Happy Thanksgiving!

So, to tell you the truth, I realized yesterday that this Thursday would be Thanksgiving. Kind of sad, right? But they don't celebrate it here, so I guess that's just part of the whole new culture experience. I remember last year, there was one person who remembered. And she gave us scrambled eggs with hotdog pieces to celebrate. :) Yum. We'll have to see if anyone remembers this year. I kind of doubt it. 

Anyway, this week was pretty much the best. We had a baptism on Saturday! Which was basically a miracle. Johanna's been attending church the past few months, but she kept saying she was going to move to Medellin and get baptized there. But she went to Bogota, and met up with Elder Ure, who had taught her, and they decided on a baptismal date. So on Saturday, we got to work with my awesome friend, Elder Ure who came out just for the baptism. He's assistant now, so he has those kind of priveleges. Haha. He was actually out here to work with the zone leaders, but he worked with us, and his comp with the ZL's, so he could come to the baptism and baptize Johanna. It was an amazing baptismal service. There were more than 30 members there, and they even brought cake, and cleaned the room beforehand and after, and everything. We just showed up, filled the font, and sang the musical number. We made an awesome trio, btw's. :)

So, I'm feeling lots better this week. We're starting to gain the confidence of the members, and this Sunday, the Bishop had us speak in Sacrament mtg. Despite only having Saturday night and Sunday before church to prepare, I think my talk went fairly well. I talked about the differences between Lehi's 4 sons. Laman was actively disobedient, Lemuel basically just did whatever Laman did. Sam followed Nephi, but Nephi was 100% obedient, no matter what anyone else said or did. So I talked about how we need to read our scriptures and come to church because we want to, not because our mom drags us out of bed, or because we "have to". This church has something very unique about it. Every single person in this church is a member because they've had a personal experience with our Heavenly Father, and a personal answer to a prayer. We're not here because we have to be. We're here because we want to be. In this world, it's not enough to just do what's cool, or what's "in". Because in our day and age, living the gospel just plain isn't. We need to do it when it's easy, when it's hard, when it tries us so much we think it's not even possible. That's what Nephi did. He lived the gospel when the rest of his family was, and he lived the gospel when his brothers were beating him with a rod, or when they tied him up on the boat and everyone was about to drown. That's what we need to do. Live the gospel because we believe it. 

DyC 58:26-27

DyC 76:79

There's another scripture that I used that I can't find. It said basically that we're not obligated to come. Whoever wants to can come and drink freely of the waters of life. 

So. Live the gospel. Y punto. 

Anyway, hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. :) I know I will. I'll be working all day, but I guess that's what I'm here for, right? ;) 

Love y'all.

Elder Cannon

P.S. I can't upload pics...sorry. I'll get them to you next week.

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