FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!

Okay I am going to keep this letter short because I am going to talk to you on Wednesday!!!!

But this week was pretty good! We had a bunch of activities for Christmas so it was a little hard to get lessons and stuff but it was fun!!! We had the ward christmas party on saturday and it was a blast! The people here LOVE to dance it's crazy. I am sad because we can't dance and it was the biggest temptation. I wanted to dance so bad. But it was fun. The Elders sang a Christmas song and me and Elder Gringo sang Jingle Bells and everyone loved it. 

This weekend we also had a baptism!! We married the family on friday and then on saturday we baptized the wife. The husband was already a member but super inactive. But they want to go to the temple so they are on the right track!!! The problem here in Peru is there are tons of couples that aren't married but have like three or four kids. Getting married here is super super duper hard and just a pain in the butt. But the mission helps a ton with papers and money and everything works out. It was cool to see the change in them they are so happy right now! 

But one crazy thing happened. Right after the lady we baptized got confirmed on Sunday she started feeling super sick so they took her to the hospital. It turns out she had been pregnant for two months and didn't know it. Unfortunatley she lost the baby. It was just an insane occurance of events but she is going to be okay. She has two little girls already and I dont know if she could handle another. 

I got your package mom!!! HOLY CRAP THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Like for real, that was the best package ever. I love the 12 days of christmas. Best part of my day. It is so cool. You are the best. Thank you so much. And thank you for sending a package for my comp!!! I cant tell you how much he appreicates it. He literally has nothing. like everything he has, has been given to him. Everything. Thank you so much. You have given a 20 year old boy a reason to believe in Santa Claus. And I am being a good boy and I havent opened my presents yet. I am waiting but it is killing me. Thank you so much mom. Like for real. I can't describe it. You're the best. 

But that is all from me this week!!! I can't wait to see you on WEDNESDAY!!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!! Can't wait. I love you so much!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Poco a Poco

Love,

Elder McIff

Feliz Navidad! Feliz Cumpleaños! Feliz Vida!

Hey sweet family of mine!!! 

So this week for some reason I am feeling the spirit of Christmas like a ton!!! Like a bunch!! I don't know why but I am always singing Chirstmas carols. Its a little awkward because no one understands english. But I can't believe the snow there mom!!! That is ridiculous! I miss it... Chirstmas in the summer is just not Chirstmas. Its fake, or Bamba. But there are lights and christms trees at every house we go to so I guess it's okay!

I'm super glad that you are going to focus of Christ this season. I am doing the same thing. I realized it is the perfect season for missionary work because it is the season of Christ!!! I am just trying to keep the Spirit of Christ with me in this time. I love Christmas!!! 

This week was another rough one. My comp is now district leader and it is really a stretch for him. He really struggles with his memory and organization and it is really stressing him out. I am trying to help him but he doesn't trust me at all so it's difficult. But I am being patient with him and praying for him and doing all I can to help him out. Even if he doesn't want it. I hope that he can get the hang of it. It is also affecting our work. Our area is now half as small because we got some new missionaries (who are super cool btw, One american about to go home, and a brand new missionary from Ecuador) and now we have to find new ivestigators because right now we only have one. But my comp only wants to talk to members and less actives and I'm just like dude. We have to get inviestigators. Like we have to. And he just ignores me. Its a stuggle. But it is okay! I am trying my best to talk to people and serve the people!!

A cool thing that happened this week was the stake had a Peruvian cultural event!!! It was super awesome. All the wards had a different region of peru to represnt and they got all decked out in tradtional clothing then danced a dance from that region! It was super duper cool to learn more about Peru! Peru is such a cool place. Lima... not so much. It's kind of a hole... But the rest of Peru is Awesome!!!! I hope I get to visit it at the end of my mission! (wink wink).

But this week has been an interesting and trying one but I am learning paticene and learning to trust in my Lord! It is a good experience. 

Awkward: My comp was deathly sick yesterday so we just selpt all day

Awesome: I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!

Poco a Poco

Love,

Elder McIff

Uhhh... My Spanish is sleeping today

My title should say it all. I AM TIRED! Haha woof, this week was a tough long one! But I'll tell you about it later!

I love that you had a great time in Arizona! I'll be honest, I'm super trunked out right now! Haha but it's okay, I'll get over it! That is so hilarious what Jenni did. That kills me. Is she taller already? She looks like it! I'm sorry y'all got sick! That's no fun! But that happens everytime everyone gets together. I'm not surprised!! Happens everytime. I hope everything went well this week! I am super jealous. Tell Jill that in two years were having thanksgiving at her house again. If she says no just tell her that it will only be me. For some reason the computer cafe smells like turkey so I am DYING! haha. You should hear my Thanksgiving dinner. Thusday night I was on an exchange and the elder I was with doesn't have a pensionitsa that does dinner so we didn't have dinner! So what I did was bought like four panes (little bread rolls, super duper good) some ham, and some mayonaise, and thats what I had for my thanksgiving dinner! Super sad I know but it was super good for some reason!!!

Okay now for my week. WOOF! It was a long rough and tough journey. I don't think I have ever walked more in my life. To start the week, on Tuesday I went on slpits with Elder Carrolll and stayed in his area until Thursday. I returned one night to sleep in my own bed but that was it. And let me tell ya, his area is DEAD! We walked and walked and walked, pretty sure I did trek in a good two days. Luckily his area is completely flat. We hardly taught anything and contacted a lot but no one was really taking the bait. It was rough. But I kind of had a break down with him because I was just super frustrated with my comp and my Spanish and just everything and he made me realize that I just need to take things slow. In my blessing it says I will be a leader in my mission, so I've been trying to become a leader as fast as I can because honestly, I really really like it. But he mad me realize that I just need to take it slow and not try so hard. I've been promised. I don't need to worry about it. So now I am just taking it easy. 

But needless to say I am tired. I wake up tired and go to sleep exhausted. Its sooooo much fun. Haha just kids. But it will get better! Hopefully I get to rest today and gain back some energy. Things are getting better with my comp and I am just trying to be patient with him, even if he isn't patient with me. It will get better!!!

Last night though something super cool happened! I GOT TO PUT UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE!!!!! :))) The family we live with have a tradition that every first Sunday of December they have the elders come and put up Christmas decorations at their house. I honestly can't remeber the last time I was so giddy. I was a little too happy. It was so much fun. We had chirstmas music on and we put up and decorated the chirstmas tree and decoprated the whole house. I felt like I was at home! We couldn't remeber where stuff went, we ahd problems with lights, and Papi was getting frustrated with garland, just like dad!!! It was truly a tender mercy. I loved it so much. I was so happy. 

However I am still super super tired. Haha the one word to sum up this week is Tired. But it will get better!!!

Awkward: Is it awkward that I can't think of an awkard moment?

Awesome: We are getting two more Elders to our area tomorrow!!! Our area is getting slipt and so we are gonna get a lot more help. WOOHOO!!!

I hope you have a wonederful week!!! Get back to school!!! 

Poco a Poco

Love,

Elder McIff

Elder McIff and his beloved Christmas tree. 

Spider Elder??