Hey!

So this week was exciting!

My companion left a bag at the airport, so when we went to talk to the administration here about it they said we had to take a taxi back to the airport to get his bag. The car ride was like a 5-hour round trip and I don't think I can express how scary drivers are here and it is completely different in a small Toyota Camry than the big buses we were on before. Well our taxi driver didn't know a lick on English, so we really had to stretch our Spanish because we don't have phones and we weren't sure what we were doing when we left. We made it to the airport and our taxi driver said to meet him at the spot where he parked when we were done.  We had to navigate the airport to find where we were supposed to go. This airport is so different than other airports and the American companies and stuff are super hidden and impossible to find, so it took us like an hour to figure out "Okay, this is what we are supposed to do."

It was so fun using Spanish, even if it only was "puedo hablar in ingles," waiting for someone to speak English. Well, my companion and I were separated because I couldn't go where they were going, and I felt super on edge, like, 'I am in Peru alone now, not knowing the language or what can happen next.' While I was waiting, I noticed that there were a lot of people crying.  All of a sudden I got super depressed and felt so bad for them. Little kids were crying, adults were crying, I was so confused and sad. I tried talking to one of the little kids and make friends with her but I think she was too sad and probably didn't understand my terrible Spanish. So while I was waiting for my companion, I decided to just say a prayer to myself for those around me and I had a big feeling of peace come over me and even though there wasn't anything I could really do it was still cool to feel that spirit.

Time for the happy part of this email! So we are at the airport and we knew there would be a bunch of stores, so we brought all our money.

Once Elder Ramsey finally came back, we went to the bathroom.... which was really just to the stores where I found Snickers and Twix bars. I bought 10 candy bars, which cost me 89 soles.... which was a HUGE ripoff but I wanted them SO bad. I think that is like $30.  IDK, you can do the math. I gave one to my favorite maestro to be a teacher's pet to him and sold one to another Elder for 10 soles and now I have to ration them out for the remainder of the CCM!  Hahaha. I am such a dork.

A scripture that really touched me this week was Alma 17. We all go through hard things and even if it doesn't feel like anyone is there or cares about us, our Father is still watching and loves us very much. Be patient and long-suffering in afflictions, be good examples for others, and the Lord will make us instruments in His hands. He wants to play us, but we have to be in tune if we want our music to be beautiful. He is the ultimate musician and even the oldest, rattiest piano can play beautiful hymns that bring love and peace into our hearts.

Another one that helped me even more, and I know it had helped others through their challenges, is Alma 26. I am weak. I do not deserve to do the Lord's work. I am a sinner and I don't know why I am even here sometimes.

       "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak, therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which I will praise his name forever."

I know that if it wasn't for Father, I couldn't do anything that would hold any weight. Our life here is such a small speck of time in eternity, yet decisions here can affect eternity. What type of person are we gonna be? We are all weak, and we are nothing. But through the strength of the Lord, we can be something. Even Elder Bednar, an apostle of the Lord, felt inadequate when called. Watch his 2004 (I think) conference talk.  I don't know if this has made any sense.  I am sorry.  Haha.  I know that since being here I have struggled with feelings of imperfection.  How am I called of the Lord to be here with all my flaws as a human being? This helped me a lot, and maybe it can help you too.

I know this church is true, I cannot deny it. I know without a doubt that Christ is our Savior, Heavenly Father is our Father, not only a God but our Father. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and we must learn to walk in faith and stand for truth.

Hola Todos!

So this week was pretty good. Just another week of learning Spanish.  I am starting to think in Spanish, which is weird.  I have to memorize a bunch of things in Spanish, and know what they mean, so that is kinda hard. 

Also, Latinos suck at singing so that makes me feel better about my singing... but it is also all in Spanish so they probably think my pronunciation sucks or that I am not even saying it right!  Ha ha ha. 

I would kill for a big bacon burger right now!  So much rice, more rice, and a rice drink once in a while. 

I wish I had more time to write, but time is limited here. I have been playing a lot of soccer; so much soccer. My shins are killing me. I am scared I am gonna blow out my other knee so I kinda take it easy. They get intense here, more intense than I would like. 

The spirit here is so strong. I love the atmosphere and I feel so productive at the rate I have been learning Spanish. 

I am trying to recall things eventful that have happened but it is hard to fit a whole week into a single email. We wake up, pray, eat breakfast, (the breakfasts are usually terrible) study, companion study, have class, lunch, study, plan, sports, class, dinner, bed. That is basically  the schedule. Food that tasted terrible at first is starting to taste really good. It is gonna be weird eating American food in two years. They tried to give us a burger one day, but it was just sad. 

Their driving is ridiculous! They are literal maniacs. They have no care for bumping into each other, people on the street, laying on their horn for an hour, it is crazy. I didn’t think people could be so reckless in their driving. I was in the bus and he was weaving in and out of cars in a way I couldn’t even do back home. They are insanely dangerous drivers here. 

There are a ton of Venezuelans coming into Peru because of the terrible Venezuelan government.  When we went to get our visas, me and another missionary had to use the bathroom.  We got a little lost and it was kinda intimidating. Everyone was staring at us and we couldn’t speak the language other than asking where the bathroom was. Also, they throw their used toilet paper in the trash and not flushed down, so that is super nasty and the bathrooms are the most disgusting thing you’ll ever smell in your life. 

