Letter 26

December 12, 2011

Hola mis queridos amigos y mi amoroso familia,

Deborah's baptism was amazing! The BEST experience I've ever had on my mission. She asked me to do the ordinance because I had never baptized anyone before. I was honored. I was really nervous to do it in Spanish.... mostly just because I thought I would forget her name. But I didn’t and everything went smoothly. Except I forgot to bring an extra shirt and I had to wear my wet one for the rest of the program afterwards... But it was ok. I’m so glad that I could leave Laredo with a baptism. Speaking of leaving Laredo......

Transfers......................................................ELDER STEWART is going to..........................................CORPUS CHRISTI! I leave tomorrow morning! I’m so dang nervous to be leaving my greenie area. I've made SO many awesome friends down here, but I know that the Lord needs me in Corpus right now. I’m SUPER stoked though. Corpus has a bunch of white people there..... so that’s going to be weird. Oh and black people too. And I guess perverts in some areas.... I can’t wait!! I'm gonna have some of Sis. Johnsons homemade Candy Apple Yams... straight from the Underground Railroad! (said in a black lady/Magic Johnson's voice) hahaha. Really though I'm excited. My new companion's name is Elder Wilde, and from what I've heard he’s pretty cool.  We'll do great! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me in Corpus!

Also a little miracle. Since Laredo is only 3 hours from Corpus I would usually have to leave straight from here. BUT I guess it would be easier for some people if I went down to McAllen and then to Corpus! So I'll probably get to see Elder Peterson after all! WOO!

I have not found the coat... and I don’t know what to do.... I can just buy a coat down here at the mall though... You don’t need to send me one. That’s a waste of postage. Send me a puppy instead.

Yeah, Elder Hunt and I had a problem with Bed Bugs one time... but it’s taken care of. We had to strip our sheets off our beds and then spray ‘em with some crazy chemical stuff. No worries.. that was like a month or two ago. Haha Elder Hunt and I have gotten to be really great friends. We do some pretty crazy stuff together... It has been raining pretty hard the last few days and Elder Hunt and I went on exchanges together. We were so wet that no one would let us in, so we just drove through a bunch of puddles on our bikes! It was really cold! hahaha. Then we went to the Illescas's house and AB made us some Raman and we ate it in his garage on an ironing board. It was so funny. We kept saying "HOOOOLLLLD MEEEEEE!" haha Matt Decker....  Elder Hunt and I are definitely going to hang out after the mission.

My bike is working ship shape. I’m gonna be in a car area in Corpus though so I wont be riding it as much now. Of course the lights flash.....

I have not had the chance to take a picture with Santa yet BUT don’t worry I will! I wont ruin the tradition! Hopefully today I can do it! I have a nice Stewart Plaid bowtie I can wear....

Yeah Austin sent me an email about that part of my setting apart. I loved it. I had forgotten that he said that about me and my mission and I’m really glad that Austin remembered. Ever since he sent me that email I've been doing my best to smile at everyone that I can. Not the cheesy ones... the good ones haha. You never know what kind of a difference you can make on someone with such a simple act. Like it says in Alma 37 "...by small and simple means are great things brought to pass..."

One year someone asked President Monson what he wanted for his birthday. He said he would like for everyone around the world to show an act of kindness to someone else. At this Christmas season, the time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, let us give Him the same gift. Show an act of kindness to someone in need. This is how by small and simple means are great things brought to pass. So smile. Say hello. Tell someone you love them. If we would all do this the world would be a better place; full of love for the Savior and for each other. "By this shall men know ye are my desciples, If ye have love one to another."

I love you.

-Elder Stewart