Ho, ho ho! Merry Christmas!
Sorry I've been practicing my Santa voice because I've been chosen to be Santa this year (That's what you get when every one else is skinnier than you). And I know that's the reason. Just like in many other non-American cultures it's no problem to call someone fat. If you want to be nice about it then you just say they have a "big personality". The other day I had one of the other members behind me on my bike as we were cycling. He then grabs my love handles and says "This is why you'll make a good Santa Clause!".
Anyways as for business stuff: New change in calling plans. You can call my cell directly. The number is 011-91-900005816. You should still call around 10:00pm your time. I will give a miss call so you know when you can call me but there's the number and the time in case I can dial out for some reason.
So this week has been pretty exciting. We're preparing another young man for baptism. His name is Chaitanya and I love this kid so much. The first time we met him he was very shy and didn't want to talk with us. Now he's talking like anything, reading the Book of Mormon and doing all the things we tell him he should do. Nothing is more sweet then when we open to a scripture and he says "oh yeah I read this one yesterday". He's got a lot of support from his family. His older brother is a member (see what a great example older brothers are are Matt, Dustin and Byron) and although his parents are not, because they live in an area where the church isn't established yet, they show great support for both of their son's decisions.
On Monday we received transfer calls and I'm staying but my companion Elder Brown is going an hour away to another area called Kakinada. He's really bummed out because he's leaving one day before Chaitanya's baptism. I feel bad for him but I know he's going to do a great job in Kakinada, especially cause he'll be district leader :). As for myself I will get a new companion, Elder Surgoya. He's an American elder that came one transfer back. I was thinking about how much fun it would be to see a new elder learn to ride a bike after having some struggles myself but then I learned from another Elder that he raced bikes before his mission. So I think I'm going to be in quite a shock when he kills me up the hills. Other than that I'm really excited for him to come.
We met a couple white people in Rajahmundry the other day. Elder Brown and I are starting to get a little creeped out by these strange appearances. I guess now we know how it feels when other people see us. One girl we met as we knocked on a door and we see this early 20's white girl wearing a green saree. She was so pale I thought she was an albino Indian. There was a moment of shock between us for a couple minutes than we ask each other "what are you doing here?". We found out her name is Gabby and she is a Swiss girl who did a foreign exchange for a few years in Kansas and now she was teaching children Science and English in India. She had a mix of a Swiss/American accent (we called her American Swiss cheese afterwards) so it was very easy to understand her. She was staying with an Indian family so we took the opportunity to teach them. Unfortunately it was unsuccessful and the father of the family expressed his reasons and sentiments for not accepting which is a very common feeling in India. He said that he was raised a particular way in a particular church and even if that way was wrong he wouldn't change out of respect of his ancestors. That is just a part of the culture in India, it's very difficult to split away from the traditions of the fathers. Gabby explained also that she's heard about us before through a Mormon friend in the US and though she respected our beliefs she also didn't want to change. It was an interesting experience but I have the hardest time talking with white people now. It is so scary to hear a Western accent and I get nervous every time I do. Elder Brown feels the same and we both laugh at ridiculous we are now.
We saw another white girl, and this one was different from all the others because where as the other white people are trying to adapt to Indian culture this one was wearing jeans, a sleeveless tank top and riding on the back of a bike with a younger guy. We saw her in the strangest area where you would least likely to see another white person. Then we saw an Indian man with a mullet and we agreed that the corner we were on was the most awesome corner ever.
Well I'm really jealous of your Christmas in New York. That stinks that you didn't see the Russian dancers in the Nutcracker, that does seem like the best part. I hope the rest of the trip went well and I hope your feeling better Dad. I'm so excited that I get to call home. Byron you're going to have to tell me how it is to go back at meet your converts, I think that would be the coolest thing for any missionary to do. I hope it doesn't snow too hard so you can get out of there.
Love you a million Christmas cheers,
Elder Mackay
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