and we started sharing a Christmas Message focused on the gifts that we could give Christ this Christmas Season. We watched the He Is The Gift video, and after discussing the things we could do this season, we watched the new Christmas video that was put out by the church. By the end of the lesson, the whole family was in and listening, and we ended with a kneeling prayer, which was offered by Hugo.
We got pretty busy the next week and didn´t get a chance to go by. However, the Tuesday before New Years Eve, we came back over and he let us in (thankfully) and we began to teach the Message of the Restoration. Again, his whole family was present, and The Spirit was really strong in the lesson. After the closing prayer, Hugo asked us if we had plans for New Years. We didn´t. And so, yes, you guessed it, Hugo invited us over to eat with his family for New Years Eve!! The wife sent us off with some empinadas she had made and then on the 31st we came back for dinner. It was quiet, and they had everything set up for us. Softish music playing, we really just had a family dinner. Not only was it awesome because I don´t think I´ve eaten dinner one time since I left the CCM, but it was awesome because we spent our night with investigators, celebrating the New Year in a peaceful, sweet, unforgettable way. I will always remember that night. Anddddd the food was incredible, holy cow, ahhh so so so good. It was awesome :)
This is a family that has found a light in their lives, which isn´t really that unique. I think we all have times where we find light, heck, we are born with the Light of Christ! What makes it special is that, not only does this family accept the light and let it in, but they invited the light to come back over! I´m not saying that my comp and I are a light, but I do know that as Missionaries we carry the name of Christ on our chest. And I know that as Members of the Church we carry that name on our hearts, and a result of the covenant we made at baptism.
I don´t think we are the light, but we sure do carry it in our hearts and shine it, and I sure do wear it on my chest! I hope that this year I can follow the example of Hugo and do everything possible to keep inviting that light in my life.
Les quiero!
-Elder Hixon
