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.