Hey everyone!
It's been a pretty great week here in the PPM where the Christmas season is in full swing in Reading. We had a couple incredible miracles happen this first week of the transfer that just really renewed my testimony that God never ceases to provide miracles to those who diligently seek after them.
We did a good amount of finding this week even though the average outside was 30 in the past week (one day it was 15 degrees)! But we had faith we would find the elect and the Lord provided. We found this guy named Julio who just came out of his door to smoke a cigarette. We had a great conversation which led him to invite us in and we met his wife, Wanda, as well. It was so neat because they said they were looking for a church together to go to and missionaries talked to them before. They just didn't understand clearly what the Restoration was. So we retaught it to them and it all just clicked for them. They were excited to read the Book of Mormon and to go to church too! We also found a single mom named Iris who has been going through a lot of trials right now. But when we showed the Christmas video and testified of the Atonement of Christ, she really felt uplifted and wanted us to come back!
It was so great to just see how we were answers to others' prayers during this Christmas season, whether it's members or investigators, it really is a humbling experience to just represent the Lord and teach to their needs. It's also inspiring to see this happen with other missionaries in the Zone. On Friday, I went up to Pottsville and we taught one of their investigators, who comes to church every week and reads everyday from the Book of Mormon, but didn't want to quit smoking until Easter, but after we taught her, she felt so inspired to decide to quit smoking on the 6th of January and has a baptismal date for January 14th! It was a miracle she just changed it just like that. The Lord is just blessing all of the diligent Elders here in the Reading Zone as well as the PPM. It is just incredible.
Doing this service for the Lord really reminds me daily of the true meaning of Christmas. I'm grateful for the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm thankful we have this time to celebrate his birth and that His light that is extended to each one of us and we are able to receive Him at all times. I'm thankful for you all and the examples you are to me. The true meaning of Christmas is to come unto Christ, and we all have the opportunity to help each other achieve this worthy goal. May the Lord bless you all this Christmas season to give and to receive the most important gift of all. Thank you for everything you do, you all #LightmyWorld (Too much? Probably, but it's okay, it gets the word out).
Merry Christmas with Love,
Elder Cortes
Reading, PA
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