So this week we had a bunch of
Christmas activities! On Wednesday, we met with our mission president and 4
other Zones to have a ‘Christmas Devotional.’ It wasn’t a party. It was a
‘devotional.’ We played games; watched a slideshow of pictures from around
the mission; ate really good chicken, fries, salad, jello, and actual
Dunkin Donuts; and performed skits. One of the games we played was to dress
someone up as Santa. They gave us red and white paper, cotton strips, and
tape. We had 20 minutes. They turned out really good. In Spanish, Santa is
called Papa Noel. And ‘el papa’ is the Pope. ‘La papa’ is potatoe, but I
won’t get into that. Anyway… one of the Zones made their Santa like the
Pope. It was really funny. There’s a picture of the Santas.

Then last night, we went to one area in our Zone to sing carols in the
Plaza. We had a lot of success. A bunch of people decided to sit down and
listen to us sing. Then we went and contacted them and shared our pamphlets
with them. We’re also going to be singing in the Plaza de Armas, the
biggest plaza in Arequipa, with a ton of missionaries on Christmas Day. It
should be awesome!

The Nativity scenes here are huge. Here is one from my pensionista’s house.
I think it’s actually like 4 or 5, but they set them all up together.

As far as my Spanish goes: I don’t forget when I’m talking in Spanish. But
I do sometimes forget when I’m listening in Spanish, because my mind just
translates everything and sometimes I have to think to myself, ‘Did they
say that in English or Spanish? I understood it, but what language was it
in?’ So when I hear things from people, I remember it happening in English,
but when I am remembering stuff that happened back at home in English, like
conversations and stuff I’ve had, my mind automatically translates the
memory to Spanish. I always have to stop myself and say, ‘No wait. That
happened in English. Why am I translating it?’ I think it’s funny.

Also, something random from the week: the Google Maps Street View car
passed me today! That means in a while, my companion and I should be
visible standing in front of the gas station down the hill and around the
corner from the school Max Uhle.

I hope everyone is enjoying Christmas in the States. We are having fun down
here in Peru. It’s not cold like I’m used to, but it’s going great.

¡Feliz Navidad! ¡Prospero año y felicidad!

-Elder Kehoe