A lot has happened and I miss you guys so much. The field is nothing like the MTC and I certainly don't feel safe. Even this computer I am on right now is sketchy.

But first, rewind to the CCM (Lima MTC).

My maestro that I gained favor with Snickers and Twix.

And some pics with me and my homies.

I arrived in Trujillo.

President and Sister Marble

And my companion Elder Contreras

I don't even know my address or where I am at.... this place is nothing like what I thought it was going to be. This place is actually really hard for me. My companion doesn't know any English and I am the only white person here. It actually feels super lonely and I never thought how lonely it would feel to not be able to communicate. Everything is dirty and trash. Everyone´s house is literally a dirt floor. I have been chased by so many dogs and almost hit by motos many times. I can't run when a moto is coming at me because if I do it might swerve the wrong way and hit me and it is so hard to resist running when a moto is coming at you full speed. I understood that when my companion told me not to run out of the way.

I have also been yelled at many times by drunk Peruvians.  Jokes on them because I don't understand a word they say. I thought I would be at least near other missionaries in the same situation, but they split it up by areas and we don't see each other. I can't describe just how 3rd world this is. It looks nothing like the pictures.

Our apartment is a rooftop with a plastic roof. I also have been having terrible diarrhea. I am trying to stay happy and positive, but not gonna lie, this is really hard. I am super homesick. Everyday here is another realization that America really is the best country ever. I do love the people and my companion I just wish I could communicate with them.

My spiritual thought this week is to love one another.  I have been surprised and shocked at the conditions in which some people live, but it's noticeable and better when there's love.

¡Hola!

So it has been a crazy week. I have learned so much Spanish and I cannot wait. It is my last week here at the CCM and I am super excited and also super nervous to go to my mission. I know little Spanish, but I don't know if I am ready to go full on. I do know a lot and I haven't said an English prayer in a while.

We went proselyting last Sabado! It was awesome! So we hopped on this bus, and went about 45 minutes out in Lima, and it was very humbling. Honestly, I was taken aback at how people live here. It was dirt everywhere, everything worn down, but it is just normal for them. Houses stacked on top of each other, these weird motor bike taxi things almost running you over.... Also the church building was kinda cool. It is like super run down everywhere, then in the center of it is the church building which is three stories tall with the chapel at the very top. It was so different but so exciting. I got to invite people to come to church and hand out pass along cards!

One thing that gave me a huge headache though.  There was this small truck filled with fruit going through the neighborhood and they were saying things through this freakishly loud speaker.  It hurt my head so bad. All I hear is this dude screaming into this thing FRESA FRESA FRESA which is strawberry, because he was trying to get people to buy his strawberries, and it was funny but difficult to talk.  Hahaha.  Also, one thing that was gross is if you gotta go, you go wherever you are at.  I saw two different grown men just stop and pee right in front of us and that was kinda gross.

It was so awesome to see how nice people were though. Everyone we talked to were so nice to us and very patient with me since I didn't know very much Spanish. We also took a picture with some guy running for office, so Idk if that was supposed to happen or not, but I went with it because the missionaries we were with did it... So if I am on the paper here in Peru, I hope I don't get in trouble... It did make me super excited to get to my mission in Trujillo. I cannot wait! It is weird to think that I have been here over a month. It went by so darn fast. Time needs to slow down a little bit. I'm gonna be so sad to say goodbye to my friends here, but I am so excited to further the work of the Lord because this isn't about me, it is about Him. So lets do this!

I have been reading a lot about 3rd Nephi and when Christ came to the Americas. It is truly amazing that we have the Book of Mormon, another testament of Christ and Him extending His love to all people of this Earth. 3rd Nephi 9 & 11 hit me really hard, that Christ appeared to the Nephites and proclaimed the truth of His gospel and that He is the light and life of this world. He suffered for us and has the marks in His hands and His side to prove it.

I love you guys! Don't be afraid to email me and let me hear from ya!

Another week down!  I have learned so much Spanish and it is awesome!  I can talk, read, and listen to Spanish fairly well, at least for now. The teachers don't talk in English and it honestly kinda shocks me sometimes when they talk all in Spanish and I don't even really realize that we are in a different language. We had the new Elders come in and they don't know any Spanish and it was weird to hear a prayer in English for the first time in a while. I am now one of the older people here and we have a week and a half left here at the CCM, which is so exciting. I cannot believe that soon I will be in the field, I am so excited. I only have one more p-day and then the next p-day will be in Trujillo!  I cannot wait.

I am known as someone here who asks really deep, thought provoking questions, which is super funny because now when someone has a hard question about doctrine, they say they have a ´McGreer´ question.  Haha!  It's okay because I learn so much and the Lord wants us to ask questions because how else are we going to learn if we don't have a question?  We can't receive an answer without first asking the question. And sometimes it isn't going to always make sense and that is where faith comes in. It might not make sense, but you lead with faith anyway and soon things will be made clear unto you. I know, and can promise, that when we lead with faith, it will all be okay.

Listen to priesthood leaders. I know I can always talk to the Mission President or Branch President here and they will always help me and tell me what I need to hear to continue to grow and develop as a missionary. I hope someday I can help others the way they have helped me.

There is an Elder here, in my district, who has amazing handwriting. It isn't even fair.  I am having him help me with my handwriting, and I have to say I am actually kinda proud of myself with the way I have been writing in my journal lately. I hope my kids can read it and see how I have grown just by seeing my handwriting change from crap to Declaration of Independence type handwriting!  Hahahaha, just kidding - it isn't that good yet.

I have learned a lot about Christ-like attributes. That has been the theme in my mind lately. Christ was perfect in everything and all He asks is us to follow His example, learning from our mistakes. He paid the price for our mistakes.  All He wants is for us to change and become better.
1 Peter 2:20-21 helped me a lot. Especially when you break it down and really understand what is being said. Look up the scripture for yourself, but it says to be buffeted for you faults, and that was a question I had was what the heck does that mean to bear with patience and be buffeted for your faults. The answer I found helped me out. When you buff something, what do you do? You shine it. Think of a car getting buffed. It is dirty and you buff it out one spot at a time. That is what we need to do with ourselves. Buff out our faults, mistakes, and imperfections. Its a long, grueling process especially if you are in the Texas sun, outside, when you would rather be swimming than buffing your car, but Christ asks us to follow his steps and when we are done we can get in our beautiful car that is air conditioned and it'll be way worth the work we put into it. Don't know if that made any sense, I wish I had more time to make sure it was clear. Read the scripture!