Happy New Years!!

Hello friends and family!!

I hope you all had a great Christmas! We had a very memorable Christmas, spent visiting our converts and singing hymns with them, eating lunch with our Elders Quorum president, and then of course, the video call! It was great to see how well everyone is doing, everyone looks happy and healthy, which is one of the best things ever (answered prayers). We then spent the night with our pension, they gave us dinner and we shared Christmas together.

This past week, I had the opportunity to do 3 baptismal interviews for the missionaries from my district. I think baptismal interviews are my favorite thing about being a district leader. It’s so fun to be able to sit down with these investigators who have made changes in their lives to be closer to the Savior. It’s been great to see their faces. They just seem so bright, so happy, so ready to take the big step of being baptized in Christ's Restored Church.

El Poder de la Valentìa: In our district meeting, we talked about the importance of the commitment in the conversion of the people. Sometimes it can be difficult to invite people to make changes in their lives. It can be uncomfortable at times, and if we are timid, it can be very difficult. In Preach My Gospel, we learn that as we extend commitments and invite people to change, we put on display our faith in the Savior, and that He will complete his part and help those that we teach. As we show courage, the people take notice, and often times accept the commitment. Hence the phrase to start the paragraph, "El Poder de la Valentìa". Literally translated, it means, "The Power of Courage". We have seen in our area and are now seeing in our District, that as we are brave in defending our beliefs and inviting others to do the same, they take notice, and the Spirit testifies of the truthfulness of our message.

In my studies, I was reading in Alma 30, where an antichrist named Korihor rises up among the people and begins to cause dissensions among the people. He attacks the believers, saying that they cannot know of something they cannot see, and cannot have hope in something they do not know will come. As I read, I thought, "There are alot of Korihors in the world today." And it’s so true! How many people do we know that say that we cannot believe, that there’s no evidence, that what we do is vane? I remember a quote from Dieter F. Uchtdorf that helps me understand where we stand as believers. He says, "Let me be clear: there is nothing noble or impressive about being cynical. Skepticism is easy, anyone can do it. It is the faithful life that requires moral strength, dedication, and courage. Those that hold fast to faith are far more impressive than those who give in to doubt when mysterious questions or concerns arise." May we hold fast to faith when the trials come, when those who doubt tell us we can’t, let us have faith and press onward!

I hope you all have a fantastic week, and a very Happy New Years!

Love, Elder Newman

Dad, sounds like a great Christmas break, being able to kick back and relax a little bit and go see some movies! It was great to see you guys too. :) What an awesome goal for temple work!! Love you Dad!!

Mom, well done on hitting the target out at a mile! Thats awesome! And congrats on getting accepted to BYU-Idaho! Have a great New Years! Love you Mom :)

Jackson, those are some stellar goals my friend! Sounds like some very fun dates, and a good time getting out and working out a bit! Lots of homecoming talks too, that’s awesome brother! Love you dude!!!

Emma, sounds like a great Christmas!!! It was great to talk to you as well. :) What a fun date with Caleb! Way to keep the kids safe, haha. Keep up the great work in drill! Love you Emma!!!

Sarah, sounds like you were living in the movie theater this week bear! I’m excited for New Years as well. :) Mostly just fireworks at midnight is the Bolivian tradition for New years. Love you Bear!!

Callie, it was awesome to talk to you too Callie! That’s so fun that you get to go to the Reay's for New Years! I could tell that the puppy is growing a lot! Soon enough she will be so big that you won’t be able to pick her up! Love you Callie!!

Mom’s Questions:

1. How was the rest of your Christmas? What else did you do after we talked? Did you have a meal with your pensionista? 

We had a meal with our Pensionista :)

2. What are your plans for New Years? How do Bolivians celebrate? 

Honestly, nothing. We aren’t going to be doing anything, haha.

3. What are your goals for this last year of your mission? 

I am still continuing with my goal to be bold in every situation, I also have the goal to use the Book of Mormon in EVERY lesson that we have. Also, to help me not think about the time (time left in the mission, how long in the area, etc.) I have stopped wearing a watch. It helps me focus more on the people. :)

4. Who are you teaching right now? 

Eber Bederano, he is 19 years old, and he came to church this week!!