Grateful for everything

t was so good to talk with the family this last week! I'm so happy everyone is doing good and is happy. 

On tuesday we had a conference with the whole mission. We watched the christmas devotional and president Videla talked to us. I love the missionaries here. There is always a little lunch after conferences and that's the best time. Eating and chilling with everybody. Oh yeah and that is when I got the package, Thanks so much for that!

We spent Christmas eve mostly with members. I know I've said this before but I seriously love the members here. I've been here about five months but it feels longer. It's almost strange how much this ward feels like home. We spent the night with the Vicharra family. They're super nice to us. We ate peruvian food that night that was way good. I'm not sure about the rest of south america, but at 12:00 is when all the little kids opened there presents. I wish we could've stayed until than because I wanted to see their adorable little girl open her presents but our curfew was at 11:00 :( I think I'll always remember walking home in the hot, summer, chilean, christmas eve night. My first christmas away from home. But feeling such comfort and peace. 

For Christmas we got to sleep in! first time in forever! until 8:00! ha :) The Vicharra family invited us back over to their house to eat breakfast with them. They had a little piano and Jimènez was playing hymns and we were singing. I don't think I've mentioned how good my comp is at playing the piano, like seriously he's amazing. After that we went over to another family to skype.  I was really excited to talk with the fam and as soon as I saw everyone it was like I had never even left. I wish I could've talked all day! oh well. After that It was pretty much just a normal day of work.

We received a reference from somebody on the street to visit a man name hector. They told us that he used to talk to the missionaries all of the time. When we met him he was laying in a bed. Half of his body is paralyzed. After talking to him for awhile we found out that he was baptized in the church awhile back. He was such a nice older man. Jimènez asked if we could sing a song for him. He always asks that, not that I'm really complaining. It's only that I have a terrible singing voice and his isn't a lot better :) anyways he suggests that we sing count your many blessings. While we were singing he started crying. Afterwards he told us he was so grateful how much the lord has blessed him in his life. Someone who has not been able to leave his bed was crying because he was so grateful for what he had. 

I read this talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf this week. I really liked this one part: Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.

I hope everybody has a wonderful week this week! Party hard for new years eve! 

Elder Terry