One Year

I officially have 1 year on the mission. Lit times.

This was another wonderful week. Elder Alanoca and I went hard again this week and saw a ton of success because of it. Love that guy so much and we have fun every day. 

So looking back on this last year it has been so fast. I would say it has been the most enriching year of my life. I have never had more difficult times but I also have never had more rewarding times. I have learned so much in this last year and am so grateful for privilege of being a missionary. 

So we had maybe my best P-day in the mission. We woke up early to get to the stake center at 7 to play soccer with the other missionaries. And it was the best soccer I have played in my mission. It was the perfect enviorment because it was not too competitive and we all laughed and had fun. 

Then we ran to the bishop's house to go make some Peruvian food with the Bishop and his wife. Wow I love them so much. The bishop's wife is the seminary teacher of the ward. She is fantastic and offered a ton of great advice. Talking to her made me miss my mom. 

This week I got exceptionally close with the ward. We had ward conference this week so we helped clean the church on Saturday. Before the ward activity I invented a new word in Spanish: Machetioso. I would translate that into English as macheteful. What does machetioso mean? It is used to describe somebody who likes to machete or correct others. Someone who chops someone down or machetes them. It sounds pretty strong in English but macheting is part of the culture here. Example of someone being machetioso: During ward council the Elders Quorum President interrupted the council to tell us that this meeting did not look like council but a class. He was being machetioso in that moment. Is Machetioso a word? No, but like Kudzu or the Asian Carp, I have made this word the new thing. It has invaded Las Islas ward council and my district. And it is coming to town near you. I have gotten everyone else to say it. I am pretty proud of it.

They have a hard time remembering Tucker but they all remember me as Elder Machetioso. Also I have made pretty good friends with the Stake President here in Santo Domingo. He gave me a subtle shout out in his talk on Sunday. 

Life is great here. I am actually a little sad that I have more than a year in the mission. I love it here and I do not want it to end.

Elder Tucker