Mother's Day Phone Call

We had a wonderful time talking to Eric when he called us on Mother's Day. He sounded like he is doing great and is very happy to be immersed in the work of the mission. Here are a few of the questions and answers.

Us: What is your favorite area that you have served in?
Eric: It's hard to say, because it seems like every new area I go to I like better than the one before. I love the area I'm in right now.


Us: What are most of the houses like in your area?
Eric: Most of the houses are made out of brick and have tile floors. But there are some houses, a few streets of them, where the people are really poor and the houses are just metal with dirt floors.


Us: Are the roads paved in your area?
Eric: The roads are paved only in the main areas, and the rest are all dirt.


Us: Are you using the gas detectors and other detectors for safety?
Eric: Well, I usually do plug in the gas detector for a little while when I first get to a new pench to be sure everything is okay, but I really can't leave it plugged in. There are only like 3 outlets total in the whole pench, and we need them for other things.


Us: How is the branch doing in your area?
Eric: The branch here is great. We have lots of activities. In fact, just two days ago we had a dinner at church where we served rice and chicken. But we put some pepper on the chicken, so the people all thought it was really spicy! They don't use pepper here. Their food at first seems bland, but it really isn't, because they use lots of different herbs and spices and flavors, but they just don't use spicy stuff. Everyone kept talking about how spicy the chicken was because of the black pepper.


Us: How is the food?
Eric: The food is awesome. No matter how poor the people are, when they have us to lunch, they make SO much food. There is a rule in the white Bible (slang term for missionary rulebook) that if there isn't much food, to be sure not to take too much. But that is never a problem here, because the people make a lot when they invite you. Even if it is just sometimes a lot of noodles. They also like mayo (mayonnaise) on everything. Even hot dogs. I really like empanadas and I even had ravioli a few days ago.


Us: Do you have a big store there to buy your groceries?
Eric: There's big stores in big cities, but in the small places, you just go to a separate shop to buy your stuff. Like you go to the fruit stand to buy your fruit, and the butcher shop to buy your meat, and the bakery to buy bread.


Us: Do you have any callings in church?
Eric: My comp and I are the Gospel Principles teachers for the investigators and recent converts. We also bless and pass the sacrament on Sundays. We haven't given an official talk here yet, but I've learned that in the mission when you need to give a talk, it is usually on the spot. I also always introduce myself in Sacrament meeting in every new area I go to, and I usually bear my testimony on Fast Sundays, too.


Us: Are the people in this area kind to the missionaries?
Eric: They look at us as curas, which are like healers. They want us to give blessings to people when they are sick, even though many of the members could do it themselves. Yesterday we gave a blessing to the Rios baby because she was sick.


Us: Are you being careful around guns?
Eric: Oh, don't worry, that rifle that was aimed at my head in the picture was a single action, so I knew it was unloaded. But kids using guns around here is no big deal. And all little kids carry a sling shot around and use it all the time.


Us: Do the people have cars in this area?
Eric: No, not really. Most families just have a moto, like a little motorcycle thing, to get around, and they also walk or take a colectivo, which is a bus. And usually only one moto per family.


Us: Do you need anything?
Eric: Well, I have pretty much worn out another pair of shoes. I could use a new pair. Other than that, I'm good.


Us: In what ways are you different now than you were before your mission?
Eric: I feel like I have put on my spiritual goggles. I am thinking and seeing things in ways I never did before. Every day I learn spiritual lessons. It's great. When I finish my mission and get home, I want to be an awesome member.

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