My first Christmas in the mission field was very difficult. By then I had been serving in the Mexico Puebla Mission for four months and was in my second area. Not only was my experience dampened by the fact that it was my first Christmas away from home but, sadly, we as a mission had been greatly affected by the recent passing of one of our missionaries. I had known him very well from our first days as missionaries in the MTC. Now I found myself serving in his area, visiting the people he had taught and living in the last room he ever occupied.

My companion and I had not been invited to any dinners that night because we were in a fairly new area with very few families and not even a chapel to meet in. We were sitting at home when my companion, who was from El Paso, Texas, said, "Let's go play a few Christmas carols for people with my violin and you can sing for them."

"You're crazy," I said. "I don't know how to sing."

But my companion insisted and soon we were knocking on strangers' doors. Door to door we went, asking people if they wanted to hear us sing something for them. Not everyone agreed, but some were willing to listen.

These complete strangers would let us into their homes and we would sing one or two carols for them. A few of them were really impressed. Others not so much.

One of those families, a father, mother, two daughters and a cousin, thought the music was so beautiful that when we finished they were all smiling. Some even got a bit emotional. We told them if they were interested in listening, we had a message that related to the songs they had just heard. They agreed and we began to teach them. Three months later they were baptized.

I will never forget the words my companion shared with me when I had first arrived in the area.

"Elder Valenzuela," he said, "since the death of that missionary there have been some very strange things happening here and it seems the adversary does not want the work to progress in this area. Let us be faithful and worthy to the Lord so He may bless us."

Those words remained with me. I am grateful I went out with my companion and worked hard that Christmas despite my somber mood. Had I not done so, I never would have witnessed that wonderful family receive the greatest gift our Father in Heaven has to offer His children. • Marcelino Valenzuela Rivas, Paraiso Ward, Tijuana Mexico La Mesa Stake