Snow

Well, it's about time.

The temperature in L'viv has been hanging in that uncomfortable zone where it's not really cold, but the wind cuts you right down to the bone, and it's not quite chilly enough for snow, so it rains.  And today.... miracle.  Tender mercy, you might even venture to say;

Snow.

Well, it feels warmer, even though the temperature dropped!  Funny how that works out.

This past week has been mostly uneventful.  We did a bit of work in our Area Book, and we have been running back and forth, from and to the office.  

Nothing crazy like another fencing tournament.

It's been a nice week though overall.  We've had a few miracle with people wanting to meet with us and talk.  It's kind of tough to street contact with frigid wind blowing everyone to-and-fro, but it's not impossible.  Everyone seems pretty pumped about this He is the Gift project, and our mission president has advised us to focus as much as we can on starting conversations about Christ, using the fact that God gave the real first present of Christmas;  His Son.   It sounds like fun to me, and I've already heard of missionaries using it in a lot of fun and effective ways.  In L'viv, we've invited every member to invite a friend over to their home, have dinner and watch some Christmas Films, and then have the missionaries share a Christmas centered spiritual thought!  Pretty exciting :)

Thanks for all of the support and love!

I'd just like to share my spiritual thought with you this week about "Taking upon us the name of Christ".

Captain Moroni tore off a piece of his garment, and wrote upon it --

In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children

What do you have written all over your "garment"?
We are commanded to wash our garments in his atoning blood.  Bright red is not an easy color to hide...  in fact, many people might ask you about why you do things a certain way.  Why not smoke or drink?  Why live a chaste and virtuous life? Why not listen to this kind of music?  Wouldn't it just be easier to do it the way everyone else does?

 -- "And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites."

God, through his prophets, has planted the standard of liberty.  It's the example of Christ.  When we are baptized, we promise to follow that example, and make use of His Atoning Sacrifice.  Our garments are washed by His blood.  We become Disciples of Christ.  We take upon us HIS name.  And we must ALWAYS remember him, and keep his commandments, which he has given us.  We show it to the whole world, and we shouldn't be afraid.

So, this season is the best time of the year to get back to focusing on Christ.  Wherever our minds may be, or whatever may be our greatest concern at the moment, we ought to lay aside the cares of this worlds and focus on our Savior.  Share some of his love with everyone you can!  I'll try my best too ;)

I love you all very much.

I will keep you in my prayers, and I hope to see many miracles happen between the lot of us.  It's going to be a great Christmas Season!

Elder LeBaron