Letters From Lima North: First christmas in Peru

Dearest Family!!!

I LOVED SEEING YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACES AND HEARING YOUR SWEET VOICES CHRISTMAS DAY!!!! You seriously are the best and I LOVE LOVE LOVE you guys!!!!

Here´s my week! Because although it was Christmas, there were still a million things to do here in Canto Rey!

Monday: We worked on Monday in preparation for the Christmas Eve celebration with the mission and it was Royer (our awesome pre-missionary friend)´s last day here in Canto Rey. He was leaving to go back to his house in Cusco to prepare for his mission. It was quite sad, but we had a little gift exchange and he will be coming back in Febuary right before he leaves and promised to visit me! HAhaha.

Tuesday: we worked well. And I ATE ORMIGAS!!!! I´m not sure how to spell it in Spanish, but in English, it means ANTS!!!! Ahhhhh!! It´s a huge thing in the Selva (Jungle) here and the Tomanguillo Family´s dad just got back from the Selva and brought them! Ahhh! You toast them and take off the legs and stuff, but wow... It was... WEIRD!! When you bit into it, it squished with juices... Ew. Hahaha. I don´t know if I would like to eat them just for a snack again, but it was an experince and I´m glad I tried it! Hahahaha.

My companion called her family that evening for the precall, and while I was waiting, this guy came out of one of the phone booths and asked me if I was from Japan and started to talk to me in Japanese.. Hahaha. When I told him I was from the states but born in China, he talked to me in English, but tried to convince me that I was from Japan... Hahaha. Weird.

I also talked to the guy who owns the locotorio (the place where you can make international phone calls and all) and talked to him about the Church. He was totally atheist, but it was nice to talk to him.

That night, we bought Norky´s (a little expensive-- but my favorite...) and I bought some for Hermano Miguel becuase hius birthday was the next day!

Wednesday: I CALLED HOME for my PRECALL!!! Seriously, the highlight of my day was hearing mom pick up the phone!!! Ahhh! Heheehe

Our ward had a chocolatada that night, which is basically a little Christmas celebration where the different organizations (primary, YW, Relief Society) do a little song thing. It was quite cute!

In my room that night, I did a little ode to Star Wars and put my hair in Princess Lea buns-- Just for fun... Hahahaha

Thursday: We woke up early and went to the Mission Offices to celebrate CHRISTMAS EVE!!! It was fun!! There was a dodgeball tournament and we ate a bunch of hamburgers and hotdogs and sodas and had a little sketch show! The sketches were goofy but super funny!

ÇOur president made a video about the mission and we completed our goal for the year of 1,600 baptisms for 2015! We were so excited!!! It was fun to see all the CCM peeps again too. I love them!

We spent Christmas Eve with the Tomanguillo Family and ate Panetone and Hot Chocolate. They are awesome! We stopped by the Familia Lavado´s house and they fed us a bit of Lamb (yum) and Chicha Morada (this drink made from purple corn)

Friday: At midnight on Thursday night, World War 3 Started in the form of Fireworks! Hahahah. Seriosuly, we went to bed at 10:20, and woke up at 12 to fireworks going off like crazy! Huge, huge, loud fireworks!! Ones that would be totally illegal for normal citizens to have in the US, but it was awesome! we watched for like, 10 minutes and then went back to sleep! ahaha

In the morning, I OPENED MY STOCKING!! woot woot! Everything was awesome!! I loved everything! And we ate the Stephen´s peppermint hot coco! Yum!

We went to the Familia Abanto´s house to call our famlies!! Unfortunately, the laptop nor tablet were working, so we had to all take turns on the fmaily computer. I was last to have more time (sorry you had to wait 2 hours for me, family... Heheh. Love you) but it was so worth it!!!! Seriosuly. I loved seeing you guys! You rock! and look the same as wehen I left, which is awesome! you haven´t changed too much! Hahaha.

After we hung up (a little bit of tears) but then Hermano Miguel. who is a clown for one of his jobs, painted us like clowns!! Hahaha. It was crazy!!! We made a little Christmas video for him to send out to all his missionary friends too.

The rest of the evening was nice, we taught some lessons and finished the night with the Familia Sanchez helping them clean their house a little. Haha. They redecorated.

Saturday: We worked all day in preparation for the baptism of the Lavado kids... But..... There mom couldn´t make it and didn´t want to miss it and she felt they weren´t ready... It was so sad and frustrating. She felt like they were worse at fighting and all that. Strange. But they are GOING to be baptized this Saturday! Woot!

Sunday: Normal Church :)

Welp... Today, we find out who has changes and everyone is pretty sure I am leaving the Good Old Canto Rey... I am not sure totally, but I feel ready for whatever happens. I really have loved my time here. It is crazy how time has flown! We know who leaves after Internet time and the changes will be tomorrow! So you won´t know for a bit if I´m still in Canto Rey or not. But know that I am well and that I´m trusting in the Lord. He knows me and knows what I need.

I loved thiking about Christmas in a different light this year. I thought about how the Savior started his beginning as a baby and grew to be the SAvior of the world. I thought about how we all start as babies and grow and better ourselves every day to become more LIKE the Savior. Amazing. Such humble beginnings.

My dear family, I love you so much and even though this Chritmas was a different one with me here in Perú, I could only think of happy memories of the many fun and amazing Christmas´ that we´ve had in the past and the great hope and wonder of the Christmas´that are going to happen too.