Week 18 Triple of Nothing

Dear friends,

All good things come to an end. Apparently mine and Elder Lopez's companionship was just too good because this week we got a surprise phone call from the APs, always exciting. Three days later, had to say goodbye to Elder Lopez because of an emergency transfer (he's staying in the mission). And now Elder Vargas, Elder Gareca, and I are in a trio over two wards.

The switch happened during our Mission Christmas Conference, which was a blast! Tons of games, Presidente played futebol with us, a great lunch and dinner, as well as Christmas music. It was a little draining, especially two nights back to back traveling, but was well worth it.

With all that traveling and preparing for emergency transfers, I wasn't sure if everything would be ready in time. But last night, we were able to have the baptism of our friend Jereson, so I guess it's a white Christmas afterall.

Hearing Christmas stories from President Tonini reminded me of one of my favorite Christmas stories, which takes place in an orphanage. In which, the kids waited all year to receive their Christmas present, a singular precious Orange. In the year of this story, one boy loses this privilege as punishment for his misbehaving, which felt like a penalty unequal to the crime. And yet, at the end of that Christmas day, the young boy returns to his bed and is surprised to find not a whole orange, but eight slices, put together by the other boys. And this is the Spirit of Christmas.

Merry and Bright (and soon to be rained on),

Elder Pinkney