Here are some excerpts from Pierce's email yesterday:  

"We had a "Christmas Conference" this past week.  The Christmas conference was with all the missionaries from Arica and President.   President basically talked about how we need to find more people to teach and how to do it.  We got our packages from home and did a gift exchange as an activity.  It was pretty fun.  I got chocolate, so all was good."  

"Elder Muñoz leaves in 2 weeks to go home.  He's ready to leave at this point.  He and I are really cool, so we will definitely keep in touch throughout my mission and after."  

"Yes in our mission,  we stay in the same place for 6 months.  That means the same house, same sector and same people.   Unfortunately, also the same responses/excuses. I have at least 8 more weeks here."  

"Yesterday at church we had the first ward council meeting that I've ever been to.   It was great, they’re (the members) starting to care more.  I just hope the members keep their word. Last week was really hard to find people because of Christmas, and this week because of New Years will be tough too.  Then just 1 more week until, Muñoz goes home and I get a new companion.  Hopefully another Latin that I'll be forced to speak Spanish with." 

"No, we can't drink the water from the pipes, since it has lead in it.  You have to buy water.  Nobody here drinks water at all, only soda.  We keep water at the pension (house) to drink though."

"This year in my mission,  I guess we baptized a total of 1048.  I would like to know how many are still active. A huge problem here is keeping people active!  The ward is starting to care more, so that's good."

"It's honestly just like, you want these people to do things and they know they're supposed to too, but they just don't want to.  I don't know how to motivate a person who doesn't want to be motivated.  It's The most confusing thing ever!  The thing is, that these people don't want to be motivated.  It's not their fault.  It’s like dad said on the reservation.., they don't think they can change, so they don't try to change. This sector is ridiculously hard I guess.  The culture here is to not care, and it's depressing at times.  You can rev them up. You can bring the Spirit and they for sure feel it.  They cry and stuff and recognize it, but yet they still don't want to act. It amazes me.  Thank goodness for the other Elders.  We have a lot of fun and keep each other sane in times like this." 

 

"Mate", An herbal drink they drink there in Chile.  (looks yummy....) 

Pierce making a sand/dirt angel.

I think this is the mountain they had just climbed.  

Arica 

   

Christmas Skype and random facts we learned

BEST.CHRISTMAS. PRESENT. EVER!!!  Elder McMullan sounded so good!  He wouldn't speak a ton of Spanish for us though, since he doesn't think it's good enough yet.  :(  Although, he did read a bit from the scriptures for us!  He sounds AMAZING!   I realized all over again how much I miss and love that kid!!  I also realized that he is no kid.  Here are some random facts we learned from him today:

-He cuts his own hair.  (Apparently it's expensive, and our frugal child hasn't changed!)
-He reads SUPER well in Spanish and has a mean accent!
-The strangest thing he's eaten so far is Liver.  (He hated it)
-Their "Mamita" mainly cooks chicken and rice or soup for them.
-Most of their work (if not ALL) happens between 4 & 10pm.  Before that they are reading, studying, eating breakfast, reading and studying some more, eating lunch, studying/reading,...then off hitting the pavement until 10pm.  (The Chileans start their days a little later)
-The Chileans (also the Peruvians and Bolivians) think that Americans only eat donuts and hamburgers, and  have no idea what a salad is.  They believe the only veges we eat come from a can.
-Chileans are obsessed with the TV show, "The Simpsons."  (Perhaps that's why they have a warped view on our eating habits and lifestyle?)
-There is a dog (Rocky) that follows the missionaries everywhere.  He ONLY follows missionaries and actually thinks he's one of them.  He gets attacked by other dogs almost everywhere they go.  (Pierce seems to think he "eggs" them on)  Also, Rocky tries shamelessly to attend church, and gets upset when they try to chase him out.
- He doesn't cook much, but does enjoy making chocolate chip cookies for the guys every now and again.

I can't wait until Mother's Day!

Elder Jarvis and Elder McMullan 

Elder Munoz, Elder McMullan, Elder Silvester and Elder Jarvis

 

Feliz Navidad de Chile!

We didn't hear much from Pierce today since we will be talking to/Skyping him on Wednesday!!!!!!!  SO EXCITED!!!  A Merry Christmas indeed!  :)  

The Elders decorated their penison

A few people in town decorated for Christmas 

Weird graffiti  

Ghetto basketball hoop 

Creepy Santa

Elder McMullan in front of the tree and gifts we sent him.  Notice the starfish at the top of the tree??  His Comp, Elder Munoz caught it.  

Members of the ward.  They feed the Missionaries VERY well!  

Nada

Nothing to report on today.  Also no pictures.  Elder McMullan stated that he would not want to be anywhere else other than on a mission right now, even though it's super hard and is currently in a ward with no support.

I'm praying for a miracle.  :)  

Alpacas, Flamingos and Llamas.....,OH MY!

I think today was Pierce's favorite p-day so far!  The Elder's have been trying to get someone to take them here for weeks now.  He's been out 4 1/2 months now, and as of Wednesday, is no longer the "greenie.   Here are a few excerpts from today's email:  (You can tell by the way he writes/phrases things, that he's used to speaking in Spanish!)  

"Today we went to El Lago Chungara.  It’s a really cool place that some missionaries never get to go to.  It was awesome!  We saw some cool wildlife too.  Alpacas, Llamas and Flamingos.  Silvester didn't come today, but his new comp, Elder Jarvis did.  Jarivs knew Tyler Woods from the CCM.  Elder Jarvis is a red head, really funny and from Utah.  Today he was SUPER sick along with Elder Boullangger,  from the altitude change.  Both of them just laid on the ground."  

"As for Elder R, I miss him a lot, but Jarvis fits right in too.  It's great that Silvester is training now."  Elder R was pretty stressed out before he left about going home."  

"Honestly, I think now I get the gist of what everyone is saying.  I can respond to pretty much anything…, not as fluid as I would like,  but I can joke around with the Latin’s now.  Just a matter of being able to understand the person, because that's the hardest part!"  

"Sometimes I just get bored here.  I figure most people do, when there isn't much going on.  We've been knocking on a lot of doors lately.  One guy told us to go over tomorrow.  Hopefully he'll listen to us.  It stinks sometimes, not having anyone to teach, but we're trying."

"I've found that I'm much better at getting other people motivated rather than myself.  I decided to not read in English anymore after 6 months.  I want to surround myself only with Spanish.  All the gringos say that you could never be fluent, but I disagree."  

Now for bazillion pictures!!!  

The ride to El Lago Chungara

A sort of shrine, that all the truckers stop to pray at, since the road is so deadly.  (So glad I didn't know about this before he went) :)  

Some Chilean's house.  

A "hippie Chilean's house"

The air is getting thinner and it's harder to breathe!

I'm pretty sure this is the "hippie Chilean."  

Gorgeous views on the way to the lake!

Elders McMullan, Munoz, Jarvis, (the man who drove them??) Pablo and Boullangger

Cute Llama! (and steep deadly road in background....)  

Family of cute Llamas!

The Lake/ Volcano

I miss this guy!!!  

He finally listened when I asked him to take more pics with HIM in them!  :)  

Yep, those are Flamingos!  ?????  

Family of Alpacas

Pierce and the Flamigos.

Poor altitude-sick Elders!