Feliz Navidad!!! SURPRISE

SURPRISE!

It's Christmas and the MTC Presidency surprised us with this! We get to email home! Whoop, whoop. Well today's been great. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Woke up. Got ready. Wearing my argile sweater with the red candy cane tie mom got me, just red and white stripes that looks like a candy cane. Ate breakfast, nothing too fancy. Opened presents with my district, but I opened my packages last night since I'm Chilean and that's how hispanic people celebrate. And I didn't want to 'show off' my gifts or whatever....apparently I was the only one who felt like that...hahah but I passed out my gifts to everyone. Everyone loved my '100 things that make u s district 55B' --- we all laughed. All the Elders loved the ties. And the Hermana's were very grateful for their gifts as well. Last night we gave a stocking with a card signed from all of us to Hermano Busath, our teacher, and I gave a bag of candy and a letter to Hermana Alanis --- a floating resourse teacher who is the best and super nice. I gave out some other candy with letters to the friends I've made at the MTC. It's kind of sad, like I'm making all these friends [outside of my district] and I won't get to see them for 2 years. and There's a slim chance we'll keep in touch. Boo. We had a devotional just now. And guess who it was. Elder David A. Bednar. Boom. It's so funny because I still remember when Alexa and I went to go see him speak in Orlando. He wasn't so duro this time. I wish Alexa could've been here for this time. It was just how to be more Christ-like, and he told a few stories about people he had met that were tear-jerkers. I love you family. Life is precious. I hope you've enjoyed your Christmas. No one responded to my email so I'm a little worried no one got it? But I know you were all super busy this week with enjoying your time with Aleksi and going kayaking [I got your dearelder -- hope you had fun] oh and if Kate reads this --- I'm pretty sure I get dearelders the day you write them, if you write them before a certain time. Next dearelder write when you wrote it and then I'll tell you when I get it. Family, I hope you're happy because I'm happy. I just ate the biggest Christmas Day feast ever. Turkey and stuffing, raspberry sauce and mashed tomatoes and pie and sweet potatoes with marshmellows [my all time favorite] and before the devotional with Bednar we watched the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and they sang "Carol of the Bells!" Seriously --- that MADE my Christmas. Also last night we got to watch 'A Christmas Carol' -- which was suuper good too. "Merry Christmas, and God bless us everyone" Thank you for all the gifts. For ALL the candy. Everyone. Thank you. Seminary class. Melins. Logans. Marissa. Dearmans. Sisters. Parents. I love you. Thank you. It's been a good Christmas. It's not snowing and it's only a little cold. OH and I opened my massive blizzard coat. MISTAKE. I just wanted to know what it would look like. aye. That thing is HUGE. but it'll keep me warm even if I look like a walking trash bag. I miss you family. My companionship is doing better. The other day was awful. Foster and Draper lost it and were arguing in front of everyone. CHUCABRAS! The next day we had to have a teacher come and talk to us. He was like, "Elder Poirier - you really don't have to be here" which was awkward. But I stayed because I wanted to give my two cents and help them work it out, but they were mature about it.

I'm getting through it.

I miss Mitchell's voice and Cassie's laugh and Aleksi's compliments and Dad's fish stories and Mom's singing.

I love you so much. I love this gospel. I love this work. My companions are LOCO but I'm not here to be frustrated, I'm here to learn and to teach and come January 23rd to bring people to the truth. Because that's what this is, it's the Truth. Christ lives. This is His church. He loves us. Our father in heaven loves us. and through the atonement of Christ we can obtain all that is in store in us. I hope you all find peace and joy this Christmas season. I love you. I miss you.

"Happy Christmas, Harry"

Love,

Elder Maxwell Poirier.