Hermana Amanda Sheirbon: Feliz Navidad 🎄

I just want to express my gratitude for the birth of The Savior, Jesus
Christ. He is everything! He is my best friend. Yesterday was really
special because when I first came to this area on June 8th, I met a
lady here who had been reactivated by the hermanas before me, yet her
husband wasn't really wanting to come back to church and they really
didn't want to baptize their son. Well, through a lot of prayers and
visits and friendship, the husband has come to church a few times now
and their son was baptized yesterday! Also, they want to get sealed.
It was such a special day to see their whole family there. It was one
of my favorite parts of the mission. Michael, their little son, was
just so excited. That's the joy that Christ brings. When we choose to
follow him, we can be happy. We had the best district meeting ever
this Friday all about baptism and why it's important, and I never
understood why before. I really didn't. I thought it was like you left
your sins in the water and that was it, but it cleans you because of
the atonement of Jesus Christ and the promise you make with him when
you're baptized. It's like a contract. We promise Him we will be
humble, have a contrite spirit, a broken heart, we have repented (and
will continue to, are willing to take upon us the name of Jesus
Christ, and serve Him to the end.... and in return, He promises us a
remission of our sins, to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost, to
be happy, and have eternal life. The way we sign this contract is the
specific way Jesus Christ has shown us; by baptism by immersion, by
the proper authority, at the correct age. Because Christ is our
exemplar and this is what he did. Of course we are going to fail. I do
often. That's why we go to church each week to renew our "contract",
or covenant of baptism. We can start new each week. Isn't that
awesome? It isn't the water exactly that makes us clean. It's what we
promise to do that makes us clean, and the atonement. I am so grateful
for Jesus Christ and all he's done for us! I love you all dearly. ❤️
Have the best Christmas ever!

Love, Hermana Sheirbon