December 22, 2014 - Week 51

This is Christmas week! I can´t believe it! It is so weird that we are already in Christmas again. The time flies. Well, this week was pretty good. It mostly consisted of going to practices every single night up until Friday to practice for choir. We did this dinner in our ward for Navidad and it went really well. We sung in a choir and there was also a live play. It was so cute! There were different members that acted in the play and it was just like a mix of a family that is all stressed-out for Navidad and stuff, but then the grandpa tells the story of when Christ was born. And then there is like a live Nativity and stuff. So cool. And the choir sung along with the story and stuff that that grandpa was telling. So, we practiced all week cuz we had to be in the choir and it turned out super good! Everyone loved it! And I learned so sing in Guarani! So, that was fun! But, that was the highlight of the week, for sure.

As for other things.. It rained a few times this week and so the work was a bit harder. Whenever it rains, there is like NO ONE in the streets and no one wants to open their door for you... But, hey. It was still a good week.

Also, we found a family that is inactive yesterday and we are excited to be able to work with them so that they can come back to the church. So, we will see how that goes. Also, they have a daughter that is 10 now and still needs to be baptized! So, that is exciting. But, yea. This week was good. I am more excited for this next week though, cuz it will be Navidad. It definitely won´t be the same, but it should be really fun. We are planning on spending Christmas Eve with Hermana Betty. She is the hermana that lives in front of us.  Like we live in a house in her backyard. Here, in Paraguay, they celebrate Christmas Even and that is about it. Like you stay up until 12 and then there are like fireworks and stuff. It´s like New Years kinda.  (And also, they do the same thing for New Years.) So, that should be fun. But, Christmas isn´t really a huge deal here. But, we have permission to stay up to see the fireworks and stuff. So, I am excited. But, Betty is like our mom and we are planning to eat with her and spend Christmas with her and her family. Should be great! Also, I am so excited to get to skype you guys! That is going to be awesome!! But, Christmas is gonna be good here. Also, this week we are going to make cookies with the elders and an hermana and then take them to different less active families and sing to them! Like caroling and stuff. Should be way fun. Also, we have our zone activity and we are going to do like a white elephant gift exchange and sing in a maternity hospital. So, this week should be full of fun things.

Also.... Today, an elder in my district had to go to the office and guess what he brought me.... MY PACKAGE!!! And... I was going to wait until Wednesday to open it, but the elders and my companion all like begged me to open it today. So, while we were all eating at this place.. I opened it!! And I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY SHOES. I CAN´T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE MY SHOES. They are the cutest things ever and I love them. And so does my whole district. They think that they are SO COOL! :) So, thank you SO SO SO MUCH for the package. It was so cute and everything in it was just perfect. I  really was in dire (dyre?) need for new shoes and socks. I was like barely funcioning with what I had, so the package came just in time. Also, the skirt is SOOOO cute and I am so excited for it. Also, the candy. JUST what I wanted!! So thank you a ton!! Plus, I am so excited to listen to the new music! I didn´t know that you were gonna send music, too! So cool. So, that was also a huge highlight of my day. I loved it. 

So, that is all for the week. I can´t wait to see you in person on Wednesday and I hope you have the merriest Navidad ever! And remember about who was born on this special day. Cuz HE is the reason that I am here in Paraguay and HE is the only one that can really bring us true happiness. LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker