Elder Pierce McMullan : Happy 19th Elder McMullan!!!!!

This is a tough birthday for Pierce. He is in a brand new area where no one speaks English and no one really knows him. I think he's feeling truly alone for the first time in 7 1/2 months. He seems to have a good attitude about it, but I can tell it's tough. He's learning just how much of a people person he really is! I'm so grateful that he got his birthday package from us yesterday!!! Could not have been more perfect timing!! He needed it!

Here are some excerpts from today's email: (And TONS of pics!!! )

"We don't have a Mamita so that stinks. We actually save money though and just eat whatever. Mostly rice, A LOT of rice. People usually offer us lunch so, that's always good too."

"We had a conference with Pres all day yesterday, so today is p-day for us.. It was with President and the zone, so 16 of us total. Small compared to the 50 in Arica! No sisters. There’s only 12 missionaries in Vallenar, and 4 in the next city over, Huasco. Huasco is the farthest place off in the mission. In Huasco there are 2 gringos and here there are 5. The other gringos here live far away from us, so we never see them."

"I 'd like to live with the other 2 Elders, but first we need to fix our pension because it's destroyed. I go in phases of different hobbies and things to stay sane. If we were to move in with the other Elders, it would be with 2 other Latin’s, which is still way better. It's funny though, the Latins don't get my humor and I don't get theirs."

"I got the package yesterday which was perfect timing. So that worked out good. I did get the music and food and stuff, thank you! We haven’t really done anything for my birthday; our oven is broken so I can't make the cake."

Pierce mentioned studying some of Joseph Smith’s talks. He said he received many revelations while reading them. I asked for details. (of course) He said “It's just while reading what he said, it made so much sense, that it has to be true. Things I had always thought before, but now I KNOW they are true.”