One day we will get to go out in Lima and preach\practice missionary stuff going on splits with missionaries in that mission.  A few weeks back there was a missionary who was robbed at gunpoint in the first 10 minutes. So that is a little scary for when our turn rolls around. They take us like an hour out of the city into these dirt towns and they said it is such a huge culture shock. Where we are living is like the fancy pants part of town which certainly does not feel like we are in a fancy place.... so I can only imagine what it is gonna be like! Ha ha. I am excited though.

I love you guys!!!  Keep reading your scriptures and saying your prayers.

Como estan?

The CCM here in Lima Peru is AWESOME! Let me try and give you a run down.

We got here late and we got to sleep in till about 8:30 the next morning which was nice. Initial shock getting off the plane was that it was cold, misty, and smelled like fish. But that is just because we were literally right next to the ocean. Did I mention a plane? Yes, the plane ride for me was freakin awesome. So my second flight which was the one to Peru did not have a seat number, so I was internally freaking out because I didn't know what to do, so I went up to the desk at the gate like 'yo I need a seat numba,' and she was like 'I gotchu homie' and so ten minutes before I boarded the plane she gave me this ticket and my seat number was Premium, 2D. I was like 'what the heck!' because there were like forty other missionaries with numbers like 44C and stuff. I SAT IN FIRST CLASS THE WHOLE PLANE RIDE. The seat made me feel so uncomfortable. I was dressed in a super nice suit, a seat that reclined into a bed, had a built in back massager, and did I mention the hot towel? Or the three course meal? Or the unlimited ice cream? And the pillow and blanket they gave me? And the complimentary kit complete with a sleep mask, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, and whatever else I needed? I also was offered sparkling white wine that I had to turn down, so instead I drank naraja jugo out of a glass. It was pretty dope. I literally felt like a straight pimp being addressed as Mister McGreer and every request I had being fulfilled. I don't care what happens we are paying the 100 dollars to upgrade on the flight home. Lo siento.

So the first day here was pretty hectic. Didn't matter how short your hair was, they gave everyone a haircut. Except the hermanas of course. We unpacked everything and figured out who our companions were, and got all our Spanish materials and everything. My companion is Elder Ramsey, and he is the bomb diggity. I am so happy I have him. All the weird people thankfully go to other missions. My district is so cool. We all get along very well. So the district is like your class. There's only 10 people and we spend a lot of time in the classroom doing personal study, companion study, and then learning from our maestros. We all click super well and everyone is SOO FREAKIN FUNNY. There is one elder who is also going to my mission, and his name is Elder Parmenter, but his initials spell PMP, and he said we could call him Elder Pimp. A little sacrilegious but he is the funniest guy I know. Sometimes it is hard during companion and personal study not to just all laugh together and tell funny stories, but we are trying and are here to learn so we are learning!  XD

I have learned so much Spanish. It is ridiculous. I don't care what you say, Spanish class only helped for like the first day. People here have taken like 6 years of Spanish and no Spanish, and we are all on the same level now. The Latino elders are so funny. They only know bad words in English which is actually super sad, but it is hard not to laugh when they unknowingly curse at each other. They are so loving and funny and I think I am gonna get along with them pretty well.

I have been playing lots and lots of soccer when we exercise everyday. It is so much fun, although it is super competitive among the cocky gringos here so that kinda sucks when they get so into it. The Latinos don't even get to touch the soccer ball because the cocky elders are too competitive with it. But it's okay, no me importa.

The spirit here is so strong. I got to go to the temple today and it was awesome. The Lima temple is super small but one of my favorites. Several times we have cried but we know we are supposed to be here and I am so ready to preach the good word. It is crazy how much of a difference reading your scriptures and praying everyday brings you closer to the spirit. I want to encourage all of you guys to start reading your scriptures personally, and praying personally. Doing that everyday for ten days has made such an impact on me, I can't imagine the impact it is going to have doing that everyday for two years. Could you imagine the impact doing that for a lifetime? It brings us closer to the spirit, and closer to our Heavenly Father and He loves us, and we love Him. Sometimes it is easy to think that we can't become closer to our Heavenly Father, but we can.

I want you guys to read 2 Nephi 4. It made a huge impact on my attitude and mood here, and that chapter means so much to me now. I also learned a lot about grace. We obtain grace after we do all that we can.  After learning some Spanish and feeling inadequate to speak Spanish, I actually know more and can do more than I thought. We tend to set limits on ourselves, but you would be surprised at how much we can actually do. Also read D&C 88:77-78. I am running out time time so I apologize if I was not able to say enough. I know this gospel is true.

Yo se que Jose Smith fue una profeta de Dios. La Iglesia de Jesucrists de los santos de los ultimos dias es verdedero. Nosotros somos hijos de Dios, y yo testifo que es el verdad. Yo promete que si leemos las escrituras podemos recibir bendiciones.

Spencer is off to Peru!  As of writing this, his flight status is directly over Cuba...

The Saturday before leaving, Spencer, Elisa and I were able to get to the Dallas Temple together.  The joy Elisa and I felt as we sat with Spencer in the temple was overwhelming.  I know the last picture is a bit goofy, since I used a self timer with the camera basically on the ground.

And finally, on Tuesday morning, August 7, 2018, we said goodbye to Elder McGreer.  Tears were shed and last minute mothering was taking place.  As parents and as a family, we shared the joy of seeing Spencer off, but so many leaders, friends, relatives, and peers were helpful in molding and preparing Spencer for this exciting moment.  Thank you to anyone and everyone that has helped in any way over the last 18 years!